Motorcycles that sell for a surprisingly high amount used...watcha think?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

"  I'll get flogged for saying this but a first generation 850 Lemans. It's my dream bike too. But are they really worth 15-20k$? "

You won't get flogged by me, but I've never seen one personally sell anywhere near that. Are people really asking that?

The was one in the MGNOC Classifieds a while back, belonged to the widow of a friend. It sold for $15k and needed work.

[Toystoretom]

"What makes that so expensive?"

"The price....."

[mentalfloss]

Really? A friend has a cosmetically excellent yellow '76 that needs a water pump and carbs cleaned. He can't get any interest, even at $1500.

I passed on a 76 naked wing in 2010 for $600.00 needed tires and service and carbs needed work but it ran. The guy who bought it put tires on it fix carbs from a randakk kit rode it 30 k miles and sold it this summer for $2,000. They are still cheap I think....but have up side still.

[canuck750]

Old bikes going for a lot of money is one thing but...

I lost all interest in owning another 60's ~ 70's muscle car when I watched a 1969 Mustang Mach I sells for over $100K at Barrett Jackson a couple years back in Scottsdale, followed by silly money for Chrysler and Chev products getting that and more.

[Aaron D.]

I've actually drank Pocari Sweat. It also had a strange TV commercial involving a young man pushing the can into the ground.

It tasted pretty bad. But Calpis was quite tasty.

[jas67]

My third motorcycle was a brand new cb400F 4 cyl honda.....man what a sweet motor! I do not quite remember what it cost new but looked at several a couple of years ago to scratch that nostalgia itch and was pushed back by what they were getting for them and low and behold they have gone up by about 30% 40% just in the last couple of years  since then....
  A nice one is north of $5,000 $6,000 now.

You can still find a nice one for $3,000-4,000 if you watch closely, and are willing to travel to get it.

I got a nice one for $2,500 in Sept. 2012, when they were typically fetching $4,000.

[jas67]

OK, here is my list:

Vintage bikes:

Any Ducati bevel-twin except for the fugly 860GT bring stupid money.  Nice condition, original 750SS or 900SS bevels are in the $25-50k range.   750GT are in the $15-$25k range (sometimes higher), and the 750 Sport somewhere in between

Ducati bevel singles, esp. Diana/Mark 3, and Desmos are also bringing stupid money, easily 2-3X what the went for only 4-5 years ago.   Heck, beater scramblers bring several thousand on ebay (unless those are all shill-bid auctions).

CB750 Sandcast, and to a lesser extent CB750 1969 though about 1975 all bring pretty good money if in nice shape.

Not-so-vintage bikes (yes, some of these were already mentioned), many bringing the same or more money than when they were new:

Ducati Sport Classics
Kawasaki W650
Honda GB500
Honda CB-1
Kawasaki Eddie Lawson Replica KZ1000R

Just about any two stroke sport bike:
Yamaha RZ350
Yamaha RZ500
Suzuki RG500
Honda NS400R, NSR250
Aprilia RS250

Airhead GS's

[mjptexas]

....I look at prices of used Harleys (in general) and I just don't get it. Perhaps because the bikes themselves don't speak to me - but when you compare to equally (or more) capable Japanese cruisers, I just don't understand the premium for used Harleys.

The prices you see for used Harleys generally represents magical thinking on the part of the owner.  Many have drank the Harley Kool-Aid and think  their bike will never drop in value. Those days are long gone.  How do I know?  I've sold a used Harley.  There are bikes that are achieving cult status (XR1200 for example - but typically bought by enthusiast and not rank and file Harley people).  Part of the problem is Harley dealers will run year end specials on new bikes priced below the used ones on their lots so they can get the manufacturer incentive to move new bikes.

[garbln]

Those old Cushmans show up at antique steam engine shows and such, but I never see one getting ridden. Parts are stupidly high. My nephew has one.

I have two friends that rode there stock Cushmans to Sturgis and back (with gear) from Mpls a couple of years ago.  So they can do it.  They both say they wont do it again though.

[mjptexas]

My short list, based on personal interest:

BMWS:
- R90/S - good ones are getting crazy expensive
- R75/5 - Toaster Tanks, any year - have gone up substantially in the last 3 years

Hondas
- Any unmolested CB 4 cylinder 1969-1977, especially CB400fs
- CBX

Yamahas
- Unmolested XS650s through 1977.  Still a deal but a lot more expensive than they were 3 years ago
- Any good 2 stroke street bike

Moto Guzzis
- Good Eldorados - may still be a bargain but not cheap like they were 3-5 years ago.

[jas67]

My short list, based on personal interest:

BMWS:
- R90/S - good ones are getting crazy expensive
- R75/5 - Toaster Tanks, any year - have gone up substantially in the last 3 years

You might as well add any /2 airhead to that list.   Like the Toasters, they've gone up substantially in recent years.

[jas67]

Harley XR1200, XR1200X.

Oh, and a prediction, in 5-10 years, the 2013-2014 Honda CB1100.

[jas67]

Honda mini bikes:
CT-70 aka "Trail 70", esp. the CT-70H with it's 4 speed transmission with manual clutch (standard model had a 3 speed w/o automatic clutch)
Z-50, aka "Mini Trail"

The earliest years of both command a premium.   Like new restorations and originals fetch $4-5k.    They are popular among people who grew up in the 70's riding one, or wishing they had one.

They are quite possibly the smallest street legal (yes, they came with lights and turn signals, and could be titled and registered for the road).

[segesta]

I bought a red Ducati Sport Classic new (the most desirable monoposto version). There were several available, including a Paul Smart version, with no line or bidding war...

I sold it about a year before they started getting popular and going up in value. But I've had way more fun on the bikes I got afterwards. Sometimes if I mention it, someone will say "Bet you wish you still had that."  Nope.  If I still had it I would sell it immediately for WAY more than it's worth. BTW - current market value is WAY more than it's worth (as a motorcycle).

I recall that a local dealer recently sold a used Paul Smart for an enormous sum... to a guy in Russia. There is money and demand in all corners of the globe, hence the high prices.

And I wonder if anyone actually pays those high prices for used Harleys on Craigslist, or if they are simply asking a lot.

[El Pescador]

The prices you see for used Harleys generally represents magical thinking on the part of the owner.  Many have drank the Harley Kool-Aid and think  their bike will never drop in value. Those days are long gone.  How do I know?  I've sold a used Harley.  There are bikes that are achieving cult status (XR1200 for example - but typically bought by enthusiast and not rank and file Harley people).  Part of the problem is Harley dealers will run year end specials on new bikes priced below the used ones on their lots so they can get the manufacturer incentive to move new bikes.

It's true.  I just sold a 2003 Dyna on CL.  KBB retail $7440 KBB trade in $5430

I finally got interest in it at $4500 and sold it for $4300.  I was happy to be done with it.

[oldbike54]

I recall that a local dealer recently sold a used Paul Smart for an enormous sum... to a guy in Russia. There is money and demand in all corners of the globe, hence the high prices.

And I wonder if anyone actually pays those high prices for used Harleys on Craigslist, or if they are simply asking a lot.

 Nephew the Harley salesman tells me that a lot of "pre-owned" HDs (that term still cracks me up) get traded in on new HDs . The dealer only pays trade in value on nice ones , usually about 60% of what individuals are asking for them . Seems to me , if used Harleys could be sold for the prices they are advertised for , most would be sold instead of traded in .

 

It's true.  I just sold a 2003 Dyna on CL.  KBB retail $7440 KBB trade in $5430




I finally got interest in it at $4500 and sold it for $4300.  I was happy to be done with it.

  So about 60% ?


  Dusty

[Testarossa]

I think 35 years out is when a bike or car starts appreciating.

If you're 15 to 20 years old, you lust for the unobtainable hot wheels. Around age 50 you have both the time and money to treat yourself to a long-delayed graduation present.

I'd guess my 1970 Triumph bottomed out in value around 1980-90. For investment purposes, it might make sense to buy a stock hi-performance machine 10 to 15 years old, keep it in good shape and plan to sell it 15 or 20 years later. This works only if you have a lot of free storage space.

[oldbike54]

 Seth , folks in the biz refer to the 17 year cycle . A bike or car we wanted at 17 ...

  Dusty

[Lannis]

I think 35 years out is when a bike or car starts appreciating.

If you're 15 to 20 years old, you lust for the unobtainable hot wheels. Around age 50 you have both the time and money to treat yourself to a long-delayed graduation present.

I'd guess my 1970 Triumph bottomed out in value around 1980-90. For investment purposes, it might make sense to buy a stock hi-performance machine 10 to 15 years old, keep it in good shape and plan to sell it 15 or 20 years later. This works only if you have a lot of free storage space.

1981, I wanted a 650 Triumph with a Joe Hunt magneto.   Went to the (former) Triumph dealer, who was now working out of a small shed with a couple semi-trailer bodies out back for storage.    Guy told me "I'll make up you a good-running, complete late-60's Bonneville.   Won't be matching numbers but engine will have a title.    $400.    How many you want?" 

Just bought one, and it was exactly what he said.   Rode it for a year or two, sold the magneto to a drag racer, parted out the bike, and bought a new Electra-Glide .....

Lannis

[El Pescador]

Nephew the Harley salesman tells me that a lot of "pre-owned" HDs (that term still cracks me up) get traded in on new HDs . The dealer only pays trade in value on nice ones , usually about 60% of what individuals are asking for them . Seems to me , if used Harleys could be sold for the prices they are advertised for , most would be sold instead of traded in .

 
  So about 60% ?



  Dusty

Yep, right on.  Mine did have 64k on the clock.