Would $5000 be a better place to start? I sure would like to offer $4900.
I'd be willing to pay ~$5200, so I could just start with that.
I guess it really doesn't matter if he says no but I don't want to be insulting.
the seller likely has a small negotiating cushion built into his asking price,
most do...so he's asking 5600, you want to pay no more than 5000,
you'd have to gauge the guy a bit first to ensure a low offer won't completely
kill the deal if this is the bike you want, but if you get a feeling he will deal a bit,
I'd start at 4500, and 5050 is the halfway point, a good compromise, another
thing that helps is to bring cash if you go to deal, talk is just talk, put 5K under
the guy's nose and it takes the negotiation up a notch...if you start with 5200
as an offer you have no where to go if he wants to leverage more out of you,
always start with a number that leaves some wiggle room for yourself....
PS, I sold construction equipment for many years and am well versed in the
psychology of this stuff, in the end it may not actually come down to the number,
but the guy may need to get more out of you than your initial offer to feel satisfied in the sale