[bob]

Another price quote from a dealer came in. This one is from the local dealer in town. They are not the biggest dealership and are known for being really proud of their stock. They also tend to cater more to BMX and dirt and not so much to touring/cruising or even sport touring. Their service department is good though and they are where I go for service for anything I don't want to handle on my own. Their email reply was:

Robert,
Thanks for your inquiry about the new 2014 CTX1300 Deluxe. The CTX1300D is scheduled to arrive in March.
Msrp on the deluxe model is $17499.00. We would sell you one for $16,999.00 plus applicable fees.
Thanks again for your interest and please let me know if you have any questions or would like to reserve a bike for delivery this spring.
Regards,

It always amuses me when a dealer attempts to make me feel like I should be lucky they are even just a little under retail pricing by quoting me the MSRP... as if I wouldn't already know that. I was in their store just the other night and told THEM when the 1300s are expected to show up! I did sit on a f6B and looked over a CTX700 that was on the floor. The f6B was nice but bigger than I want and the 700 has foot forward controls that I really don't do well with. Can't wait for the CTX1300s to show up to sit on one. Will likely go to Storm Lake Honda when ready to buy. 144 miles is not far to go for saving $1000 at least.

 

[bob]

Forgot to mention that i did get another reply back from a third dealer. They said that this is a new model (er, duh!) and that the price and availability has not been released to them yet. I guess they don't use the Internet very much.

 

[bob]

Received yet another quote request reply this morning from another dealer nearby who seems to think it will sell for them AT MSRP price! They anticipate being able to get one in stock around April. I guess there are really 2 kinds of business models being demonstrated here: either they concentrate on net profit of each individual unit sold to try and make money (good luck with that model) and end up staying small and unable to really expand, or they concentrate on what they can do to increase cash FLOW by shaving a little off the asking price to move more product resulting in moving a lot more product and actually making more profit overall and can grow and expand and become a bigger dealership... that allows them to move more product and expand more... that allows them to move more ... etc, etc.

 

[SoCalRyder]

shaving a little off the asking price to move more product resulting in moving a lot more product and actually making more profit overall and can grow and expand and become a bigger dealership

unfortunately they think in the now, what will bring a few extra bucks in now rather than the long term that add's up and works out better in the end

 

[gadgetman]

Mine is ordered through same dealer and guy I ordered my '88 Wing fromin '88. Blue/Grey Deluxe for $15998 (essentially MSRP of a std) , plus 125 conveiance and 345 freight.
Then add std Reg fees (unless I move vs add a plate) and State Taxes. Accessories will be -15% and I'll install vs pay them to do. Those price offers were good enough for me. Recent Honda document he recieved confirmed the order went through and it's due to ship April 11 so I'll have it before May. Woo Hoo.

 

[DonaldD]

How much are people hoping to spend on a brand new CTX1300? I'm guessing people are aiming to get a price below the MSRP. Do you think there is much room for negotiation to get the price lower than what the dealer quoted you?

 

[sleepngbear]

I think it probably depends mostly on the dealer. They're gonna want to maximize their profits one of two ways -- get more per bike by sticking close to MSRP, or try to move more bikes by lowering the price. It's really tough to tell with a brand new model, because they're going to want to gauge interest at a certain price point before deciding which way to go.

 

[bob]

of the half dozen dealers in my area (within 150 miles anyway) that I asked for quotes from only a few quoted below MSRP, and a few indicated they didn't know for sure what price they could quote until they get one in stock. The one with the lowest quote to me (15900 for a dlx) is noted for being a bigger dealer in a smaller town and for selling volume so that lower price really didn't come as a surprise. I don't know how much leeway the dealer has on actual price, or if they even know what they are willing to give up until they see what the interest is as Ed mentioned.
I may be willing to go with that lowest quoted price as it is if I buy right away since I expect to pay a bit for being out the door early with it. There will be a bit more talk room if I wait until fall to buy and especially if there is good interest in the model.

 

[SoCalRyder]

of the half dozen dealers in my area (within 150 miles anyway) that I asked for quotes from only a few quoted below MSRP, and a few indicated they didn't know for sure what price they could quote until they get one in stock. The one with the lowest quote to me (15900 for a dlx) is noted for being a bigger dealer in a smaller town and for selling volume so that lower price really didn't come as a surprise. I don't know how much leeway the dealer has on actual price, or if they even know what they are willing to give up until they see what the interest is as Ed mentioned.
I may be willing to go with that lowest quoted price as it is if I buy right away since I expect to pay a bit for being out the door early with it. There will be a bit more talk room if I wait until fall to buy and especially if there is good interest in the model.

not a bad amount of dealers to have around you, but that is quite some distance.

 

[bob]

Not real all that far. I know many ST riders that will fly across the country to buy a used bike and ride it back. Besides, Garvis here close to me have me a quote $1000 higher. It costs a fraction of that difference to drive father for the better price and has the bonus of knocking out a great many break-in miles riding back... Very casually of course

 

[cheeken]

wait till you get a dealer who trys to sell it for above msrp

 

[ShadowRider]

I'm starting to feel like a grade A sucker for agreeing to pay MSRP without question. Chances are I could get a better deal by waiting and shopping around. But once I found out that I was the first person to put a deposit on this bike at the biggest dealer in the area, I guess any self-restraint went out the window. I make myself feel a little better, though, by reminding myself of the following things:

• This dealership has treated me really well in the service department, and I had already decided my next bike would come from them.
• They were already scheduled to get the black Deluxe that I wanted, and offered to work with the Honda rep to make sure they got that one FIRST.
• Because this is a major Powersports dealership, chances are that they will get this bike before anyone else in the area...which means that I could have the first one in the area. I've never been in that situation before, and it feels great.
• I have faith that they will continue to treat me well and will give me a fair price if I decide to trade in my Shadow. I think they will also waive the winter storage fee for that bike.

So for me there are some intangibles that have some value to me. I guess it will be worth the extra money. Now to see what they can do for financing. I had planned to pay cash, but now I'm getting hints from my other half that I should investigate paying it off over time instead...

 

[sleepngbear]

Don't feel like a sucker. I'm usually the same way. The only question that matters is, is what they're asking what you're willing to pay for something you want? Or to put it another way, do you want it bad enough to just pay what they're asking for it? Some people dicker just for the sake of shaving a few $$$ off; but in the long run, it's the enjoyment you'll get out of the purchase that matters. And of course there are those intangibles. You have a good relationship with the dealer and you obviously trust them -- that alone is worth an extra dollar or two a month.

 

[TennesseeSmith]

In my part of the country we don't really have any non-Harley motorcycle shops. We have ATV and Side-by-Side shops that will also occasionally sell a motorcycle. When these guys hand you a business card, it has a picture of a four-wheeler on it. Getting any bike below list is difficult.

Some folks will point out that the local Harley shops are really clothing stores that also occasionally sell a motorcycle.

I had to go all the way to Nashville to get the Gold Wing I wanted a few years ago. I had to go all the way to Lexington to get my Trophy.

My local dealer has made me a very nice deal on a Deluxe model. I will be able to get the color I want for a good price. I've had a very good relationship with this shop over several years. I suspect anyone walking in off the street would end up paying list and waiting for the bike to come from the warehouse.

 

[sleepngbear]

I think I'll be taking a ride down to my local dealer this weekend (or a drive if the weather doesn't cooperate) and do some serious talking. I've bought four bikes from them over the years, untold parts and gear, and had all of my Hondas serviced there. They have a gray/blue Deluxe coming either later this month or early April. If they can give me a good price and a reasonable trade for the T-bird, I might have to leave a deposit. Otherwise, I'll wait for a gray/blue standard.

 

[bob]

This dealer, the local one around here, received 100 bikes on truck today and they are busy putting them together. I was in the area so stopped by and found that one of the first ones was a gray blue CTX1300 Deluxe! Got to sit on it but they didn't want to let it go for a test ride just yet (road conditions just finally getting clean but not quite yet even though I've been riding for a week now), I understand.

It really felt nice and feet fell in the right place, though different than my ST of course. Very low and very easy to manage compared with my ST, and even better than my old GW. Like it a LOT. The handlebars are just the right width and my reach and grip felt natural from the seat, even when I scooted to the back of the seat. On my ST I generally scoot up as close to the tank as I can so I'm not leaning forward. I did notice the handlebars were set too high as many dealers seem to be doing, and would need to be dropped about 2" to clearly see the mirrors. The mirrors are just a little less tall than my ST mirrors but of good size. I could see adding some SAENG/TA, Sport Touring Accessories - Quick-Scans™ to the windshield if anything but I don't like mirrors on the handlebars myself. I mentioned this to the sales guy but don't think he was paying any real attention (kind of like this dealership). I really did feel like I was sitting "IN" the bike rather than "ON" it. Found the plug hanging out the left side for a battery tender. Noticed how shallow the left glove box is, but it's OK for what I would put in it. The right glove box was fairly deep on about half of it. Could reach almost my entire hand down into it up to the base of my thumb before touching bottom. Checked out the saddlebags and felt they were more than sufficient for my needs. Not Cadillac quality like the GW or even ST but of newer construction and plenty sturdy I thought. The latch was also plenty sturdy IMO. Though I noticed that the key is held in the lock until you lock it so I might be inclined to do as many ST1300 riders do... make additional keys and cut off the tab you hold and glue on a round nob and leave in the locks. Noticed also that they are at least as deep or deeper (outside to inside) on the inside as my ST1100 bags. Narrower toward the front but deeper in the last 2/3. Bigger than my ST1100 bags altogether, and longer (front to back) so my tent and tarp poles will likely fit. Just bigger or so they seemed!


Here's a few photos of the bike (didn't have my good camera):