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I'm seriously considering giving up motorcycles and switching entirely to scooters.
So I thought I'd see what my 2008 Kawasaki Concours was worth, according to local Craigslist ads.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/search/mca?is_paid=all&search_distance_type=mi&query=kawasaki+concours
turns out....NEXT TO NOTHING!
I don't think there's any bike out there that depreciates faster than a Concours. Holy smokes you can buy 'em all day long with VERY low miles for under $6K.
Why?
Is it too "specialty" a bike?
Not "fit" enough riders? (Ya need to be 5'10") to flat-foot it.
Poor reputation? I dunno, everybody I read about who owns one loves it... reliable, fast...
Abuse? Unlike a Ninja, I doubt it. The guys who buy Concours tend to be older, touring riders, not guys doing wheelies and stoppies.
Is it just that anyone who can afford a USED Connie can likely, also, afford a NEW one --- including the protection of a factory warranty?
I suspect the key to re-selling a high end bike is EXTENDING the factory warranty for 5 years, which can be done fairly cheaply. (with a transferrable warranty, of course)
The guy who bought my OLD Connie (a 2009 with 36k) was a Kawasaki tech who stated he absolutely bought it because of the extension --- he would get paid to work on his own bike, lol.
Instead, owners finish up the 2 year warranty and sell 'em without ever having done a thing to 'em, no tires, factory service, and that may even include oil changes.
Even if the bike is pristine, if it's got bald tires, that should be a warning to a prospective buyer: This owner may have done NOTHING!
Might be better off buying the bike with 30k miles that the owner has put $3000 worth of farkles on, actually ridden, and serviced. To me, a full fluids change, including brake fluid, is the fountain of youth for bikes.
So what bikes do you see selling dirt cheap, used, what bikes hold their value better --- and why?
Clearly, crotch rockets, because of the abuse most endure, re-sell cheap....
Anyone else want to throw a blanket statement out there about some make or style of bike and why they resell hi/lo?
So I thought I'd see what my 2008 Kawasaki Concours was worth, according to local Craigslist ads.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/search/mca?is_paid=all&search_distance_type=mi&query=kawasaki+concours
turns out....NEXT TO NOTHING!
I don't think there's any bike out there that depreciates faster than a Concours. Holy smokes you can buy 'em all day long with VERY low miles for under $6K.
Why?
Is it too "specialty" a bike?
Not "fit" enough riders? (Ya need to be 5'10") to flat-foot it.
Poor reputation? I dunno, everybody I read about who owns one loves it... reliable, fast...
Abuse? Unlike a Ninja, I doubt it. The guys who buy Concours tend to be older, touring riders, not guys doing wheelies and stoppies.
Is it just that anyone who can afford a USED Connie can likely, also, afford a NEW one --- including the protection of a factory warranty?
I suspect the key to re-selling a high end bike is EXTENDING the factory warranty for 5 years, which can be done fairly cheaply. (with a transferrable warranty, of course)
The guy who bought my OLD Connie (a 2009 with 36k) was a Kawasaki tech who stated he absolutely bought it because of the extension --- he would get paid to work on his own bike, lol.
Instead, owners finish up the 2 year warranty and sell 'em without ever having done a thing to 'em, no tires, factory service, and that may even include oil changes.
Even if the bike is pristine, if it's got bald tires, that should be a warning to a prospective buyer: This owner may have done NOTHING!
Might be better off buying the bike with 30k miles that the owner has put $3000 worth of farkles on, actually ridden, and serviced. To me, a full fluids change, including brake fluid, is the fountain of youth for bikes.
So what bikes do you see selling dirt cheap, used, what bikes hold their value better --- and why?
Clearly, crotch rockets, because of the abuse most endure, re-sell cheap....
Anyone else want to throw a blanket statement out there about some make or style of bike and why they resell hi/lo?
