[NCCCC1]

On another thread a man graciously pointed out to me that used Gold Wings, year for year, hold their reale value TWICE as well as Beemer LT's. That thread is "dying" out. I wanted to get some more feedback on this issue from a wider spectrum of our people, so I started a new thread.
I found this apparent truth a little bit disturbing. A good friend had let me borrow his new Gold Wing for about 4 hours on one fine Sunday afternoon. I had never ridden one before. I wanted to buy one. That expirience (of my dissappointment with the wing) really helped to convince me to hunt for a used LT.
My personal belief in the certain superiority of the LT over its challengers seems to be meeting with some hard facts. New, they had cost about the same. But In the "electorate" of the used free market place, what ever value that, as a judge, may end up to be, we are, at best, a distant second by 2X.
Is this because 1. of much better marketing by Honda to what amounts a quite fickle crowd any way?
Is it because 2. in our open frankness of our problems, on sites like this one LT's look much less dependable?
Is it because of 3. the monster sized aftermarket for 'Wing farkles?
4. there's so many more of them?
5. their engines are much bigger?
6. Are they statistically (if any one like Consumer Reports ever seriously studied it out) more reliable?
7. All of their OEM parts are vastly more readily available, with Local dealerships everywhere?
8. LT's are so incredibly top heavy?
Some one help me out here please.

 

[jzeiler]

1. Maybe - then again probably just N/A
2. Nope. Wing's have issues too.
3. Yes.
4. Yes.
5. Nope.
6. Merely a perception as more GWs have failed than LTs were produced. (I made that up).
7. Could be - just like Harleys.
8. Designed that way on purpose.

9. It is easy to create a bike that will please the masses. It is far more difficult to design one that appeals to the rare, discriminating consumer that wants high performance in an appealing package at any cost.

Oh and we are not interested in getting our money back since we feel we paid for the magnificent ride.

 

[Rocketsled]

On another thread a man graciously pointed out to me that used Gold Wings, year for year, hold their reale value TWICE as well as Beemer LT's. That thread is "dying" out. I wanted to get some more feedback on this issue from a wider spectrum of our people, so I started a new thread.
I found this apparent truth a little bit disturbing. A good friend had let me borrow his new Gold Wing for about 4 hours on one fine Sunday afternoon. I had never ridden one before. I wanted to buy one. That expirience (of my dissappointment with the wing) really helped to convince me to hunt for a used LT.

Keep in mind it's a two edged sword. You got a better deal for your 00 BECAUSE it had a lower resale value.

Everything depreciates, it's why I considered a $20k motorcycle in the first place, I just didn't pay $20k for it.

Worrying about residual value, in many ways, is being pennywise and pound foolish. If you get your value out of the bike over a very long time, then it won't matter, You'll have your years, and your bike will be used up.

On the other end of the spectrum, you could be the Beemer owner that gets this year's model, each and every year (do these people exist?)...but they know they're taking a bath in value, and it doesn't matter to them, if they have enough scratch.

It's an armchair quarterbacking tactic to make the GW owner feel better...ask youself: "Why is he working so hard to justify his was the better decision?" Perhaps he's jealous because his looks like all the other Goldwings. :histerica

Ain't no thing. I hear some folks like Harleys, too!! What's the depreciation curve of the GW compared to a FHLWTWS Ultra Low?

 

[NCCCC1]

Excellent thoughts guys!!! I had wondered what substantatively could have shifted the used market so hard....Am I really missing something here? Could the fact that 10. The Gold wing is still in the full swing of production while we have been phased out influence the masses so bad?

 

[johnbaker15]

Oh and we are not interested in getting our money back since we feel we paid for the magnificent ride.

+1 but like number 6 answer also.

 

[Spenceer]

Its cheaper to by new with BMW financing.
Then there is the BMW corporate snotty attitude.

 

[tips727]

All I know is that LT lovers are in a great position. We should be able to find good quality, low mileage bikes at very reasonable prices for some time to come. If the depreciation factor you mentioned is correct we could buy two for the price of a comparable Wing. One could be kept as a parts bike to keep the other one on the road (practically) forever. I'm not planning on doing that because I believe the one I have now will last for about as long as I need it to, that is as long as nobody broadsides me again.

 

[LTFan]

People might be comparing it with cars. BMW vs Honda. I would prefer BMW in cars as well.

 

[FlyK12LT]

The oldwings hold their value because many riders settle for boring and therefore the demand is there.
For us LT riders, we like our ride to be fast, have a nice growl from the pipes and besides, not all wing riders could hold an LT upright. :rotf:

 

[JPSpen]

and besides, not all wing riders could hold an LT upright.

I could hold it up.. But it just got to where it wasn't enjoyable..

I think I have the best of both worlds..

John

 

[patrick2000]

9. It is easy to create a bike that will please the masses. It is far more difficult to design one that appeals to the rare, discriminating consumer that wants high performance in an appealing package at any cost.

.

I like that..

 

[jzeiler]

I like that..

I like your location, YouJean Orygun!!

 

[jrh2020]

On #7, the number of dealerships probably includes ease of servicing.
Suspect most GW drivers don't do their own service.
Example: there are 10 Honda dealers/authorized reps that do service within 100 miles of Wichita.
Closest Beemer dealers are 200+miles (KC) or 300+miles (north Dallas).

Unless you are comfortable with some level of maintanance, will probably be willing to pay the higher price for the used GW over an LT.

jrh

 

[edmann]

speaking of gold wings how about the new design? Ugly don't you think?

 

[aztechmaster]

I have owned two 'wings, both older 1200 versions. I loved them both, reliable, but the handeling was poor, sort of a 'flexi-flyer' effect at speed.

I had an 04 K1200RS, and always wished it had better amenities, thought about a GT, but bought an LT.

I won't ever question that decision, I truly love and appreciate my BMW.

I have ridden a friends 1800 'wing, it left me feeling like I needed backup alarms and a louder exhaust. Smooth, quiet, ......bland.

Living 36 miles from Sturgis, this being HD country in an almost rabid fashion, I have not once ever had a HD rider sneer at my Beemer. Vulcans or Intruders, or VTX's? Oh yes, seen that, heard the nasty comments. Goldwings? "geezer rides" LOL.

If BMW had the dealer support and farkels HD or Honda has, I bet those numbers would be better. I tried to find ANYTHING at the rally last year than had 'BMW" on it, a patch, pin, sticker, shirt, jacket, etc, etc...and found nothing! Sad, but true!

 

[wrmoss]

I purchased the LT because it's like nothing else on the market. However, it's been my experience that much of the riding public I have come into contact with just assumes that I have a GW. I'm always horrified that they think that and sometimes a bit peeved by it. Can't you see the BMW roundrel I think to myself? The only people who do notice are a small group...so, the only people looking to buy used BMW's are that same small group. Just my two cents...

 

[Bones1955]

I don't think a BMW should be even compared to a wing..two completely diff bikes imho.
I'll take the beemer!
Compared to a wing this thing feels and handles like a crotch rocket!

 

[patrick2000]

I like your location, YouJean Orygun!!

I do too...its a great place to land.

 

[wardenross]

I purchased my LT new in '02. My riding partner purchased his new Gold Wing at the same time. He paid $2000 less for his bike compared to mine.

The LT had a slightly better resale value for a couple of years. Then the Wing started to depreciate less and less (using NADA as a guide).

Now his Wing is worth just about twice what my LT is. I'm sure one of the reasons is Honda did not manufacture the Wing for a year. That probably gutted the marked.

These are the facts and they are indisputable.

 

[David_Nicholson]

6. Merely a perception as more GWs have failed than LTs were produced. (I made that up).

They say 92% of statistics are made up on the spot......... :wtf: