yeah i know the following:

1.) i need a bike like a hole in the head.
2.) it is ridiculously overpriced
3.) good chance of getting killed on one.
4.) very selfish purchase, from a family viewpoint, etc.

but i figure if i can buy and sell a bunch of crap in order to make the money, then it didn't hurt the finances buying one (maybe...)

anyhow, how would you guys try to generate 16 grand? go to estate sales and auctions and craigslists every week and try to buy stuff low and sell on ebay?

i guess i could get a grand and put it on red at the roulette table and spin the wheel, if i lived near vegas (i don't)

anyhow obsession is a powerful thing...

Buy a used cheaper bike

I bought my Harley from the insurance company, $3000 got me a 2009 Sportster, the previous owner layed it down lightly, just a few scratches but enough to file a claim

I want to live.

I am with Joseph get a used one is you are jonesing for a bike.

I need 3 million to buy and restore a vintage movie theatre.......

If your going to be a professional flipper, then consider the mileage your going to rack up going to auctions and to craigslist locations, the storage your going to need, the competition of items that your going to bid on, the chances that you won't win everything you want, the time consumed in the listing items on ebay, ebay fees, ebay shipping, ebay policies that favor the buyer and not the seller, how many items of what your selling are already on ebay and at what price, loosing money if sales aren't strong enough on ebay,...

The only sources of possibly scoring big would be bidding on storage units, attending police auctions, attending university salvage sales, fixing up and selling cars, and attending home estate sales. Even here, you can still loose big time if you don't know what your doing. It seems to me that for all the time that you may spend on trying to make a buck in flipping small items, you'd be be better off just taking up a second job and earning that $16, 000.

Forget buying one. Rent one and spend some time vacationing cross country. Try both hot mid summer and cold winter.

Renting one a couple of week ends might be a good idea. Then if you don't get it out of your system buy a really good used one. I'll bet that half of the bikes are ridden less than once a month. Bikes are a huge impulse buy and after a summer of ridding lots of people never get back on them. I see lots of bikes covered with dust sitting in garages and the owners would love to sell.

Unless you are fixated on the Harley V-Rod, look at other possibilities. used, other brands, etc.
Do some homework, see whats out there.

I bought my 2007 Moto Guzzi Nevada Classic 750 for $7500 "Out the Door" in June 2008 as it was the previous year model, the dealer just wanted to get it off the showroom floor! One of my credit cards just happened to be doing a promotion at the time of a balance transfer with 2.99% interest for two years. Bought it on one card, transferred it to the other and made darn sure it was paid off in less than two years!

(Those promotions can rape your wallet if you don't fulfill the "agreement", so you gotta read the small print)

Another thing you need to consider. Cost of insurance, tax and title as well as maintenance. Motorcycles are usually higher maintenance than modern cars, unfortunately.

Yeah, then there are the risks. PLEASE wear a helmet and protective gear! I DO NOT believe loud pipes save lives! Even the AMA doesn't believe that!

Loud colors save lives!!! You gotta be seen! Black doesn't do it. and that idiot blasting his stereo in his rollerskate wheeled Ricer will NEVER hear your loud pipes.

-Steve

Used Sportys with evo motors can be had for $3-$4 grand for decent ones. FL's are more but there are plenty for sale. V-rods are even more but there are used ones out there.

Like many things, the bike market is soft. Check Craigslist. A dealer is going to hose you this time of the year.

Sell your radios

I actually plan to 'have' a bike one day, but it is definitely something I would rent rather than buy. I wouldn't want to have it sitting around more than half the year, in the way.

as always, you can always get a big old heaping helping of common sense advice on the ARF forum!

i'm still obsessed, though, i may sell all shares of my one and only company stock to get 2/3rds there... or i could wait until 2013 until someone has a used one of these 2012's...

or i might get over it too!

had a neighbor kid tell me his dad died on one, that was sobering... he said, "take it from me, it's not worth it."

Sobering indeed.

Shortly after we got married, I was regaling the wife with tales of my motorcycling days. After a bit, she gave me a worried look and said "You wouldn't get one again though, would you?"

A little reflection and I decided she was right. My bike days are over and I'm much better off in my truck.

Lost one of my best friends to a bike accident. He was irresponsible; riding without a helmet and more than likely somewhat inebriated. Still.... I rode for a good 20 years myself, and decided to end my riding career at the ripe old age of 35. The roads just kept getting more dangerous and crowded, and drivers were becoming more and more oblivious to what was going on around them. At the same time, my reflexes and eyesight were certainly not getting better. I got into a couple of very close situations where drivers took turns right in front of me. When confronted, they swore they never saw me. A fraction of a second difference would have left me maimed or dead. That's what sealed the deal for me. With the profusion of soccer moms in their giant SUV's gabbing away on cell phones, I would feel even less safe on a motorcycle than before. It's a shame, because I really enjoy riding. But I would only do so on the open road, far away from cities. Not enough incentive for me to invest in another bike. Whatever you do, understand what you are getting into and be very careful. I like the V-Rod a lot. I'm not a Harley person in general, but that's a pretty nifty machine. I'd bet you could find a use one at a decent price. There's a lot bikes out there at reasonable prices.

I've got a 1980 Honda Twinstar CM200 sitting dusty in the back of the shop.
Loads of fun in the 90's, but I grew tired of it.

Here are my two babies. Both are the same, 76 Goldwings. The black one is good for hauling old radios...

Boy, for that level of money I dunno' about the V-Rod. Be sure to look at the latest traditional HD's with the 103 cube engines - sure are nice.

2012 Road Glide Custom

yeah but you must be over 50 overweight have a beard and a ponytail.
Not to mention that every yuppie has one.
If I offended anyone i apologize in advance.
bill

I forgot half bald.
bill