2007 Harley Roadster - worth it?

Question

I'm ready to buy - what are my other options in that price range? Also is the Sportster an American made bike? Does it retain it's value? Also How much of the sticker price could I bargin?

Answer 1

i have own a couple of harleys and tend to agree with cav . i also own a few metric cruisers and rockets. dpends on what you want. the softails are probably the most comfy for me (sorry you bagger guys) the sporty's are fun to ride but they are kinda cramped because of the riding position for me. i don't know any that ride horrible. i have a 57 pan hardtail though also (if you want to talk about feelin the road lol) but i love to ride it just as much as my new bikes. is a harley ever worth what you have to pay for it? of course not, but i paid it , and you will too , if you want one. get the bike YOU want and you'll be happy with it.

Answer 2

I have owned 26 bikes in the last 41 years, the last 5 have all been Harley's including the 2007 ultra classic I just bought. The sportster, just like all Harleys are made in the USA. The 1200 is a good bike for someone who doesn't ride long distance, or isn't really tall. The 883 sportster is being dropped by Harley as of 2008, but the 1200 will continue on. Right now, harley has a great deal on financing for the sportster, it will run you $99.00 per month. There are other bikes out there, honda Shadow comes to mind, that are good bikes. I've owned Hondas and respect them. My brother just bought a new shadow, and It's a great bike. They come in several different engine sizes all the way up to I think, 1800cc
But, there isn't anything like owning a Harley. But on the negative side, the EPA got involved (where they didn't belong) and have regulated the noise level for all new motorcycles. So don't expect the loud thunder from Harley or any other new bike as of 2007. Does a harley retain it's value? I bought a basket case 1984 (last year of the true shovelhead motor) for 4500.00 and restored it to stock, but added loud pipes, some gold trim parts, saddle bags etc to it. I rode it for 3 years, and sold it for $14,000.00 Again, that was with a stock motor. So, if I was you, I'd look in some of the motorcycle magazines and see what kind of resale value they hold. I think you will agree that they hold the value pretty darn well, IF you take care of them and keep them waxed and looking nice.
Good luck with whichever bike you buy, and be safe, there are a lot of "I never saw hims" out there. And, there are only 2 kinds of motorcycle riders, those that have been knocked down, and those who are going to be knocked down.

Answer 3

I don't like the ride of Harley compared to the metric bikes...I've ridden every type of HD out there including some custom bikes. I don't want to tell you what to buy, because if your heart is set on an HD then anything else won't make you happy because you will always wonder what if.....BUT, I will say that if you want a HD then save a little more money and buy a bigger bike. I know several guys that have bought the sportster, only to realize within 6 months to a year that they wanted a bigger bike. Sure you have tons of upgrades for a sportster, Fat Bob tanks, Dyna front end, whatever you can imagine, but you still have a "sportster". So after all the upgrades to make it look like a bigger bike you still are unhappy and end up buying another one anyway, SO, save yourself the time and a little extra money now instead of paying for "upgrades" just to sell it later. The HD may hold its value, if it is kept with low miles on it, but someone that buys a bike to RIDE, puts mile on them, therefore lowering the value.
Check the prices of used HD in your area and you'll see what I mean, don't take someones word for the value, check around and do some research. The values stay high for a SHOW bike but a daily ridden bike looses the value the same as a metric bike. For comparison on some NEW metric bikes, check the Kawasaki Mean Streak, 1600cc for $9900.00. Honda vtx 1800cc, Yamaha warrior 1800cc for 11500.00 All have much better rides than the sportster. Also have much more power. I myself chose the Suzuki Marauder,(same bike as the Kawasaki Mean Streak), and have not regretted it any. I have ridden 975 miles in one weekend, (with a passenger,) and was ready for more, although wife wanted a new seat. But it has plenty of power, it'll run 120 with both of us on it. (approx 400 lbs.) Let's see a sportster do that....In the smokey mountains I was riding with 2 friends on Heritage Softails, and several people stopped in traffic to ask me about my bike, what it was what size it was who made it, things like that. NOBODY even mentioned the HD's and one of the guys asking question was driving a HD edition Tahoe.

So, whatever YOU want is what you better get, otherwise you always wonder what if. So do some research and make in informed decision. You can even check yahoo groups. They have them for every type of bike out there. Read some bike forums and ask the guys and gals in them what they think about various bikes. That is where you will get the best information is from people that actually own the bikes your interested in.


"wolf"

Answer 4

There are tons of things you could buy in that price range. Pretty much any Japanese bike, so take your time and look around. Test drive if you can. I just bought my first road bike in over 10 years (been riding motocross the past decade). I looked at practically everything out there and rode several bikes including a V Star, VTX1300, and a Vulcan Custom. I ended up with a 2007 Softail Deluxe. I really don't know where folks get that Harley's ride bad. Mine is the most comfortable bike of all that I rode, or at least to me it is. Don't get me wrong, I am not preaching the Harley name or anything, just saying that I am very impressed with my first one after many metric bikes which I loved also.

Answer 5

i have an '05 roadster that's about to turn 2 yrs old for me next month. i live in ohio, and in those 2 years, i've put over 8500 miles on the clock....and no, it's not a bar hopper, i've turned this sled into a decent cruiser that WILL go as far as the fuel holds out in 1 sitting, or until i decide to top off the tank.

it's an affordable bike. u might be able to finangle on the set-up fee, but as far as the msrp....no deal. i'd suggest having them turn up the mix a bit tho...epa regs forces em to be very lean off the assembly line.

the big v-twins might hold slightly more value, but the used hd market is very overloaded with the older tc-88's....everyone wants 1 of those tc-96's now.

do urself a huge favor from the get-go; get a detachable windsheild, engine guard with a pair of highway pegs, sissy bar, luggage rack would be helpful sooner or later, and u had best get a sundowner seat. all of the above will turn it into a bike that will easily do an all-day ride. those that say that a sportster cant do it either a: has never ridden 1, or b: failed to put a sundowner on it. the sundowner is the best seat hd makes...and it's cheaper than a mustang seat.

Answer 6

Don't listen to people who say HDs have a horrible ride. I don't know a single person who has ridden both and doesn't prefer the HD....unless they don't like HD for the sake of being the guy who doesn't like HD.

Sportsters are great little bikes. I prefer the big twins because I don't like the narrow stance of the Sportster but they are pretty cool. No bike in the world sounds better than a 1200 with straight pipes, in my opinion. All HDs keep their value pretty well....A LOT better than anything else you will find out there. You can pay $9k for a Sporty or $9k for a large Jap bike. I used to ride a Honda Shadow 1100 and I hated it. Now I ride a Harley-based custom chopper that I built myself. It has no back suspension and it is still really comfy. HDs are now all rubbermounted too so it will be even more pleasureable. My dad has an Ultra Classic and it's like driving a car.

Answer 7

886- good starter/girl bike
1200- the real deal. They hold there value. Tons of "upgrades" and custom options. Also since the 1200 sporty has the same power as the fatboy and every other big harley with a lot less weight you can blow em away. As to bargining... Have you ever bought a car? Same deal. It all depends on what you bring to the table. Also if you are going to the dealer anyway take a peak at the trade ins/used scoots. You may find a bike that is a lot cheaper and already has the look you want from a Harley.

Answer 8

the roadster has the larger tank, get the 1200. you can get a lotta bang for the buck with a bike a year or two old, go to www.kbb.com and check prices on the 2005, 2006, and yes the 2007. (2008 are out now). used bikes you can haggle with.

Answer 9

yea the sporty is american I gues heres da real deal on harley the front end is made by showa wichb is owned by Honda the electronics are made in japan the wheels are made australia and the pistons in germany. I ride a panhead chopper and a sportbike sometimes I like to lean and go fast sometimes I just like to put along. the sporty might hold its value but its less dersirable in the biker world referd to as a girls bike or half a harley i would never by one unless it was an old Iron sporty. and dont buy one of those unless you can turn a wrench!!!!

Answer 10

Its "assembled" in America, just like many Honda motorcycles are. Ask them what % of the bikes parts come from foreign countries and see if you can get a straight answer. Worth it... that's relative.. not to me, but I like bikes that can lean in corners.