2006 FJRA cobalt blue, clean, w 1800 miles

[Honzo]

It isn't financially prudent nor impossible right now but my wife said, "go get your bike". Who am I to argue?

Some of you may have been reading my debates about getting a sportbike over the Feej. I can only have one bike. The sport bike could be the torrid love affair, but the feej would be the long-term relationship.

Well there's one stone I must flip over in my decision process. My local dealer isadvetising on cycletrader a cobalt blue 06 w/ 1800 miles!!! He's listing for $11k. The bike is NOT on his floor yet. I went to see it a month back and he said it's in the warehous w/ no battery. Still not on the floor as of 1AM. He's not in a big hurry to grace his showroom with it yet because it would be so hard to sell and knows that anyone who comes sniffing for it will be a buyer because they know what they are looking for (folks like us). He's gonna make his killing on the dozens of sport bikes he's got cause his location is perfect for it so... Do you think I would get laughed at if I offered this guy $10k out the door? What do you suppose he might have valued it at at the trade in? I think I wouldn't go over $10.5 OTD so maybe I'm being ludicrous...

Ride well.

 

[angus]

The Kelly Blue book price for trade in is 7,355

I would think 9,000 is a good price you can buy a new 07 for 11,500

 

[Rickster]

I don't think that offering a lower price is out of line.

You may want to do some searching on cycletrader.com and craigslist, and see what others are selling them for.

 

[Murph]

So what happened to the Blackbird? I thought you didn't need an FJR?

As for this potential deal, who cares if you get laughed at? This is a business deal ... you're not looking to make a friend. The bottom line is that the dealer has a personal value for the bike at a price somewhere between the trade-in value and the $11k asking price. Your value is no greater than $10.5 OTD (which includes fees). You'd be robbing yourself if you don't offer low.

If you want to stay within your $10.5k OTD, here's my suggestion: Initially offer $9k for the bike. Even if he balks at the offer, the dealer will "see what he can do" and probably come back with somewhere between $10-10.5k. This is important .... do not say anything! Let there be silence. After a few awkward moments, ask him to do better. He will come back a couple hundred dollars lower.... but still not as low as you need to go. Then tell him that you cannot go over $9.4k for the bike. If he is a full-service dealer, tell him that you would like to buy the bike for $9.4k and look forward to buying parts & accessories at his shop. If he wants to do the deal, he will come down to your price....or ask you to come up to $9.5k. If so, take the deal at $9.5k.

So .... after taxes, title and registration, you will be close to the OTD limit that you set.

You have set your value ... do not exceed it and don't let yourself get talked into going over that price. Be nice but be confident without being arrogant ... do not have an attitude. Do not act desperate. The fact is that there are many bikes out there and, even if this deal doesn't happen, there will be another that meets your needs.

 

[kiteman11]

FWIW you can buy a brand new 08a @ D&H for $11,999 out the door. I would offer the dealer 9500 or walk.

 

[echo690]

I just bought my 2006 cobalt blue, with corbin seat, Yamaha top box. THis bike had 9500 miles on it and was show room clean. I paid $9000.00 to a private seller. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Honzo]

Yeah I don't know what the heck I want anymore.

Anyway, I just saw it through a window since the salesman couldn't get me into the warehouse, which bugged me, but the manager was photgraphing the bikes for posting and surely didn't want to violate . It is a 2006 AE, not the A, which is not what I really wanted. They listed the model and color wrong from the beginning. It only has 1188 miles on it (my mistake). I could not tell it's condition from afar, but with those low miles and being an AE, I guess he's not astronomical on his price. Therefore Murph's suggestions may need another grand added.

Thinking on it.

 

[Murph]

If it's not what you wanted, then you'll never be totally happy with it.

Do yourself a favor and keep your bike-fever in check until you are certain as to what you want. Most of us have been in the same situation. It's best to be patient and get what you want.

 

[RiderCoach Lar]

Hey, he's (self proclaimed, of course) "Chicagolands #1 Suzuki Dealer!". I'd be leery buying a FJR from him based on that alone :glare:

 

[Curious in CT]

I realize that buying a bike is an exciting experience but you need to keep your emotions in check. This is strictly a business deal, the dealer is in business to make money. His job is to extract as much money from your pocket as he possibly can. You need to set a limit on what your willing to pay and be prepared to walk away if the seller is above that number. No matter how nice the bike is or how nice the weather is you need to be prepared to walk away. Sooner or later another bike will come along.

I shopped around for several months and almost pulled the trigger on a couple bikes but I didn't want to travel farther than 300-400 miles. Eventually one came up for sale practically in my back yard for alot less than I was willing to pay.

If the AE isn't what you want, keep looking, your bike is out there.

 

[sml-27]

A dealer near me has a sliver 06 with just 600 miles on it for 9500.

 

[Knifemaker]

since they did not make blue AE's I'd be a bit leery too. Sounds like not the bike you want anyway..

06 A's with low miles would be under that price anyway, hell even an 07 could be had for 10K with extras.

Keep shopping..........

KM