Very healthy SOLD prices on BAT...

[JJ]

Here is proof that the market for vintage and classic motorcycles is still much alive and well!!!

[blackcat]

Seems like a fair price to me for the Manx.

[Canuck750]

$22K for the Triking seems like a steal to me!

I could never build one for that and I think it would be so much more fun (and cooler) than a CanAm three wheeler or the Polaris Slingshot.

Is there a link to this site someone could share with me, I have seen the various posts here of BAT but never found the source site, I want to sell a couple bikes in the next year but I didn't think the market was strong with -, the BAT sales seem strong.

Thanks

Jim

[LowRyter]

The Beemer, Honda and Kaw seem ridiculous.  The others about right.

I agree about the -.   ......deleted .........

[oldbike54]

Seems like a fair price to me for the Manx.

 I agree , for the smaller displacement 40M that is a very fair price .

 Dusty

[JJ]

$22K for the Triking seems like a steal to me!

I could never build one for that and I think it would be so much more fun (and cooler) than a CanAm three wheeler or the Polaris Slingshot.

Is there a link to this site someone could share with me, I have seen the various posts here of BAT but never found the source site, I want to sell a couple bikes in the next year but I didn't think the market was strong with -, the BAT sales seem strong.

Thanks

Jim

Here you go, Jimbo!

https://bringatrailer.com/motorcycles/

[jbell]

$22K for the Triking seems like a steal to me!

I could never build one for that and I think it would be so much more fun (and cooler) than a CanAm three wheeler or the Polaris Slingshot.

Is there a link to this site someone could share with me, I have seen the various posts here of BAT but never found the source site, I want to sell a couple bikes in the next year but I didn't think the market was strong with -, the BAT sales seem strong.

Thanks

Jim



BAT=Bring a trailer. 

[Tusayan]

The Bring a Trailer motorcycle auctions that amaze me most are those of BMWs, and in particular early R100GSs.   https://bringatrailer.com/search/r100gs/

An 800 mile from new GS doesn't sell while the same model/color with 23K miles sells for $15,500 and a very similar red bike with 27K miles sells for $17K https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-bmw-r100gs-2/  The red one is especially amusing because I happen to own a fairly rough high mile example of the same year and color that I bought for $2700.  These bikes were under $4K new when introduced in 1988.

Meanwhile a clean 20K mile '93 sold for $7850 https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-bmw-1993-bmw-r100gs-motorcycle/ or about half the price of the others, with lower mileage.

[Canuck750]

Here you go, Jimbo!

https://bringatrailer.com/motorcycles/

Thanks JJ

[ozarquebus]

OPINION: Some may see this as healthy prices, I see it as the beginning of high monetary inflation.  People with disposable cash are in a hurry to exchange it for something with perceived real value. Due to the "600 pound gorilla", people are cashing out and retiring early and looking for projects/investments that could be fun to work on from home. For obvious and some not-so-obvious reasons that are not kosher for discussion here, I am still predicting that this winter we will see the lowest prices in a long time on big beater motorcycles. So i am of the opinion to sell what I've got quick and save my $$ till Christmas for an older Big Block Guzzi....

[LowRyter]

I can't predict the future OZBus but I agree with your analysis.

[Lannis]

I'm sorry, but I have to say something is fishy about BAT. It is interesting and slick, but most on there appears to be restored or in very good condition and frequently rare, like a fancy showroom full of sparkling restorations and exotica.     
It is simply not cost effective to list anything of low value. There will be no bargains there besides occasional flukes.
With BAT fees being $99 +$250 photo promotion and a 5% commission up to $5000 to sell, it becomes more obvious why this is so.   
 Buyers are paying a large premium for the privilege to buy from BAT. It is not cost effective to put something on there unless it can have enough profit to be worthwhile. Who is going to post a 2500 dollar bike with basic photo fees approaching $225? Prices are reflecting what the seller needs plus all the fees resulting in a price at least 20% higher than actual value. For example, the 1993 LeMans that sold for $16,000 would have fees around $1200 dollars.
 BAT feels contrived and manipulated to magnify the higher prices and is fed by a base of speculators and collectors and not a true reflection of used bike prices. My apologies to you speculators and collectors out there, but I would not pay those prices unless I was investing for profit or vainglory. Of course, I am just an ostrich with my head stuck in the ground.

My head's stuck in the ground right there with you, in that case.    Something's a little strange.   

It's like finding out that there's a grocery store in the next town that sells bread for $.29 a loaf, milk for $.25 a gallon, and gasoline for $.89 a gallon.   The usual and time-tested rules of economics seem to be suspended for a period of time.

And maybe they are!   Stranger things are happening.   .... I remember when XKE Jags (early 90s) were $30,000, and in six months jumped to $90K or $100K, and a year later they were back down to $25K.

We just need to remember that bikes like Honda GB500s and Guzzi Centauros that were scorned by the cognoscenti and were being given away well below dealer cost when they were new, generally come back to have their day on top.   For those two bikes, 22 years is the magic number from couldn't give them away, to selling for more than they sold new ... !!

Be interesting to see if our own folks here, now that they've seen that they can double their money on BaT as opposed to selling on a traditional platform, have any stories like this to tell for the rest of 2020 ....

Lannis

[blackcat]

BAT maintains a recently sold list, contact a half dozen + sellers and find out if their sales were successfully completed.  I assume that the owners of the list don't get their cut if the sales aren't successful, I'd contact them too.

[jdgretz]

I was watching the sale of the Centauro that just closed for $8400 https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1999-moto-guzzi-v10-centauro-2/ and the CBF that went for $26K https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1983-honda-cbx-400f/

Most stuff on BaT seems to be the cream of the crop that is not going to one of the prestigious auction sites - usually with good histories, documentation, and exceptionally clean.  Older, one owner, or interesting collectibles may not be as clean, but still seem to get prices that are somewhat in the reach of the modest collector/restorer.  I doubt I could sell my Norge there for any more than I could using Craigslist (and I doubt they would take it anyway as it's not really that interesting or unusual).

I looked there when I was shopping for my SL500.  Didn't find one in the color combination that I wanted, and based on what I have spent fixing the sloppy work done by the previous owner (not a BaT purchase), I might have been better off waiting a bit longer and paying a slightly higher initial cost to save on what I've put into the car.  But hey, my motto seems to be Buy High, Sell Low.

jdg

[Rough Edge racing]

 I have been looking for another bike, what used to be 3000 bucks is now 5000. Previously inexpensive common Japanese bikes are selling for silly money on Ebay.

[sdcr]

Rough Edge,

There is a line of thinking, regarding the over the top, prices on BaT. Some call it the BaT factor, that impacts successful auctions at much higher final prices, than you might find on Cars.com, or Cycle Trader and other sites. Not sure the reason  “why”  this  is, but it does happen. For example, a nicely restored Datsun 240 Z  recently sold for over $300,000. Wacky, crack pipe number, but I could site several bike and car prices from BaT  that are way off the charts. On the other hand, some extraordinary vehicles  show up for auction on BaT.

Personally, I look at the more conventional sites, CL, cycle trader etc, for more realistic pricing.

[mondtster]

OPINION: Some may see this as healthy prices, I see it as the beginning of high monetary inflation.

I've been saying this for a while now. My friends are probably tired of hearing my opinions on the matter.

It's not just old motorcycles that are getting inflated in price, cars are too. Not too long ago you could buy a Ferrari 308 for not much money but now they've gone up at least 100% in value. I was shopping for a Porsche 914 about a year ago and watched the prices double on them in a little over two months. I wish I would have bought a few cars and bikes 5 years ago, I could be making some good money right now.

As far as BAT goes, I question the number of auctions that actually end with a completed sale.

[jdgretz]

Easy enough to find out - just go to Results --> https://bringatrailer.com/auctions/results/

Just based on comments and cars re-listed due to failure of the purchaser to fulfill his/her commitment, I'd say over 95% of those sales showing sold have resulted in completed transactions.

jdg

[reidy]

My take on this is we are past what I would class as the cross over point from bike owner to gambler. I put myself in what I class as the bike owner category. The only return I am looking to get is what I call "smiles per dollar". In short how much pleasure/enjoyment I think I will get from dollars spent. Obviously the smiles per dollar will be different for different people based on how they want to use the bike or what memories they are looking to create and such.

The gambler is looking to make money on his or her investment. Every investment is a gamble including shares, real estate, pork bellies and gold. For the gambler bikes are going up so there is a reasonable chance of making good money, provided you sell before they start going down. In my experience when you start dealing with gamblers, rational thought goes out the window.

On another note, does anyone want to buy some Dutch tulip bulbs. If you don't get the joke google it.   

Steve

[Lannis]

On another note, does anyone want to buy some Dutch tulip bulbs.   

Steve

Trade you some South Seas shares for them .....

[Murray]

Here is proof that the market for vintage and classic motorcycles is still much alive and well!!!

Those with means and time on their hands due to the current "situation" trolling the various online facilities to see what is out there. Locally most of what would be described as enthusiasts vehicles (cars and bikes) have been scooped up, I'd guess prices running around 10-15% above what there were say 12 months ago. Higher prices might be tempting those with a collection to shift a few things on at the same time so a bit self perpetuating, supply and demand and all that.