Author Topic: Big bike prices....  (Read 742 times)

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griffo

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Big bike prices....
« on: 23 May, 2022, 09:21:24 »
  I don't want to be a herbinger of doom and gloom but have you noticed the price of big UK bikes has dropped somewhat. Yes there are many high asking prices but also there are some rather low prices about of which neither seem to be selling. A friend has just bought a DB34 (genuine bike) with all the bells and whistles for 13500 . I've had a genuine low mileage , 2 owner A50  for sale at 3.5k and no enquiries. Advertised  in most national magazines . Also an A65 Hornet , immaculate, at 4.5 and no enquiries for either bike... Seems the Crapanese are now taking over the used bike market.  When you look at it in perspective the younger riders were brought up on the Japs where as us senior riders were used to the better looking bikes (I'm not too keen on the crotch rockets) that are heavier and don't have an electric leg.
            A couple of trials bikes , bantams and a C12 are my most used bikes though (rinse my mouth out) I do long rides etc on a 400 Burgman. Yes an old mans bike where you put you leg through, press a button and go. Sadly it's harder to keep it down to 70 on a dual carriageway than get up to that speed. Plus 80mpg tootling about.. Ah well technology and times change though my love of BSA's will never diminish. The C12 is destined to come with me when I go though a granddaughter has claimed it already....     Griff
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B Murphy

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Re: Big bike prices....
« Reply #1 on: 23 May, 2022, 10:24:28 »
Yes, I was only talking to some guy at a boot sale yesterday about the lower prices of Brit bikes. I was watching a 1938 Velo 350 MAC last week which went for £5k, I should have bought it really to sit along side my B31. The market has changed with the cost of living gone up. Hopefully it may be a return of seeing the odd brit bike in a skip  ;D

DAVE BRADY

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Re: Big bike prices....
« Reply #2 on: 23 May, 2022, 10:25:17 »
Hi,

I think it is a bubble that has inflated prices finally bursting.  It is no surprise that a younger person looking at older bikes will be drawn to non British as the prices have been generally lower.  Also, there is the 'what I grew up with' element when looking at older bikes.
It could be that the dropping prices of British classics is a benefit to the classic scene because British classics are becoming more affordable. 
I think the weight is less of an issue as a Honda CB750 weighs in at 499lbs and a Rocket 3 at 468. 
It would be interesting to see a comparison of costs between restoring/recommissioning a Honda 750 and a Rocket 3 and perhaps an A65 and a Yamaha XS650.

Dave.
 

chaz

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Re: Big bike prices....
« Reply #3 on: 23 May, 2022, 16:01:33 »
where to start???!!!!
sorry to say..... its your fault..  well, yours and mine.
talking at work today, our latest pay rise is 3% this year. despite working excessive through covid. no bonus as we didnt achieve a target last year. BUT, they have given us a one off 4% non pensionable payment to get us through these hard times!!  the 4% probably comes from the rate cut from time +.5 to time +.22 and we are now back on the same shift after a bit of juggling.

Ive had no work at the unit customer wise for over a year now, too much youtube and ebay and facebook mates . close to closing the business and my local MOT tester has already closed and another bike shop in town has also closed/is up for sale..

over the past 20 years the "classic " Brit bike has always been the toy/investment of the over 55's. my old unit was a hub for VMCC and local  club gatherings due to the old landlord and his mates. All retired or ex service personnel with good pensions. many "oldies" have squirreled away their pension fund . They have bought what they want to run and do up, buy when cheap and keep as an investment.

whats left has been left for others to pick over. I sold my T100 for £5500 but had to take a very clean low mileage Bandit 650, for my run around as part ex. it was a rebuilt chop/custom, one off paint and extras, purchased by a middle age man who found the bandit too heavy and too high. an exception or charmed by the look?
there are classic Brits locally advertised at prices that would double by the time completed.
the yoof of today, a/ dont have the readies at hand and b/ dont have the know how , how to restore, mainly as the infrastructure isnt there anymore.
my discussion today, was in regard of the smaller bike shops gone (6 in 2 towns), engineers probably only a half what was therein the seventies and the skill is all in mass produced cnc work, as thats where the money is, not in 1 off's .

todays 30 to 40yr old is now restoring 1980's bikes, parts just still available, better quality and parts that fit. not interested in slow oil spewing Brits. when I get a call from a 60 yr old with a 1970's bike and say I cant get the parts, it goes back into his shed to rot further.

any one with spare cash is looking at a tidy Japanese import from America , parts available, in good condition, serviceable and fast no to mention oil tight!!
B40 flat track, £1000 in need of rebuild.... £2800 spent on it.
A50 chop  , £1500  probably around 2000 spend on it. double to return to original.

CB750  £2400   probably less than £1000 to spend could go up to £8000

























ChrisG

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Re: Big bike prices.... 'The Star's' point of view
« Reply #4 on: 25 May, 2022, 17:17:37 »
You may have noticed two major differences in the Showroom recently. Firstly, for the last three months and the forthcoming June edition, there have ben 9-12 bikes for sale, lots more than usual. Secondly, more and more are repeated at a lower price (sometimes only slightly) because they haven't sold.
My thoughts are, for many years now, we have enjoyed the freedom to spend whatever we like on our restoration because we knew we would recoup the cost when we come to sell. Well, this is well and truly no longer the case!
For example, when I bought my Royal Star for £2600, back in 2016, I saw the sold prices for fully restored ones were around £3800. Then, within a year, they were selling for £4500, so I thought plenty of room for manoeuvre!
Having spent nearly £6k including original purchase, I know there is no way, I will get that back. However, I do have a lovely restored bike that I enjoy riding and have enjoyed restoring, so I feel I have got my money's worth.
As I write this, each day, more advert requests for the showroom are coming in and I am getting to the point where sadly, I am going to have to refuse to accept repeat adverts for at least 6 months from the first entry, plus refuse to advertise members bikes of other makes.
However, on a brighter note, the offering in the forthcoming edition does have a few examples which are 'realistically' priced so maybe folk are beginning to get the message.

BILL NELSON

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Re: Big bike prices....
« Reply #5 on: 31 May, 2022, 10:58:10 »
I have to say I don't undertand the concept of expecting to make a profit from a hobby. Old bikes are a pleasure or a self-inflicted pain, not an investment. Most investments are a gamble anyway - long term trends count for nothing if the price has crashed just when you need to sell.
If you play golf & then pack it in, would you expect to sell your used bats and balls for more than you paid for them and more than you paid in club membership?
When you restore a bike to pristine condition, you do it for yourself, not for the next owner. If the next owner just wants to ride it, mechanical conditions is more important than cosmetics.
The more restored a bike is and the higher the proposed selling price, the smaller the number of potential buyers.
The mass ride-out at Mallory yet again demonstrated the true value of our hobby and club.

idie

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Re: Big bike prices....
« Reply #6 on: 31 May, 2022, 11:20:54 »
That's how I feel. I spend what I need for my own satisfaction.

MGI

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Re: Big bike prices....
« Reply #7 on: 31 May, 2022, 17:48:09 »
The plethora of old bike auctions would fly in the face of these comments! In the case of the masses attempting to sell the more available machines at probably highly optimistic (read inflated) prices there will always be difficulties, overall I think a profit is still there to be made but only at sensible prices. Where much hard earned has been expounded on generally available machinery the outlook is grimmer - the addition of an electric starter on my B33 will mean that it is unlikely to sell at a price that includes the cost! Likewise the TLS, the Ally rims and stainless spokes etc!

Kevin1963

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Re: Big bike prices....
« Reply #8 on: 31 May, 2022, 22:28:41 »
 .  I bought a 1954 bsa gold flash last year . Probably paid over the odds??

But what I wanted not worried what it cost just fun to ride .

Hopefully an investment but you never known?



ChrisG

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Re: Big bike prices....
« Reply #9 on: 07 June, 2022, 14:51:39 »
I've often thought that Auction Houses seem to give the impression that pries they can achieve are higher than we would expect. However, hefty premiums are involved for both buyer and seller and there is no guarantee that the machine will not need money spending on it as they are bought as seen.
However, I was amazed at the amount of top quality classic bikes on the Silverstone Auctions stand that were there on the Sunday with a 'buy it now' price attached. Clearly they didn't sell during the auction itself, and by the end of the show, not many of them had sold at the BiN price tag either.
The Auctioneer recommends and sets the reserve and clearly they got it wrong there. Yet another indication prices are on the slide.

chaz

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Re: Big bike prices....
« Reply #10 on: 07 June, 2022, 15:13:43 »
locally, local auction houses employ the use of a "local enthusiast" they have on their books. probably a member of the VMCC, a couple I know of use a friend. Does the "enthusiast" provide a realistic valuation or one of a hoped for. the difference being, there is a money shortage at the moment against I hope its not too low as it will devalue my bikes one. My friend has a garage full of classics to modern and would take a big hit if they all reached a lower than expected valuation.
on the other hand, I collect WW1 medals, a local specialist advised me that the star of a trio had worn on the back , hence the missing letters of the recipient. from a forum view, when pictured, the doubt was raised as to the accuracy of the specialist as clearly a partially erased , space filler. The auction house, said the pictures formed part of the listing , so the onus was on me to satisfy myself. pictures were small and not visible. my fault for not personally viewing myself.