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Can't Sell a Harley Davidson Anniversary Road King

by Steve
Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Used Harley Davidson Road KingSeems like used Harleys are getting harder to sell these days. Take my buddy Dave for example, he can't seem to sell his Anniversary Road King.

He's had it listed in several places, including eBay, and has received some bites, but no takers. And it's a really cool looking Road King. Check out all the photos on his girlfriend's website.

It actually has an H-D Anniversary edition, custom paint set, #96 out of 100, but he's also including the stock anniversary paint set. It's got ape hangers, tons of chrome stuff, stage 1 mod, and only 9,000 miles.

Granted, the price is higher than most Anniversary edition Road Kings, at $18,000, but then again, he's got tons of chrome and performance parts on it.

So what's the deal?

I suppose the 2007 Harleys, with their 96" motors and 6-speed gear boxes are making it really tough to sell older model bikes. The folks at H-D know their marketing pretty well, and know that existing Harley owners can't resist the temptation to buy a new bike.

Another reason is the price. You can already buy a 2007 Road King for the same price, and get a bigger motor, and a sixth gear. But if you plan to trick out a stock bagger to look like this, be prepared to fork out another $10,000 for the custom paint set, all the chrome, the performance parts, as well as the labor if you plan to have a shop do the work for you. At $18,000, this is actually a steal. But most people don't realize this.

If anything, I suppose companies like eBay and Cycle Trader are going to find big business as people try to sell their older model Harleys.

Oh, are you interested in making an offer on my buddy's bike? Call him at his work, Auto Doctor, in Temecula, CA. He owns the place. He repairs cars for a living, and also owns Dave's Performance Karting, a performance kart shop.

He's maintained this Road King all himself. He's a wrench, and loves to work on bikes, so he does all his own maintenance and upgrades. He's selling this because he already owns two other Harleys, and wants to make room in his garage for a new "project bike". It's a great Road King, runs like a raped ape, and attracts chicks everywhere it goes.

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24 Comments:

  • Chrome don't getcha home and the paint SUCKS! 18 grand - he's never gonna sell it! He'd have more luck if he spray painted it flat black!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8/25/2006 10:58:00 AM  

  • Why does he want to sell it already? He seems like one of those *yuppie bikers* who think it's the cool thing to do... Buying a Harley. Look at it, 9K miles on a scoot that's 4 years old already! And he lives in sunny California! I live in Ohio, and put on over 10K per year myself.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8/26/2006 01:08:00 PM  

  • The problem is Harley is making too many new bikes. Remember a few years ago when you had to wait for a new scoot? I had a couple of Sportys that I bought and rode for many many miles then after a few years I sold the bikes for the same price I bought them for because nobody wanted to wait for a new bike. Now any Joe Shmoe can walk into a dealership and ride away on a new bike any time he wants to. Take a look at any classified ad or Ebay auction, a bike that would have sold for 15000 dollars 3 years ago will only go for 11 or maybe 12 grand now.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8/30/2006 01:19:00 PM  

  • A good bike distastefully customized. The ape hangers and fancy paint job truly suck and no EFI. He should have invested all that money on a big bore kit and 6-speed trans. Good luck.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8/31/2006 09:08:00 PM  

  • I think that "SUCKS!" is a little harsh. Granted, the scheme doesn't do much for me, and I like the leather bags on the Road King, but it's not terrible. I still think that $18K is high for this bike. I have a friend that was offered $10K for a trade in on his Anniversary Police Special Road King. We checked it out on Kelly Blue Book, and that was actually about right. BTW, he didn't take it. I think

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9/06/2006 10:38:00 AM  

  • I got $11,500 for my 2003 flhrci when I traded for the 2007 flhrc. I think it was a Rock Star deal. for the bigger motor and extra gear.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9/14/2006 07:44:00 AM  

  • Honestly, I'd strip what I could off the bike and sell it separately on e-bay. People are always looking at replacing parts..due to wanting to just put more "stuff" on and of course--drops and crashes are reasons for replacing parts.

    I have a friend of mine that is going through the same issue...he's got an '07 Dyna..with nothing on it...

    He's fixing to get a lesson on how expensive parts actually are...

    By Blogger Christine, at 10/02/2006 03:04:00 PM  

  • I've read alot of good suggestions and comments here. If your going to sell or trade in, check the book and see what it's worth. We've all put extras on our bikes and start adding them up when it comes time to get rid our baby. let's be real and talk about today not yesterday. If it's a used bike and has nothing left on the warranty, and priced near the price of a new 96ci,6 speed "ALL NEW", be prepared to hang on to it at that price for some time, someone out there will buy it, but when can be along time. So here's the best bang for the buck if you want action NOW. Strip it back to stock, sell the take offs, and if your after a new bike trade it in, take what you can get, defer your taxes on the new bike. GOOD LUCK

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/05/2006 10:38:00 PM  

  • 18 grand for a bike with only two spark plugs? Come on, 4 cylinders or 6 is the only way to go!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11/26/2006 01:49:00 PM  

  • Hey mate, I think it,s a nice bike
    and don't know why youd wanna sell it, I just bought a new 07 road king and i love it but we still have to see how good it really is, they say it has a few problems overheating when it gets hot and i think it vibrates a little more than yours would and to sell yours and maybe buy the new one I don't think theres really too much difference But good luck anyway

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1/10/2007 08:41:00 PM  

  • Overheating when it gets hot. Isnt that the same thing?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/14/2007 08:48:00 PM  

  • I just checked on trading my 2004 softail standard and was offered 9000.00 this is ridiculous. I wanted to trade on a 07 road king. NADA has a 8500.00 value, Ebay is selling them cheap also. I looked at NADA tradin for 06 models a insant 5000.00 to 6000.00 drop in value. I going to look at a goldwing at least they will deal closer to the loss your going to take. Harley uped production since 2004 and there are no lines waiting now, which has driven the values down like jap bikes

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/05/2007 07:32:00 AM  

  • When you look at someones else's dream bike, don't deny that you see things that you would have done differently. We get too emotionally attached to "our" costly addons. Then, when we sell, we try to recap all or some of that add-on cash, the other guy is adding up in his head what it will cost him to change the grips, and this and that, and they realize it is easier to start from scratch. It's probably best to return the bike to as close to stock as you can, and sell the stuff you took off. That's why I have kept all the stuff I have replaced. It is a really nice RK though, good luck!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4/22/2007 11:42:00 AM  

  • Why would anyone buy that bike when others sell for way less? Even in California really must strike sometime. I just sold my Ultraclassic and was lucky someone
    really liked it and was willing to pay a fair price for it. Add-ons will help sell if you agree with the taste. But don't expect to get
    way over book for a used bike because of them. A friebd of mine wants 2 grand over book for his low miles anniversary bike. I doubt he'll ever get it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/21/2007 06:23:00 PM  

  • Don't listen to these idiots.Anyone who is a real biker knows that the last "real" Harley was built in 2003.This was the last year for the "no high-heat protocol" all carburetor models.You may have seen the shirts and hats that say:(Harley-Davidson 1903-2003 R.I.P.)In 2004 Harley-Davidson "caved-in" to the pressures of the US Government EPA.In 2004 "Hardly-Davidson"(My new name for a once great bike builder) introduced their EFI models.Equipped also with a high-heat engine shut-down protocol,which monitors the engine heat-and begins a 3 phase engine shut down process.This is what happens when you turn over your design operations over to a bunch of "Greenpeace college Liberals".The 04,05,and 06 models (with carburetors only) were not equipped with the high-heat shutdown protocol.Try to push-start an EFI model...if the starter goes down-you're walking! The "Shovelhead" was the last of the "user-serviceable" Harley's.No special tools required for repairs! Just what you carried in your tool bag.(How do you bury an EVO? With a Shovel!)The Twin-Cam(Twinkie),or Fathead motor is a stout motor to be sure...just to many RUB's riding them! Too bad-I would love to get one.The problem is that most of the replies you've gotten are from "shit-house" experts,who wouldn't know a "Knuckle from a "Shovel".The next Hardly-Davidson fuck-up is going too be the release of their "liquid-cooled/push-rod V-Twin motor".Hold on to your Anniversary model.As soon as the liquid models are put into production,the value of a real air-cooled,carburated V-Twin Harley is going to go through the roof! Let the "Yuppies" buy their EFI 96" 6-speeds...we know who you are! A real biker doesn't think worry about chrome,neon lights,and price trends.Also,unless you attended one of the early Jack Pine Races-please get rid of that stupid-ass bell hanging on your bike! Females excluded of course...

    By Blogger jcoopercam, at 6/25/2007 12:41:00 PM  

  • You never get back you custom ad ons thats how it goes.You wanna know the problem with harley davidson one word covers it YUPPIES they buy them put them in the garage and say i have a harley and think that if they have it they are a biker BULLS**t They put them in a trailer and go to bike week 18 k for a used bike NOWAY you wanna sell it i will give you 8k for it

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9/06/2007 01:13:00 PM  

  • That last one 'bout sums it up. I know countless wannabe's that went out and bought brand new bikes at the local Harley supercenter just to be a "biker". They've had these bikes for 4-5 years now and still don't have 4-5 thousand miles on them. I don't get it. Now the market is flooded with these 4-5 year old bikes because they've suddenly realized they really don't like to ride or their old ladies are sick of it take up garage space next to their Jaguar or Benz.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9/30/2007 07:34:00 PM  

  • I'm not surprised. I just paid $22k for a 2008 Road King Anniversary. Why would anyone expect to get $18k for a 5 speed 88 with all of its associated problems when for $4k more they could get the same bike as mine, regardless of paint and chrome packages?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/18/2007 02:25:00 PM  

  • Yes, a few years ago you could recoup most of your add ons but not today. I bought another HD this summer after looking for 3 months on ebay, papers, etc. and saw alot of bikes I felt the owners really liked because of the price. Hell, I can buy a new one for that price and add the chrome I like. If you can find a used bike with all the chrome at a good price, you better buy it. Otherwise, buy a new one and do what you want with it.

    By Anonymous Richie, at 10/22/2007 03:58:00 PM  

  • The poster who rants about 2003 Harleys being the "last" real Harleys doesn't have a clue. Why is it that some people think the old shit is always better than the new? Electronic fuel injection has been PROVEN superior to carbs. This isn't a subject for debate. The proof is there, go look it up. There's nothing wrong with liking older tech, but don't go off trying to say it's better just because you like it or can understand it. Just for instance, no fiddle fucking with chokes, no rejetting carbs, etc. I'll take recalibration over rejetting any day. Also, I haven't seen an EFI model sit and grind over and over smelling like a gas pump yet.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11/29/2007 04:27:00 AM  

  • All of you know it alls make me want to puke. Its a nice bike and its worth 18k. Yes, it sucks we cannot go back in time to by the Harleys of yesterday, I agree. I have an 07 RK, and a shovel that I built. I hate the RK, but its still worth 18k for mine as well. Try buying a new bike and making it look and sound better and different than it came off the floor, its not cheap but this is where we are at.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1/29/2008 04:59:00 AM  

  • Maybe the guy wants to get something different? I think he should just keep it and get another. I got an 03 Superglide. No way I am getting rid of it. Not because the resale is not as good as it used to be or its an anniversary model, (well maybe a bit) but because i spent 4 years to pay it off and 4 years making just the way i like it. not for anyone eles. It is true that the market is flooded right now and the resale value sucks right now because of yuppies and weekend wannabe warriors. Like the yuppie who would take EFI over CV. You spend you 600 dollars and a week in the shop to "recalabrate" and the rest of us smart people will spend 10 minutes and 5 dollars for the screwdiver to rejet or adjust the AFR. The last true Harley was the Shovel. Pesonnaly I never understood why people would customize a bike just to sell it later. Waste of money if you ask me. And the only real problems with the TC88 was 99-02 and that was with the cam bearings and that was fixed in 2003. (another yuppie talking out his but) The TC88 is a good and reliable design. Especially the CV models. One more thought, If a 76 FL is (blue book) worth 8000-10000, what do you think the last year of the carburated harley,s will be worth in ten years? And an anniversary edition at that...... P.S.> I will be picking up an 08 road king here soon..

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1/30/2008 11:26:00 AM  

  • It's unreal to me that Hardley-Davidson would not market the 100 anniversary models to at least hold the value for this pinnacle year in it's history. Not only is this business caught up in investor strategies, it has lost it's allure due to it's over manufacturing. I thinks it's fair to say that real bikers are getting tired of this surge in wannabe's buying a bike just to realize that they are in fact, a fad. I personally want to get back to tradition and styling of a quality american bike. Can you say INDIAN! I hope they stick around this time and I hope they become a serious thorn in Harley's side. Maybe then will they take a good look at itself. Just some thoughts I have on the fabric of america turning into 50% cotton and 50% BS!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/13/2008 01:19:00 PM  

  • "2003 the last real year for Harley," what a crock! The world goes on, Joe. I know the past is safe for you, but your logic sucks. Who decides when to stop the clock. If guys like you were in charge we would all be riding around in cars with no a/c.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/22/2008 07:16:00 PM  

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