Harley-Davidson Offers 100% Sportster Trade-In Value for a Year
Wednesday July 8, 2009
Harley stock is still down in the dumps, but that's not stopping the Motor Company from standing behind the value of their Sportster lineup, which includes the XR1200, Nightster, and Iron 883.
A just-announced promotion enables new Sportsters bought between July 1, 2009 and August 31, 2009 to be traded in within a year for one of the brand's twenty so-called "Big Twins" or three V-Rod models. Those who choose to trade up will get full MSRP for their Sportster, regardless of how much they spent on the bike. Sportster buyers should note that the calculated MSRP includes factory equipped options, but excludes parts and accessories, taxes, titles, licenses, set-up/prep charges, Extended Service Plan, GAP coverage and any dealer add-ons.
For more, visit h-d.com/ridefree.
Related:
- 2009 Harley-Davidson Buyer's Guide
- 2009 Harley-Davidson CVO Buyer's Guide
- 2009 Harley-Davidson XR1200 Review
- 2009 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Review
- 2009 Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle Review
- 2007 Harley-Davidson XL1200N Sportster Nightster Review
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Comments
Sounds like a good program for someone committed to riding an H-D. The problem for the buyer is that he/she may be a new rider and looking to buy a Sportster as a starter bike, and after a year of riding his/her eyes will open up to all other options out there.
It happened to me. At first I was absolutely set on buying a H-D, specifically an FLSTC, but after I started riding and looking around I realized there were other cruisers out there. I ended up with another brand.
I like sporsters like the 1200 custom. but i only buy harleys because at least you know your supporting american workers and you don’t have to worry about resale value that much heck even there cheaper sporsters models hold there value better then other bikes if you consider how much you paid. just look around at preowned harleys if you don’t believe me…
Many Harley owners are dilutional about the value of their bikes. It cracks me up to read ads using the phrases like “over $25,000 invested”. From the get go it’s a bunch of parts clanging together and wearing out and it will need an engine rebuild at 40k miles.
All of my passenger vehicles have been Fords and the F-150 Supercew has been great (albeit expensive to park in Manhattan), but when it came to bikes I found the Stratoiner to be much better than the Road King or Heritage and in my deal much cheaper than a Sportster 1200.
The Harley Phenomenon is a like a cult. It has all the characteristics of one. The bikes are worshipped and the owners or wanna be owners are fiercely loyal to this idol. I also notice that many American owners combine a patriotism with them, yet you have the Victory which has much less off-shore parts than Harley and is American made. Now you have the Indian revived, which is American also. Harley has a glamorous history, but we have to recognize there are better choices out the from many counries also, that are better and sometimes bigger.
Hey Peter what does you comment have to do with what the post is about??? The post is about marketing and getting shoppers in the showrooms with incentives not about whether you like Harleys or not.
Joe,I guess I’m seeing a shift from this Harley image and more and more folks are investigating other choices, so Harley does need to make incentives to sell their bikes.
This younger generation is not as tied to the image as the Boomers have been. Most of the younger crown are now Urban and informed and an effiecient sportier bike is more their style. I actually thought the V-Rod would have caught on for them, but I don’t think it has.
Peter, I can’t say I’m seeing the same shift away from Harley’s or any cruzier bikes to sport bikes in my area where I live. As a matter of fact all the events I ( Example: Rolling Thunder DC 450,000 bikes mostly cruziers, Gettysburg Bike Week mostly cruziers, Etc. ) gone to this year I see more cruzier bikes then sportbikes. I would say the more young crowd does go for more sportier bikes but as they get old change and go to more of a cruzier style bike (most likely because of comfort and less dangerous). I would say that was the pattern when I was younger and still holds today. Time will tell I guess but as this generation gets older I can’t say I think I will see many 50 yr olds on a Hayabusa. Also in your first comment you mentioned Victory and Indian, are these the sportier bikes you are talking about?? I would say the Vision and Chief are far from sporty.
Joe, I see what you mean that sports bikes are not for older folks, although I am riding an FZ1 right now, which although is not as much of a lean as an R1, is still uncharacteristic for an old guy like me. My crotch does miss my cruiser sometimes though, and I couldn’t ride far away. With the Victory and the Indian, I was just pointing out that if one wants to be patriotic, these are also American made, and have more American parts than Harleys do.
H.D.–over priced and over rated–the only thing H.D. has that is a good bike is the V Rod. But, the old aged bikers have their pony tails pulled to tight and tugging on their brain to know this. Wake up joe and buy a dictionary–cruzier ?? I hope H.D. wakes up and starts building a good bike–lower the price, and stop acting like this bike is a gift from the H.D. above. DUH
What’s the awesome bike that you ride GB??? I’m sure H.D. out sells it 2 to 1. DUH!!
So, neither Harley supporters nor detractors can spell and/or type.
I think the offer is a pretty cool thing for HD to do.
I recently bought a new Triumph Bonneville because I’m an old guy without a ponytail. My bike has 10+ more hp and 100+ lbs LESS weight than a tractor. Oops, I mean a Sportster. (I always get Massey Ferguson and Harley Davidson mixed up.)
All the riders I work with own HD and this area (Central Illinois) is about 90% HD. My boss has a Fatboy and wishes he had a motorcycle instead.
I don’t really dislike HD, I just prefer parallel twin standard bikes so that I can see where I’m going and have sufficient control to avoid hazards.
So if anyone wants to give me a late 60s Electra Glide…
Hey Joe where are you going with that Harley Joe. to the repair shop, Hey Joe. Well Joe, I have had a Harley ( junk ), did more walking than riding– a new bike too. Had a old Allstate motorcycle in the 1960`s– Had a BSA oil marked it`s spot–Like that bike–Had Handa`s, Kawasaki`s and now I have a 2007, Yamaha Royal Star Venture, and thinking about a Goldwing. Talked to a Harley dealer and they talked like it was a gift for me to even look at a divine Harley–Maybe they will go the way of G.M.—feet up and broke so Obama can bail them out. Dub Joe
Hey GB, what’s that stand for Gay Boy??? I guess you need to pick up a dictionary too- Handa. The Royal Star’s are crap, got a friend with one with 20,000 miles and it needed a clutch already, guess that’s why your looking at the Gold Wing Huh?? I know I’m happy with my bike guess that’s why I’m not looking to change bikes like you. Mine runs GREAT with no problems.
Aejotz, what kind of name is that??? You from Mars or something?? A Bonneville beating a Sportster, guess they got crack on Mars because it sounds like you been smoking it.
Let’s keep it clean, boys, and no name-calling… ‘cuz with my name, I’ve already heard it all.
-Basem
JOE, JOE, JOE–don`t get your feathers ruffed up, JOE. I believe I am a lot older than you are. I have had good bikes and bad bikes scooters etc. ALSO JOE G.B. G. is the first letter of my First name and B. the first letter of my last name—JOE— I like my venture– rode it across country twice and no TROUBLE, riding alont with two Goldwings. Calm down Joe or you will have a stroke and not be able to ride your Harley again.
I’m fine GB, thanks for worrying about me. I love getting the Harleys haters going on here. It’s fun for me!! I do really think you should get a dictionary -alont? Someone of your advanced age should be more careful of your spelling. I mean someone as young as me may not spell well but someone as old as you should. Are you going to get training wheels for you Gold Wing when you get it??
Hey Joe, I don`t hate Harley`s just had very bad luck with them. Did more walking than riding—All Sportsters—Harley needs to up grade. I have a Yamaha Royal Star Venture, A V Rod and thinking about a Goldwing. Joe my brain thinks faster than my typing.–Don`t have a stroke then you will not be able to ride.
As I stated before GB, I’m not going to have a stroke, just love getting the Harley Haters like you going on here. I know you said you don’t hate them but you do. That’s why you posted on here about how crappy Harleys are when the posts are suppose to be about Harleys marketing and how they are trying to get people in the showroom. This discussion is NOT about how Harleys breakdown all the time(your luck with them not mine). As I stated before, I know someone with a Venture too and he has problems with it but I don’t judge every Yamaha because of it nor do I go on every Yamaha post here and bash them because I know a few people that had problems with there Yamaha’s. As far as the typing you started first with the dictionary comment so don’t you have a stroke over it ok GB.
I think that joe and GB should ride a scooter and save gas. A nice Vespa, Honda, Yamaha, would be nice. Pres. Obama has the right way of thinking and go green.
G.B. I love the way all of you foreign bike advocates make yourselves out to be intellectuals. Most of you have the bad habit of talking down to those of us that prefer to buy American made products. Many of us feel like there is more to a selecting a product than consulting the consumers guide. Buy American sentiment is not always motivated by coolness, cult or redneck ignorance. Sometimes it’s about giving a damn about the country you live in. By the way, I have an 06 Road Star. It the only imported product with an internal combustion engine that I have owned in my 40 years of consumerism. It’s a beautiful bike but has rattled, overheated and puked gas out of the carburetor ever since I bought it. The dealer doesn’t seem able to fix it. He quoted the Yamagod as saying that it’s “a big road bike that doesn’t do well in city riding”. I’ve basically sent 12 grand out of the US economy and got a poor imitation of a Harley in return. I will be lucky to get half of what I paid when I sell it. Tojo won this time but my next bike will be U.S. made.
Staach, all I have to say is Amen!!!