Huge classic cycle auction in Buffalo,NY come take a peek inside at the treasure

[derant]

Overrated.

I just got back in from the auction.

A lot of folks spending stupid money on basketcase motorcycles.
If the bike up for auction was a Norton/Triumph etc, the sell price was ridiculous.

The featherbed frames went for $750 each.

The featherbed frame with the frontend and alloy tank and Norton engine went for $2500.

The only 'deals' were on some Jap bikes, even then guys bid up some of the crappy ones to $600+.

I'll stick to Craigslist / Kijiji in the future.

 

[OApb]

what did the harley xr750 go for?

 

[DrJ]

Re: Huge classic cycle auction in Buffalo,NY come take a peek inside at the trea

Whoa, I just got back. Got there late at around 3:30 so I missed registration and couldn't bid. But I managed to score a hardtail gooseneck frame and seat for $10. I bought it off a guy from Alliston ON who bought a lot of 7 frames. He wasn't interested in the hardtail. Some incredible machines. There were deals but you had to know your shit. A very rare Kawasaki W1 motor went for $100 which is a great deal if you have that bike. Best thing to do is to vulture off other guys who bought large lots for a few specific items. That's the best way to get deals. I was very tempted at another bidder who didn't want a late 60s Sportster motor that was bolted into a featherbed. He wanted $600. I'll upload pics a bit later. BTW, Buffalo is a really cool city. Stopped at the Lake Effect diner and enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich.

 

[OApb]

you must have caught the diner on a good day. Its right around the corner from my house so Ive been there a few times. I was satisfied once. Does anyone know what the xr750 went for? I had to work all day so I couldnt attend. I would have liked to get one of those flattrack seats

 

[derant]

Valid points.

I left around 2:30pm, so I didn't stick around for most of the other parts being auction.

No idea what the XR750 went for.

I saw the W1 engine. Very tasty if you have a frame etc to put it in.

My comments about the stupid money is both from my observation and talking to other older gents there.
Pointless to bid up a some of these bikes to the selling price when you have to sink how many more $$$ and elbow grease into making the thing roadworthy.
But good on the auctioneers for making the most for the estate though.

Nope, I'll stick to the Japanese stuff and build my own stuff.

 

[DrJ]

Re: Huge classic cycle auction in Buffalo,NY come take a peek inside at the trea

Highlights.

 

[locOleoN]

Re: Huge classic cycle auction in Buffalo,NY come take a peek inside at the trea

Whoa, I just got back. Got there late at around 3:30 so I missed registration and couldn't bid. But I managed to score a hardtail gooseneck frame and seat for $10. I bought it off a guy from Alliston ON who bought a lot of 7 frames. He wasn't interested in the hardtail. Some incredible machines. There were deals but you had to know your shit. A very rare Kawasaki W1 motor went for $100 which is a great deal if you have that bike. Best thing to do is to vulture off other guys who bought large lots for a few specific items. That's the best way to get deals. I was very tempted at another bidder who didn't want a late 60s Sportster motor that was bolted into a featherbed. He wanted $600. I'll upload pics a bit later. BTW, Buffalo is a really cool city. Stopped at the Lake Effect diner and enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich.

Very cool pics...
post up some of the loot you got!

 

[Tim]

$750 for a featherbed frame is about right - no deal surely, but not overkill as long as it's straight etc.

Too rich for my blood.

 

[DrJ]

Re: Huge classic cycle auction in Buffalo,NY come take a peek inside at the trea

Here's my big score, hardtail gooseneck frame and seat for $10 US.

 

[mrkil]

i'm green with envy

great score

 

[Skyeye]

I'll second the too rich for my blood comment but with a caveat. If you were there to by a running bike, the prices were pretty good. A very nice (8 of 10) Honda CBX went for $3400.00. If I had the cash it would be in my garage right now. The blue Norton 850 in DrJ's pictures went for $7800.00 I think, to me that was a deal. The one piece that I wanted was a new Dunstall style alloy tank that sold for $750, not bad, but the guy that won was buying for a buyer in Sweden, he also picked up a running Kawasaki H1 for $1800.00 and a running Z1 for similar money.

For some reason, basket cases, any British parts and some Japanese stuff went for way too much money for a garage mechanic like me. I would say that 80% of the parts went to fewer than 10 buyers. DrJ had the right idea, deal after the bidding for stuff that came along for the ride that the buyer wanted to get rid of. The one thing that floored me was the Harley Sportster engines in Wideline Featherbead frames. Shitty attachment points, bad welds and questionalble motors all went for at least $2200.00 each! I talked to the buyer and he's going to sell the frames w/out the motors to people that have Sportster motors of their own and part out the motors that came in the frames.

Three Honda CB750's in rebuildable shape went for $600 - $1200. A poor Yamaha 650.....$400, one of the lowest prices paid. Finally a NOS Honda CB750K tank and side panel set went for $850.00.

I think the size of this collection, the well known auctioneer and location meant that this would be a dealer's paradise. Well, that's it, it's back to scrounging the web for deals!

Note to DrJ - sorry I missed you, must have been by minutes, I took off about 3:15. Next time!

Scott

 

[DrJ]

Re: Huge classic cycle auction in Buffalo,NY come take a peek inside at the trea

In hindsight I realize that virtually all the bidders were serious restorers and collectors, not home garage hacks. So they had the means to run up the bids on original parts. Guys like us who were interested in aftermarket, custom and oddball items resorted to scavenging from them.