Topic: Help me value these bikes.

[turboed13b]

Dont expect what you experienced, to be the same everywhere else.. Build a few more ratcaf,s,then tell us what they sold for..

Saw a cafe kz650 in the window of a tat shop yesterday.. Walked over to have a closer look.... Terrible work.. But looked ok at 40 ft.. I never liked them very much..

Well I sold my cb360 for 2500 didn't even have it for sale a guy just offered cash.

Sold a cb550 for 2500 just has clip ons, fiberglass cowl, and custom harness wasn't even painted or seat finished. As you can see they sell before they are even finished that's how popular they are.

[Retro Rocket]

There are very few people around here who like stockers I think I have only met one person who did and he restored cb750's. Everyone else was either into cafe builds or Harleys.

If you are referring to "...around here..." As your town in Ohio, ok. But if you are referencing a lack of stock, restoration, or original 350, 360 and 400 bikes, then you might want to check out this thread as a source of reference http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,142219.0.html

It would not be accurate to determine market value of some eBay piece of gob that some dolt overpaid as to the market strength of original, or restored bikes versus DIY cafes. That would just be foolhardy. Certainly depending upon the demographic you interact with, stock versus custom is debatable. But I can assure you, the high end restoration of valuable models far, far exceeds even the overpriced bikes from Hollywood builders.

There does not seem to be a strong resale market for 360/350 bikes mostly due to their limited size. But even cafes don't yield great money. It takes a good deal of investment and a high end build to draw a high price for a 350. And even then, the profit is ultra slim and it takes a special buyer to want to spend the money for it.

"Special" being the operative word....

[przjohn]

...a lot of people I talk to actually hate the stock look of a vintage bike and wouldn't be "caught dead" riding one.

You're talking to the wrong people!

There are very few people around here who like stockers I think I have only met one person who did and he restored cb750's. Everyone else was either into cafe builds or Harleys.

This line from your previous post speaks volumes,

" My friend sold his cb360 on eBay with a home made fiberglass seat, stripped tank with jb weld on it and some clips ons"

Yeah, those bikes are right up there with full restorations.

 I'm not saying that there aren't some great Café builds out there, but the bikes you are referring to aren't even in the same league as those. You might want to take a walk over to ADVRider and check out the Oldscool sub forum. There is a thread there named, "Craigslist Dumbazz of the Week" It is pretty much full of bikes like you just described.

That's the point I am making a half assed cafe especially a cb360 can fetch 3k where a pristine cb360 can't. Catch my drift? I wasn't saying it was a out if this world build it was a first bike that was bought for $400 wasn't expecting much from it.

I think we are talking Apples & Oranges. I can see your point of making money on a sub $3,000 bike. $3,000 and less bikes, brat bikes, cafes, whatever you want to call them, or however they are cobbled together will always be big sellers, it's just basic economics. There are more people to buy them, and, there are many in that price range who know very little about what they are buying. When it comes to stock bikes Mark Twain said it well," Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated"

I believe he also said, "No worries, it's all good"

[jaguar]

Dont expect what you experienced, to be the same everywhere else.. Build a few more ratcaf,s,then tell us what they sold for..

Saw a cafe kz650 in the window of a tat shop yesterday.. Walked over to have a closer look.... Terrible work.. But looked ok at 40 ft.. I never liked them very much..

Well I sold my cb360 for 2500 didn't even have it for sale a guy just offered cash.

Sold a cb550 for 2500 just has clip ons, fiberglass cowl, and custom harness wasn't even painted or seat finished. As you can see they sell before they are even finished that's how popular they are.

You sound like a great asset to the forum and hobby as a whole.
Keep up that grind, sounds like you are making a killing.
Gotta be a small town were they just got CRTV.....
Worst thing is when hacks Don't get it....

[turboed13b]

There are very few people around here who like stockers I think I have only met one person who did and he restored cb750's. Everyone else was either into cafe builds or Harleys.

But I can assure you, the high end restoration of valuable models far, far exceeds even the overpriced bikes from Hollywood builders.

I haven't seen it maybe a sandcast cb750 but all other bikes a cafe build always gets paid more. A restoration also cost a lot more to build than a cafe racer so profit margins becomes smaller.

[turboed13b]

...a lot of people I talk to actually hate the stock look of a vintage bike and wouldn't be "caught dead" riding one.

You're talking to the wrong people!

There are very few people around here who like stockers I think I have only met one person who did and he restored cb750's. Everyone else was either into cafe builds or Harleys.

This line from your previous post speaks volumes,

" My friend sold his cb360 on eBay with a home made fiberglass seat, stripped tank with jb weld on it and some clips ons"

Yeah, those bikes are right up there with full restorations.

 I'm not saying that there aren't some great Café builds out there, but the bikes you are referring to aren't even in the same league as those. You might want to take a walk over to ADVRider and check out the Oldscool sub forum. There is a thread there named, "Craigslist Dumbazz of the Week" It is pretty much full of bikes like you just described.

That's the point I am making a half assed cafe especially a cb360 can fetch 3k where a pristine cb360 can't. Catch my drift? I wasn't saying it was a out if this world build it was a first bike that was bought for $400 wasn't expecting much from it.

I think we are talking Apples & Oranges. I can see your point of making money on a sub $3,000 bike. $3,000 and less bikes, brat bikes, cafes, whatever you want to call them, or however they are cobbled together will always be big sellers, it's just basic economics. There are more people to buy them, and, there are many in that price range who know very little about what they are buying. When it comes to stock bikes Mark Twain said it well," Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated"

I believe he also said, "No worries, it's all good"

People have offered 5k for my cb550 it has the USD forks and all that fun stuff but seriously although some people say eBay  isn't a good reference for pricing but it does have the widest market you can see cb550 cafe racers sell for 5k and up. Then you see a low mileage stock bike barely reaching 2k.


Majority of the people out there like a good looking bike and a super stock resto build isn't really under that list.

Yes you will find a few people willing to pay a lot for a resto build but it is pretty slim because the market isn't there for them.

[turboed13b]

Well I certainly accept that is your opinion. and we all see heaps of "One off, custom cafes..." With outlandish prices on them. But I doubt seriously whether the majority of these backyard hack jobs ever sell, or sell for their advertise prices. But whichever you prefer, build what love and ride what you like.

If you care, you can review the sale sheet from the recent Mecum auction last week on motorcycles. You'll see the prices stock, restos fetched. Even the original survivors fetched much higher prices than customs did.

Most of those bikes are actually rare and worth the money. Look at all the normal bikes they all pulled measly numbers.

[Gene]

Wasn't gonna jump in but can't help myself.  As has been said time and again - whatever works for you and your market.  However, in my market, the people with money want a bike that is as unmolested as possible.  I see we're not talking about big dollars here so if you can make up in volume what is lacking in $$$ sales per item, good on you.  I have had the opposite experience as you in that young and middle-aged and old alike have complimented my stockers - have even made me promise not to café it. 

Just my experience - but my experience tells me you might be misguided, Turboed - at least in a Southern California market.  But again, I don't live in OH so I don't know your market either.

[Stev-o]

...a lot of people I talk to actually hate the stock look of a vintage bike and wouldn't be "caught dead" riding one.

You're talking to the wrong people!

There are very few people around here who like stockers I think I have only met one person who did and he restored cb750's. Everyone else was either into cafe builds or Harleys.

This line from your previous post speaks volumes,

" My friend sold his cb360 on eBay with a home made fiberglass seat, stripped tank with jb weld on it and some clips ons"

Yeah, those bikes are right up there with full restorations.

 I'm not saying that there aren't some great Café builds out there, but the bikes you are referring to aren't even in the same league as those. You might want to take a walk over to ADVRider and check out the Oldscool sub forum. There is a thread there named, "Craigslist Dumbazz of the Week" It is pretty much full of bikes like you just described.

Catch my drift?

No.  I dont think you can base current trends on what you see in ohio!  Nice stock CB350's do "fetch" close to $3K down here.

 http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/5389390154.html

[przjohn]

Turbo, got any pics of this 550?

[754]

Turbo one of the bikes at Mecum was not rare.. 75 cB 750. Minty..less engine and pipes... 5000.00 it went for.   Nice ones with engine and pipes are bringing 7000.00 and more... And they are not rare..

[Stev-o]

"Craiglist Dumbazz of the Week"

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/craigslists-dumbass-of-the-week-nominee.889310/

[turboed13b]

Turbo one of the bikes at Mecum was not rare.. 75 cB 750. Minty..less engine and pipes... 5000.00 it went for.   Nice ones with engine and pipes are bringing 7000.00 and more... And they are not rare..

A stock resto just sold on eBay for $3600 but guess what sold more? A cafe' cb750 which ended about an hour before.

Whoever paid 5k for a normal cb750 had money to burn because they are a dime a dozen.

[turboed13b]

Turbo, got any pics of this 550?

Mine or the one I sold?

[Retro Rocket]

Turbo one of the bikes at Mecum was not rare.. 75 cB 750. Minty..less engine and pipes... 5000.00 it went for.   Nice ones with engine and pipes are bringing 7000.00 and more... And they are not rare..

A stock resto just sold on eBay for $3600 but guess what sold more? A cafe' cb750 which ended about an hour before.

Can't have been much of a "resto"..
You make lots of claims, post the links so we can see them, I can post hypothetical bikes and prices all day......?

[turboed13b]

Ok here......

[przjohn]

Turbo, got any pics of this 550?

Mine or the one I sold?

No Reindeer Games please, just the pics.

[turboed13b]

Turbo, got any pics of this 550?

Mine or the one I sold?

No Reindeer Games please, just the pics.

What?

[przjohn]

In other words, just post the friggin pic.

[turboed13b]

In other words, just post the friggin pic.

You just said 550 I have a ton of them which one do you want to see?


Also scrolling through eBay again another cb360 cafe for a lot more than a stock restored one and it still has a couple days left of bidding!

[przjohn]

Just what I thought, lots of talk.

[Stev-o]

I dont believe bikes truly sell for what I see on ebay.

[Tews19]

I dont believe bikes truly sell for what I see on ebay.

Plus 1 million!

[turboed13b]

Just what I thought, lots of talk.

Ok....

[Retro Rocket]

Ok here......

That's not a link to the auction or a finished auction for that matter, give me five minutes and i'll put some of those together for you......

In other words, just post the friggin pic.

You just said 550 I have a ton of them which one do you want to see?


Also scrolling through eBay again another cb360 cafe for a lot more than a stock restored one and it still has a couple days left of bidding!

All that bike says is, there is a lot of try hards wasting a pile of money on #$%* bikes..  That thing is almost worthless to anyone that knows anything about bikes, and almost any fool could build it...