Stratoliner vs 1600 Nomad vs 1700 Voyager

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by Loafer

Jim, the over $20K touring models take a jump in price, I think they start at $25K. To me you have the under $20K and the over $25K. For the extra money there should be a difference in material thickness and quality of workmanship. I've seen some HD's that the price was in the $35K range. I can't afford that price range. Under $20K is where I would be looking. And if I was to be looking for a touring model I would seriously be sitting on a Voyager. I happen to like the Vaquero better, but that's just me.

I have to disagree a bit with you here. The HD touring models start below $20k:

HD Electra Glide Classic $19499
HD Street Glide $19499
HD Road Glide Custom $19499
HD Road King $17499

That isn't much of an increase over a Voyager or Vaquero. There's a jump in price from a Nomad to both of those.

The next level of HD models are the Ultra, Ultra Classic and Ultra Limited, which is top of the line. You can get an Ultra Limited for less than $25k, even with options.

The $30k+ Harleys are CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations) models that are limited editions created by a special design team at HD. They come with the 110" engine, Screaming Eagle components, and more bells and whistles than you can shake a stick at. These are high end bikes designed for a specific demographic, yet HD manages to sell them out each year.

My point is that once you start looking at Vaqueros and Voyagers, HD prices aren't that much more. All the Japanese makers have bikes in the same territory price-wise. A Goldwing runs in the neighborhood of the HD Ultras.

I'm not trying to sell Harleys here, just pointing out that there seems to be a belief that you can't get a Harley under $25k

[glwilson]

Thanks for pointing that out CJ... too many people rattle-off that HD's cost $30,000+... which is ridiculous. They are confused. (If it was Loafer... then I understand! JK'g!)

[ponch]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I have to disagree a bit with you here. The HD touring models start below $20k:

HD Electra Glide Classic $19499
HD Street Glide $19499
HD Road Glide Custom $19499
HD Road King $17499

That isn't much of an increase over a Voyager or Vaquero. There's a jump in price from a Nomad to both of those.

The next level of HD models are the Ultra, Ultra Classic and Ultra Limited, which is top of the line. You can get an Ultra Limited for less than $25k, even with options.

The $30k+ Harleys are CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations) models that are limited editions created by a special design team at HD. They come with the 110" engine, Screaming Eagle components, and more bells and whistles than you can shake a stick at. These are high end bikes designed for a specific demographic, yet HD manages to sell them out each year.

My point is that once you start looking at Vaqueros and Voyagers, HD prices aren't that much more. All the Japanese makers have bikes in the same territory price-wise. A Goldwing runs in the neighborhood of the HD Ultras.

I'm not trying to sell Harleys here, just pointing out that there seems to be a belief that you can't get a Harley under $25k

In my own comparison, I was considering true tourers, like the Ultra/Limited vis a vis the Voyager. The Vaquero is more like a road glide custom, which is not a bike I would buy (2" of read suspension travel?). That said, your prices are correct. Just for shits and giggles, I found a lightly used limited like yours for 21K. That is very much in the ball park.

[trosco]

I'll just toss this in, I bougt my 2010 Goldwing new just over a year ago in Dec 2011. There were no 2011 wings because they were moving the production back to Japan. Mine is a ABS model and that means it has all available options except the Airbag. When I bought it Honda was also offering $1000 of Hondaline accessories and a 4 yr unlimited mileage warranty (vs the normal 3 yr unlimited miles). It was $20,493 including all prep, frieght, documentation and taxes. Base model wings can be bought for $18,000. They are not nearly as expensive as many think also. In todays market great deals are available but I have noticed that when the monson shut down production in Japan the back log of 08 & 09 models still in the crate dried up. There were some incredible deals in that backlog.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by glwilson

Thanks for pointing that out CJ... too many people rattle-off that HD's cost $30,000+... which is ridiculous. They are confused. (If it was Loafer... then I understand! JK'g!)

If someone paid 30K+ for a non-CVO, I would question their judgement. Just saying.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by trosco

I'll just toss this in, I bougt my 2010 Goldwing new just over a year ago in Dec 2011. There were no 2011 wings because they were moving the production back to Japan. Mine is a ABS model and that means it has all available options except the Airbag. When I bought it Honda was also offering $1000 of Hondaline accessories and a 4 yr unlimited mileage warranty (vs the normal 3 yr unlimited miles). It was $20,493 including all prep, frieght, documentation and taxes. Base model wings can be bought for $18,000. They are not nearly as expensive as many think also. In todays market great deals are available but I have noticed that when the monson shut down production in Japan the back log of 08 & 09 models still in the crate dried up. There were some incredible deals in that backlog.

I don't think there are deals anymore. From what I have seen, a 2012 like yours would be 25K now. You were lucky.

[toy4bob]

My experience was I could not find a street glide listed for under 20,500 having visited many dealers. I didn't get real serious about buying but got strong vibes that they don't deal much. I could be wrong, but this was also experience of a couple people I know that did purchase in my area.

My local kaw dealer offered me a Vaquero that was listed at 16k for 12k, and I actually went out of town and picked one up for 11k out of the dealers door, plus sales tax.

Even if the HD dealer would have dropped to 18k which I highly doubt would happen, I still saved 7k.

I have no hate for Harley's, just feel overpriced/overated. If I felt I was buying a Yugo in the Vaquero and that HD was a BMW that was worth the price difference, I would have thought twice about not buying the HD... As it is, I saw no point in spending thousands more. And I didn't settle either, the first time I saw the Vaquero I lost interest in the street glide.

[trosco]

here's local dealer, discounts of about $4000 are still widely available. This is before you start the negotiation process.




Gold Wing® Airbag (GL18BM)
MSRP $29,350.00*
Our Price $25,498.00*Gold Wing® ABS (GL18HPNAM)
MSRP $27,900.00*
Our Price $23,998.00*Gold Wing® Navi XM (GL18HPNM)
MSRP $26,680.00*
Our Price $22,198.00*Gold Wing® Audio Comfort (GL18HPM)
MSRP $23,890.00*
Our Price $19,998.00*

[ponch]

Originally Posted by trosco

here's local dealer, discounts of about $4000 are still widely available. This is before you start the negotiation process.




Gold Wing® Airbag (GL18BM)
MSRP $29,350.00*
Our Price $25,498.00*Gold Wing® ABS (GL18HPNAM)
MSRP $27,900.00*
Our Price $23,998.00*Gold Wing® Navi XM (GL18HPNM)
MSRP $26,680.00*
Our Price $22,198.00*Gold Wing® Audio Comfort (GL18HPM)
MSRP $23,890.00*
Our Price $19,998.00*

Right, and to get ABS, it's a $25K proposition.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by toy4bob

My experience was I could not find a street glide listed for under 20,500 having visited many dealers. I didn't get real serious about buying but got strong vibes that they don't deal much. I could be wrong, but this was also experience of a couple people I know that did purchase in my area.

My local kaw dealer offered me a Vaquero that was listed at 16k for 12k, and I actually went out of town and picked one up for 11k out of the dealers door, plus sales tax.

Even if the HD dealer would have dropped to 18k which I highly doubt would happen, I still saved 7k.

I have no hate for Harley's, just feel overpriced/overated. If I felt I was buying a Yugo in the Vaquero and that HD was a BMW that was worth the price difference, I would have thought twice about not buying the HD... As it is, I saw no point in spending thousands more. And I didn't settle either, the first time I saw the Vaquero I lost interest in the street glide.

I think comparing HD to BMW is not a fair comparison to either. They are very different machines, just as is a gold wing.

[cactusjack]

I looked at Goldwings last year when I was shopping for a new bike. The model I wanted was very close to the price of the Ultra Limited I ended up buying. The Goldwings are fine bikes, just not my style right now.

[toy4bob]

Originally Posted by ponch

I think comparing HD to BMW is not a fair comparison to either. They are very different machines, just as is a gold wing.

Sorry, I meant the car. Like compare a mustang to a Ferrari...I can justify why the Ferrari cost more than a mustang... I don't feel can justify the harley demanding 7-9k more

[ponch]

Originally Posted by toy4bob

Sorry, I meant the car. Like compare a mustang to a Ferrari...I can justify why the Ferrari cost more than a mustang... I don't feel can justify the harley demanding 7-9k more

In that case the mustang will give more bang for the buck though. I would also say that maintaining a Ferrari or even a BMW can get expensive. HD isn't that much different from a Kaw, from a Maintenance perspective. In fact, when you need parts, you are more likely to find them in stock.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by toy4bob

Sorry, I meant the car. Like compare a mustang to a Ferrari...I can justify why the Ferrari cost more than a mustang... I don't feel can justify the harley demanding 7-9k more

That's an individual choice, of course. There ARE differences though. Many of them I didn't realize until I bought an HD...

For the money though, the Voyager gets a person on a "tourer" for far less than most choices; and as long as it fits and provides what a person wants then it would be a good choice to buy.

After going to KawaNOW's National in Custer, SD (2009); I looked at all the "add-ons" people were doing to their bikes so I could think about doing the same. After looking at a lot of them I came to a few conclusions. First was that some of these people spent a lot of money (and time) to add extras to their Nomads -- which they could have just about bought an Ultra or GW for the same price without all the time spent.

Secondly; and unfortunately to me... some of the "add-ons" looked like "after-thoughts" that didn't really match the bike's "lines" very well.

After going home I immediately went to look at the new Voyager. It was too tall for me; thus was ruled-out. Disappointed, I stopped at a HD dealer. They had an Ultra (w/lowering-kit) on the floor. They were willing to deal since the new models were coming-in the door that day (and we were in the depths of the recession in 2009). The deal was done for me on the spot. I bought my Ultra for just a few dollars more than the list-price of a Voyager.

GW's, BMW's were also too tall for me. Strat's were too stretched-out.

It's hell to be short!!

[ponch]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I looked at Goldwings last year when I was shopping for a new bike. The model I wanted was very close to the price of the Ultra Limited I ended up buying. The Goldwings are fine bikes, just not my style right now.

The gold wing has odd ergos too. Not cruiser, not UJM, not sporting. I think it works well for shorter people than taller, but I could be wrong...