Cost of bikes!

jwarriner

jwarriner

Been Around the Block
I'm sure this is coming up more and more often but what the heck happened to cost of classic motorcycles?

When I bought my 1973 CB500 for $600 in 2006 they were a dime a dozen. I had my choice of several early 70s bikes for $500-$1000- all running and riding and titled. My 1979 CB650 was titled and semi-running and riding last year for $800 but I searched for months to find it. Early 70s, forget about it. I don't even see CB500/550s anymore.

Now? You absolutely cannot get a running/riding/titled bike in Denver/Colorado for under $1500, if not $2000. Piece of crap metric cruisers from the early 80s with square headlights, ridiculous geometry and hideous stances are regularly priced at $2500. The thing is though that there's this ceiling of about $5000 for runners (meaning not a show bike, not 100% restored to factory condition). This is reserved for BMWs, Triumphs, Nortons, BSAs, KZ900s- special bikes AND delusional morons thinking that their fucked-to-death CL350 with $50 in ebay "mods" is a cafe racer. So basically what you have is 1983 Maxxims selling for $2500 and nice late 70s airheads selling for $4000. It's really weird that the price range for most classic bikes is now so narrow. With pedestrian and downright ugly bikes (that I shudder to call "classic") commanding $2000+, it sure makes the nice bikes in the $3500-5000 seem like a good deal.

I saw someone call a 1990s Yamaha Seca II a "classic" on craigslist. This is where we're at now.
 
It is crazy . . . things here in OH have pretty much tripled in the last 12 months; a $500 titled runner is now $1500+.
 
I think we're finding out that because the 1980s sucked so bad stylistically that age != classic (I do like some 80s bikes, just not metric cruisers). Colorado DMV wised up on what it determines to be classic cars. It used to be anything 25 years old could get classic plates and avoid emissions. Then, as the possibility of a 1988 Grand Am being legally considered a "classic" rapidly approached, they changed the law. Now only cars made before 1976 can be registered as classics.

At least I got in early. My CB500 (last rode in 2011, carbs off) and CB650 (last rode a month ago, now electrical issues) are worth way more than what I paid for them. I could probably sell them as is for $1500-2000 each. I could throw "cafe" into the ad- that's worth $250-500 in and of itself. The CB500 is pretty badass. When I get it running I bet it could easily fetch $4000. Which may be about equal to the work that went into it.
 
Trends, trends, trends. It happens. You can get something for cheap, then you customize it and make it cool. Other people see it and think "I can do that". Market gets flooded with demand, and prices skyrocket. It happened with flattie v8 ford coupes. It happened with 50's Chevy coupes. It happened with the muscle car era mustangs and camaros. It started happening with fox body 'stangs. Now you're seeing it with our bikes. Honestly though, that's what makes the modern pioneer of "cool" push his boundaries and move on to something else. There are innovators, and then there are imitators. It's just a matter of where you stand. The saddest part to me is that the classic 70s commuter bikes are being bought, chopped, and then forgotten (like every other niche vehicle item) and you'll never see them come back down to earth in price again simply because there are less of them out there in stock trim due to the piles of metal left in the dust of some passing trend. It is what it is.
 
AlphaDogChoppers said:
Dude! Have you bought a gallon of gas lately? Or anything else for that matter.
Click to expand...

Usually the value of luxury and collectors items go DOWN when inflation goes up / the economy is bad. However, I suppose that the argument could be made that because motorcycles get fantastic gas mileage, that the price of gasoline has driven the price of all motorcycles up. But that's not always the case. Depreciation on anything 2005-2010 is pretty bad right now.
 
I own a motorcycle shop. I see a big demand for bikes under $2,500 but especially strong demand for under $2,000 bikes.

I just sold my daughter's '99 Suzuki GZ250 for $1,800. It was nicely outfitted with saddlebags, luggage rack and custom fabricated sissy bar/passenger backrest, and windshield. All accessories that anybody would appreciate for a daily rider, so this is one of those rare circumstances where the bike's accessories really DID add to it's value. Still, my point is, bikes are not so cheap anymore, and neither is anything else.

My crack about the price of gas has dual meaning. One, simply the price of everything has gone up substantial, and second, bikes are economical on fuel. The gal that bought the GZ250 bought it in part to save money on gas. That baby gets 65-68 mpg!
 
Kanticoy said:
Trends, trends, trends. It happens. You can get something for cheap, then you customize it and make it cool. Other people see it and think "I can do that". Market gets flooded with demand, and prices skyrocket. It happened with flattie v8 ford coupes. It happened with 50's Chevy coupes. It happened with the muscle car era mustangs and camaros. It started happening with fox body 'stangs. Now you're seeing it with our bikes. Honestly though, that's what makes the modern pioneer of "cool" push his boundaries and move on to something else. There are innovators, and then there are imitators. It's just a matter of where you stand. The saddest part to me is that the classic 70s commuter bikes are being bought, chopped, and then forgotten (like every other niche vehicle item) and you'll never see them come back down to earth in price again simply because there are less of them out there in stock trim due to the piles of metal left in the dust of some passing trend. It is what it is.
Click to expand...

Lots of truth here. My friend's cousin is definitely one of the "I can do that" people. He wants to buy running bikes and turn them into "cafe racers" to sell. Problem is this guy has no idea what he's doing. He had a business where he was supposed to fix up scooters. All he ended up with was basically a scooter graveyard. Never fixed shit. He would definitely be the guy taking 70s commuters off the road. Most people don't have the business or aesthetic sense to customize motorcycles for resale to others. But yet there's a million of these guys.
 
On the flipside, there are still lots of bikes out there on the cheap. The problem is relying on CL or eBay. Really any place where it's easy for the hipster elite to spend stupid money. The deals are found out there amongst those that actually appreciate these old bikes. For example, I not so long ago picked up a rough but complete Suzuki T350. Semi rare bike. $100. I've gotten XS 650s for under $500 in good shape, cb350s for $200 or less and so on. The key is to stay away from the spotlight. Sure, there are folks out there looking to cash in, and they will because it's an easy trend to exploit. But they made massive numbers of these (mostly) bikes. For every $1800 basketcase cb175 on eBay, theres 20 in a garage in decent shape yup could yet for $200 and a handshake. Just need to put in some extra effort. If your favorite fishing hole gets crowded, walk a little further into the woods. The lazy assholes will leave you alone there.
 
VonYinzer said:
On the flipside, there are still lots of bikes out there on the cheap. The problem is relying on CL or eBay. Really any place where it's easy for the hipster elite to spend stupid money. The deals are found out there amongst those that actually appreciate these old bikes. For example, I not so long ago picked up a rough but complete Suzuki T350. Semi rare bike. $100. I've gotten XS 650s for under $500 in good shape, cb350s for $200 or less and so on. The key is to stay away from the spotlight. Sure, there are folks out there looking to cash in, and they will because it's an easy trend to exploit. But they made massive numbers of these (mostly) bikes. For every $1800 basketcase cb175 on eBay, theres 20 in a garage in decent shape yup could yet for $200 and a handshake. Just need to put in some extra effort. If your favorite fishing hole gets crowded, walk a little further into the woods. The lazy assholes will leave you alone there.
Click to expand...

Fuck, that was inspiring.
 
VonYinzers right, and sometimes you get a little lucky, find people who don't know the trends. I saw a GS550 on craigslist last week for 395.00! Older guy was selling it. I saw it it was in pretty decent shape. I didn't have the money, or would have bought it. My bike looked like shit, I got it for 150.00 worth of old tools. Deals are still out there. Maybe I'll run into one for the next project...
 
I have found the good deals come from people you know. A buddy of mine found out about my beetle sitting in an old ladies garage and asked about it. She wanted it gone so she could park her car in the garage. He called me and wanted to know if I wanted it. The cb450 I ride was a similar deal. All of my friends know that I like to tinker with old stuff, so if they find something they always give me a call.
 
Get more friends. Honestly, I'm not being a dick. Justin had the chance to meet my buddy Joe a few weeks back. I know Joe because I one time had a goofy CL ad looking for goofy crap. We started bullshiting and next thing I know we have traded a 68 BAS (thanks to BradJ) a 71 R5 (you're welcome BradJ haha) a complete CL360 w title, and so much more. I've never given Joe a dollar and would never take one from him. Fond the good people who feel your passion and you'll find the deals. More importantly, you'll find true friends that understand the passion. They'll find the bikes, you'll find the bikes, and in the end you'll drink and eat and turn wrenches with the best people in the world. I would take the times I've spent wot the members of this forum who I've been lucky enough to meet and share REAL LIFE with over a $10 sucking factory condition 1919 Indian or Vincent Black Shadow any day. I'll still buy that $500 XS though... In the end the bikes don't mean shit. They're things. The friends, times, and passion are what matters. If you can't find those, you're always paying too much.
 
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