Anybody know the INVOICE PRICE of a 2009 HD Sportster 1200 custom?

[otdriver]

Are you sure? The reason I ask is my boss use to be a turf care distributor, and he did not get paid for set up from the manufacture.

Now this is two different industries, and he has been out of it since 1997 and alot could change in 10 years. Also if you do know dealers get paid for set up, is this just Harley, or is this the power sports industry?

The main reason I ask is if this person goes in saying he knows the dealer has already been paid for set up he is going to need something more than somebody on the forum told him. It helps to know sources when trying to negotiate.

I'm sure, straight from the local HD dealer service manager here in Hagerstown MD.

[Motorcycle Forum]

[otdriver]

Dealers get discounts off the invoice based on the number of units they sell, any special promos on that particular model, and other factory incentives to sell it. The price also drops if the model was forced shipped to the dealer as part of a marketing push, as opposed to the dealer ordering it because they know they can sell it. The dealer invoice also includes factory holdback and dealer flooring assistance, which the dealers get back from the factory after they sell the unit. Or if a unit is sitting at the dealership for more than 30 days, the dealer may have made an interest payment on the line of credit he used to buy that bike from the factory, so he may have more tied up in that particular bike.

Another factor is that dealers are often prevented from dropping their prices below a certain level by their franchise agreement with the factory, so that competition between dealers of the same brand remains fair. If Harley let one dealership dump bikes at cost, then they would get sued by every other dealer, because Harley had a responsibility to make sure all of their dealerships can stay in business and remain competitive.

So basically all of that means that the invoice price is meaningless, and the price difference between dealerships on identical bikes is not going to be Earth shattering. Harley is limiting production and using a big marketing push to dry up supply and boost demand, so do not expect fire sale prices. Your best bet to get a good deal is to simply do your homework. Shop multiple dealers, including online sales, and see what kinds of deals are out there. Find the best deal, and if you have a preferred dealer (maybe they are closest to you) then give them a chance to meet or beat that deal.

Agreed, but it's a negotiation starting point. I know that dealers have manufacturers and promo discounts, and other incentives that's why that at times they can sell a bike "at cost + $100.00" and still make a profit although they'll try to squeeze every dollar they can out of a customer. As you stated a buyer needs to do his homework.

[BikeNerd]

Here is a good resource if you are looking invoice pricing. Friend of mine who works with dealers introduced me to it.
http://www.seedealercost.com/

Makes me want to sell boats for a living after seeing the markups!

[rapta619]

If your buddy just wants to fit into the HD crowd by buying a sportster and put the usual 100 miles per season then it is a perfect fit. Now for those of us that actually like to ride in comfort for long distances then we would never consider the sportster. For me I already have 5K miles on this season, I could never do that on a sportster.

i put over 5k on my 79 inronhead sporty in one year, including a trip to pa and back (500 miles in 2 days). and that was 1000cc. with my large ass it had no problem pulling me and the gf too.


but i blew up the engine in September and i was done....

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[slozomby]

i have a coworker and her husband that 2up on a sportster. they dont seem to have a problem wandering all over cali.

i wouldn't mind owning a sportster 48. but it' be getting a new paint job fairly quick.

[Y2K]

i put over 5k on my 79 inronhead sporty in one year, including a trip to pa and back (500 miles in 2 days). and that was 1000cc. with my large ass it had no problem pulling me and the gf too.

I rode a '75 Iron daily for 8 years ,did over 500 miles in a day on it many times.
Of course I was a lot younger then,it would kill me now lol.

[rapta619]

i miss it, it was such a nice bike.


Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk