1998 Vulcan 1500

[BlueStreak07]

I'm looking for some advice. A friend is looking at a 1998 Vulcan 1500 Classic with 14000+ miles on it. I've seen a photo of it and it looks very nice and real clean. She said the owner is looking to get about $3000 for it. That seems high to me and I checked both Kelly Blue book and NADE sites, both give an avg price between $1400 & $2000. Any thoughts from the 1500 owners?

[Bud2rat]

I would agree that is a little high $. I'd say $1500 at best.

[degreaser]

sometime and most often, I would pay a higher price if, and only if, the owner has all the records included with the bike, i mean stuff like when and where the bike was bought since new and all the maintenance history to it, without those the price goes way down

[degreaser]

if the owner does not have those, mention it and see if the price can be lowered

[sg67]

Hi
I am always quite surprised to see the price difference between you and in France. For this model with this mileage, it is almost impossible to find for the equivalent of 3000 dollars. Maybe the Japanese customs are less well considered in America than in France .... To 1500 dollars, you have a broken motorcycle :)
Serge

[DragonLady58]

Well, yes, the price is high. If the bike is customized some, that will send the price higher. Also, as these bikes are discovered by alot of the folks that didn't know what such a good buy they've been, bike prices have gone up, so, these bikes because they're known to be reliable as hell, a great quality buy....
I've seen some early model nomads 2001 and 2002s being sold about $1000-$1500 higher this year than last year.
If you buy these bikes at elevated prices, you encourage the selling ....
I've had some great offers for my bike, because mine has been customized enough that other peole like me, really like the style and the custom paint on my bike enough to want to purchase it.

Think of it this way, buy a old harley, have it for years, get a custom frame, seat, wheels, tank, paint/assemble it yourself....$6000-$16,000.
Have Trotta or Exile build a bike for you, your looking at $25,000+ for the same bike....
You decide....

[Jeezfreek]

I may be a knucklehead, last June I bought my first Nomad, a 1999 with 53,000 miles on it for $2,300!! Jus' sayin'!!


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[01Nomad1500]

FWIW, I paid $2500 last October for a 2001 Nomad 1500FI with 45,000 miles.

[plumber63]

Maintains records don't really hold that much weight to me. Mainly because so many do their own maintenance, and can write down whatever they want in a little book and say this is what was done. If its got low mileage say under 20,000, how much could have done to it. 20 year old bike with 14,000 miles, worry more about dry rot.
You either need to know what your looking at, or take some with you that does.
Theres also a lot of people that do their own work that have no idea what they are doing. So regardless of the records, look around at the rest of the properly, will tell you a lot about how well they take care of their things.

[BlueStreak07]

Thanks for your comments. After talking to a few folks and hearing the different comments from the different forms I belong to she decided to pass on this bike.

[Loafer]

She should rethink her decision to pass. The price of anything depends on whatever the market
will bare. Asking for a better price is always good at the end of the look and see. That is a great
bike, and well worth another look. Sometimes I have paid less than the seller originally wanted
and I have paid them what they wanted, because I really wanted it and the 'value to me' was
there. If you can find a great running bike for less than $3K you are doing something right in
your life. Can't find a deal like that around here.
Good luck with finding your best deal.

[DragonLady58]

Another thing too, is the time of year when you want to buy a bike. Pick the bike you want, start looking....sometimes you can just get exactly what your looking for a few states away! Winter time is the best!
I was looking for a 1500 Drifter a good while back....Found exactly what I was looking for....in Florida! Great shape, really low price! Someone made it there before me!

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by DragonLady58

If the bike is customized some, that will send the price higher.

I disagree. Unless the custom touches are EXACTLY what a buyer wants, they're not worth anything extra. You might spend $5,000 adding a huge front wheel but if I don't like that look (I don't), I have to factor in the cost of buying a smaller wheel/tire/fender/etc so the bike would be worth LESS to me. Maybe you've put some loud aftermarket pipes on the bike. Maybe I'm like TC and would rather have quieter pipes. Now, I have to factor in the cost of buying new pipes. Again, the bike is worth less to me.

[Chuck A.]

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

I disagree. Unless the custom touches are EXACTLY what a buyer wants, they're not worth anything extra............

That is a good point. Also the most over looked thing on a used bike is when someone says 'low mileage'. More than likely the tire tread looks good but what is the year make on the side wall. I always plan on tire replacement and a battery when buying a used bike and factor that in with the price I'm willing to pay.

[degreaser]

my experience is that you can add as many accessories as you like to your bike, but when it comes time to sell your bike other potential buyers do not want to pay you extra for those added accessories, that's just the way people are, it's the same when I want to buy a bike, I am unwilling to pay for those added accessories the seller put on his bike