Few names in American motoring are as iconic as Harley Davidson. The Wisconsin-based manufacturer has been building motorcycles for over 100 years and has attracted a dedicated and passionate fan base worldwide.
But every traditional thing comes with a price. New Harley Davidson motorcycles come at a premium value. They also maintain their resale value pretty well, so a used bike can cost a pretty penny as well. However, there is a way for a discerning buyer to purchase a used Harley Davidson motorcycle without spending a fortune. One of the cheapest ways you can get a Harley Davidson is buying a salvage Harley. You can find a great variety of repairable salvage motorcycles available for purchase on online auctions.
Where To Find Salvage Motorcycle Auctions
The US has a large auction market for salvage autos, salvage trucks and salvage motorcycles. While traditionally only licensed dealers were able to participate in these auctions, these days regular buyers can also sign up to participate in online auctions for salvage motorcycles. Companies like Copart have thousands of auctions going simultaneously for almost every brand of motorcycle, including Harley Davidson.
Is It Safe To Buy Salvage Motorcycles?
Mention the word “buy salvage vehicle” to someone and they almost always think of twisted metal bound for the scrap heap. But, the reality is that vehicles are written off by insurance carriers for a variety of reasons. And those reasons may include collision, flood, hail, and theft. The common issue is that the cost of repair is often close or exceeds the book value of the vehicle. At that point, the insurance company would rather pay out the claim, take the title of the motorcycle and put it up for auction. The degree of damage can go from cosmetic damage to the gas tank and fenders to the literal “nothing left but scrap metal!” In the end, the “safest” type of salvage bikes to look for is repairable salvage bikes.
As you browse salvage Harley Davidson motorcycles, ask yourself a question: what is the extent of the damages listed? Is it engine casings, the subframe, handlebars or a gas tank? Make a list of the parts needed to fix the motorcycle. Source the parts out online – through dealers and on auction sites. Once you have the basics, you can get rough estimates on what a total cost would be by adding potential bids to parts + labor. If you are close to the cost of a used Harley Davidson motorcycle with a clean title, forget it. But if you emerge with substantial savings, then it might be worth bidding on to buy salvage bikes.
It’s Harley Time!
You have found the Harley Davidson model that you want. You can go to the auction site, and look at the inventory of bikes available. If you don’t feel like bidding right away, you can monitor current auctions to get a good idea of what the average auction price is for specific models at certain conditions. You will get an idea of how the bidding process works, and once you are comfortable, you can start the bidding until you get that dream bike of yours!