Motorcycle market

[dxhall]

I’m wondering when the used bike market will begin to reflect the current problems in the economy.  Is anyone seeing big increases in the number of used bikes for sale, or drops in asking prices?  I’m not seeing it here in Denver.  Craigslist only has the usual collection of overpriced Harleys.  But it seems like a collapse must coming. 

[chuck peterson]

I've seen that too...high priced unobtainium bikes have been posted all of a sudden...for instance a Triumph Vetter Hurricane...

But the pricing is still BC...(before corona virus). Prices haven't dropped.

Yet.

[chuck peterson]

For instance, in what world would you consider buying this, at this moment...

It's a frivolity ...just for fun ...BC I could see someone wanting this...now? Not likely..

It only useful now as transportation, not as a collectible ...unless you got money to burn

https://newhaven.craigslist.org/mcy/d/shelton-1972-yamaha-rt2-360-enduro/7110604180.html

[chuck peterson]

And yet still on the other hand you can't give away most Guzzi.... nice jack-all

https://hartford.craigslist.org/mcy/d/enfield-2000-moto-guzzi-v11-jackal/7111021243.html

[s1120]

And yet still on the other hand you can't give away most Guzzi.... nice jack-all

https://hartford.craigslist.org/mcy/d/enfield-2000-moto-guzzi-v11-jackal/7111021243.html

Ya thats crazy!!  Wish I had a little free cash. Looks like a taller custom seat on there also..  I could use that! 

[ozarquebus]

 Here's MY 2 cents on the used bike market, actual value $0.00002.

Here (micro snapshot of the central US) it looks like fairly high prices, except for certain Guzzis...(GC: the ones I own don't seem worth much). I am not really considering Mecum prices for investment grade or councours types even though there seems to be some connection.

Japanese cruisers seem depressed (Shadow), US Cruisers still appear over priced, but older smaller hogs seem to be dropping. Vintage Universal Japanese Motorcycles (CB350/XS 650) look pretty hot. Vintage muscle bikes (VMAX) and cult favorite sport bikes (old Bandit) seem strong.

Good running Converts and neglected Eldos sporting healthy values. (have not found my $1500 EldoVert, yet)

 Cafe conversions? I can't figure them out, since they are all over the place. Good cafe conversions are in the same overpriced category as HD perhaps.

 This past winter, I thought almost everything (except HD) older than 10 years was quite cheap. The high prices I am seeing in my small mid-Western world reflects the typical spring bounce. My prediction:

Since bike prices typically drop in the summer doldrums hitting their lowest during the Christmas shopping season, that normal trend will still apply, but with the added downward pressure on prices due to our current predicament.

This mid-summer 2020  till next spring 2021 there will be a TON of good buys in a supply flooded market when the teeth of economic slump start sinking in. Many working men and women will be heart-breakingly parting with their favorite rides out of necessity, while others continue to clean out the barn for some extra milk and egg money.

[sdcr]

 The Staintune exhaust alone, makes the purchase worthwhile. I don't think that system is available any longer.

And yet still on the other hand you can't give away most Guzzi.... nice jack-all

https://hartford.craigslist.org/mcy/d/enfield-2000-moto-guzzi-v11-jackal/7111021243.html

[LowRyter]

The used bike market has been crap for the last 10 years.  No doubt much worse now.

[twowheeladdict]

For instance, in what world would you consider buying this, at this moment...

It's a frivolity ...just for fun ...BC I could see someone wanting this...now? Not likely..

It only useful now as transportation, not as a collectible ...unless you got money to burn

https://newhaven.craigslist.org/mcy/d/shelton-1972-yamaha-rt2-360-enduro/7110604180.html

MI plates on a CT craigslit ad is a real turn off for me.  Nice bike though.  When I can buy a brand new dual sport for about the same money I can't see spending that much for something that old unless I was going to participate in some vintage bike races, etc.

[Scud]

I would anticipate a drop in values and some unfortunate people who will be motivated to sell at low prices because they truly need the cash. But I don't think we will see many ads while people are under stay-at-home orders. Mu guess is that we will see a lot of "too many bikes... must thin the herd... something has to go..." type of ads.

[knockerjoe]

From Johns post above:
This is spot on in the Central East Coast market.
I have seen some older 70s and 80s Japanese bikes hitting the market at lower prices here.
During the Great Recession I bought and sold used HDs and there was not much of price drop throughout.
This is an phenomenon that I can’t explain that defies logic.
It will be interesting to see what the markets hold.

[Lannis]

It's coming.

All I can say is that anyone who REALLY believed that they KNEW what was going to happen in the financial markets in the upcoming year could start with $10,000 and be a Warren Buffett-sized billionaire in a few years.

So give it a go and report back ....

Lannis

[oldbike54]

 No political commentary here on Wild Guzzi , are we clear on this ? The rules are very easy to understand .

 Dusty

[moto-uno]

  Well if recent reports are to believed , the world production of new bikes is dropping ( a Lot ) , so maybe our used bikes may
actually increase in value and fill the void . I mean if few are working they're not getting loans from banks for new ones . Peter

[steven c]

 A DT-1 250 just sold on Bringatrailer.com for 8K. Crazy.

[Testarossa]

Markets are crazy and unpredictable. People buy old bikes for irrational reasons including nostalgia, which can inflate prices even of noncollectibles. Used bikes of recent vintage compete with dealer pricing of new bikes and in North America both are headed downward for demographic reasons. Maybe we'll eventually see a boom in scooter and ebikes as the campus-transport ethic moves to congested big cities, but that depends on so many volatile variables -- I'm certainly not going to invest in the business. And I don't know of any way to short the market.

[Ncdan]

  Well if recent reports are to believed , the world production of new bikes is dropping ( a Lot ) , so maybe our used bikes may
actually increase in value and fill the void . I mean if few are working they're not getting loans from banks for new ones . Peter

Will that include Moto Guzzis:)

[SteveRivet]

When I get on boring conference calls I'll skim CL to see what's out there.   Used bikes seem to have a level of seasonality surrounding the prices, so the drop from - may be masked a bit by the typical springtime uptick in demand.  The things I do notice are (i) there's always a lot of HD's in the 8-12 year old range trying to sell around half their original list, and (ii) Japanese /  British bikes sitting a little higher than one would expect for middle age machines.  Lot tougher to find the steals out there, although I am kicking myself for missing a 2014 Griso that just went for 4300 200 mi from me.

Steve

[ampm7]

Not much has changed here in San Diego, Ca other than not as many bikes for sale. Some good deals and some not so good.

[JJ]

A DT-1 250 just sold on Bringatrailer.com for 8K. Crazy.

I saw that as well!   





As nice as this example was, I predicted only $5K-$6K TOPS, but obviously, since it was an auction, someone wanted it badly.

People with a lot of extra disposable income will always have the ability to buy what they want....

For the rest of us....(*SIGH*), we can just continue to dream and mouth-breathe away!!

[siabeid]

Last week there was a Sportster Roadster, like new, a couple of years old with less than 1000 miles on it for $5000. It was on Spokane Craigslist and was in Sandpoint, Idaho. The phone number was a north Idaho number and the pictures looked like Sandpoint, so I think that it was legit. It didn't last long. A few days before, there was a real nice KLR, a few years old, all farkled up, in Colfax, WA for $2000. Once again, the phone number and pictures were from Colfax. It was gone in a couple of hours.

[Burkslaw]

In Central Florida (Daytona-Orlando) area, private sellers are not listing on CL anymore due to the $5 charge instituted a few months ago. Some try to circumvent by listing whole bikes under "Motorcycle Parts." I'm seeing more bikes listed on Facebook Marketplace-- both private and dealer sales. As to prices-- there are some real give-aways out there out there right now. I recently sold a mint condition K1200RS with all sorts of goodies and 2-owner pampered 40K miles, for $2100.  Looks like a lot of people can't give Harleys away. There are some interesting bikes, including a couple of Guzzi's, listed at what appears to be low prices--but they are sitting unsold for a long time. '96 California for $1800 in Jax has been on the market for months; a newer Calif Sport in Palm Beach has been sitting at $3500 for 5 months or so.
It's a great time to be buying if you are looking to score something you've always wanted at a bargain price. I wouldn't consider buying as an investment, though. I don't think the market will recover for some time to come.

[bigbikerrick]

I had a 74 DT 250 that looked just like this, in the most beautiful metallic orange color. It was an incredible bike that took me everywhere, had oil injection, and when I was a broke freshman in college, I would burn almost any oil I could find, and it never complained. I shit you not, I would burn chain saw oil, regular 30 wt., even some "Rev" re refined used oil in it.....anyone ever heard of that stuff? HaHaha.
  I would love to have another one and a matching mini enduro 50 in the same color. Yamaha made some incredible bikes back then, and they still do. Gotta love the "piano company"!
Rick

https://images.app.goo.gl/4boPunmcjVDpByNS8

[Travlr]

Mu guess is that we will see a lot of "too many bikes... must thin the herd... something has to go..." type of ads.

They'll be selling off their weakest bikes first and keeping to good stuff as long as possible.

Mike

[Guzikid]

  If I could have a look at the left side of that '00 Jackal (to be sure), I'm sure that's my original first Guzzi I bought here in Ohio.  It was a very good ride after all the changes (including the seats) were finished.  The guy I sold it to resold it again and I never heard/saw it again...….until now ! It needs a little care now tho………..Yep, that's her.  Those Staintunes sounded great too !!!  The Kid

[80CX100]

A DT-1 250 just sold on Bringatrailer.com for 8K. Crazy.

 

     It's amazing how strong the market is for anything with a 2 stroke.

     I'd like to have my RD400 and H2750 back, but the one that I miss and would have a blast on, was my Yamaha IT400 dropped 2 teeth to a 13 tooth front sprocket, it was the ultimate in a down low torque, hill climbing monster.

     The demand for some of the UJ bikes surprises me, especially for how sought after the older Kawasakis seem to be.

     I'm seeing huge bargains on nice bikes that aren't old enough yet to have any collector status.

     It could be a great summer for buyers,,,

      Kelly
     

[jared p]

The PNW market is alllllll over the place and for the most part, not moving bikes. People asking too much, offering too little, most things aren't moving like they should be or did last year at this same time. 

[twowheeladdict]

All I can say is that anyone who REALLY believed that they KNEW what was going to happen in the financial markets in the upcoming year could start with $10,000 and be a Warren Buffett-sized billionaire in a few years.

So give it a go and report back ....

Lannis

A bachelor coworker of mine refinanced his paid off house and used the $75,000 to go into day trading.  In 18 months he amassed 1.3 million dollars, and retired at 42 years old.  It can be done, but he was one who also bought Apple at $5 a share when it looked like they were going to disappear.  . 

[Bill929]

The motorcycle market is suffering a one-two punch.  Face it, the older riders (like most of us) are not being replaced by younger riders.  There is not near the percentage of young riders throwing a leg over a bike compared to when we were starting out.  Then you throw in this world economic crisis - the first thing people (at least most middle class people) cut out is luxury/recreational items, which is exactly what motorcycles are to the vast majority of riders.  So if we can, we hold on to them, but if we are really hurting we fire sale them...  You are going to see some pretty good deals from people who need the cash.  The others will just hold on...

[twowheeladdict]

The motorcycle market is suffering a one-two punch.  Face it, the older riders (like most of us) are not being replaced by younger riders.  There is not near the percentage of young riders throwing a leg over a bike compared to when we were starting out.  Then you throw in this world economic crisis - the first thing people (at least most middle class people) cut out is luxury/recreational items, which is exactly what motorcycles are to the vast majority of riders.  So if we can, we hold on to them, but if we are really hurting we fire sale them...  You are going to see some pretty good deals from people who need the cash.  The others will just hold on...

I bought the Road Glide and the V7III Carbon knowing that I would take a bath if I ever decided to part with them so I chose very carefully and got exactly what I wanted.  The Himalayan and the Van Van were bought at prices where if I sell them for 75 percent of what I paid I still got my money's worth out of them.   

I have no intentions of parting with any of the bikes in my stable, so now I have to pick very carefully if I add anything else.  The two bikes at the top of my list right now are the 2020 W800 in red, and the Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Trials.  I won't buy the W800 at full retail, and won't buy the RE without a test ride to see how much vibration is truly in a non-counterbalanced thumper.