MCN Used Bike Value Guide

[OneShot]

The Nov issue of Motorcycle Consumer News (good publication) published their annual "Fall 2007 Used Bike Value Guide".

Two points:
#1: 2006 K1200LT value - $17445. It would be nice to get that amount. I've had my LT listed on Craigs list and CycleTrade at $16350 without a nibble. I started advertising in July on CT. While I was on CycleTrader, my bike was listed 2nd from the lowest price '06 LT. The most expensive 06 was listed at $24000.

#2: 2006 R1200GS Adventure value - $13340.
2006 R1200GS value - $11810.
Is it just me or did the GS's values drop like an anchor?
If I can't get $1000 less than the listed LT value, can I expect the GS values are actually worth less? My next BMW "was" going to be a GS but not if the values tank this bad. I'll rent one on a consistent bases before I lose $7000 in a year plus maintenance costs!

Food for thought: 2006 F650GS Dakar - $6590. The Dakar hasn't hardly dropped a bit.

Thoughts?

[info]

Two words- final drive.
Until BMW admits a problem and corrects it prices on used bikes will continue to plummet.
I see references to FD failures everywhere.
LT handles great and is incredibly comfortable, but like chrome, it may
not get you home.

[OneShot]

Maybe the drives are not meant to be beat on. I find it hard to believe drives fail if the bikes are rode sensibly. :eek:

[rglassma]

As it haws been mentioned many, many times here, buy used.

[ez_rdr55]

Maybe the drives are not meant to be beat on. I find it hard to believe drives fail if the bikes are rode sensibly. :eek:


I just cannot let this go without a comment: "WTF".

[grifscoots]

I know a feller who rides the snot out of his bike with over 120k on his final drive. A few others, too. Not everyone is getting a final drive, fact is, it's a small percentage.

Since when did buying a bike become an investment with a monetary return? For me, it's two thangs: fun and transportation, in that order.

[Moonshine]

OneShot Believe it

[Retread]

When I was looking at used bike over the last few months I developed a theory about why 2 bikes, similar in may ways, had such different resale values. It seemed odd to me, especially given that new they sell for nearly the same price. BTW, both sell new for prices well beyond my comfort zone.

If you look around the web you'll find plenty of complaints about both bikes. Heck, that's what the web is best at, giving us all a place to complain. I decided that wasn't the reason for the difference.

My thought is this, familiarity and PR. Honda does tons more PR in selling their product than BMW. I think this results in a higher perceived value. I think this primarily effects the used market because at that point things are truly only worth what someone will pay.

For me it worked out well, I bought a used LT for quite a bit less than I could have bought a similar Goldwing. Bonus points for the fact that I like the LT a whole lot more. :)

[jayjacobson]

Maybe the drives are not meant to be beat on. I find it hard to believe drives fail if the bikes are rode sensibly. :eek:
Sounds like a very BROAD (& for once I'm not talking about a chick) statement to me. I think a many members will tell you that their FD nutted up W/O being "beat on." How much beating can you do one an LT, anyway?
I just cannot let this go without a comment: "WTF".
+1!

[ronk1200lt]

Two words- final drive.
Until BMW admits a problem and corrects it prices on used bikes will continue to plummet.
I see references to FD failures everywhere.
LT handles great and is incredibly comfortable, but like chrome, it may
not get you home.
If reliability was the only thing that affected resale value, Harley's would not be trading at the levels they are.

[OneShot]

Maybe the drives are not meant to be beat on. I find it hard to believe drives fail if the bikes are rode sensibly. :eek:

I should have included NEGLECT in my statement.

The worst violators scream the loudest. :eek:

[ez_rdr55]

I should have included NEGLECT in my statement.

The worst violators scream the loudest. :eek:

I get it. You're being facetious. Right?

[motoguy128]

THe K-LT is a 8 year old design with relatively few cosmetic or functional updates since it's redisign in '99. Mileage also plays a big factor. The MCN value might be for the average 5000-7000 miles per year for a typical 1200cc bike. Many LT's are ridden over 10,000 or even 20,000 per year.

Most people looking for used bikes consider a bike "worn out" when it has much more than 50k miles or even 30k miles.

[rdwalker]

Maybe the drives are not meant to be beat on. I find it hard to believe drives fail if the bikes are rode sensibly. :eek:

Well, believe, my friend. I wish I was NOT SENSIBLE...

By the way, a really ridiculous comment was posted elsewhere on this site, following this year's Iron Butt disaster (at least three GS's and an LT DNF'd due to failed drives): "this was probably due to hard usage".

Apparently, these drives are overtaxed by even running on a smooth interstate at close-to-legal speeds.

Soon, we will be asked to ride no faster than 30mph, no longer than 50mi, no more than quarter throttle. There are some bikes that do that (hmmm....) - I guess that they last forever with 3000mi on their odometers.

Wait, damn! So I have the two worst FD offenders on my garage? Now you are telling me... Help! :confused:

[ez_rdr55]

Well, believe, my friend. I wish I was NOT SENSIBLE...

By the way, a really ridiculous comment was posted elsewhere on this site, following this year's Iron Butt disaster (at least three GS's and an LT DNF'd due to failed drives): "this was probably due to hard usage".

Apparently, these drives are overtaxed by even running on a smooth interstate at close-to-legal speeds.

Soon, we will be asked to ride no faster than 30mph, no longer than 50mi, no more than quarter throttle. There are some bikes that do that (hmmm....) - I guess that they last forever with 3000mi on their odometers.

Wait, damn! So I have the two worst FD offenders on my garage? Now you are telling me... Help! :confused:


Roger that! I had a stealer tell me that riding them in the rain is a big NO-NO!

[byke33]

It all comes down to supply and demand folks.

BMW and other manufacturers make all the bikes they can sell and keep coming out with new models. BMW`s are a specialized market and demand will always be less then the new bike+used bike supply.

Two ways to win....buy new and keep it for 15 years. The depreciation curve slows quite a bit and then levels off, while new bike prices keep going up. Wild card is repair bills of course.

2nd way and what I usually do is buy 1-2 year old and low miles with lots of accesories from somebody getting out of the sport or in financail hardship. Then sell in 2-3 years for almost what you paid for it.

Ron

[jayjacobson]

I should have included NEGLECT in my statement.

The worst violators scream the loudest. :eek:

I get it. You're being facetious. Right?
I would like to know how you "neglect" a final drive unit? Not changing the oil on a unit they told you was "sealed?" Then, just kidding, not sealed?

[ez_rdr55]

I would like to know how you "neglect" a final drive unit? Not changing the oil on a unit they told you was "sealed?" Then, just kidding, not sealed?

It's the same old song and dance from BMW! It's almost comical the excuses that BMW come up with and it's sad that some owners actually believe them. Who was it that said if you tell a lie long enough and loud enough somebody will believe it? Why yes I believe it was Hitler!

[OneShot]

Who was it that said if you tell a lie long enough and loud enough somebody will believe it? Why yes I believe it was Hitler!

You just scratched the surface of Hillary Clinton's political M.O. :eek:
I don't buy what BMW says nor Hillary.

[jayjacobson]

You just scratched the surface of Hillary Clinton's political M.O. :eek:
I don't buy what BMW says nor Hillary.
I can't believe you would would disparage Saint Hillary! BMW and Hilary in the same sentence? Well, actually, Germany is extremely socialist....and Hitler did have the big government trains running on time....

[OneShot]

I get it. You're being facetious. Right?

Yes I'm being facetious. By the way, Jean-Pierre Goy just called, he has no idea why his rear drives keep failing.

Neglect: You can neglect changing fork oil.