Insane prices for Honda "Tiddlers"

[JJ]

We all talk about the weak values of our poor Guzzi's...then, you look at what has sold recently on BAT (Bring-A-Trailer) for these Honda "Tiddlers" - - just insane (IMHO).      It was like this last year at MECUM's in Vegas also...

[oldbike54]

 People buying a memory of youth .

 Dusty

[s1120]

Ya... I wish I could afford one... this is me in the early 70's...

[Ncdan]

People buying a memory of youth .

 Dusty

Spot on my friend, as I did when I got my cb1000c👍

[oldbike54]

Spot on my friend, as I did when I got my cb1000c👍

 Surely you didn't pay $143.00 per CC to put it on display in your living room 

 This is what I don't get , paying stupid money for something you will never be able to use . Call me weird , but paying the kind of money we are witnessing here just seems silly , no one pays a thousand bucks for an old metal bodied Milwaukee saw because their dad owned one in 1970 , even if it is still serviceable .

                                                                 You can't buy cool .

 Dusty

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

High prices sure don't reflect scarcity!

In continuous manufacture since 1958 with production surpassing 60 million in 2008, 87 million in 2014, and 100 million in 2017, the Super Cub is the most produced motor vehicle in history. Variants include the C100, C50, C70, C90, C100EX and C70 Passport, as well as the Honda Trail series.

[Lannis]

We all talk about the weak values of our poor Guzzi's...then, you look at what has sold recently on BAT (Bring-A-Trailer) for these Honda "Tiddlers" - - just insane (IMHO).      It was like this last year at MECUM's in Vegas also...

A few years ago, one of our English friends had suggested a "fun ride" with some rules ... and they'd fly over to do it with us.

1) The ride had to be a Honda street step-through, <90cc.  Trail 90s, Super 90s, etc were out.   Cubs, Passports OK.

2) You could have no more than $500 in the whole outfit.

3) We would go on a camping trip of at least 1500 miles round trip, carrying our gear.

At the time, you could almost do it in England, but HERE, you haven't been able to buy a fixable, much less running, Cub or Super Cub for that money for years.   Even when you go to the mostly Japanese bike shows like York, rideable Hondas of that ilk are $1500 minimum ....

I don't understand it either.   I suppose it's like Model T's or Type 1 VWs or Citroen 2CVs - they made MILLIONS and MILLIONS of them, the cheapest, most common, least "desirable" cars on Earth, and now $10,000 will just barely get you a drivable one ....

Lannis

[Canuck750]

I don't get it either, the prices of Monkey bikes at Mecum has been crazy!

As others have noted they sure are not rare.

I have a 1980 CT-70 in my garage attic, bought it new for my wife in 1980, she put a whopping 800km on it and its been kept under wraps in a heated garage ever since. Many times I have suggested we sell it, it is all there and in a 9 out of 10 condition but she is 'attached' to it. When I got my 1957 Cardellino the seller wanted to trade me for the CT-70, I wanted to trade him too but my better half said no. I paid $2.5K for the Cardellino and the seller thought the CT-70 was equal value ….. are you kidding me!

[Shorty]

Surely you didn't pay $143.00 per CC to put it on display in your living room 

 This is what I don't get , paying stupid money for something you will never be able to use . Call me weird , but paying the kind of money we are witnessing here just seems silly , no one pays a thousand bucks for an old metal bodied Milwaukee saw because their dad owned one in 1970 , even if it is still serviceable .

                                                                 You can't buy cool .

 Dusty

I agree that the pricing is stupid. I do  not agree that the bikes will not be used. There are at least 2 Tiddler rallies in the Tulsa area per year.  Nothing newer than 1980 or bigger than 200 cc. Yes, it is mostly  septuagenarians out for a tootle and a ham sandwich,    One of the guys in my little cabal rides a CB160. We just go a little slower, but the grins are real.

[TN Mark]

Supply and demand works every time. 

[BrotherJim]

I've got a complete '68 CT90 in original condition, with a title, that I got for free.  It isn't far from being a runner, and I'll get to it one of these days.  Might end up being my first motorcycle that I won't be upside down in.  If I end up liking it, that won't matter.

[Moparnut72]

I bought a 125 cc two stroke Yamaha San Bernadino last fall. It is very similar to my first motorcycle. Trying to recapture those early days I guess. I bought it on-line, the pictures didn't do it justice as in the warts didn't show. It wasn't a runner but it is now. It is a good 20' motorcycle, looks good from 20'. And yes I am upside down again. I am going to go look at a Virago at a decent price in a couple of hours. At first I thought it was a Seca, great at the price but a Virago, probably not. I am telling myself NO.
kk

[oldbike54]

I agree that the pricing is stupid. I do  not agree that the bikes will not be used. There are at least 2 Tiddler rallies in the Tulsa area per year.  Nothing newer than 1980 or bigger than 200 cc. Yes, it is mostly  septuagenarians out for a tootle and a ham sandwich,    One of the guys in my little cabal rides a CB160. We just go a little slower, but the grins are real.

 Yeah , I know about the T Town Tiddlers , have attended a couple of their events . Didn't notice ant real mint condition tiddlers . My point is you can't buy cool , or youth either .

 Dusty

[Ncdan]

Surely you didn't pay $143.00 per CC to put it on display in your living room 

 This is what I don't get , paying stupid money for something you will never be able to use . Call me weird , but paying the kind of money we are witnessing here just seems silly , no one pays a thousand bucks for an old metal bodied Milwaukee saw because their dad owned one in 1970 , even if it is still serviceable .

                                                                 You can't buy cool .

 Dusty

I guess that when most folks get to be old farts their stuff is paid for snd they have extra money to buy memories and dreams. Do you remember the Steven King book and movie NEEDFUL THINGS?

[oldbike54]

I guess that when most folks get to be old farts their stuff is paid for snd they have extra money to buy memories and dreams. Do you remember the Steven King book and movie NEEDFUL THINGS?

 I believe most of what we buy is because someone convinced us we needed something using marketing as the weapon .

 Sorry , am not familiar with the book or the movie .

 Dusty

[Moparnut72]

I bought a 125 cc two stroke Yamaha San Bernadino last fall. It is very similar to my first motorcycle. Trying to recapture those early days I guess. I bought it on-line, the pictures didn't do it justice as in the warts didn't show. It wasn't a runner but it is now. It is a good 20' motorcycle, looks good from 20'. And yes I am upside down again. I am going to go look at a Virago at a decent price in a couple of hours. At first I thought it was a Seca, great at the price but a Virago, probably not. I am telling myself NO.
kk

And it isn't as much fun to ride as I remember but it was a good time getting it to run again.
kk

[kballowe]

I took a new Monkey out for a "test ride".  I wasn't buying, but surely wanted to ride one.  The local dealer was OK with that.
They're approximately $4,000 out the door.  125cc and a 4-speed transmission.  At 40 miles an hour - it felt like 80 on a big bike.
Something like that would take a bit of getting used to - but it was FUN.

 

[Rough Edge racing]

Those little bikes are for children....

[LongRanger]

Uh, no, they’re for anyone who wants to have fun and doesn’t care what other people think.

[TN Mark]

I've got a complete '68 CT90 in original condition, with a title, that I got for free.  It isn't far from being a runner, and I'll get to it one of these days.  Might end up being my first motorcycle that I won't be upside down in.  If I end up liking it, that won't matter.

At one point I had five of those, all running and all original. They’re a lot of fun riding around the neighborhood. If you get to it sooner rather than later, you’ll likely be glad you did.

The five I had were all bought from one guy at his garage sale. His wife must have gave him some kind of ultimatum because I think I paid $250 for all five combined. Plus he delivered them to my house! This was back in the mid 90’s, way before these kind of bikes were cult classics.

There’s a valid reason why a Honda came out with the Monkey.

[Ncdan]

I believe most of what we buy is because someone convinced us we needed something using marketing as the weapon .

 Sorry , am not familiar with the book or the movie .

 Dusty

If you have the type of TV that you can search good movies look it up, it’s a good popcorn munching movie and totally Kings style.

[oldbike54]

If you have the type of TV that you can search god movies look it up, it’s a good popcorn munching movie and totally Kings style.

 I have a 17" Magnavox that is about 15 years old , the remote barely works , and on a good day it receives 5 channels , 4 of them OETA. The wonky remote doesn't much matter , it is almost always on OETA anyway , I am likely the least hip person alive  Seriously , someone recently had to explain what Breaking Bad was , hadn't ever heard of it .

 Dusty

[JJ]

I have a 17" Magnavox that is about 15 years old , the remote barely works , and on a good day it receives 5 channels , 4 of them OETA. The wonky remote doesn't much matter , it is almost always on OETA anyway , I am likely the least hip person alive  Seriously , someone recently had to explain what Breaking Bad was , hadn't ever heard of it .

 Dusty

I have got one better...Four years ago, we moved to Vortex-Land and we stopped watching commercial TV 100%.    No more talking heads....no more buffoonery...no more bad news...no more commercials  You know what I have missed in four years??!!??

Nothing....

We now just watch movies and documentaries on DVD.   

[oldbike54]

I have got one better...Four years ago, we moved to Vortex-Land and we stopped watching commercial TV 100%.    No more talking heads....no more buffoonery...no more bad news...no more commercials  You know what I have missed in four years??!!??

Nothing....

We now just watch movies and documentaries on DVD.   

 Meh , that costs money , plus , there are no commercials on PBS . We do send them a little money every year , worth it for series like Miss Fisher Mysteries , World on Fire , and that almost unbelievable true story Mrs Wilson . Now that was a case of truth being stranger than fiction . I hear people talking about ...had to think , Game of Thrones , something about a man in a high tower . All a mystery to me .

 Dusty

[Ncdan]

I have a 17" Magnavox that is about 15 years old , the remote barely works , and on a good day it receives 5 channels , 4 of them OETA. The wonky remote doesn't much matter , it is almost always on OETA anyway , I am likely the least hip person alive  Seriously , someone recently had to explain what Breaking Bad was , hadn't ever heard of it .

 Dusty

I meant good movies, I need to start reading my post before sending them, amazing how one letter can change the entire thought.

[oldbike54]

I meant ,good movies, I need to start reading my post before sending them, amazing how one letter can change the entire thought.

 No way to explain my taste in movies , enjoyed "The Shipping News" , Blazing Saddles , , and the Python stuff , other than that , can't really remember anything about movies .

 Dusty

[80CX100]

     It would be interesting to study the demographics of the buyers of these things, IOW, who is it, that is really paying large money for these little tiddlers.

     From my time spent with the VRRA, I know there is a huge demand to have the coolest pit bikes at the race track, but most of those people are as cheap as we are,lol.

     Nothing about the idea of a 50 yr old mini bike parked in my living room, makes my heart go pitter patter.

     I would like to think, that they're being bought by people as a nice simple fun memory, that is more easily shared with family and friends, idk.

     Human nature is amazing to watch some times, I think this just one of those unexplained illogical quirks.

     Kelly

[chuck peterson]

Better than new..

https://newhaven.craigslist.org/mcy/d/trumbull-honda-ss-125a/7126340585.html

[Shorty]

Tiddlers Run Saturday 5/30/2020 10:30 AM Salina, OK.  https://tulsa.craigslist.org/mcy/d/salina-town-tiddlers-spring-tour/7123469948.html      

[fotoguzzi]

Mine is priceless. Had it since 1972