What’s the Best Deal You’ve Heard about on 2018 Model Harley-davidson?

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  • hithere
    hithere
    5 years ago
    Hey folks,
    With several Milwaukee Eight issues and the speculated release of new Touring frame (chassis), I was going to hold off buying a new Road King Special or a Street Glide Special until 2019 model year.  However, I started hearing stories of great deals.  I am talking about $6,000 to $8,000+ off the retail prices!!  I know Harley is in it’s 3rd year of declining sales and we are hitting the winter season (quiet sales period).  Just a few days ago, I received an email from Harley-Heaven with an offer for $3,000 worth of accessories with any 2018 Touring models.

    My question is, “What’s the best deal you’ve got personally OR heard from your mates buying a 2018 Harleys?”. It doesn’t have to be for touring models.  It could be for a Softail range.  I would be much appreciated if you can share your stories with me.  I am just looking to get a confirmation of what I have heard OR bust it as ‘wishful rumours’.

    Cheers!
  • PaulT
    PaulT
    5 years ago
    I was going to buy a demo 2018 Fat Boy from Gold Coast HD for 27500 dollars and they offered me a new one for 500 more so 28000, I think plus on roads.... I though that was pretty good. What are these issues with the M8 motor?
  • JFE
    JFE
    5 years ago
    Not sure on negotiation prices but in my area, HD been offering $3000 worth of genuine kit of your choice with every M8. Been like that since launch. Salesman admitted it is so people could make it more Harley. That offer been going so long it like a standard accessory now and negotiations start from that point as a given.
  • STEAMER
    STEAMER
    5 years ago
    I was thinking of trading up to StreetGlide or Ultra a while back. But nearly fell over when told the M8 had put the price up around $3000.
    Put a stop to that straight away. The $3g of extras dont entice me. I think HD have realised the such a big increase in price has slowed the sales down.
  • JFE
    JFE
    5 years ago
    Canberra HD (owned by Morgan & Whacker) advertising new M8 Street Bobs for $19995, black only, ride away.
    HD sales must be harder to come by. Maybe plenty will be tempted as EOFY. Not a bad deal.

  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    5 years ago
    And interesting that the major competition Indian are up so far
  • Jayman6
    Jayman6
    5 years ago
    Quoting paulybronco on 09 Jun 2018 05:16 AM

    And interesting that the major competition Indian are up so far

    It’s a valid point.
    I work in the beer game, and a very real issue we face is the decline in what’s referred to as the “traditional classic” category I.e VB, 4X, New, West End etc...
    The issue is that the generation of drinkers that drink these brands are effectively dying or giving up the grog/drinking less. The next generation of drinkers have nowhere near the emotional attachment to any one brand or category. They shop around on price, quality and what’s “on trend”. HD are dealing with the same phenomenon, and their reaction shows (revised model range, marketing to millenials etc). I’m currently shopping around for a tourer, and I won’t lie, I took a sneak peek at the Indian website myself, as well as BMW & Triumph. Now at 37 I’m by no means a gen Y or Millenial, but I am at the nexus of that generational crossover. I think we’ll see HD pull their fingers out a bit over the coming years, but get ready for internal cuts as well, built in Thailand, factory closures, streamlining of processes. It’s all symptomatic of a company that has woken up to itself. 
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    5 years ago
    Think your on the money Jayman. HD did lift their game a touch with the intro of the Rushmore bikes. It can be argued that the M8 has been a game changer for the brand but people seem to now want techno wizardry hence BMW etc still chipping away at sales. 
  • Jayman6
    Jayman6
    5 years ago
    Quoting paulybronco on 09 Jun 2018 05:40 AM

    Think your on the money Jayman. HD did lift their game a touch with the intro of the Rushmore bikes. It can be argued that the M8 has been a game changer for the brand but people seem to now want techno wizardry hence BMW etc still chipping away at sales. 

    100%.
    HD have been getting away with selling premium priced bikes against brand loyalty alone for years. It just won’t wash anymore with younger buyers. I’m still sold on a Road Glide Special because I love HD’s, but at $6-7k less, a fully optioned BMW GS1200 is incredibly good, same goes for a Ducati Multistrada, or Triumph Explorer, and as you say, Indian are making inroads. That 111 Thunderstroke engine is an absolute dolly. The game has changed, and HD knows it.
  • brash
    brash
    5 years ago
    The local is moving 2018 Street Bobs sub 20k. That's pretty bloody cheap.
  • Rivo
    Rivo
    5 years ago
    Quoting brash on 09 Jun 2018 08:58 AM

    The local is moving 2018 Street Bobs sub 20k. That's pretty bloody cheap.

    Is that Perth Harley ?
    They have that offer 2018 Street Bob $19 995 ride away, cheap 107 if your game to buy one lol
  • Retroman
    Retroman
    5 years ago

    $19 995 is both Perth Dealers , Frasers as well

    Last time the Streetbob was that price ride away was the very last of the 2015 models in early 2016

    Problem is ( a matter of opinion I know !) is that basically the current Streetbob is well , a bit Plain/Fugly to some

  • Jayman6
    Jayman6
    5 years ago
    Pretty much right Rodders.
    Under the Fosters Group ownership we lowered the alc from 4.9 to 4.6 to save a few bucks on excise, and there was all but rioting in the streets.
    SAB Miller (the Sth Africans) bought out CUB in 2011 and one of their first changes was to revert VB back to its old recipe. We even posted a full page apology in all the News Ltd tabloids! The loyal drinkers came back on board, but damage had been done and drinkers had discovered other beers.
    You’re spot on. 
    Interesting times for HD who need to engage a new generation of riders without disenfranchising the core consumer base they currently have. 

  • Geoff3DMN
    Geoff3DMN
    5 years ago
    I recently got an email advertising deals on Street Rod 750s 2017 for $9995, that's $3000 off normal price.
    I'm guessing they're not selling as well as Harley had hoped also.
  • bungle
    bungle
    5 years ago
    ...and yet sellers are still trying to pull top dollar on used Harley's, if you can get brand new for sub 20K then there is a whole heap of wishful thinking on Bike Sales 'n Gumtree 'n such.

    The fact that the line up of 2018 models is less than inspiring .....unless you have a hankering to dress like Marlon Brando and get all rebelly with lack of cause, HD seem to be stuck in a 50's time warp, too much trend chasing to my mind.

    I guess the Sport Glide in undress format is a decent looking bike but pricey. Before I opted for a cheap and cheerful 2nd hand Sporty I did spend a bit of time thinking about the Scout....


  • brash
    brash
    5 years ago
    Quoting brash on 09 Jun 2018 08:58 AM

    The local is moving 2018 Street Bobs sub 20k. That's pretty bloody cheap.

    Quoting Rivo on 09 Jun 2018 10:02 AM

    Is that Perth Harley ?

    They have that offer 2018 Street Bob $19 995 ride away, cheap 107 if your game to buy one lol

    Nah Sydney Frasers. These new models aint moving very well from what I'm told.
  • killerchef
    killerchef
    5 years ago
    Quoting bungle on 10 Jun 2018 03:14 PM

    ...and yet sellers are still trying to pull top dollar on used Harley's, if you can get brand new for sub 20K then there is a whole heap of wishful thinking on Bike Sales 'n Gumtree 'n such.

    The fact that the line up of 2018 models is less than inspiring .....unless you have a hankering to dress like Marlon Brando and get all rebelly with lack of cause, HD seem to be stuck in a 50's time warp, too much trend chasing to my mind.

    I guess the Sport Glide in undress format is a decent looking bike but pricey. Before I opted for a cheap and cheerful 2nd hand Sporty I did spend a bit of time thinking about the Scout....


    having just bought a used HD locally i agree bungle that there are still a fair amount of star gazers out there.  however if your willing to take the time & weed through them you can find a few good priced used bikes.  
  • Geoff3DMN
    Geoff3DMN
    5 years ago
    Quoting brash on 09 Jun 2018 08:58 AM

    The local is moving 2018 Street Bobs sub 20k. That's pretty bloody cheap.

    Quoting Rivo on 09 Jun 2018 10:02 AM

    Is that Perth Harley ?

    They have that offer 2018 Street Bob $19 995 ride away, cheap 107 if your game to buy one lol

    Quoting brash on 10 Jun 2018 11:45 PM

    Nah Sydney Frasers. These new models aint moving very well from what I'm told.


    They gambled that they could shift most of them to the new and improved softail range and pick up some new younger riders and I don't think it's working.

    I reckon they've lost the interest of a big chunk of their rider base who liked the dynas, the new softails aren't different enough to attract younger riders and the Street range (whilst it's not tanking) isn't selling well enough to make up the slack.
  • bungle
    bungle
    5 years ago
    Quoting bungle on 10 Jun 2018 03:14 PM

    ...and yet sellers are still trying to pull top dollar on used Harley's, if you can get brand new for sub 20K then there is a whole heap of wishful thinking on Bike Sales 'n Gumtree 'n such.

    The fact that the line up of 2018 models is less than inspiring .....unless you have a hankering to dress like Marlon Brando and get all rebelly with lack of cause, HD seem to be stuck in a 50's time warp, too much trend chasing to my mind.

    I guess the Sport Glide in undress format is a decent looking bike but pricey. Before I opted for a cheap and cheerful 2nd hand Sporty I did spend a bit of time thinking about the Scout....


    Quoting killerchef on 11 Jun 2018 12:09 AM

    having just bought a used HD locally i agree bungle that there are still a fair amount of star gazers out there.  however if your willing to take the time & weed through them you can find a few good priced used bikes.  

    Yeah Killerchef I check the 2nd hand sites pretty religiously and although there are some well cared for bikes, with and without extra "shiny", the fact that you can get a 107 sub 20k.... 

    You are right there are some bikes priced to sell,  or at least realistically priced. But, lowballing is becoming less of a thing and more of a market correction/reality check. I live in hope of finding my "perfect" bike out there somewhere...
  • brash
    brash
    5 years ago
    Quoting Rivo on 09 Jun 2018 10:02 AM

    Is that Perth Harley ?

    They have that offer 2018 Street Bob $19 995 ride away, cheap 107 if your game to buy one lol

    Quoting brash on 10 Jun 2018 11:45 PM

    Nah Sydney Frasers. These new models aint moving very well from what I'm told.

    Quoting Geoff3DMN on 11 Jun 2018 12:36 AM


    They gambled that they could shift most of them to the new and improved softail range and pick up some new younger riders and I don't think it's working.

    I reckon they've lost the interest of a big chunk of their rider base who liked the dynas, the new softails aren't different enough to attract younger riders and the Street range (whilst it's not tanking) isn't selling well enough to make up the slack.

    spot on, I'm a young bloke. All I wanted was a tough as dyna for years. I cut my teeth on sporties and custom choppers now I'm having the best time on my Low Rider S. A proper modern classic.
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