Topic: Parting out a perfectly good bike

[eigenvector]

I've seen a couple 3 of these on Craigslist and I wonder if it's someone who has stolen the bike, someone who just doesn't appreciate what they have, or just someone looking to make a buck.

One guy is parting out his CB550, totally parting it out - piece by piece. Half the bike is sold (or claimed to be sold)
One guy is parting out an Interceptor - almost pristine condition really

In both cases I'm thinking - why not sell it?  Christ you should be able to get 3 gran for the Interceptor easily - no way you'll make that parting it out.  The CB550 is a tough sell, but still - maybe $1500??

Parting it out seems like a waste of time and money - engines are easy to repair if that's the reason.

[754]

  Interceptors go for 3K ? I have no idea, would never buy one..
Dead honda fours , i never put outmore than a few hundred bux ,maybe more if its early.. Or really good..
Bet them bikes have no reggie..

[BomberMann650]

Yeah, I'd place my bet on hot stolen property too.

[754]

Abandoned and left behind 15 year and plus bikes are very common..
 More than stolen bikes..
 And here pretty easy to get them in your name..but 80 % of folks view that as an insurmountable obstacle..

[bajavw]

I am with 754 on this.
I often here the same story when I buy a parts bike.
The guy before was supposed to get me papers, or something similar.
I often go through the registration process. Or if I actually bought it just for parts I will strip it down and hoard the parts that are still good.
Either way I have searched and registered at least 12 bikes, never one was reported stolen..

[J-Rod10]

I know a guy who only parts them out. He says he makes more than selling then complete.

He bought four CB77's from me before I knew he parted bikes. Sold every last piece of those things.

[MikeZ]

Can make more $ parting them out with less hassle because most parts are paid for up front and shipped. No worries about someone not showing up to see the bike then try to haggle the price down more.  I see it a lot with Ducati's. 

[eigenvector]

I was thinking about this on the ride home and I think I'm agreeing with you 754 - probably someone who lost a title and just can't get the energy up to find it or retitle it.  My faith in humanity tells me that there can't be that many stolen bikes on the market.  If there were, they'd be Ultra-Glides or Road Kings - bikes that cost a ton and people want.

As for the price - I'd drop 3 gran on a reasonably pristine Interceptor.  Even today it's a hot bike, not many motorcycles will do 170+

edit:  I still consider it a shame.  At least in my state and I suspect all states - once it's classified as salvage that bike will never be street legal.  Might as well just roll it down to the incinerator at that point.  It's like taking a sledgehammer to Michaelangelo's David statue so you can sell each chunk for souveniers.

[754]

Not really.. None of those chunks will make another David statue..but most used parts bring bikes back on the road.
 Just think f you parted out on ebay, you dont ever have to meet any buyers.. As opposed to the craigs bunch, half of which never even show up..

[70CB750]

You just need to let it go 

There is an old iron all over the place, I look in the metal scrap container every time I take trash to landfill - there is always some junk that would fix up nicely;  luckily they will not let me take anything home 

I was thinking about this on the ride home and I think I'm agreeing with you 754 - probably someone who lost a title and just can't get the energy up to find it or retitle it.  My faith in humanity tells me that there can't be that many stolen bikes on the market.  If there were, they'd be Ultra-Glides or Road Kings - bikes that cost a ton and people want.

As for the price - I'd drop 3 gran on a reasonably pristine Interceptor.  Even today it's a hot bike, not many motorcycles will do 170+

edit:  I still consider it a shame.  At least in my state and I suspect all states - once it's classified as salvage that bike will never be street legal.  Might as well just roll it down to the incinerator at that point.  It's like taking a sledgehammer to Michaelangelo's David statue so you can sell each chunk for souveniers.

[754]

If you have ever been around a bike wrecker...when its time to close down and move (I have),
You would be astounded at how many Japan motorcycles can end up in scrap piles..

Its not worth anything when the cost of storage exceeds the value of the lump..

And no you cant save them all..never will.

[Tim2005]

From time to time someone parts out a fully restored 400f, as they can be worth more like that than as a whole bike. Does seem such a shame to see it happen. 

[eigenvector]

I know they're just machines - heck I'm an engineer, I KNOW they're just machines.  But dangit!  I would save them all if I could, I hate seeing perfectly good things go to waste.  Especially for a reason as mundane as profit.

[70CB750]

I know they're just machines - heck I'm an engineer, I KNOW they're just machines.  But dangit!  I would save them all if I could, I hate seeing perfectly good things go to waste.  Especially for a reason as mundane as profit.

+1

I wonder if sw developer feels the same for a piece of code

[Don R]

 Appelton Wis. seems to be a mecca for bike wreckers. They'll part out a sandcast. Figure that out. I know, I buy from them, I've gotten some good stuff at OK prices. Of course everything old is labeled Sandcast, you have to know the difference.

[chewbacca5000]

I know a guy who only parts them out. He says he makes more than selling then complete.

He bought four CB77's from me before I knew he parted bikes. Sold every last piece of those things.

This is true.  As soon as you spend a dollar more than the purchase price you make more parting them out.

[Lostboy Steve]

Not really.. None of those chunks will make another David statue..but most used parts bring bikes back on the road.
 Just think f you parted out on ebay, you dont ever have to meet any buyers.. As opposed to the craigs bunch, half of which never even show up..

I'll agree with that. Kind of like being an organ donor too. I don't have the heart to break a bike down just to sell it off though.

[grcamna2]

Not really.. None of those chunks will make another David statue..but most used parts bring bikes back on the road.
 Just think f you parted out on ebay, you dont ever have to meet any buyers.. As opposed to the craigs bunch, half of which never even show up..

I'll agree with that. Kind of like being an organ donor too. I don't have the heart to break a bike down just to sell it off though.

I'd much rather get a VT. title and get that complete bike 'back in the system' and on the road again rather than taking it apart and feel like 'a cannibal'.

[vfourfreak]

I know they're just machines - heck I'm an engineer, I KNOW they're just machines.  But dangit!  I would save them all if I could, I hate seeing perfectly good things go to waste.  Especially for a reason as mundane as profit.

+1

I wonder if sw developer feels the same for a piece of code

I wrote a particularly clever bit of code back in the late '70s. Twas in assembler or Algol, can't quite remember. I was so pleased that I kept a copy of the program. On an IBM 8" diskette. Do you think I can find a system anywhere with an 8" drive ??

Kev

[grcamna2]

Appelton Wis. seems to be a mecca for bike wreckers. They'll part out a sandcast. Figure that out. I know, I buy from them, I've gotten some good stuff at OK prices. Of course everything old is labeled Sandcast, you have to know the difference.

You referring to that ebay seller 'mistermonkeyclaw'?  I think that's all he does is part everything out no matter how nice.   

[eigenvector]

I know they're just machines - heck I'm an engineer, I KNOW they're just machines.  But dangit!  I would save them all if I could, I hate seeing perfectly good things go to waste.  Especially for a reason as mundane as profit.

+1

I wonder if sw developer feels the same for a piece of code

I wrote a particularly clever bit of code back in the late '70s. Twas in assembler or Algol, can't quite remember. I was so pleased that I kept a copy of the program. On an IBM 8" diskette. Do you think I can find a system anywhere with an 8" drive ??

Kev

Yeah - we had a system that ran the Tektronix terminals that used an 8" to boot the OS.  So far as I know it's still up there in the rafters doing it's job.

[Don R]

 I'm a builder and right now have 4 parts bikes,  this time they all have titles. I won't restore them all but I'm betting the titled frames will be popular. Except the one that's a pretzel.

[70CB750]

I know they're just machines - heck I'm an engineer, I KNOW they're just machines.  But dangit!  I would save them all if I could, I hate seeing perfectly good things go to waste.  Especially for a reason as mundane as profit.

+1

I wonder if sw developer feels the same for a piece of code

I wrote a particularly clever bit of code back in the late '70s. Twas in assembler or Algol, can't quite remember. I was so pleased that I kept a copy of the program. On an IBM 8" diskette. Do you think I can find a system anywhere with an 8" drive ??

Kev

Yeah - we had a system that ran the Tektronix terminals that used an 8" to boot the OS.  So far as I know it's still up there in the rafters doing it's job.

Ha, you are right, I had some in SQL that I felt good about too.

[ekpent]

Appelton Wis. seems to be a mecca for bike wreckers. They'll part out a sandcast. Figure that out. I know, I buy from them, I've gotten some good stuff at OK prices. Of course everything old is labeled Sandcast, you have to know the difference.

You referring to that ebay seller 'mistermonkeyclaw'?  I think that's all he does is part everything out no matter how nice.   

He has other scrap business's also, cars, appliances etc. My friend had a little legal wrangle with him on some "extra" stuff they took when he was selling off some vintage bikes here in Michigan.

[grcamna2]

I'm a builder and right now have 4 parts bikes,  this time they all have titles. I won't restore them all but I'm betting the titled frames will be popular. Except the one that's a pretzel.

Don, You're very fortunate to get them with titles and because of that I hope no one will part them out if they buy them but rather build them back up to be a daily use bike.I much prefer seeing someone running around regularly on any vintage/classic bike compared to parking them as a show piece;that's what they were made for