If the fee's are so incredibly ridiculous in Cali why in the hell don't you go out of state to buy? Is it Cali emissions or what that you cant get around?

 

 

on a left over 17, it should be attainable honestly...or close. At least 4k off MSRP

In a 2018 Street Glide Special the dealer has ~4700 in margin from MSRP to invoice... I wouldnt even buy a 2018 unless I was getting AT LEAST 3000 off MSRP, but I would be shooting for 4k off MSRP. So in a left over 2017, that dealer SHOULD want to move it so 4-5k off.

In the Road King Special you REALLY want they have ~4k of margin.

I bought a 17 Heritage last August just after the redesigned 18's were released and got ~4500 off MSRP.
I bought an 18 Slim this May and got 3k off MSRP.
I just bought an 18 Ultra Limited and got 3700 off MSRP.

As far as the fees being high, you dont break down how they are laid out. Tax will be a chunk and nobody can get out of that. The dealer I use in their freight and setup and admin fees is around 2k bucks "on paper"... but my OTD price is all I care about. So 3800 may not be all that crazy all in on the taxes and fees, but the price you were offered is 3-4k to high IMO.

 

I think the dealer has you figured as a "Get Me Done" customer. In other words, not so good credit, make the payments fit & I'll buy the bike.
Price on new '17 should be maybe a bit higher than a used, low mileage '17 & that's only because it will have a factory warranty. Any dealer fee is bs - nothing but additional profit. TT & L is a given, so you're going to have to pay that no matter what.
When a dealer says he will pay off your Sportster, that doesn't mean whatever you owe on your Sportster just goes away. That amount is added to your next loan. So whether you pay off the Sportster, or put that same amount of money toward the RKS makes no difference. You're still going to end up financing the same amount.
I don't know about CA emissions, but I'd find another dealer, one that doesn't prequalify you and lives in the real world of today's HD market.

 

Thank you so much for ALL your input. I appreciate very much