New 93 Daytona: buy or not buy

[GreenIce]

Hi.  Newbie to Moto Guzzi, but an acquaintance has offered me a new 1993 Daytona, never started, titled or ridden.  He's asking $25K U.S.  Is this a good investment?  Probably would not ride it as I have a spinal disease and am having a harder time staying in the saddle for very long.  Bike is beautiful and I could see possibly buying another Daytona to ride for a while and enjoy staring at the new one during the long Alaskan winters.  Just wanted some opinions about this particular situation.  Thanks for any input.

[fotoguzzi]

What a shame to never start or ride such a beast. If you own a museum the price might be OK.

[oldbike54]

 You own several exotics , they might be a good guide regarding motorcycles as investments . We just had a long discussion about this subject , the general wisdom seemed to be that they don't make a very good way to make money .

  Dusty

[bigbikerrick]

If looking at it merely from an investment point of view......I think I would put the money in the stock market instead. Just think how long it would take for that $25K Guzzi to double in value to $50K?
It may never happen in your lifetime. I would venture to say properly invested,( fairly conservative) you should be able to see that money double in 10-12 years or so.

That being said, you "cant take it with you" the Daytona or the $$......life is short,    and all that other good stuff we come up with when we want to justify a new toy......I was just going through the same mental debate myself !
Rick

[Chuck in Indiana]

Investment? I guess it depends on how much you want to make.  25 large in a CD will bring you what? $250 a year, maybe?
Really sorry about the spinal disease. That would be tough..

[jas67]

I think it would look great next to the Superleggera and RC30!

[blackcat]

I would sell you my 97 Daytona, but even without a spinal disease it is hard to ride for too many hours.

[mach1mustang351]

I have never seen a Daytona in real life. I say you buy it and then you can invite me over to check it out... but in all seriousness, my dad restores British bikes and he always said that investing in things that roll is a break even proposition at best. There are many exceptions to that obviously, as there are good opportunities to be had at times. I agree that if you want a Daytona there will likely never ne another opportunity at one with no miles, never ran etc. But... if you want a Daytona to ride, I wouldn't get that one. I would be afraid of getting bugs on it etc. Your call, but let me know so I can see it

[GreenIce]

What a shame to never start or ride such a beast. If you own a museum the price might be OK.

I totally agree.  But at this price how much would it depreciate to ride?  He's a collector and has too many bikes and not enough room.  So it seems that the only two options are to buy and ride, thus having a $25K used bike shortly after riding, or enjoy it as it is.  Tough choices in my book.  Not sure I trust myself not to ride it after a while.  Looking only goes so far, right?

[GreenIce]

If looking at it merely from an investment point of view......I think I would put the money in the stock market instead. Just think how long it would take for that $25K Guzzi to double in value to $50K?
It may never happen in your lifetime. I would venture to say properly invested,( fairly conservative) you should be able to see that money double in 10-12 years or so.

That being said, you "cant take it with you" the Daytona or the $$......life is short,    and all that other good stuff we come up with when we want to justify a new toy......I was just going through the same mental debate myself !
Rick

Guess I should be a bit more clear.  I'm not looking to make money on this bike.  Just concerned that it won't hold it's value or at least depreciate very slowly.  You're right about not taking it with you.  Got enough $$ stuck away in the stock market.  Now I want some non-paper things to enjoy.  I get such a high in these long winters just by uncovering some of my bikes and just looking or waxing or dusting.  I think the Daytona would add to that joy, but as I say, I'm a total newbie to MG.  Thanks for your input.

[ponti_33609]

Hard to spend someone else s money but I like it.  When the economy "tanks" all "toys" go down in value.  If I had cash I didn't need I would not be afraid to buy this and park in my loft for another 20 years.

[oldbike54]

Guess I should be a bit more clear.  I'm not looking to make money on this bike.  Just concerned that it won't hold it's value or at least depreciate very slowly.  You're right about not taking it with you.  Got enough $$ stuck away in the stock market.  Now I want some non-paper things to enjoy.  I get such a high in these long winters just by uncovering some of my bikes and just looking or waxing or dusting.  I think the Daytona would add to that joy, but as I say, I'm a total newbie to MG.  Thanks for your input.

 That is a completely different question , but still impossible to answer , as it now becomes a philosophical issue. If you can afford the 25K USD , and think it worth it ... No way of knowing if the Daytona will hold its value .

  Dusty

[fotoguzzi]

   He's asking $25K U.S. 

I'll bet he makes a bigger profit than you ever would..I note you call him an acquaintance not a friend..

[Chuck in Indiana]

I get such a high in these long winters just by uncovering some of my bikes and just looking or waxing or dusting.  I think the Daytona would add to that joy

That makes the answer obvious. Nothing gives me a grin like a sporting Guzzi for whatever reason..
As far as value on a Guzzi.. What generally happens is they depreciate very rapidly from new, then hit a plateau. Stay at that price for quite a bit, then slowly start appreciating. For instance, I could have bought a very nice Daytona in around 2000 for $8500. I thought it was overpriced at that time. That same bike today? Dunno, but I wouldn't have lost money. Would it have kept up with inflation? Dunno again. 
Doesn't matter. The above quote says it all..

[Arizona Wayne]

Frankly, Daytonas are so rare since new I can't see it ever depreciating, especially with higher inflation  being  our next road in our economic future.  That is before the collapse of paper US dollars all together. This is 1 of the few bikes that will always look good no matter the year.

[pauldaytona]

I bought one when I was 33. It has now 56.000km on it. 1000 were made. To get the taste and smell, buy a used one for I don't know what they cost over there, suppose 7-10k? 

[GreenIce]

I'll bet he makes a bigger profit than you ever would..I note you call him an acquaintance not a friend..

Not looking to make a profit so I'm not concerned about seller's profit margin.  I use the word "acquaintance" because it is appropriate.  I may be a newbie to Moto Guzzi, but I won't be taken advantage of in this deal.  BTW, you just lost your bet.  I have a "friend" who offered me $30K for the bike if I buy it, but since he is a friend I wouldn't try and make 20% from him.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I bought one when I was 33. It has now 56.000km on it. 1000 were made. To get the taste and smell, buy a used one for I don't know what they cost over there, suppose 7-10k?

I doubt if you could get one for that, but maybe. I'm sure Blackcat knows. 

[rocker59]

...at this price how much would it depreciate to ride?  He's a collector and has too many bikes and not enough room.  So it seems that the only two options are to buy and ride, thus having a $25K used bike shortly after riding, or enjoy it as it is.  Tough choices in my book.  Not sure I trust myself not to ride it after a while.  Looking only goes so far, right?

Probably about $10,000 on the first ride.

Nice running examples sell in The USA for $9,000 to $12,000 over the past few years.

A new, never titled, never run Daytona 1000 is surely a one of a kind.

He might think of offering to sell it to Barber's in Birmingham for display.  They do buy rarities like that.

[Arizona Wayne]

Probably about $10,000 on the first ride.

Nice running examples sell in The USA for $9,000 to $12,000 over the past few years.

A new, never titled, never run Daytona 1000 is surely a one of a kind.

He might think of offering to sell it to Barber's in Birmingham for display.  They do buy rarities like that.

If they don't already have 1.

[Daniel Kalal]

If they don't already have 1.

They do, but it's a factory-rejected one-off in yellow.  It might be rare, but it's not probably as good for the museum as a zero-mile first edition red one would be.

[blackcat]

He might think of offering to sell it to Barber's in Birmingham for display.  They do buy rarities like that.

Barber's was given the opportunity to buy my RS and they wanted it at a fire sale price or so I'm guessing as the owner turned them down which is why I got the bike.

[Gino]

I sold mines ( a 93) about 5 years ago for a little over �3000, enjoyed it for a while then stopped using it , figured it wasn't a bike to leave lying around so sold it, no regrets, but at $25 k I'd not consider one as an investment, mind you I didn't buy a Vincent in 88 for �5k because I thought it was too much so what do I know 

[Nic in Western NYS]

I hope the spine situation improves.  Regarding the Daytona, that first ride will have quite an effect on its market value.  Hopefully it can find a place to be displayed with zero miles on its ticker, either with you or somewhere else.

[ponti_33609]

I remember on eBay about 5-6 years ago (was posted here too) of a still in crate, Orange, 1000S.  As I recall it went for about $10K.  Most of us here thought it was outrageous, need to change all the rubber etc.......I bet that would go for $15K or higher now.  I still say this may not be a terrible price for a collector.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Well, there is no "market" for a one of a kind like this. What ever some one is willing to pay is what it is worth. I see this with antique airplanes fairly regularly. <shrug>

[LeRoy]

If the auction below concludes with a sale, maybe you can use it as a benchmark price for what a very nice, little-ridden and well-maintained Daytona would go for. Check back in a few days. The auction has about 4+ days to run and apparently $9500 (today's current high bid hasn't met reserve) won't buy this bike.

For what it's worth, the same bike failed to sell in two recently expired eBay auctions, peaking at $9200 both times, and both times with the same failed high bidder not reaching reserve. That alone seems to tell us that, at this time, a very nice Daytona is having trouble reaching $10,000 even though 5-6 different people have bid on it. If that's the case, spending $25,000 on a "brand new" 1993 Daytona, then putting the first miles on it, might cut its value in half or worse (at least in the short term). Ouch in my book.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moto-Guzzi-Daytona-v4-/201467673916?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ee868bd3c:g:F9sAAOSwsFpWSN1r&item=201467673916

[Turin]

It's a beautiful peace of machinery and I'd have no problem parking mine inside the house. If you ride it, It will depreciate. If you want one to ride, the one on E-bay might be the ticket.

[GreenIce]

It's a beautiful peace of machinery and I'd have no problem parking mine inside the house. If you ride it, It will depreciate. If you want one to ride, the one on E-bay might be the ticket.

Exactly right!  LeRoy's post might have settled this entire thing for me (or help me put myself in the poor house).  Thanks for the post.  Glad to know there are a lot of us addicts out there.   

[GreenIce]

If the auction below concludes with a sale, maybe you can use it as a benchmark price for what a very nice, little-ridden and well-maintained Daytona would go for. Check back in a few days. The auction has about 4+ days to run and apparently $9500 (today's current high bid hasn't met reserve) won't buy this bike.

For what it's worth, the same bike failed to sell in two recently expired eBay auctions, peaking at $9200 both times, and both times with the same failed high bidder not reaching reserve. That alone seems to tell us that, at this time, a very nice Daytona is having trouble reaching $10,000 even though 5-6 different people have bid on it. If that's the case, spending $25,000 on a "brand new" 1993 Daytona, then putting the first miles on it, might cut its value in half or worse (at least in the short term). Ouch in my book.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moto-Guzzi-Daytona-v4-/201467673916?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ee868bd3c:g:F9sAAOSwsFpWSN1r&item=201467673916

Thanks for the eBay link and your take on this, LeRoy.  I did not know that there were lower fairings produced.  I like the bike either way, but they make it look totally different.