Used Trike Value

[JerseyGuy]

Hello- I am a total noob over here-- member of hdforums looking for a trike for my wife-
trying to figure out how to value a used trike- specifically a conversion kit-
looking at a 2005 dyna with a motor trike inc. kit- original investment by seller in kit was 8600 in 2006
bike books at 6 to 7 k--
any thoughts?--thanks

 

[JerseyGuy]

no sir-- only bikes and original cost of some kits

 

[rayg5102]

I found mine on EBAY and compaired others of same year and model. Also might try cycletrader.com

 

[cavie]

Go to NADA for the cost of the two wheeler. Then add the cost of the kit plus install. That's about all you can do. That's what Allstate insurance did with mine.

 

[sandrooney]

Last year I sold a 05 Road King with a MT conversion and an S&S 111 CI engine in very nice condition and got $16,000 and felt that was fair.
A Dyna especially if it is a stock 88 engine ( plan on putting a couple thousand in the engine a stock 88 is gutless with a trike kit ) should be several thousand less. JMO.

 

[0pini0nated]

Go to NADA for the cost of the two wheeler. Then add the cost of the kit plus install. That's about all you can do. That's what Allstate insurance did with mine.

:Agree: On NADA, I added my 2009 XL1200-C Sportster + 2010 Lehman Raider kit. The results were in the ballpark for my trike.

NADA doesn't explain the process very well ~ you have to compare your results with similar trikes on eBay, Cycletrader.com, etc.

Just my 2¢...

 

[JerseyGuy]

Last year I sold a 05 Road King with a MT conversion and an S&S 111 CI engine in very nice condition and got $16,000 and felt that was fair.
A Dyna especially if it is a stock 88 engine ( plan on putting a couple thousand in the engine a stock 88 is gutless with a trike kit ) should be several thousand less. JMO.

They are asking 13500...
You think the dyna would be severely underpowered?

 

[Krautster]

I have a 2002 UC/MT conversion with S&S 510G cams, Thundermax on my 88cid motor, NOT gutless at all, as a matter of fact runs REAL GOOD..

- - - Updated - - -

I have a 2002 UC/MT conversion with a 88cid motor, added a S&S 510G cams, Thundermax, V&H true duals, SE mufflers and is NOT gutless at all, as a matter of fact it runs REAL GOOD..

 

[sandrooney]

All I know is when we first got the Road King with the trike kit it had a stock 88 engine and it was useless. I had an 02 EGC with a MT kit and a 95" kit with cams and SE heads and dyno tuned and it was barley on the edge of being enough.
We have two TG's now and even with the 103 engines I still installed cams and Dunn Performance heads in both along with Jack Pot headers and mufflers and Jack Pot air cleaner and tuned with Power Vision. They are pretty good now.
To answer your question JerseyGuy from my experience it will be under powered, but nothing a couple thousand dollars wont fix.

 

[roadking2]

They are asking 13500...
You think the dyna would be severely underpowered?

The price seems fair if the bike is low miles and in good condition. Maybe just a few hundred over what I'd expect it to be, but fair. As was mentioned earlier, the stock 88 isn't exactly a high output engine. Bump it to 95 or so and it will take you down the road no problems. The 88 will be OK, but most guys want just a little more zip. Does it already have a cam? If not, that's the least you should do. I put a 95 big bore kit and a cam in my 88 and the torque jumped by 21.2 and the hp increased a shade over 19. Stock a 88 has 58 hp and 70 tq. I've got 77.4 and 91.2 and that's going mild with the build.

- - - Updated - - -

They are asking 13500...
You think the dyna would be severely underpowered?

The price seems fair. Maybe just a few hundred over what I'd expect it to be, but fair. As was mentioned earlier, the stock 88 isn't exactly a high output engine. Bump it to 95 or so and it will take you down the road no problems. The 88 will be OK, but most guys want just a little more zip. Does it already have a cam? If not, that's the least you should do. I put a 95 big bore kit and a cam in my 88 and the torque jumped by 21.2 and the hp increased a shade over 19. Stock a 88 has 58 hp and 70 tq. I've got 77.4 and 91.2 and that's going mild with the build.

 

[BearE]

Underpowered Twinkies and H-D History

All I know is when we first got the Road King with the trike kit it had a stock 88 engine and it was useless. I had an 02 EGC with a MT kit and a 95" kit with cams and SE heads and dyno tuned and it was barley on the edge of being enough.
We have two TG's now and even with the 103 engines I still installed cams and Dunn Performance heads in both along with Jack Pot headers and mufflers and Jack Pot air cleaner and tuned with Power Vision. They are pretty good now.
To answer your question JerseyGuy from my experience it will be under powered, but nothing a couple thousand dollars wont fix.

I'm always entertained when I read stuff about "gutless" twin-cams that "can't get out of their own way" and stuff from people about how the twin cams and, to a much lesser extent, Evo big twins, just don't have what it takes in stock form.

I guess we should all be grateful that there was such a thriving aftermarket from 1903 to 1984 to keep all of those 74s and 80s on the road. Oh, wait, there wasn't, was there!?!?!

Fact is, other than one particular bearing for a few model years, the Evos were and are sufficiently powered for anything you can throw at them. So are the Shovels and Panheads, if you deal with cooling issues. The twin-cams have some real problems, but H-D is trying to squeeze way more out of them than the cases can really support and, worse, it's spec'd its bearings etc to an insufficient level of quality. And it shows: see all of the warranty complaints on this forum for evidence.

So, yeah, keep getting punked by the T-shirt store. But keep buying those S&S motors. Or better still, get a pre-90 Evo, '82-84 Alternator Shovel, or Generator Shovel motor. They DO seem to have been able to avoid the engineering reliability issues you've been experiencing.

YMMV orag:

 

[pcombe]

Here's an idea?
Figure out the value of the bike and the replacement cost of the kit and triple tree.
find out the year of the conversion kit and devalue 5-10% for every year as depreciation.
Consider that an insurance company will give you only about 70% of its total value if it were totaled and give yourself a perspective?

In truth a trike is worth what you can get out of it in your area.

I have a 1989 tour glide ultra.
I have a champion straight axle kit from 2013 , the replacement kit is about $7500.00. I don't have all that many miles on it.
The hog halter triple tree replacement is $700.00
plus I have a new engine with 8,000 miles.
I know very well my trike would sell in this area for 15-16,000 with no problem.

Nada will give a high estimate as it is a dealer price, blue book will show a trade in value.
Insurance company's have a salvage value.

HERES A CLUE, WHEN YOU INSURE YOUR BIKE, INSURE IT FOR THE TOP VALUE PLUS THE REPLACMENT COST OF YOUR ACCESSORIES.
DONT FORGET TO ADD ANOTHER 30% ON TOP OF THAT IN CASE YOU EVER HAVE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE IT! BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TO PAY YOU A CERTAIN AMOUNT PERCENTAGE WISE OF THE BIKE VALUE, BUT THEY PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO COVER YOU FOR THE ADDED VALUE YOU PAY FOR ON ACCESSORIES?

Take that extra engine work thing with a grain of salt ok?
The more you do to an engine the more you have to do!

I have 80" evo with nothing more than an E-27 cam and different exhaust to open it up a little. my old trike runs just fine thank you!
95 MPH is as fast as I need or want to go. Harleys have lots of low end torque so don't worry about getting off the line and roll on power.

It not always about speed, sometimes its about longevity. If you really need more umhhpp look into changing the rear sprocket OR CAM UP JUST A LITTLE HOTTER

 

[cavie]

My 1300 VTX is just short of 80 CI. I find no problem what so ever with the power of the trike even with two up but then it's a Hondaepper:epper:epper:

 

[pcombe]

My 1300 VTX is just short of 80 CI. I find no problem what so ever with the power of the trike even with two up but then it's a Hondaepper:epper:epper:

Man everybody and their dog has been convinced you have to (soup it up) and that simply isn't true.

Im of the school:
The more you do to an engine the more you will have to do to make it run right.
The expense goes way up and reliability suffers as a result.
Longevity goes right out the window.

 

[87Trike1200]

Although the OP wanted to know about used trike values, we may have drifted slightly into of what may have to be done to make it 'acceptable' after your purchase - accessories, engine mods and rebuilds, etc.

Granted, I know very little about "H-D Style engines" vs. "Honda style" engines. What I do know is our GL1200 (round numbers) is about 73 c.i. and the GL1500 is about 91 c.i. Although we don't ride the Alps or Rockies, the Northeast has a few good hills here and there. We haven't been "stuck" yet... Sometimes even pull a trailer with the 1500.

Besides normal maintenance (oil change, etc), we put in gas - then go.

No thousands of $$ into engine rip downs for heads, cams, cylinders, cranks, rods, exhaust pipes (or whatever).

This is NOT MEANT to start (another) H-D vs. Honda (or similar) - no one wins discussion. If you like the "rip-it-apart" approach, that's great. If you need a 110 c.i. engine (or whatever the latest size is) so you can be "Leader of the Pack" - wonderful, I wish you well. Except for the well known "stater issue" with the 4 cyl, 1200 eng, we virtually never experience the need for excessive downtime and deep pockets to remain, "On the Road Again".

I prefer the "gas and go approach" with our 73 c.i. and 91 c.i. engines.

Maybe size doesn't matter, after all... :laugh:

Just my 2 cents...