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Sunday, March 11, 2012

The American Dream: Buying Motorcycles

By Adriana Noton


Inside every adventurous person there is a tiny fantasy about hitting the open road on a powerful motorbike with a signature look and sound. Riding a motorcycle is owning the road, measuring freedom in the miles disappearing under the front wheel, and doing something so individual it is almost scary. Buying Harley Davidson motorcycles is about a lot more than transportation.

Emotion has a lot to do with getting a motorcycle. The freedom of the open road, being able to express your individuality, controlling a machine of awesome proportions - all of this enters into the transaction just as much as the actual machine. You never have to explain to anyone why you are riding a bike. They all already know.

If you don't already understand the appeal of this particular brand, visit a dealership. The sight of rows of gleaming cycles - huge, black street bikes, low-slung cruisers for the ladies in gleaming white and silver, and brightly-colored sportsters - are a sight that will enchant the whole family. It will also let you sit on a variety of bikes, so you can get the feel of different models and bring your fantasy a step closer to reality. New bikes are sold with at least a two-year unlimited warranty. Extended warranties are offered sometimes to sweeten the sale.

New bikes have the advantage of coming with the company's two-year, fender-to-fender warranty. The shop will also be full of accessories. Leathers, boots, helmets, saddlebags, and things bearing the HD logo are all fun to look at, and you can pick up a free magazine that tells of upcoming events and adventures. It is a good idea to get a safe riding video and maybe enroll in a riding class while you are at the dealers.

You may have to walk away from all that shine and look at used bikes, or your dream might be to find a vintage one to rebuild with loving care. It is not hard to find used bikes, since this brand is known for its longevity. Even though the company started small, there are bikes around from year one that still run. These treasure might be in museums, however.

It is not enough to know the resale value of a bike from internet research. First of all, the person selling probably has as much emotion invested in the machine as money. This may make the price higher than the actual value. Also, unless you are very knowledgeable, it is hard to judge how much wear and tear the bike has been subjected to. It is best to have a professional appraiser set a fair market value on the bike, so both buyer and seller are informed.

Harley Davidson motorcycles are cruising bikes. They are not necessarily the fastest on the road and definitely not the sportiest. They may not even be the best built machines out there. But for durability, longevity, comfort, and investment value, they are unsurpassed. An old motorcycle that still starts up with that distinctive rumble will be appreciated long after other once-fine bikes are ready for the junk pile.

Classified ads, online auction sites, local sales listings, and word-of-mouth will lead you to motorcycles in your area. Buying motorcycles is a perennial activity in every locality that is not under water.




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