Will My 2017 TTSE Have Any Value

[GaryWWhite]

   I have a 2017 TTSE with 1450 miles on it. Had since brand new.  I have a little less than 5 more years to pay on the bike and was wondering if it will have any value when paid off.  I do have a "Diamond" extended service contract provided by the dealer which is as good as the factory warranty that will last me until it's paid off. I don't ride much now as I have a very bad back and riding aggravates it.  I was wondering when I get it paid down in another couple of years if I should try to sell it then? The bike has the back box and I have brand new liners for all the panniers and top box never used. I have a tall National Cycle V Stream screen and a Rad Guard screen for my radiator. Bike has always been garaged and all services were performed by my Triumph dealer.  My problem was that I bought extended warranties, paint warranties, service warranties ad infinitum really increasing the cost of the loan.  I thought about trading the bike in for a smaller Indian Scout but was told I would have to come up with $6500 difference or since I have such "excellent" credit could buy the Scout and keep the Trophy!  Didn't go for another bike.  Would really like to have your opinions and insights in a kind and thoughtful fashion.  I know I made some mistakes in the buying process.
My Best,
Gary

[Coconut]

Hi Gary,

Of course there WILL be a "value" of your Trophy - in many years to come.

The amount of that value is very difficult to assess though.

By way of example I saw an advert today for a 66 Year old Trophy
for considerably MORE than I paid for my 2017 Trophy ! ( See below ).

I think you need to work out what it is that you want.

From some of your previous Posts it seems that you've never really got comfortable
with your Trophy, and while I appreciate some of the reasons that you have explained
about your History, maybe you should consider taking a few Test Rides on different bikes
until you find one that really does suit you.

Money is one thing, but you also have to be confident in the Bike you are riding,
and happy while riding it, otherwise - what's the point ?

Cheers, and Stay Safe - Whatever you ride. 

[Saddle Tramp]

Coconut hit the nail on its head when he observed that there is no point owning a motorcycle that you aren’t comfortable with, but despite his mention of a valuable 66 year old for sale, the truth is that most vehicles depreciate rather precipitously until they reach a point where there value stabilizes. In your case, I can pretty confidently surmise that your Trophy’s value will continue to decline for a number of years. With that said, why would you want to keep making payments when you know that the value is declining daily? Taking emotion out of the equation (sometimes hard to do), the practical thing to do would be to offer it for sale right now. If I were you, I would contact the financing Company tomorrow, and ask them how much money it would take to pay off your loan in one lump sum, and put your Trophy up for sale at that price. I would also take out an advertisement in Cycle Trader, accompanied by a number of high quality photographs, with detailed explanations regarding the extra warranties that you have purchased. The market will ultimately determine what your Trophy is worth, but the bottom line is it appears to me that you have already mentally moved on from your Trophy, so why not get it gone? 

[sociald13]

I've purchased and sold plenty of bikes and for the most part, my bikes go down in value w age. The only bike that's held if not gone up in value is my 100th anniversary Harley Davidson heritage springer.

If you are looking to sell your bike, please send me a private message as I am looking to buy a trophy se to replace the '98 1200 I own.

[rpeters549]

Coconut and Saddle Tramp are right.  Be comfortable, enjoy, and use what you choose to own.  Here is the thing about value-

Nothing is worth anything until someone pays for it.  Got a rare car worth 200 Grand?  If you can't sell it the value is pointless.  Beauty, and value, to a point, are in the eyes of the beholder.  I owned a 2000 Goldwing SE for many years.  It's value was low enough I had people telling me I was dumb.  But I rode it a LOT, LOVED every minute of it.  To me, the value has to measured in more than dollars.

Current TTSE?  Dollar wise it dropped fast.  I like it, don't love it.  It's value will level off in the next few years I would assume.  In the meantime I will enjoy it and not worry about that until it is time to crunch numbers for the new bike (probably another Goldwing, sorry folks).  I am glad however that because of the sale price and such, I am in the black on it (worth more than owed), but just not enough to make me want to swap it yet.

Why keep the TTSE for now?  My payment is so low that if I ride to work 2.5 times per week the fuel savings make the payment as well as insurance cost.  And it will be paid off about the time I plan to retire.  Perfect.

[earthman]

I were taught/brought up with the attitude of 'if you haven't got the cash in the bank for an item, then you can't have it' so I've generally bought all my vehicles outright,....only time I have had to get a loan, it were for a tiny amount of what the vehicle were worth so done and dusted in two years for example.

Personally I never worry about what a vehicle will or won't be worth in X amount of time, my main concern is that it suits my needs, makes me happy and that it turns out to be reliable, touch wood I've never got a 'lemon' and I generally keep my vehicles for many many years, they ain't gonna be worth much after ten years or more but in that time I've saved up enough to start all over again.

[Ernest T]

Triumph did the buyers of these bikes no favors.  Compared to their MSRP, they are selling at a deep discount -- new 2017s are going for $15K and used 2017s are selling for $10K. Older models are worth even less and it appears they are still depreciating at a good clip.

The good news is its a brilliant bike so if you like it, keep it, and don't worry about it's value relative to the market. Unfortunately if you need to get rid of it, you are probably going to take a loss. 

[earthman]

Originally Posted by Ernest T

Triumph did the buyers of these bikes no favors.

Yes, I totally agree,.......it doesn't make sense to me why they axed it especially considering that they are still churning out the same lump and drive shaft for the big Tiger. There factory is unique in not having a dedicated line for a bike/model, several different models share the same production line at any one time, all bikes are 'made to order' rather than stockpiled so why couldn't they have kept the Trophy as an option for a few more years at least is beyond me.