Topic: Is it just me

[redbond4]

I bought a 73 500 four several years ago. Just recently I have been trying to find some small parts (gas cap latch and a old seat lock). Been looking on e-bay and have found the parts, but jeez the prices people are asking are frigging ridicules . Do I have the most rarest Honda in the entire world or what. It just seems that you would be better off buying the whole bike in semi good condition. They seem to fetch about $2000 unless the exhaust is original then you might get $3250. O.K. that's my rant over.

[Stev-o]

I restored a '71 CB500 earlier this year and had no trouble finding parts and I don't recall anything being overly priced.
I bought an original seat in very good cond for $100 shipped.
Have you placed a parts wanted thread on the forum?

[TwoTired]

Well, somebody had to store that part you want on the shelf for 40 years.

[Stev-o]

Well, somebody had to store that part you want on the shelf for 40 years.

...or, in my case, had the bright idea to cafe a bike and didnt want to use the stock seat.

[Don R]

Partsnmore has the gas cap latch new, I saw a 750 seat latch somewhere new also, check all the vendors.

[jamesbekman]

Yes I agree about prices being higher than they where.

-James

[goldarrow]

Original parts supply are depleting at exponential rate

[redrider736]

It just seems that you would be better off buying the whole bike in semi good condition.

I have done just that... I found it way cheaper to buy a semi complete 79 CB 650 for a few parts for less than what guys were charging for a Cam...

You ain't "rant'n" if its good read'n

[redbond4]

I restored a '71 CB500 earlier this year and had no trouble finding parts and I don't recall anything being overly priced.
I bought an original seat in very good cond for $100 shipped.
Have you placed a parts wanted thread on the forum?

Yes I did put an post in part's wanted to no avail. To give you an example of what I've been finding on E-bay. Gas cap latch with spring and a stainless steel pin. $62.99 + $2.32 shipping (are you kidding me. I don't care if you have stored it in your shop for 40 years). Seat lock with no key (does it even work with no key and no dust flap) bargain price $49.99 The rust is free Again I am just ranting here. When I first got the bike in 2010 I had no problem finding parts with relative ease, but now it's getting stupid. I have looked through the vender list etc and I actually found a brand new OEM 4 into 4 exhaust system for $1200 buck's. Only problem with that it was in Holland.  Any how I will keep trying and will probably find the part's eventually.  As much as I would love to find an original Exhaust system I am losing heart in ever doing that . 

Since I am very poor would someone on the board please donate me all the stuff I need from there bike. I will kindly send you a vintage scout uniform in return  .
Redbond4

[Stev-o]

Here is a cap latch for $20. Confirm it will fit.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=139197.0

[heyitsrama]

Welcome to the new wave of people having jobs, and people wanting classic vehicles. Good thing we all already have the bikes/cars? 

[TwoTired]

Gas cap latch with spring and a stainless steel pin. $62.99 + $2.32 shipping (are you kidding me. I don't care if you have stored it in your shop for 40 years).

And they don't care if you have an operating vintage bike, or something that vaguely looks like one on a plinth in your garage.
No one owes you cheap parts so that you can profit with your sales.

I've been on the other side of this exchange.  I've sold parts cheap so that an "enthusiast" can get his bike on the road, only to have him flip it for profit at the first chance.  I stopped being a charity.

Now you know why I have little sympathy for price whiners, especially for NOS or currently stocked parts from Honda.

Do I want to pay less for parts?  Sure.  But, people in business do so for profit, not charity.  And, it costs someone money to do both.  You can bet part of the costs you are #$%*ing about are Ebay and Paypal fees.  No one forces you to use those services.

[bjbuchanan]

These bikes are getting all the hype and riding the bubble like all the classic cars did because of those damn auction shows.

Always drives prices up because parts peddlers see dollar signs. Idk how many of you guys are in to classic cars but if you are then you know EXACTLY what I am talking about.

[Thamuz]

Red, would a 4 into 4 from a CB550 work?

[redbond4]

Gas cap latch with spring and a stainless steel pin. $62.99 + $2.32 shipping (are you kidding me. I don't care if you have stored it in your shop for 40 years).

And they don't care if you have an operating vintage bike, or something that vaguely looks like one on a plinth in your garage.
No one owes you cheap parts so that you can profit with your sales.

I've been on the other side of this exchange.  I've sold parts cheap so that an "enthusiast" can get his bike on the road, only to have him flip it for profit at the first chance.  I stopped being a charity.

Now you know why I have little sympathy for price whiners, especially for NOS or currently stocked parts from Honda.

Do I want to pay less for parts?  Sure.  But, people in business do so for profit, not charity.  And, it costs someone money to do both.  You can bet part of the costs you are #$%*ing about are Ebay and Paypal fees.  No one forces you to use those services.

Respectfully I trust you are not suggesting that I'm a whiner as I was ranting (there is a difference) . I started this thread in the hope that maybe I could figure out why parts seem to have shot up in price. Who said that I was trying to profit from selling it? If you have been on both ends of the market then you would probably see that a 71-73 500 four in let's say 80% of museum quality, seems to be worth on average $4000. If that being the case then I feel that $65 for a gas cap latch is very high. (yes that is E-bay, and the best part of the cost is not #$%*ing fees ). I payed $400 for my bike and to date I have about $1200 bucks in it.  At this time to get all part’s I need to get back to original condition, I'm probably looking at spending at least another $1600. If I tried to sell it after that I would be very lucky if I got 3/4 of what I have spent, given the condition. I am not looking for charity, I'm just saying that some people ask ridicules prices. If you have sold part's to enthusiasts for cheap price's then at least you made a profit and not a loss. Some parts I have found at Honda shops Even though they were high priced they were still reasonable. To give you an example the 500 four side cover emblem brand new OEM with retainers still in package $35. I guarantee  the dealer made a profit. ( He certainly did not sell it to me for charity and I did not expect him to).
Please don't take offence, but if you feel that strongly about members discussing used parts prices then maybe, you are Two Tired

[redbond4]

Here is a cap latch for $20. Confirm it will fit.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=139197.0

Thanks for the link STEVO
Not sure without checking part #s if a 550 will work or not THAMUZ

[EricHa]

As guys age they want to get a bike like they had when they were young, or always wished that they had. In addition, for whatever reason the old Hondas seem to appeal more than other brands to the younger guys, who want to café them out. Add both of those factors together and anything associated with old Hondas is getting expensive.

I will say that it's not just Hondas. Look at the Kaw 900's and the 2 smokes, XS650's etc. All have been going up for a while.

[jamesbekman]

The guy isnt WHINNING about the price.  He is stating a fact that people are trying to charge more money for something and think the part will sell at that price to drive up the perceived market value meanwhile the price has been a constant price for quite some time.  What I have to say to that approach from someone who is doing that is DONT BUY IT.  Take your business elsewhere if you can.  They will be the one with the stockpile of parts on their shelves not being able to move anything and have their money tied up in a lump of parts.

This is especially true with exhaust systems...  If your exhaust costs half of what your bike is worth, things don't add up to me...

Next time you hear a rant about someone not keeping the bikes original  or Cafe'ing a bike out, I suggest you take these things into account before lambasting someone for doing something so sacrilegious as there isnt a choice for some people at times, or for the bike that matter. 

Anywho...  I still have to buy that stupid $100 petcock for the 76 550 tank I have...  Anyone want to trade?  Lol

[Steve_K]

Good grief!!??  I brought a gas cap latch(not the original type) 2 or 3 years ago for my 73 750 and it might have been 30 bucks, from the dealer.  You have to remember, how many can they sell?  If you want the type that came with it,  most are broken now.  I have an original on a spare tank and when ever I open it I am very careful. 

If you want it to look brand new, gotta pay to play.  That said, you could get a dependable runner 400 or 500 dollars(not including bike price) without engine repairs, maybe.  Gotta do the labor yourself,  but thats part of the fun.
 
I think  most people enjoy the wrenching , going to swap meets and lurking on Craig Lists.   I do, cause maybe I'll find that RC30 for $1500, in mint condition.
Whoops, I ranted!

Steve

[Duke McDukiedook]

It IS just you.
Everyone else here has realistic expectations.

[lucky]

Its not just you bro.

Everyone wants $100 for every darn thing now.
Of course they are still trying to sell $400 dollar air filters.,and $600 for controls too.

I am tired of $100 per item prices!!!
I will not pay.
I will find some creative alternative.

For instance the Hot rod car world sells things for reasonable prices.
I buy most of my chrome bolts from the hot rod web sites.

You can often get some jet ski parts or dirt bike parts that do not cost so much too.

The marine world was ruined a long time ago by ridiculous prices, forget that too.

One guy wanted $600 for a leather potato chip bobber seat.
I did not respond. Three months later he emailed me and said he was just joking.
Sure... I bought a beautiful new seat for less than $100.
Some  people think they should get paid gobs of cash for making one simple thing.

[lucky]

Well, somebody had to store that part you want on the shelf for 40 years.

More like hoarded the part for 40 years, and did not even spray it with WD40.

[redbond4]

It IS just you.
Everyone else here has realistic expectations.

So please explain a realistic expectation? I'm just curious.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Supply and demand my fine feathered friend.
You are trying to source parts for a 43 year old bike and that costs money, period.
If you don't like the prices sell the bike and take up beanie baby collecting, I heard you can get those real cheap these days.

[vames]

Sellers will charge as much as they can. Buyers will pay as little as they can. The price of something is where they meet. It's determined by availability, competition and the strength of demand.

There are always guys who are going to slap ridiculously high prices on something in hopes of snagging a sucker. It may be a little uncouth but it's not necessarily immoral. If you're an informed consumer, these guys are never going to "get" you so it's irrelevant. But you can't blame them for trying.

If you don't like the price that is being asked, your recourse is to not buy it or bid with a lower price. You can call the seller greedy, you can call him worse names. But if you can't find the product somewhere else for a lower price, you either pay the asking price or do without it.

If you are going to put your house up for sale and you think home prices in general are too damn high, are you going to list it for what you think you can get or what you think is fair? I'd venture to say its the former.