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Posted by badboy194
- October 08, 2013, 22:41:46 PMI love my Drifters as much as anyone, but to buy one specifically for investment purposes I don't think so. As much as we love these bikes others love their brand just as much. I had 5 in my garage and sold one. It was a 2000 with Roadhouse 2 into 1, Fire and Steel black lightbar, Fire and Steel Black windshield, Fire and Steel black crash bar, Corbin solo seat, and 5000 miles on it. Sold for $4900. These are 10+ year bikes and there are newer and better bikes out there for less. There are many good deals out there on Drifters many with low mileage. I just saw one with 400 miles for $4500. That bike Pilgrim offered you looks like a quality bike at a very good price. If you are really serious don't talk, go get it before someone else does.
Posted by dakuhosu
- October 07, 2013, 13:00:51 PMQuote from: John Hopkins on October 07, 2013, 08:25:16 AMAre we talking about money here?
The problem with collecting motorcycles is that unless you maintain them and ride them they start to seize up..I don't think collecting is a short term investment..the only way to make money on a collectors item is to sell it, and then the investment ends., and the only way to sell it is if someone want's it more than you do..Drifters are a great bike but I'm not sure how many owners wouldn't rather have one of the new Indians..
John.
So true, but with planning and proper care they would be an excellent investment no doubt. I love to ride mine but would be just as happy to have a few with all fluids drained and sitting in a climate controlled garage. It's a slam bang, sure fire investment in my opinion. When you look at one, without knowing anything, they look like 7-20k bikes. Never do they look like 2500-5000 motorcycles. I think it's because they are so obscure. I never even heard of one before. Plus it's cool to go out and look at real tangible assets, who wants to look at stupid paper.
Posted by John Hopkins
- October 07, 2013, 08:25:16 AMQuote from: DC on October 07, 2013, 07:25:29 AMAre we talking about money here?If I were a wealthy person (these cult wives are starting to drain me dry), I'd get a barn or a warehouse and start accumulating Drifters. There are only so many of them out there and the number of them is not increasing!
The problem with collecting motorcycles is that unless you maintain them and ride them they start to seize up..I don't think collecting is a short term investment..the only way to make money on a collectors item is to sell it, and then the investment ends., and the only way to sell it is if someone want's it more than you do..Drifters are a great bike but I'm not sure how many owners wouldn't rather have one of the new Indians..
John.
Posted by DC
- October 07, 2013, 07:25:29 AMIf I were a wealthy person (these cult wives are starting to drain me dry), I'd get a barn or a warehouse and start accumulating Drifters. There are only so many of them out there and the number of them is not increasing!
Posted by John Hopkins
- October 06, 2013, 16:55:09 PMQuote from: dakuhosu on October 06, 2013, 10:56:42 AMI think I paid £3,000 for mine so that falls in line with the above..But if I'd realised how good it was going to be I would have paid more..$4500-$5500 depending on how it's outfitted. I bought my stock 99 with 20k on the clock from a private owner for 3500 and had 3 to choose from within 400 miles. Today I would buy one that already had most of what I wanted or at least the one critical component (The Doolies!!!) and I would be happy to pay for it. My first must have was the blackout version which should also be a premium I would think.
John.
Posted by dakuhosu
- October 06, 2013, 10:56:42 AM$4500-$5500 depending on how it's outfitted. I bought my stock 99 with 20k on the clock from a private owner for 3500 and had 3 to choose from within 400 miles. Today I would buy one that already had most of what I wanted or at least the one critical component (The Doolies!!!) and I would be happy to pay for it. My first must have was the blackout version which should also be a premium I would think.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- October 06, 2013, 09:27:53 AMtestpilot, there is some decent looking rides there, prices seem fair and right, some do involve travel to pick up the ride but it might be worth it, if you can swing time from work. Wish we had a national way of doing it but our Auto Trader.ca is not very good.
Posted by testpilot
- October 06, 2013, 08:53:57 AMGo to cycletrader.com and do a search for Kawasaki Drifter. I found 24 listings from all over the country. Ten were for 1500s and the rest were 800s. You can get an idea of asking price range. When buying from a dealer you can usually negotiate 10 to 20% off of their asking price, depending on time of year, their inventory and even end-of-month when they want to hit a certain sales goal. When I bought my '05 1500 with 5,000 miles on it in 2011, they were asking $6,500. I got them down to $5,700 plus a really nice full faced helmet and new windscreen at their cost. It's my first motocycle and I've loved every minute on it.
Posted by greenbarn
- October 04, 2013, 21:50:49 PMPersonally, IMO, I don't think there are enough of these things in existence, let alone enough sold per year, to put much credence in KBB, or NADA for that matter. If I found the one I want for $3620, then I'd be all over it like Miley Cyrus on a sledge hammer. $5600 seems about average for what I've seen advertised from dealers.
Of course it's all dependent on 1) condition 2) mileage 3) accessories 4) market - not necessarily in that order. Personally, I'm shopping for a 1500 myself, and I'm looking a LOT at the more expensive accessories that I know I want. For example, I see some bone stock machines for lets say $6000. There is no way I will want to buy that when I see other bikes with bags, 2-up seat, windshield, etc. (this stuff is expensive) for the same $6000, maybe even with a few extra miles. Like you, I'm targeting 20K, but I'd actually consider more for the right bike. I don't put as much importance on little stuff b/c I might change a lot of it anyway, an like tires, b/c they wear out anyway.
IMO, if you can get a 1500 with the "major" options you want, in great condition, with 15-20000, it will most likely be advertised for $4-6000 (at least that's what I'm seeing right now). 'Course, prices may decrease some over the winter, but I've found that there are far fewer listed over winter it seems.
Not to say you can't find a GREAT deal - that's what I'm looking for, because I don't have to buy one right away. Maybe we can both find a deal like Troll if we are extremely blessed. Ask him about the steal he got sometime. I'm sure others have found great deals too.
Posted by ventoracing
- October 04, 2013, 17:13:03 PMI meant what was a fair asking price by a dealer. I see the KBB retail value for a 2000 1500 is $3,620. A dealer in TX has a nice 2000 1500 for $5,600 which I thought was kinda high...
Posted by greenbarn
- October 04, 2013, 17:00:43 PMI'm not sure what you mean by "dealer price" - trade in value, or dealer's asking price?
I've been shopping kind of hard for a 1500 lately, and I've seen then advertised, both privately, and from dealers anywhere from $2500 (with problems) to $9000. The vast majority of them are from $4000 to $7000. Most of these are towards the higher end, especially the dealers.
I always figured something was worth exactly what you can go by another one just like it for...
Posted by ventoracing
- October 04, 2013, 16:21:11 PMI'd like to hear what people think a fair dealer price is for a 2000 Drifter 1500. Assume good overall condition and approx 20,000 miles on the clock.