'06 900 LT Trade-in

[Lone_Rider]

I am sad to say that I have decided to sell or trade in my '06 900 LT, which has apprixmately 6K miles, for a Harley Heritage Soft Tail Classic. However, I visited my local, friendly Harley dealer today and he told me that he would give me $5,000 for my bike. I looked at him like he had two heads. He explained that since the Harley shop can not put in on the floor for resale, all non Harley trades are sold to a wholesaler who would give me $5,000 for my bike. Thinking he was nuts, I went to the dealership from where I purchased my 900 LT.

I explained that I was interested in upgrading to a Kawasaki Nomad or Mean Streak and wanted to know what they would give me for my 900 LT as a trade-in. They told me that they would be "willing" to give me $5100. Keep in mind this is the same dealership from which I purchased 2 jet skis and my 900 LT.

Am I nuts for thinking that I should be getting more from Harley or any dealership as a trade-in? Has anyone else traded in an '06 LT? If so what did you get for it? If I sell it privately here or on Craigs List what should I reasonably expect to get and how long do you think it would take? I know that pricing will help determine how fast I can sell it but what are people asking for an '06 900 LT? Better yet, what are they actually getting?

[woodchucks800]

Originally Posted by Lone_Rider

I am sad to say that I have decided to sell or trade in my '06 900 LT, which has apprixmately 6K miles, for a Harley Heritage Soft Tail Classic. However, I visited my local, friendly Harley dealer today and he told me that he would give me $5,000 for my bike. I looked at him like he had two heads. He explained that since the Harley shop can not put in on the floor for resale, all non Harley trades are sold to a wholesaler who would give me $5,000 for my bike. Thinking he was nuts, I went to the dealership from where I purchased my 900 LT.

I explained that I was interested in upgrading to a Kawasaki Nomad or Mean Streak and wanted to know what they would give me for my 900 LT as a trade-in. They told me that they would be "willing" to give me $5100. Keep in mind this is the same dealership from which I purchased 2 jet skis and my 900 LT.

Am I nuts for thinking that I should be getting more from Harley or any dealership as a trade-in? Has anyone else traded in an '06 LT? If so what did you get for it? If I sell it privately here or on Craigs List what should I reasonably expect to get and how long do you think it would take? I know that pricing will help determine how fast I can sell it but what are people asking for an '06 900 LT? Better yet, what are they actually getting?

The price sounds about right to me , on an up note ,if you'd keep the 9 for another year or two it should still get around $4500 to $5000. Congrats on the ST there nice bikes ,been checking out the softail custom myself ( since the metrics don't seem to have the ability to put out a big twin version of a custom or wideglide)

[texrider]

What? You were expecting hearts and flowers?

Just tell 'em the lower your bike goes, the lower theirs has to go to make you wanna do a deal.

To put it into perspective, ask them to put in writing what they'll give you next year for your used HD...

[LordGT]

The 07 Heritage Softail Classic is a very nice bike. My wife fell in love with that bike and if she had the chance, she would trade in her 06 900 LT for the 07 Heritage.

Good luck...

[LordGT]

You really can't expect to get anywhere near what you paid for a fairly new bike. If most people are like me, and you have a Used Bike vs a New Bike and the prices are not that far apart, I'm going for the NEW bike with a longer warranty and no signs of being ridden.

It's just the nature of the beast. But, even if you wait a year, or two, your still going to lose 2-3 thousand dollars. You may get in the $6,000 range if you sell it yourself.

So sell now, or sell later, it won't make much difference in how much you lose.

Pick the bike you want and go for it...

[Buzzman]

I traded my 2006 900LT in about a month ago for a Nomad and got $5,200 from the dealership.

[gnomad]

I traded mine in on a Nomad in March and got $6800 for my 2006 900 LT.

[misterv]

I got $2750 for my vn750 last summer when I purchased my 900 classic. It was a 1993 with 8K miles. The local harley dealer would only give my 1200 bucks!!! Your kawasaki dealer should give you a few more bucks. Even if he gives you 6000 and sells it in the 6500-7000 range, he'll still make a profit. I'm assuming your bike is in outstanding condition. Keep fighting, brother. If they really want to sell you another bike and keep your business, they'll come around. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!

[bikeaholic]

welcome to the world of re-sale value............
not any metric bikes strong point

if your gonna do it though id do it now while the 900 is still a hot item

[fretbuzz]

"Am I nuts for thinking that I should be getting more from Harley or any dealership as a trade-in?"

I just think you're nuts for getting rid of a Kawasaki to get on a Harley. But, to each his own.

[Lone_Rider]

Originally Posted by nomad16

"Am I nuts for thinking that I should be getting more from Harley or any dealership as a trade-in?"

I just think you're nuts for getting rid of a Kawasaki to get on a Harley. But, to each his own.

The metric bikes do not hold their value at all. I paid approximately $8,000 for my 900 LT and had this bike for less than a year. In that short period of time it has depreciated approximately $3,000 dollars. That is almost 40% of it's total value in ONE YEAR! I am not knocking Kawaski or my 900 LT! I love it! I just want a bike with a little more power that will hold its value. Harley fits that bill.

[CycleDude]

Originally Posted by nomad16

"Am I nuts for thinking that I should be getting more from Harley or any dealership as a trade-in?"

I just think you're nuts for getting rid of a Kawasaki to get on a Harley. But, to each his own.

Originally Posted by Lone_Rider

The metric bikes do not hold their value at all. I paid approximately $8,000 for my 900 LT and had this bike for less than a year. In that short period of time it has depreciated approximately $3,000 dollars. That is almost 40% of it's total value in ONE YEAR! I am not knocking Kawaski or my 900 LT! I love it! I just want a bike with a little more power that will hold its value. Harley fits that bill.

Don't listen to the bar and sheild haters. The Heritage Softail is an awesome bike. If I could swing the payments for it, I'd be right next to you on line to trade in my 900.

Bikes are the opposite of cars. Japanese bikes don't hold their value. HD does. Period. With cars it's the other way around. Fords or Chevys resale tank, but Toyotas and Nissans hold their vaule quite well.

The only thing that's universal is you get raped on a trade-in and the dealers don't even offer any lube!

One way or the other, get that Heritage brother, and don't forget the pics!!!!

[Plato]

Click in the numbers and see what Kelly thinks:

http://www.kbb.com/kbb/Motorcycles/D...kId=hp_mc_text

[CycleDude]

Originally Posted by Plato

Click in the numbers and see what Kelly thinks:

http://www.kbb.com/kbb/Motorcycles/D...kId=hp_mc_text

Exactly like I said. What's even more discouraging as a metric owner is kick back to 03 or 04. See the difference in HD resale vs. metric, and that's not just kawi.

HD holds it's value better.

[fretbuzz]

I never said I hated HDs.

Stocks and bonds are for investments, motorcycles are for ridin'.

[CycleDude]

Originally Posted by nomad16

I never said I hated HDs.

Stocks and bonds are for investments, motorcycles are for ridin'.

That's cool, man. Sometimes brand bashing just get's to me. Maybe I'm just a little touchy today.

Last night coming home from work a guy pulled up next to me at a red light on an 06 HD Street Bob. It was gorgeous. Champaigne colored tins and wrinkle black powder coated engine, tranny and gauge pod, mini apes, sheild, etc.

The HD guy looks at me on my stock 900 w/crash bars as my only mod and says "nice scoot." I was like "WTF?, the HD guy likes my bike?" His buddy has a volusia, blah blah blah. We chatted until the light changed and we went off on our respective ways.

It was awesome to just chill and check out each other's rides respectfully.

[fretbuzz]

If I had enough money for a second bike, I would look long and hard at the wide glide. I love that thing. Chopper look right out of the box.

[Teamlopez1]

I never buy a bike with the thought of resell or getting rid of it down the road. I say get the bike you want but not for resell purpose's. Like some body else said thats what investments are for not bikes. Buy the bike you want to ride period!!!!! Ride safe..

[fretbuzz]

Cool avatar, Teamlopez1.

[CycleDude]

Originally Posted by nomad16

If I had enough money for a second bike, I would look long and hard at the wide glide. I love that thing. Chopper look right out of the box.

Definately. The 900 custom kinda looks like half HD wide glide, and half HD duece.