I had the best rate at my local credit union. Worked out really well.

 

Shop around. Much depends on your credit history, and what you have available in your area.
There have been several good suggestions- try a credit union, and don't dismiss local banks. For smaller loans they may offer signature loans (no collateral required), or standard collateral loans. If you have a working relationship with a bank they may be more willing to work with you.

The better your credit rating, the more options you'll have available to you, and the better the terms you'll get.

With the bike you are looking the amount you are looking to borrow wouldn't be all that much, I'd guess.

Don't get too hung up on the interest rate- on smaller shorter term loans it doesn't make a huge difference if you pay 2.9% vs 4.9%. Loans are fixed costs so to recoup you may have a somewhat higher rate.

If you have no credit or poor credit, you'll have a much tougher time borrowing, unless you use Guido. Just don't miss any payments if you go that route.

 

A local Credit Union would be your best chance, 11 yr old bike might be a problem.

 

What Tom said.

 

If you have good credit, you can give Lightstream.com a try.

 

Never ever finance a hobby unless you have 6 to 12 months short term back up in the bank plus the price of the Harley invested making more than the loan interest...

 

as stated, you're going to have a hard time financing 11 y/o bike.

go to any bank website and look at rates.. they tell you the rate based on how old it is on many of them.

 

Lightstream gave me a range of 7.6 - 11%. Even at the low end of that, that's higher than I want to go. I don't need to finance, but I'll take cheap money if it's available.

Thanks for the helpful answers. The ones advising me to talk to my parents, not so much.

 

Not me. Hope this helps.

 

I took the money at 7.6 because all my money is going into my house right now, but I want another bike right now. I'll pay it off after the sale of the house.