Anybody get out today?

[JustinRR]

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Just my thoughts. The message I am trying to communicate is if you really want to protect the value of your bike then simply invest in art/equity/bonds whatever. There isnt much you can do to protect the re-sale value of the bike. Its a toy that can put a big smile on your face, nothing more.

Hey, not just your thought. But it is common sense, if you are buying a new bike you will lose money no matter what.

HOWEVER, if you buy a privately owned used bike, chances are you might hit a good deal and be able to sell at a greater value in the future. THAT's an investment. But it would depend a lot of factors. I know friends that have bought and sold bikes for higher value, at least 2 of them.

 

[SlayerofSouls]

Hey, not just your thought. But it is common sense, if you are buying a new bike you will lose money no matter what.

HOWEVER, if you buy a privately owned used bike, chances are you might hit a good deal and be able to sell at a greater value in the future. THAT's an investment. But it would depend a lot of factors. I know friends that have bought and sold bikes for higher value, at least 2 of them.

Granted, if you buy a privately owned used bike, knowing that you could potentially hit a good deal is a different mindset all together. You are investing your time and knowledge to find this. The majority of folks essentially buy a bike they feel to be fair valued. How many people can spot arbitrage in the market, chances are prices are often over priced than under priced for bikes.

I purchased an r6 which I thought to be a good deal, soon later I had a bill for new spark plugs, ignition coils and clutch. This was also inspected by a gtam member that buys and sell bikes. Im not complaining, point being it takes expertise to do this.

 

[inreb]

HOWEVER, if you buy a privately owned used bike, chances are you might hit a good deal and be able to sell at a greater value in the future. THAT's an investment. But it would depend a lot of factors. I know friends that have bought and sold bikes for higher value, at least 2 of them.

I know a guy who makes it part of the motorcycling hobby to be able to ride for free. He buys slightly oddball eccentric bikes (think old BMW and Buell) from people that cherish them but need to let them go, mostly for distress reasons. These are typically the type of sellers who put greater stock into knowing their baby is going to a good home and mature rider. So they will let a well farkled almost collectable go cheaper than market value. He'll beat the snot out of it for a year max then flip it to some hipster who just has to have that type of bike. Of course the AD he runs makes much of the fact the bike was owned by a lifelong mechanic and enthusiast of the highest order. It's really quite something to see played out.

Edit: He did a fly and ride to BC where where he picked up a sano BMW R80G/S. Rode it all over BC, then back to Ontario. Sold it for a lot more money essentially getting a free trip out of the deal. That in itself isn't so bad but the way he bamboozled the original owner was sociopathic.

 

[JustinRR]

Haha, yes it is actually not uncommon. If you are good at it and have some sense of market and demand. It can be done.

 

[rye]

I purchased an r6 which I thought to be a good deal, soon later I had a bill for new spark plugs, ignition coils and clutch. This was also inspected by a gtam member that buys and sell bikes. Im not complaining, point being it takes expertise to do this.

Spark plugs are routine maintenance... you can't really be complaining about changing them (and this is something you probably should have just done yourself!). The clutch is bound to need replacing after so many KM's too... electronics don't last forever either so an ignition coil needing replacing isn't unheard of, things aren't perfect on a used bike. If there was nothing else majorly wrong with the bike then I say you did ok.

And of course there are risks buying used, life is full of risks.... but I think we are the risk takers.

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