Only buy used if you can get a good deal. A lot of people overvalue their used bike and try to sell it too close to buying a new bike.

First thing i did was just call around to dealership and ask what the best deal i could get Out the door was. It ranged from 17,000-18500 for a softail slim. I called one dealer and they offered me 16,000 out the door. I was there the next day to purchase it.

I never knew this but any color other than vivid black has a 500 up charge for paint.
This was the first new bike i bought.

 

Color options are insanely expensive and I don't get why. That being said I went vivid black since I plan to do a custom paint job myself one day similar to the skunk look or what Motown just did.

 

Took my bike at MSRP but got the dealer setup fee removed, $500 in parts credit,2 Tee shirts and the first 1000 mile and 5000 mile service for free. Not to bad but I am happy with the bike. No regrets.

I also get 20% off parts I buy from them.

 

Agreed and you can tell why they don't have to negotiate on the price, they have NO problem selling them. The best you can do is to get them to throw things and don't expect a whole lot there either. They know if you don't buy it someone will soon be in there that will. They know they have you before you even walk in the door.

 

The worst thing you can do is ask the salesman what his lowest price is. This is a failure mode. The salesman can say anything. Usually $250 off msrp.
The best approach to getting a deal (I realize not everyone can do this) is to go into the dealership with a cashiers check in hand from a local bank in an amount about $2000 less than msrp. When they see their name on it from a bank, they will accept it. Very rare you would be rejected.
I bought a Dodge Ram 1500 this way. Sticker was $30,000. Cashiers check was $24,000. They took it. They fussed a bit at first, but were not about to let me walk away.

By the way.....get a softail. Best Harley out there. Love my Fatboy with its meaty back tire.

 

wow, interesting thread.. i feel like i was pretty lucky to get mine for what i got it for (just got it last saturday).. i went to my dealer with a particular color in mind. they didn't even have a fatboy on the floor. i sat down with the salesmanager, told him what i wanted, he got on the phone and found one about 45 minutes away. then we started talking price, and i asked him how much he'd come off of the MSRP. lol, he looked at me and said "why should i discount it?" i said because i asked. he said how about $1200 off. i told him i had to see the bike in person before i sign the papers. he said "promise me you'll come back here to buy if i tell you where it is".. we shook on it, and i drove up to see the bike, it was exactly what i wanted. i went back the next day and said i kept my end of the promise and i want the bike. he did a dealer trade, took off the dealer prep and shipping. he sold it to me for $16,500 plus registration, that's it. MSRP was $17,729.. and no sales tax here in oregon. i'm a happy camper

 

No sales tax, now that's a deal. Here in Nebraska it would have cost you another grand just to put tags on it. $#%^& bastards!!!

 

Oh yeah, I also got him to throw in a new helmet too..

 

HRCH said it best the kind of dealerships you have to go to get a good discount are large high volume dealers and they will sell you a ceaper bike but never remember your name or even your face or give you any time of day unless you are coming in to buy another bike. The smaller dealers charge alittle more but they appeciate your business and show it. When you go back to get parts or whatever they give you deals and discounts on what they can and even have been known to throw in a few things here and there. Also when your bike needs service a day before a big trip and youhave no appointment they find a way to squeeze you in with no so much as a sigh. Sometimes you get exactly what you pay for. Its like the difference of buying at a Mom and Pop vs. Megastore. Buy the bike you want and get some dealer credit or discounts we all know we will be buying more parts.

OR buy used, much better deal and room for negotiation.