Hey guys, I'm trying to get a sportster and now I'm down to two bikes.
One is a 05 883L with 10k miles and clean with no accident. Looks great.
One is a 06 883L with 2k miles and clean title, but an accident. The owner told me it was a small accident from the previous owner and he still rode it for 1,300 miles. I verified from carfax and the accident was from way before.
I'm okay with the price but stuck in deciding which to choose.

ps: Should I take the bike to a HD dealer and have them checked?

 

I would choose the first, although both bikes have sat around unused for a long time! At 10k miles the '05 should be nicely run in and will probably be the nicest to ride of the two.

 

So with a bit more mileage it runs better? I'd consider 10k miles a little bit more.

 

A "well seasoned" bike will be a better ride than one that has sat most of its life, especially if they are carbed.

You really don't want to get into a super-low-mileage older bike. Once you start in on it, you'll never stop. Stagnation is the killer of most machines, and you'll be rebuilding/retuning the carb, dumping the gas, maybe replacing gas lines or even the tank depending on corrosion/age of fuel, cleaning out oil passages, brake lines, brakes themselves, wiring may have gotten corroded, rust issues maybe, etc. etc. etc... This is why the 25k on my '01 was a welcome sight; she's a bike that's been ridden extensively by someone who loved the crap out of her and proved it by taking her out all the time. <3


- CK

 

I bought a 2001 883c with 3500 miles on it last year and I have had no issues
With it. If stored properly you should be ok

 

Neither bike has a lot of miles on it, so mileage isn't an issue as such. However the '05 has had a bit more use, which is good, also enough miles that it should be run in. If you've never owned a bike from new it may not be easy to appreciate that they don't ride the same way out of the showroom as they do say 10k miles later! It is only a small point, but as I said earlier, subject to checking both bikes over, that is the one I would choose. Of course if the '06 is a drop-dead gorgeous colour.......

 

Yeah, I guess I'll wait till the weekend and get them checked. The 06 is a stunning red, can't resist....

 

I agree with grbrown and go with the 05. If it's a dealer sale, I'd have 'em do a freebie 10K service.

 

^ Happens.... From what I'm gathering, though, these are FTF/FSBO sales, thus we cannot be sure they were stored properly.

Also, what I am saying isn't that low-mileage older bikes are horrible (guess I could've written it better :P); just that I'd personally prefer a bit more mileage on an older bike buy...

Still, for the OP and anyone in the same situation: Simply put, get the one you want more. Even if you do have to clean the carb and do a bit of sprucing-up, you'll be happier with the bike in 6mo/1yr/10yrs/etc...


- CK

 

I agree,