Ridiculous Pricing for Used Trikes

[americanbadass]

OK this is going to be a little bit of a rant-but-I have been watching Ebay and a few other sites that have bunches of trikes-and it is getting to the point that nothing is selling because people mark their trikes TOO HIGH. I'm talking 10-15 year old trikes with 20-50K miles one them going for 25-30,000.00 bucks. I check these sites daily, thinking a deal may come along-and it never does!

It seems simple to me-you should take the cost of the conversion less depreciation, and the value of the bike according to the mileage and real value and add them together (2 +3=5). Would this not be the sensible way to approach pricing? It seems to get more unrealistic by the week. Maybe I just have to much time on my hands-but I think these people need to be hit upside the head-to jar some sense into them.
END OF RANT

[rmrc51]

It seems to me that people are trying to get what they actually put into their trike, adding up all of the accessories they installed. "Not going to happen!" Unless you get a buyer who is completely head-over-heels regarding a trike, you'll rarely see a person re-coping every thing they put into their rig, let alone, making a profit. Just be patient. Eventually, one will come along that will fit not only fit your budget, but your expectations as well!

[rhino 2]

Any one that over prices an idem doesn't really want to sell it.
Sought of like the old saying, Raising the flag to see who salutes it!

[lasso]

I've been noticing this trend with trikes for several years. Every great once in a blue moon, one will pop up that is priced for what it is actually worth.

[bayoudave]

I have seen many trikes that I thought were too high in price. However, there are some that can be had but they usually are on Ebay because the locals snatch them up. My friend just bought a 2004 with 50,000 miles has MotorTrike kit, aqua shields, CB and many other extras for 14,500. That is a reasonable price. I purchased my 2002 last year from a local has every piece of chrome, cb, 6 cd changer, and every add on you can think of for 21,000 had 32,000 miles. So they are out there but you have to be talking to local trikers to find them.

[americanbadass]

It seems to me that people are trying to get what they actually put into their trike, adding up all of the accessories they installed. "Not going to happen!" Unless you get a buyer who is completely head-over-heels regarding a trike, you'll rarely see a person re-coping every thing they put into their rig, let alone, making a profit. Just be patient. Eventually, one will come along that will fit not only fit your budget, but your expectations as well!

I see your point-but-many of theses sellers are way above and beyond adding in chrome goodies and accessories. Hell, they even want to get the oil changes and all maintenence, plus a few grand to boot! Bottom line is they are not selling-one would think a light would go off in a persons head!

[bayoudave]

I know what you are saying. I sold my 1992 last year for $15000 and now the guy that bought it has it for sale for $16500. I called and asked what he had done to it and he said nothing but ride it. I had just put new tires on it when I sold it so he is trying to get all he paid and more plus he rode it for a year. That is being greedy. I know of another guy here that bought a 2002 Goldwing 2 wheels with 4000 miles for $11000 and now it has 10000 miles and nothing added and he wants $13000 for it, go figure. Of course both of them are still waiting on a buyer, they may or may not get one. Of course one of them told me that he priced it high so he could come down to what he really wanted and make the buyer think he got a deal. That ain't right to me. I put the bottom line price on something when I sell it and if you want it for less keep looking.

[bayoudave]

I saw on a post where the seller used Synthetic oil but when he was going to sell the bike he went with cheap oil. That would send me a red flag that I couldn't trust the guy. I would never short change a fellow biker like that. In fact when I sold my 1500 the guy didn't have helmets for him and his wife so I gave him the helmets and headsets for free. I want to be able to sleep knowing that I treated my neighbor right.

[eighty80]

They can ask all they want, don't mean they got it.

When it's time, just offer them what you think is reasonable, you may get a deal.

[paws]

We found one of our trikes on e-bay. We got to see/ride it before we put out a bid. We won the bid - according to e-bay. 3 other people were told they won the bid too. Turns out we had all been scammed and the guy would not sell it for any of the bids. The scammer even tried to get in to everybody's pay-pal accounts. A week later we called the guy back and made a deal with him.

Found the 2nd trike on Craig's List. Rode it, haggled a little, made the deal.

Been real happy with both.

We did notice that the prices seem to drop just before Christmas - I guess people are through riding them for the season and want some Christmas money. The dealers seem to be cheaper in the winter too - guess they're trying to sell last year's stock..

[Rsw]

We found one of our trikes on e-bay. We got to see/ride it before we put out a bid. We won the bid - according to e-bay. 3 other people were told they won the bid too. Turns out we had all been scammed and the guy would not sell it for any of the bids. The scammer even tried to get in to everybody's pay-pal accounts. A week later we called the guy back and made a deal with him.

Found the 2nd trike on Craig's List. Rode it, haggled a little, made the deal.

Been real happy with both.

We did notice that the prices seem to drop just before Christmas - I guess people are through riding them for the season and want some Christmas money. The dealers seem to be cheaper in the winter too - guess they're trying to sell last year's stock..

So you bought the one off the guy that tryed to scam you?

[The Wolf]

Paws has the right idea. Haggling is the best way. Of course no one wants to pay whats on the ticket, it's only natural.... that everyone wants a bargain. I have purchased 3 trikes, helped buy another one and also one via Norway from the States. All done by haggling and waving the greenbacks in the sellers face Sight of hard cash can sometimes get you the price you want to pay.
Oh...and just to back yer man up prices are a little high just now probably due to many folk trying to get back what they put in...(as said before) The economy is going to hit many owners very soon and the for sale signs will be all over the place, with bargains to be had (good hunting)

[Mick]

I see your point-but-many of theses sellers are way above and beyond adding in chrome goodies and accessories. Hell, they even want to get the oil changes and all maintenence, plus a few grand to boot! Bottom line is they are not selling-one would think a light would go off in a persons head!

I call it Old Fart Syndrome because they want to get all of their money back. Even on used and somewhat abused accessories they have sitting around the garage they want almost new prices for them. But the workaround is paying cash and haggling and the cash most of the time will win.

[Pittsburgh Biker]

Pittsburgh newspaper has an 02 Trike for sale with Motor Trike Kit for $19500.00 Ad doesn't state what underlying cycle is other than a Harley. This is a bit higher than I paid for my 05 Roadking trike two years ago.

[Biker-Dave]

I guess I got lucky with my trike. I had looked for over a month for a trike that fell into my price range. I also needed to buy a trailer to go behind my trike to carry my gear. Wheelchair, walker, and junk like that. I found a woman in PA who was selling her trike, with an escapde trailer. We went up and I had my Buddy take it out for a ride. There was no way for me to test it with no left leg. We talked about it for a while, I made a cash offer, and she took it. Bike and trailer for $16,000. The bike is an '01 Ultra and the trailer is painted to match the bike. That was just about a year ago and I've racked up over 12,000. Might not be the best deal that ever sailed by, but I was happy with what I paid.

[easymoney]

i also wondered why buy a trike from someone that tried to scam you. i would not want anything to do with him. he might still have something else to try.

[DakotaTG]

On our way from Jamestown to Boise, ID we stopped at Beartooth HD in Billings to do a little looking around. They had a 2011 TG in Merlot and Black with stage 1, V&H mufflers, tuner and the plain luggage rack. Asking price was $29,000 plus $595. docking charge (whatever that is). The bike has 9450 miles on it and no other extras. No bumper, no other chrome trim added. Doesn't seem like too bad of price but it was pretty plain and didn't seem to stand out otherwise. Mine has the airfoil luggage rack, LED tailights, LED headlight, the LED and chrome package below the bumper, chrome fender trim, stage 1, PCV tuner, CVO slipons, LRS 9 inch flattop windshield with recurve and other trim items.

To error is human, to blame it on the other guy is more human.

[Chazzman]

Good Trikes are expensive and hold there value pretty well compared to most two wheeled machines. I feel they will continue to hold their value because more and more people are being attracted to Trikes now days.

I just purchased a new 2012 GL1800 with a Gen II Hannigan. It was expensive then I added another $4800 in accessories.

I think there are too many trying to make money because trikes are in more demand so they find a bike throw on a cheap kit and sell it for $30K.

Compare that to a top of the line kit on a new bike and that seems real cheap.