Topic: Pricing on older vintage Hondas. (68-80)

[Bryce]

Hi there ya'll.

New member here. Was given a link to this board by a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless unless he chooses otherwise - hi there!) and have been meaning to make a first post for a while. Well, I feel sort of bad as my first post isn't actually about a Honda four (well, sort of), but is instead about the '68-'74 Honda CB series bikes.

I'm having difficulty finding a bike around here in Dallas that is priced reasonably. Most of them are going for anywhere between $700 (not running) to $2000 (running, but real rough). In particular, I am looking for a CL350, and am finding that they are going for even higher prices than the CBs. I'm not sure that the pricing for many of these is realistic, especially for non-running and parts-missing bikes, and this is why I am making this post.

What is the generally accepted price range for the old '68-'74 Honda CB/CL350s? It would be very enjoyable for me to restore a non-working or rough looking bike, but it is almost impossible to find a bike in such a condition where the owner isn't trying to get parts prices for a whole bike. On the flip side, running bikes, even ones which are rusted and have some split welds, are going for insane prices (to me, anyway). To me, a non-running CB/CL350, or one that is missing parts, shouldn't cost much more than $300-500 depending. A running one which has cosmetic or carb issues should go for around $800-1000 depending. A really clean one should go for $1300-1600. Am I off on these assumptions? A mechanic once told me that the going rate for most old Hondas (especially the CB/CL350s) in "fair" (see: barely running, if running at all, and not a looker to boot) condition should fetch about $1 a CC.

There is a '68 Honda CL350 K0 candy red/white around here for sale. It has the air boxes pulled off, is missing the tech, needs all the wiring replaced, a battery, has some split welds, has no title, needs both tires, needs a front brake cable and has a fairly worn seat. The owner (a very, very nice gent) is asking $600 for it, and said he would include the tech, air boxes, carbs if I need them and most of the other parts in the price. That is very nice of him but still seems somewhat high to me, especially considering that the engine is in unknown condition (although the gent said he has various engines if it is locked up; he's a parts dealer, if you can't guess). All I've to go on is what NADA and other folks tell me, and it's time I got some second (and third, and forth, and fifth ) opinions as to what prices these bikes really deserve. If $600 it is, then I've no problem paying it for this bike.

I would also appreciate any advice on what other Honda bikes from this era go for in their respective conditions. I am particularly interested in the CB350F, 360, 400, 450, 500, 550, 650, and 750s - yes, pretty much every Honda from this era (late 60s to late 70s) as I enjoy their style, the way they ride and just about everything about them. Yes, I am looking for a twin first, as I am very fond of twins (ultimate goal is to pick up a Norton featherbed and Triumph engine), but am not adverse to picking up a nice four.

Well, that about wraps it up! I am sure I will have many more questions and will be participating in many more threads here. I doubt if anyone cares, but we're currently restoring my wife's 1978 Vespa P200E. We won't make it in time for the local "Rockers vs. Mods" festival, but next year we plan on going as rocker and mod, hopefully me on my Honda CL350 and her on her Vespa! The motorcycle I end up getting will be the first motorcycle I've ever restored and I am very, very excited!

Thanks in advance for all of your thoughts and I look forward to interacting with many of you in the future.

Bryce

[mark]

Here's what I've come across in the last 8 months or so(without really looking very hard)........

'76 CB550K - decent paint, pitted chrome, rusty pipes, recent seat & tires, clean title. $550 and rode it home. local deal.


'75 CB550K - weathered paint, dented tank, bent forks, rotten exhaust, no title. good spare engine with strong compression(started easily with fuel & battery), nice chrome, good side covers. $130 and hauled away. parts bike. craigslist find.


'73 CB350G - shabby weathered repaint, funky seat, engine stuck, near-new aftermarket mufflers, clean title. $0.00  a freebie. craigslist find.


I'm looking at a '71 or '72 CL450 that runs but looks bizarre with CB pipes and long forks. I'm not planning on paying much for that one either.

Hope this helps.


Happy trails.

[bender01]

cls are cool. i just sold mine for 800$ I paid 200$. it had side covers and airbox but no exhaust. A title and 5800 miles.It hadnt run in 12 years. Lots of pitting I put 1200 miles on it.Ikept it over a year but new project and away it went. I will get another one but hopefully in better shape next time. especially like the 1970 gold.heres some the day it came and the day it left.

[UnCrash]

Here in Maine these bikes (amd many cars too) can be undervalued.  I paid $400 for this running 78 750SS



And $200 for this 76 750K with a spare motor, new chain, sprockets and rear tire.

[Bryce]

Nice bikes all around. Especially that 750SS and the 550K. Always thought it'd be fun to cafe out either one of those. I know so many people don't dig the rims on the SS but I think they're pretty much the tip-top of that era.

I keep an eye out all across the country via craigslist, classifieds, eBay and etc and the deals are all over the North, but down here in the South, especially Texas, they don't seem to pop up as often. They're there for sure, but I always catch them late (good for whoever got the killer deal! I'm glad someone did!) or they're eight hundred miles away (and still in the same state )

Thanks for the info. Gives me a bit more of a solid idea what they should be selling for. How many bikes do ya'll have total?

[SOICHIROSFOUR]

It's really tough to put an fair market price on 30 to 40 year old Honda projects. I find prices are cheaper when locating a bike closer to a large city. If you are in a predominantly rural area within your state/province there are likely fewer bikes to be found, so prices are higher. I think when you hear of someone finding an old bike "for a steal", it is because the owner has had the old bike around too long and just wants  to get rid of it. A depressed economy is always a good time to find deals. I just picked up a mid seventies Yamaha twin project for $250 asking price from a young guy who was selling everything and leaving Michigan because he couldn't find/keep a good job. Don't get me wrong, I am not a vulture, I gave him his asking price and he was so happy to get the cash. But it is this sort of factor that plays against raising values of old Honda's in such a large market area which makes it difficult to establish accurate values.

[dusterdude]

sorry to hijack,mark what year is your t/a?

[mark]

heh heh heh..... The Shop Fixture(now departed): '70 T/A 455 4spd. looks nice now but was one rusty p.o.s. when it came in.

and now back to our regularly scheduled thread....

Bend craigslist has a '76 550K asking $1200(pix show an old repaint, drag pipes, and an oil cooler) and a '78 550K asking $2500(says it's nice - always garaged). also an "old ass xl250 - $300" ('80 not running)


Happy trails.