Topic: What would you be willing to pay

[winnipeg550guy]

A fellow worker is considering selling HER, yes HER bike, a 76' 550k with 7500 original miles,4-4 pipes, like new condition in appearance and runs fantastic. She is the original owner she purchased it new from dealer when she was 18 and still has original bill of sale. Comes with hard bags, windshield and backrest which she chose as upgrades from dealer, or so she says. It's an incredibly nice bike to see, she's looking to sell it for at the least 4k.  Worth it??

[eldar]

to the right person it might be but most here are cheap asses and think any cb over 500 is too much. 
I doubt she would get 4K but 2 - 3 K if the bike is in good condition should be a good possibility. At that rate, she is selling it for more than she paid for it probably.

[nickjtc]

If the extras are 'Hondaline' accessories then they add to the value of the bike. Bottom line is what you are prepared to pay. The bike is never going to be as valuable as an early 750, but if it is complete and moderately pristine it is worth a lot. I paid $2000 for Sophie in 'ok' condition, so $3000 or a bit more might not be out of line.

Check the consumables. You don't want to spend $3000 plus and then find that you need to buy tyres, chain and sprockets, brake stuff, tune-up etc, etc, etc! At the very least take this cost off her asking price.

[tramp]

isn't there a kelly blue book of old bikes?

[eldar]

There is I think but if I remember correctly, it is pretty worthless.

[nickjtc]

I've been led to believe that unless the bike is considered collectable/a classic (Sandcast 750, Vincent, Indian, some early HDs etc) there is no way of establishing a 'value'......it depends on what the buyer is prepared to pay. Like that 'non-collectable' 750 that went for silly money on eBay last week.

[eldar]

With the high gas costs, even non-collectible bikes have gone up. It is pretty crazy.

[754]

There is no way its not collectable, or not a collector bike.. it ois just not a 5 star, like the others mentioned.

 Pristine anything is always worth far more than an average example, and it will be depreciation proof..

[eldar]

Oh I am sure it is collectable. Problem is that those kelly books and such do not take that into account and some yahoo is going to come armed with one saying "that bike is only worth this much according to kelly!" I think I would point to ebay as a guide before kelly blue book.

[mattcb350f]

$4k sounds a bit high, but that extra brickabrack it comes with is priceless. Think of how collector cars always fetch a better price when they come with period installed options and paperwork.

I't sounds like a good long term investment. Where else are you gonna find one like that?

 Matt.

[Uncle Ernie]

I think it could get $4K, but she'd have to be patient until the right person found it.  It would be fun to see what it brought on eBay.

[DammitDan]

And remember, a Spring sale will always bring more than any other season.

[Johnie]

To get $4,000 she will have to wait and wait for a die hard 550 fan.  Maybe someone that owned one when they were young.  Some of those nastagic bikers from back then may be willing to pay that...but the economy being down she may have to sit on it for a bit.  Hang in there unless she needs the cash.

[Uncle Ernie]

Jeezloeez- keep in mind that most of the guys here are really cheap.
There are people who will to spend the bucks for something nice they won't have to mess around with.

[eldar]

ernie, I seem to remember saying something like that!

[ekim98]

 I'm sure most will disagree, but if Vic's world can get $30,000 for a bike made from parts that was never even a real bike, she should be able to get her $4,000 for an original with hard to find orignal accessories. A no brainer to me. How much would it cost to build a 550 with all original parts and accessories?

[Bob Wessner]

I'm sure most will disagree, but if Vic's world can get $30,000 for a bike made from parts that was never even a real bike, she should be able to get her $4,000 for an original with hard to find orignal accessories. A no brainer to me. How much would it cost to build a 550 with all original parts and accessories?

I would tend to agree, though these are tough times for that sort of discretionary expenditure for most folks right now. If she could wait for things to turn around.. assuming they do...

[754]

I dont think there were any Hondaline accessories for it, exept may universal saddle bags.

I think you would have to strip that stuff of to show how nice it looks and make it saleable.

What does a Windjammer go for maybe 100-200 bux?

[Uncle Ernie]

ernie, I seem to remember saying something like that!

Dude...!

[eldar]

Windjammers? I guess it depends on how sparse they are but that is usually the range, depends if it comes with the mount bracket or not. THOSE seem to be the hard things to find.

[754]

ekim, has Vic World been using NOS frames, or is he using ones that were off real bikes?


I have not seen the bike in question, but consider this and think of the 74 750 that jusr brought a real high dollar..

if you had a very nice example for say 1800.00, but the chrome showed a bit of wear or scuffing, paint had issues etc, ie not really really nice, what would it cost to get it better/?... probably you would have over 3K in it..

 So you have a choice.;
partly restored original bike
or
never touched original bike..

Which one do you think will be worth more?

[ekim98]

ekim, has Vic World been using NOS frames, or is he using ones that were off real bikes?


I have not seen the bike in question, but consider this and think of the 74 750 that jusr brought a real high dollar..

if you had a very nice example for say 1800.00, but the chrome showed a bit of wear or scuffing, paint had issues etc, ie not really really nice, what would it cost to get it better/?... probably you would have over 3K in it..

 So you have a choice.;
partly restored original bike
or
never touched original bike..

Which one do you think will be worth more?

I don't have the faintest idea what Vic uses. What I said was that what he puts together is no more an original Honda than OCC builds a harley- I know apples and oranges. Vic is not Honda Mtrs. That's the same as some guys restoring an old bike with parts that are not actually that old, but since someone doesn't know that then it's OK to call it restored to original. I made a comparison is all. You can boost your post count any way you want, but your arguement isn't relative to my post. A true original factory bike in the condition as noted should be worth as much as a bunch of parts that we're put together by joe blow just for resale if your buy an original. What people pay for Vic's bikes is up to them, but to me there is a difference.

[eldar]

There really isnt a diff though. A 69 is just that no matter how it was built. All the parts are made at the same time or from the same molds. The difference is only in a persons mind. For example, say I took 2 69s and completely dismantled them. Now if I swapped the parts around, they would be different yet still the exact same as they were before. That is kinda what vic does. I think most of what they use is NOS. Really, would you turn down a 69 sandy if offered it? I doubt it

[754]

The bikes Vic builds are at least 95% real parts. The OCC is a poor comparison as they use almost no original parts.

I did not post this to boost count but to point out they are at least real..(but not unmolested original)

 The main reason I point this out is (its bound to happen with Honda, in our lifetime) that the AMCA  has started to allow bikes with recreated frames to qualify as original on very early bikes. This goes on with other newer bikes as well (not sure if its cool with AMCA), the Vincent being a good example.


 I cant think of quite a few 5 star bikes,  that  a least a handful of people are  trying to put together out of pieces.. just the nature of things when a done-up one becomes unaffordable to most.
So I am not trying to slam anyone here, mainly pointing out that a bike built of real parts is more genuine than one built out of recreated parts.

A lot of people just dont realize trhe value of an umolested original with provenance.. it is important.. moreso 40 years from now...

[Johnie]

ekim, has Vic World been using NOS frames, or is he using ones that were off real bikes?


I have not seen the bike in question, but consider this and think of the 74 750 that jusr brought a real high dollar..

if you had a very nice example for say 1800.00, but the chrome showed a bit of wear or scuffing, paint had issues etc, ie not really really nice, what would it cost to get it better/?... probably you would have over 3K in it..

 So you have a choice.;
partly restored original bike
or
never touched original bike..

Which one do you think will be worth more?

I don't have the faintest idea what Vic uses. What I said was that what he puts together is no more an original Honda than OCC builds a harley- I know apples and oranges. Vic is not Honda Mtrs. That's the same as some guys restoring an old bike with parts that are not actually that old, but since someone doesn't know that then it's OK to call it restored to original. I made a comparison is all. You can boost your post count any way you want, but your arguement isn't relative to my post. A true original factory bike in the condition as noted should be worth as much as a bunch of parts that we're put together by joe blow just for resale if your buy an original. What people pay for Vic's bikes is up to them, but to me there is a difference.

I agree, some of the rebuild process and bike worth is in the mind of the owner.  When I did my KO in 2007/2008, I could have bought some new NOS parts yet from Honda.  But in my mind, I wanted to use the same parts this bike was born with.  Things like a cracked brake light and HM300's had to be NOS, but metal parts were rechromed and I did manage to keep the OEM parts on this KO.  Again, it was just in my mind that I wanted to do this with the original parts.  I did not use the OEM parts thinking the bike would be worth more, just something I wanted to keep this entire bike together.