[1badfish]

Local dealership has a new (just out of the crate) 2004 RC Nicky ed. Dealership has been advertising the bike for $8900 for a while. I went to look at it as they were just getting it out of the crate. Hadn't even installed the decal kit yet, (i didn't know the decals were installed at the store). Anyway, beautiful machine.
I know it'd be a stupid waste of money to purchase a new one. But, when a man gets a case of the wants...
The tool of a salesman was talking rediculous numbers, said the price had actually been increased to 9170 and i could get it out the door for 10,300. That's where he lost me. From then on he sounded like charlie browns teacher. He went on to say that the two Rc's they had were probably the last two in the country. That one even surprised me. What a tool!!
Considering these bikes are 4 years old. What could a dealer sale them for? I know msrp on the RC was 11,999, but these things are 4 years old. Smart money would be a used one, and i've been looking, but if i thought they'd be willing to "deal" to get rid of them. Maybe not.

[rokitt51]

Originally Posted by 1badfish

Local dealership has a new (just out of the crate) 2004 RC Nicky ed. Dealership has been advertising the bike for $8900 for a while. I went to look at it as they were just getting it out of the crate. Hadn't even installed the decal kit yet, (i didn't know the decals were installed at the store). Anyway, beautiful machine.
I know it'd be a stupid waste of money to purchase a new one. But, when a man gets a case of the wants...
The tool of a salesman was talking rediculous numbers, said the price had actually been increased to 9170 and i could get it out the door for 10,300. That's where he lost me. From then on he sounded like charlie browns teacher. He went on to say that the two Rc's they had were probably the last two in the country. That one even surprised me. What a tool!!
Considering these bikes are 4 years old. What could a dealer sale them for? I know msrp on the RC was 11,999, but these things are 4 years old. Smart money would be a used one, and i've been looking, but if i thought they'd be willing to "deal" to get rid of them. Maybe not.

they can sell it (or try to) for whatever they want to, but it would prolly be in their best interest to work with you more on the numbers. If i had the money i would do it just because i love the RC and have been trying to replace my two at a resonable cost. Prolly for less than 8900 though. 4 years old, no new technology, its just plain dated. But a good bike though.

[DUX]

I paid less than that in '05 for my '04. I think it was 8,300 OTD.

The dealer gave me the sticker kit and I installed them myself.

They can ask anything they want for it. What's it worth? I guess whatever someone will pay for an '04 RC in '08.

The Nicky edition has to mean something to you. I still miss mine from time to time, but wouldn't buy it again with all the new stuff out there. I doubt it adds much value to the bike. Look at the other race reps that have come and gone through the years.

Mine just changed hands again. The guy who bought it from me sold it about a month ago. Arata exhaust, scotts damper, power commander, corbin seat, Fabbri windscreen, 3M tankslapper, magical racing carbon fiber hugger, dussault undertail, etc... BEAUTIFUL bike. I think it went for under 7k.

[Hammer]

Let him eat the bike for that price. Find a good used one IF you have your heart set on a RC51.

[1badfish]

I've got my heart set on an RC. I may freakin hate it, but I don't think so. I care nothing for the latest/greatest craze. I know they're dated, heavy, slow, blah, blah, blah. I still want one.

[ldavis]

you wouldn't hate it that's for sure.. make him give it to you out the door at 8900. other than that walk away.. there was a dealership in Arkansas last year that still had 4 1100xx's in crates and they sold them for 8600 OTD.. anything in the 9's or above let it go and find a good modded one.

[1badfish]

Thanks, that's what I figured. I know it'd be smarter money to get one already modded, and one good thing about the RC is that most squids, who would trash it, wouldn't go for the RC in the first place.

[DUX]

Originally Posted by 1badfish

I've got my heart set on an RC. I may freakin hate it, but I don't think so. I care nothing for the latest/greatest craze. I know they're dated, heavy, slow, blah, blah, blah. I still want one.

Don't forget one of the most uncomfortable machines ever built.

[1badfish]

My current ride, an '02 954RR, has many guises: Mountain riding in the North Georgia twisties, several track days each season, and an annual ride in June that usually covers several states and about 1700 miles. With my Corbin seat, the 954 makes a good "supersport touring" machine. I've sat on an RC and though I realize that one must do seat time to have an appriciation, I don't see a world of difference. Of course, I think a 954 is a do anything bike.

[DUX]

Originally Posted by 1badfish

My current ride, an '02 954RR, has many guises: Mountain riding in the North Georgia twisties, several track days each season, and an annual ride in June that usually covers several states and about 1700 miles. With my Corbin seat, the 954 makes a good "supersport touring" machine. I've sat on an RC and though I realize that one must do seat time to have an appriciation, I don't see a world of difference. Of course, I think a 954 is a do anything bike.

I've owned both at the same time and there IS a world of difference.

The RC is a great bike. Just be honest with yourself about why you want one. Cool factor, fun to own, great sounding....YES.

"Supersport Tourer" or commuter? Absolutely not.

[ND4SPD]

Hands down the most uncomfortable bike I've ever ridden. I still wouldn't mind one with a pair of Sato Bansai pipes on it. No sound like it.

[deez]

Originally Posted by DUX

I've owned both at the same time and there IS a world of difference.

The RC is a great bike. Just be honest with yourself about why you want one. Cool factor, fun to own, great sounding....YES.

"Supersport Tourer" or commuter? Absolutely not.

A corbin and some Kyle Clip-Ons turned mine into a comfortable 500 mile day machine. I commuted on mine, rode it everywhere. The clip-ons made a night and day difference.

[skwyd]

I have had my 05 now for a year. I bought it 'Factory New' last August for 9900 out the door. Since then I have put well over 3k into 'extras'. I agree with what DUX says in that you need to know what you want. For me, I wanted a NEW RC51 with the factory 1 year warranty and a bike I knew that no squid had ruined. I got exactly what I was after, and as for comfort, well I am a big (read: 6'2" LARD4$$) guy and after puting a set of giles rearsets and a seargents seat on it, I am pretty happy. I will be getting a set of Kyle Racing Clip ons to improve that even more, but I am quite happy with how it feels now. Just remember that if they have two that are still in the crate then they are probably not in any hurry to unload them so you may have to either pony up the cash or take another line like "getting to know them" so they will give you the "buddy deal".

Would be interesting to know if they have some inside information as to any new RC bikes in the works, and if that is why they are selling what will become a collectors item.

Good luck!

[1badfish]

I doubt the dude I talked to has any inside info on anything. We all hear rumors. Where's the V-4 superbike?

[skwyd]

You mean the Desmosedici? LOL I was blown away when I heard that Duc was finally making a V4! Now Honda needs to step up and show how their years of experience can dominate....Oh yeah the RC212V.....Nevermind.

[b.miller123]

Originally Posted by 1badfish

I doubt the dude I talked to has any inside info on anything. We all hear rumors. Where's the V-4 superbike?

After working at a dealer for a little while, I can tell you that they really don't have any more info than you or I. Any info that they do have, they'll only have it for a week or two before the interweb gets ahold of it.


As for buying this one: How much is it worth to you to be the first and only owner? One year warranty? Not touched by any retards with wire clippers?

I was shopping around for another R1 when I found my RC, it was between an '03 RC with 3100 miles for $7800, or a brand new '06 R1 that was $8900 (+taxes, freight and setup, so $10,600 out the door). And that was the buddy deal (place I used to work at), which was only about $400 less or something. They had paid Yamaha $9300 for it, and so they were only willing to loose out on $400 for me, or break even for anyone else.

So I guess that it wasn't worth it to me. (now I have an RC with $1500 in mods, and a first service that cost me nothing, and I was able to get $600 by selling off the helmets he gave me with it)

As for what the dealer can charge: That all depends on how much money they are willing to loose, or want to make, while getting the bike off the floor. One thing that most people don't consider is that the MSRP and the cost that the dealers pay the manufacturers can vary depending on where you live. So that $1000 less bike on the other side of the country really isn't a screaming deal. Any dealer should be able to tell you how much they paid for any bike (wether or not you believe them is up to you), I would ask them how much they actually paid Honda for it, they might be still trying to squeeze the last little bit of money out of it.

[1badfish]

It's my understanding that some dealerships actually purchase the machines on their floor and some kinda rent/lease from the manufacturers.

[b.miller123]

Originally Posted by 1badfish

It's my understanding that some dealerships actually purchase the machines on their floor and some kinda rent/lease from the manufacturers.

That could be true. But either way, they are paying the manufacturer some money at some point in time.

The place I worked at actually had the invoice from Honda/Yamaha whoever, saying how much we paid them.

From the manufacturer's point of view, it wouldn't make much sense to do the rent/lease stuff, that sticks them with the risk if a bike doesn't sell. Especially if a whole model flops and there are a ton of them stuck on the dealership floors, then they have to eat it, and not the dealers.

Oh, and another note, anybody who says that the whole freight/setup charge is a scam, is frickin retarded. When the dealer gets new bikes, they ALL come in crates. They either have their mechanics do the assembly/setup or they pay another company to do it. The place that I worked at had another place do the pick up (at the port), the assembly, and the delivery to the dealership. I think we paid them about $350 a bike (this was 7 years ago, so it's probably gone up a lot along with everything else, while my memory gets worse). Then we still had to have our mechanics do the setup, which was fill and charge the battery, put oil, coolant, gas in it, and check everything out to make sure it was right, and take it for a test-ride.

We charged something like $600 for the whole setup/freight/assembly thing, you factor in how much the mechanic is making an hour, and the costs for the fluids, and I don't think the dealer was making much, if anything.

Sorry, I always like sharing that tidbit with people who are buying new bikes.

[1badfish]

Thank you. I've got a friend in the biz and haven't gotten the buddy deal or any inside info.

[skwyd]

Originally Posted by b.miller123

Oh, and another note, anybody who says that the whole freight/setup charge is a scam, is frickin retarded. When the dealer gets new bikes, they ALL come in crates. They either have their mechanics do the assembly/setup or they pay another company to do it. The place that I worked at had another place do the pick up (at the port), the assembly, and the delivery to the dealership. I think we paid them about $350 a bike (this was 7 years ago, so it's probably gone up a lot along with everything else, while my memory gets worse). Then we still had to have our mechanics do the setup, which was fill and charge the battery, put oil, coolant, gas in it, and check everything out to make sure it was right, and take it for a test-ride.

I was told once that they cannot sell it to you in the crate too. Is that true?

[slickwill]

Originally Posted by b.miller123

Oh, and another note, anybody who says that the whole freight/setup charge is a scam, is frickin retarded. When the dealer gets new bikes, they ALL come in crates. They either have their mechanics do the assembly/setup or they pay another company to do it. The place that I worked at had another place do the pick up (at the port), the assembly, and the delivery to the dealership. I think we paid them about $350 a bike (this was 7 years ago, so it's probably gone up a lot along with everything else, while my memory gets worse). Then we still had to have our mechanics do the setup, which was fill and charge the battery, put oil, coolant, gas in it, and check everything out to make sure it was right, and take it for a test-ride.

I was told by my dealer that the MSRP set by Honda includes the cost of freight, set-up, etc. so they don't have to add those charges on to their new bikes. So if one Honda dealer is selling a new 600RR for MSRP plus tax and title (like mine) and another dealer is selling the same bike for MSRP plus freight, set-up, tax, and title then it is a rip-off. Supposedly the cost of the bike from Honda is supposed to be low enought that they can sell it for MSRP and still make enough profit that they don't have to add any "extra" fees. Now the second dealer could make up for it by discounting the price below MSRP and then adding on the freight charges to help bring their profit margin back up.

[1badfish]

Originally Posted by 1badfish

Local dealership has a new (just out of the crate) 2004 RC Nicky ed. Dealership has been advertising the bike for $8900 for a while. I went to look at it as they were just getting it out of the crate. Hadn't even installed the decal kit yet, (i didn't know the decals were installed at the store). Anyway, beautiful machine.
I know it'd be a stupid waste of money to purchase a new one. But, when a man gets a case of the wants...
The tool of a salesman was talking rediculous numbers, said the price had actually been increased to 9170 and i could get it out the door for 10,300. That's where he lost me. From then on he sounded like charlie browns teacher. He went on to say that the two Rc's they had were probably the last two in the country. That one even surprised me. What a tool!!
Considering these bikes are 4 years old. What could a dealer sale them for? I know msrp on the RC was 11,999, but these things are 4 years old. Smart money would be a used one, and i've been looking, but if i thought they'd be willing to "deal" to get rid of them. Maybe not.

Price increased to 9250. Lawrenceville Honda in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Unsure about these guys. Aparrantly the price changes every week.

[b.miller123]

Originally Posted by skwyd

I was told once that they cannot sell it to you in the crate too. Is that true?

As far as I know that isn't true, when I worked there we sold a handful of bikes while they were still in the crate.

I don't know if that's against the rules or whatever, maybe they were doing it for special customers that wouldn't tell on them?

Most of those that I can remember where like XR100's and stuff, but there were a few sportbikes. I think the guys just didn't want to wait for the freight/assembly company to deliver them. I actually went down to their warehouse and picked up the crates and brought them to the buyers house.


Another thing about the crate thing: You wont be saving a whole lot of money by getting it in the crate, because if the dealer you go to has any sort of deal like ours had, then they are still going to have to pay the freight company to pick it up at the port or wherever, just not for the setup part. Unless you can convince them to let you pick it up straight off the boat (how cool would that be, knowing that you are the first person on this continent to touch a bike?)

[b.miller123]

Originally Posted by slickwill

I was told by my dealer that the MSRP set by Honda includes the cost of freight, set-up, etc. so they don't have to add those charges on to their new bikes. So if one Honda dealer is selling a new 600RR for MSRP plus tax and title (like mine) and another dealer is selling the same bike for MSRP plus freight, set-up, tax, and title then it is a rip-off. Supposedly the cost of the bike from Honda is supposed to be low enought that they can sell it for MSRP and still make enough profit that they don't have to add any "extra" fees. Now the second dealer could make up for it by discounting the price below MSRP and then adding on the freight charges to help bring their profit margin back up.

I don't really know how to answer that, it sounds like it could be true, but it also sounds like one dealer saying "We are including that in the price (msrp) but those other guys across town are trying to rip you off" Even if you wind up paying the same price. Pretty much: "This is why you should buy here and not the competitor"

It's all about marketing. One place says "no hidden charges and fees" and the other says "we've got the lowest advertised price" Either way, it's all up to who you want to give your money to, both of them are just trying to sell you a bike. No matter how they get your money, if it's from a higher initial price, or a freight/setup fee, it's all going to the same place.

Maybe get ahold of Honda's corporate headquarters here in the states? That would be the only way to get a 100% straight answer. And again, this was 7 years ago (when I worked for the dealer) so policies and practices could have changed.

[skwyd]

Originally Posted by b.miller123

Another thing about the crate thing: You wont be saving a whole lot of money by getting it in the crate, because if the dealer you go to has any sort of deal like ours had, then they are still going to have to pay the freight company to pick it up at the port or wherever, just not for the setup part. Unless you can convince them to let you pick it up straight off the boat (how cool would that be, knowing that you are the first person on this continent to touch a bike?)

I wouldn't want to get it in the crate for any other reason than that I would use the oil and other fluids that I would want to use during break in and not 'the ususal stuff'. I do think it would be awesome to be the first person to touch a bike, but more important to me is that I would be the one to build it and know it was done my way (the right way) not by a guy to whom it is 'just another bike'.