Times are crook and there's lotsa competition out there - maybe Harley are waking up to that?

 

make mine a virago.....I AM VIC MACKEY.....

Was in Harley heaven Melbourne yesterday, cause a mate is looking at a triumph but the Harley section seemed to be buzzing as well. Trying to talk my mate into a sporty, he likes the 48 except for the impractical size of the tank. Salesman said an iron tank would fit but I thought I'd read it wouldn't? Anyone know?

Ouch!!
Used prices will plummet.

Could be the time of year, all retailers are struggling regardless of industry they're in. Anything 2011 plated is now effectively worthless and they wanna push the 2012 line up, so the prices need to be adjusted to flog them off. A few years back I bought a K8 Gixxer at the end of the calendar year, bike was brand new, had the colour I wanted but the dealer had about 12 of em and I was able to get the bike for nearly $5k less than what it sold for 12 months prior.................I miss that bike!!

Yeah I remember the 6 months wait stories. So what is it going for now? Did they put the prices for the Iron down too?

Yep, the ticket price for the 48 is $18250 here in WA but you will pay less with some negotiation.

I think it's normal for prices to be more negotiable this time of the year as its quieter and they're trying to move the MY11 models out. I noticed they dropped the price of the Blackline's down from $28k to $23.5k.

Yes, it is a slow time of the year and all that, but I can remember ordering my Iron at the same time of the year in January 2010. None available for immediate delivery at the time, I had to wait until April for the bike to be delivered. No bargaining power then, so no discounts. Fast forward to now, and I can walk into my local dealer and pick between two colours of Iron and two more of the 48 on the show room floor, and bargain on price. I agree that Harley got greedy with the new sportsters being popular, and have now priced themselves out of the market. They would have been better off holding the prices fixed and selling greater volume. Greedy pricks.

Peter Stevens always drop the Price on Bikes once there is new model about to arive or over stocked,, A couple of years ago they where selling Brand New XR 1200's for $11.500, $5000.00 off the normal price I almost Bought one

he could try the king sportster tank

 

I took out a Blackline last week as a courtesy bike while my 48 was getting serviced. I had always thought that if i had more cash i would have got one instead of the 48.

I found the wider seat initially more comfortable, but the weird riding position from the bars being so far back killed my lower back. The brakes were shithouse, felt like I was trying to stop a bus by dragging my feet, though the reassurance of ABS was interesting. It also felt gutless as. Might have been because of the dead silent factory exhaust, but it seemed really slow compared to my bike which is just stock with a Big Radius.

Overall i wasnt that impressed. I think we forget some times just how good a bike the Sportiest really are. I won't be upgrading anytime soon.

Same here. I test rode a black line last year. Nice to look at, but the riding position did not suit me at all, handling was barge like and the brakes were worse. I could not see twice the bike (they are near twice the price) over my Iron, so will be keying it for a while yet.

the 48 bubble burst as soon as guy sebastian got one.

I have a Fatboy Lo, I have been on several 1200 sportsters and they haul arse even in stock trim.

Sportster engine is so much better power wise and feels much more zippy than the Fatboy, I really like the Sportster but I just don't fit comfortably on the sportsters for long trips.

HD should not have raised the price on the Sporster, I think all the Harley range should be under 20k to me they are all way overpriced for what you getting for your money.