Hey everyone

I am looking at buying my first harley after a few years on a supermoto and dirtbikes...

whats peoples opinions on new vs used? i have the bars and pipe i want already so if i buy new i can get them to chuck in a air filter and tuner or if i buy used those things will probably be done.

with the tuners for stage one, how do they work is it just plug and play or do you need to know what you are doing? i can fit all the parts myself but have no idea how these work.

when buying used what do i need to look for? do harleys overheat easily or anything (just thinking cus air cooled)

normally i wouldnt look at new but it seems that a lot of people want to sell 2015-2016 models for $19000 when i can ge a new one for $21000

Street bob by the way...

I've just got to get back onto my medication.

you couldve answered the non used vs new questions....

If buying used make really sure it has not been dropped and repaired. Look closely for things with marks etc that aren't replaced in a repair, or alternatively things that just look brand new compared to other things. Most HD's haven't been but some do drop them, get them repaired then sell them because they are either scared of the bike or don't want to have any possible hassles later on.

I recently bought a 2014 Fat Bob (My Second Dyna)

4000km on the clock
looking at the tyres never ridden through a corner
Female owner (or a dude with long nails)

I saved $5k off a new one, it came with pipes

For around $2K I added
- Mustang seat
- Air Intake
- Fuelpack tuner
- Black fender strut covers
- Tribal Mirrors
- Progressive 444 rear shocks



Pretty happy as a start.

New vs Old
I'm with you Sam. I bought a new Street Bob because the second hand prices didn't make sense. Why by a 2nd hand bike when for a few extra $k you can get a brand spanker. Everyone is different obviously, but in my mind, I preferred to go down the new path... I tend to keep bikes for a long time though, so I get the value out of them.

Stage 1
It's just filter, pipes and tuner. It's easy. If you're mechanically minded (even a little bit) you can do it yourself... that said, if you're buying new, the dealer will do it for you cheap.

hey guys, thankyou for all of your replies

i got what i expected.... a mixed bag on the used vs new. when i come to buy in about three weeks time i will weigh up what is on the market compare to new.

take it no one puts any stock into the 2 year warranty and roadside assist? ive never paid for any mechanical work on my bikes or cars and i dont intend to start now! but that being said i dont really know what i am looking for in a used harley, i know the obvious things like checking the ends of the bars and levers, making sure the pegs arent scraped etc and it does seem like a lot of people buy and then realise its not for them (why else would you sell after 6000kms)

as for the tuner question, what i want is a stage one, the pipes i want are a 2 into 1 with a big sucker air filter or similar, what i meant was when you get a stage one from the stealership they use a screaming eagle tuner? is this a part that bolts on and just plugs in and works out the new fuel/air ratio itself or do you have to tell it what to do?

Both arguments are reasonable. I'd look at newish, low mileage, private sales and offer low with cash as a genuine seller might sell low. Lots of people trying to sell high but the genuine sellers in need of money usually consider the lower offers when cash is offered there and then

who knew it would be so hard,

I have actually already ordered the bars and pipes i want from the states and a mustang fastback seat.

if i bought a bike with stage one already done with say V&H short shots and i am fitting a bassani 2 into 1, can i just fit the pipes and ride or do i need to tell the screamin eagle tuner that i have changed?

i am still split on the decision,
my pros for new are that it come with the 2 years warranty and road assist (probably never need it but it could be worth its weight in gold) i can get the dealer to do the stage one and hopefully will be reasonably well looked after, 12 months rego included its never been dropped and best of all i am the first owner (it doesnt mean anything but its a nice though)

pros for used is there is a potential to save myself quite a bit of money (im thinking maybe up to $5000) theres a 90% chance stage one is done and if its looked after and has around 5000ks its as good as brand new...
the cons are it could be financed still, couldve been dropped, overheated or generally thrashed, i have to pay the transfer fees and possibly rego and id probably want to service it right off the bat

Sam I reckon (even though I suggested 2nd hand) that if you can easily afford a new bike with the mods that you want then that's the way to go.

But note that I said 'easily', that doesn't mean 'I can stretch to get that much finance'.

If you're nearing your limit then 2nd hand makes more sense, if you've got $ to spare then why not go new.

But yeah I hear what you're saying... it's a tough choice.

One thing that makes 2nd hand easier is getting a good mechanic to check over any 2nd hand bike you're serious about if that's the way you're leaning and if you're going new then the dealer you buy from can make a big difference. Some dealers are great, some are ok and some are shit.

If you buy a late model, second hand, (under two years), you get the remaining warranty.. You can also pay extra for more warranty .... .... If you buy second hand through a dealer and its is out of manufacturers warranty , they usually, (the dealer), give you 3 months warranty... In this instance, you can usually pay extra for another 3 or 6 months .... If you do go the dealer way , try and bargin the extra warranty in the deal, be it in or out of warranty .....

bought my bike 2nd hand 2014 4800ks on the clock had 14" apes SE heavy Breather VH pipes 9 months rego for 18k
i have spent close to 11k on it now and it still was cheaper then a new one... mate of mine just bought the new streetbob custom 2016 fitted stage 1 with vh short shots and 12" bars ride away cost him 32k from Harley Heaven Sydney

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that the Street Bob hasn't altered much since they put the 103 motor in it, it's not like buying a Street Glide where you've got to consider that there is a completely different motor in it.

You're not getting anything with a new one other than the fact that it's new (which is nice I know) but it's hard to put a dollar value on 'new'.

So what's the decision? I say save a few thousand buying secondhand and put your pipes and stuff on. Use your savings for some bling, but mainly to fund covering some serious miles and enjoy!

So what's the decision? I say save a few thousand buying secondhand and put your pipes and stuff on. Use your savings for some bling, but mainly to fund covering some serious miles and enjoy!

youre posting in the wrong thread speedo,if you read the title the bloke is wanting some advice.
I don't reckon you are qualified to give advice about fuck all.
Except maybe the arsefuck thing. Youre probably an expert in that department.

yeah paid 26k plus on roads for 2016 bob special ... placed a stage 1 kit with VH short shots and changed his bars to 14" other then that she is stock..
o

So I am going new, but only because I got such a good deal,

Ultimately I paid more up front but by the time I'd've done a service and stamp duty it would be up there! Super excited and pics to follow!

buying new at the moment is crazy imo
So many good low mileage second hand bikes out there atm with pipes , air cleaner and all the good shit on em. save thousands.

Buy new and your up for 2 k just to get the fucking thing goin half decent