Have my eye on a used bike at the local dealer. It's a nice rig with a limited edition paint set and other goodies. Price on it is like $18k. Was considering trading in my '06 Ultra. Now my ultra has had more chrome and upgrades on it than should be allowed by law. Now it seems that the dealer wants to charge me for the stuff that's been done to the bike i'm looking at. BUT, when it comes to putting a value on my Ultra, he goes straight to book and gives me a number!! WTF is that bullshit??!! So you wanna charge me one way, but don't wanna give me credit the other way?? What a crock.

 

That's how they stay in business

 

And this is surprising to you?

 

Don't offer to buy the bike unless he wants to strike a deal on it. In this economy you are in the driver's seat, not him. Make him sweat it out, not you. You have a ride in the meantime. You could also try and sell your bike yourself and save the grief of having to negotiate a price with the dealer on a trade in. First, just negotiate the price of the bike that your interested in, then if you can get it for the price that you are willing to pay buy it then sell yours as a private seller. Hopefully the bike you currently own is payed for. Good luck.

 

take all your upgrades off and see if he gives you the same price.

 

I'm shocked.

 

Tell him you'll be glad to honor that as soon as you go home and put all the stock stuff back on and then listen to the flipper noises he'll make . Fair is fair .

 

Dealers offer wholesale allowances for trade-ins and they sell bikes at retail. It doesn't matter if your bike is chrome dipped, bored etc. When it comes to trade allowances it's not worth any more than a stock bike. Best thing you can do is sell your bike on your own.

 

anytime you trade, you take a beating. there are some good suggestions posted above

 

Who didnt see that coming.....have you never bought used cars?do you really think its any differant?