Harley-Davidson “We Ride Free” Promotion Is Back

The popular promotion that Harley-Davidson had going on earlier on this year is back, and it looks like it's about the same as it was before.

Here are the terms and conditions:

• You have to buy a new 2009 Sportster 883, 1200 or XR1200 between July 1, 2009 and August 31, 2009
• Once you buy that 2009 Sportster 883, 1200 or XR1200, you can trade in that bike at its original MSRP value towards the purchase of a Harley Big Twin motorcycle no later than one year after the date of purchase of the qualifying new motorcycle as reflected in the official purchase contract
• You must be the original owner of that vehicle.
• You need the original bill of sale, titled in your name.
• The MSRP value used for trade-in will be the factory-delivered MSRP, including factory installed options.
• Added parts and accessories, taxes, titles, licenses, set-up/prep charges, Extended Service Plans, GAP coverage and any dealer add-ons are included in this price.
• The trade-in can only be used for Harley Big Twin motorcycles, which includes all Touring, Softail, Dyna and VRSC models - but not the police models.

So you can't trade in your 2007 or 2008 Sportster anymore, but you couldn't expect HD to really keep doing that when the 2010 Harley models are right around the corner.

I found a few comments from people around the internet about their experiences during the last We Ride Free promotion. Read into them what you will.

My dealer told me, they have some fine print of 4000 miles per year, before they MIGHT ding you a bit. He said they took an '08 in with 24000 miles, and only dinged the guy $500.

I almost went for this deal.

My '08 XL1200C has 13K on it. MSRP for it is $10,385. At first the dealer tried to tell me that they would only give MSRP for a base vivid black 883. As if any fool couldn't read the HD website....

Eventually, after some arm-twisting and bluff-calling, they were going to give me full MSRP towards a Low Rider. I have always liked the FXDL: it looks classic, like a slightly larger Sportster Well, I rode it. It was not as quick, and the handling was not quite as sharp. And since I never ride two-up anyway....(wife rides her own)

So I walked. No regret. The dealer didn't exactly want the deal anyway (they even complained about the HD promotion.)

I had around 17k on my 07 XL1200C when I traded in on an 09 FLHTCU, and they took it no problem. The only issue we had was they were trying to give me msrp on a vivid black model XL1200C which was a few hundred less than the pacific blue pearl model that I had. They eventually agreed to give me the actual MSRP of my model and all was well. I searched the entire gulf coast and up into north alabama and mississippi and about the best deal I came across was at mississippi coast harley in biloxi. They were nice and got the bike I wanted for msrp out door with no freight/prep/doc fees which was better than any other dealer.... sadly enough... then I just paid sales tax when I registered the bike, which I didn't have to pay tax on the trade in allowance which saved another 700 or so.

so $9955 for a bike that was well ridden, plus about $700 off my sales tax on new bike, it worked out better than the $7k some dealers were gonna give me for the bike.... Funny enough I was actually going to trade in the bike even before this promotion after a few long days of riding the sporty around christmas, then dec 26th, the first day of promotion I was sitting at a harley dealer talking to a salesman and they mentioned about msrp trade-in.

I traded in my 08 XL1200C with almost 13K miles on it for $9895. The sales guy told me that without the promo, they would have offered me $6000 .

Love my new Heritage, and so does the wife. When I first bought the Sportster, my wife did not ride with me. Took her for a ride on the Sportster after I had it about 4 months, and she really got into it. Now we have a scoot comfortable for two and more room to carry stuff.

So if you're on the fence, thinking about buying a new Harley but you just can't swing the cash for a Dyna, Softail or Touring model right now...this could be the time to buy for you.

If you're in the Omaha area, check out Dillon Harley down on on 173rd and Maple. Ask for Jason Davis. He's one of the best guys around to talk to if you're looking for a new Harley-Davidson.

2009 Sportsters For Sale: