Just got back from the Mecum Vegas auction. Sold a little 1969 Z50 which I bought last year since it was exactly like the one I had when I was a kid. After buying it though, the nostalgia faded quick since it was too nice for the grandkids to ride. When the wife said "what are you going to do with that?", I said we are going to Vegas and sell it at auction. Just for amusement really, and it was pretty fun. The Mecum folks have this thing down pat but they are also really helpful and efficient, they also make good money from every angle. 6% to sell at no reserve, 10% with a reserve, plus there is a cost to register your bike, $250 on Wednesday, goes up each day after that. There is a minimum commission also. If you sold on Friday, you would owe at least $1000 to Mecum. For buying, $200 for the right to bid, plus 10% buyers commission.
I was surprised also at the K3 going for 16k (plus 10%). I don't know better but I told my wife the paint had too much flake in it. Later I heard someone telling his buddies the same thing. Some bikes seemed surprisingly cheap, others way too expensive for what they were. My suggestion if you go to sell, say it comes from the "insert your name here" collection. Highly original and looking new, or garishly restored bring big bucks.
Steve-O,
I was looking at all the Z1s and told the wife I wanted one some day ( a rider though) and guesstimated the prices. I was way off, they brought way more than I realized which she pointed out of course.
Anyway, it was fun. My z50 was bike W203, older restoration probably, some problems with the paint, but only sold for 500-1000 less than the perfect ones, I was happy.
