Topic: My bike is worth how much?

[Johnny5]

During the Michigan winter downtime, my plan is to find a bike in the fall, and rebuild/refinish like I did with my current bike and be ready to sell in the Spring. About how much would a bike like this go for? Im trying to gauge how much I can spend through the winter and on the next bike and still come out with a profit and not a loss.

New piston rings, cleaned up the valves, all new gaskets is the only internal work that was needed.

14,700 miles

[IAmCitizenMe]

I don't know, but it seems like it would be hard to sell, emotionally. I haven't even done that much work on my bike and When I got a phone call that my dad accidentally dropped it, I freaked out and came home. Then again, it is my first and only bike.

[Johnny5]

There's no way Im selling this one. But Im planning on the next build. My wife said if I can pull a profit, anything, then I have the green light to get to work this winter.

[Toxic]

So you would look for  a project bike and turn it into something like this?

[Johnny5]

So you would look for  a project bike and turn it into something like this?

Yep. My plan would be to find a bike in the $500-800 range to start with.

[Cvillechopper]

In this market I'd estimate the selling price on the low side and try to put as little $$ into it as you can.  You can argue that your time doesn't count toward the $$ tally but it's hard to argue with receipts (I know from experience).  I personally would probably go about $2k for that bike but you very well could find a buyer that would go much higher.  It's all about personal taste and available $$. 

Good luck.

[Johnny5]

Yeah, I think that's where my issue comes in. I put at least $1000 into my bike (and that's not even considering labor), so to sell something like that, Im making $200 in the end. I'll have to think this all through...

[andy750]

Yeah, I think that's where my issue comes in. I put at least $1000 into my bike (and that's not even considering labor), so to sell something like that, Im making $200 in the end. I'll have to think this all through...

Unless you can get parts cheap then its a small profit margine...and the price of the 750 has dropped in the last 6 months due to current economy...but...all depends on location in the country...and demand. But $2000 would seem reasonable if you got lucky.

Cheers
Andy

[MCRider]

Carpy's getting $8 grand+ for his. Now he's worked for his rep, and he has a flair that people will pay for (not me). But he's willing to give em what they want. That's the rub. I worked in a drag race shop in my youth. To finance the passion, drag racing, we had to build and sell those terrible 70s choppers, high bars, extended front ends, King and Queen seats, puke.  Does Carpy really like those hideous 16" 70s chopper rear wheels?

Your bike is worth $8k minus Carpy. So about $3k net. So you gotta keep the engine cheap. A really clean stock engine, ..

I'm out of my league here, good luck. I think it can be done.

[bryanj]

Problem with custom bikes is that unless you build to order you have to find somebody who wants EXACTLY the same thing as you, hence when in a shop we used to deduct the cost to return to standard if a trade in was customised

[Johnny5]

All good points. If I do build a bike this winter, I will finish most of the pieces as generic as possible. i.e. No engraving, silver instead of orange paint, ect.

[MCRider]

Correction: It is a 750.   

[Johnny5]

Correction: It is a 750.   

That's what my white knuckles say too.

[754]

 Buy right..

 Pay more for a bike with the most of what you want to end up with, already on it.

 Find the most bang for the buck, ie 1 drilled brake & SS line rather than (unless it already has).. they can pay the full nut for you to add the second..

 buy and store parts when you find them cheap, stick to 1 type of bike.. easier.

 Advertise looking for the bikes you want, puts you in the drivers seat on pricing, and you may be amazed what you can get for your money..
................................................................................

 Your bike as example, I would ask 2500 or up to 3K. The fact you been in the motor, and can say its good counts for a lot. Buyers are reluctant to shell out for an unknown..

[cormier1989]

my opinion would be between 4 and 5000 for that tight looking cafe racer

[Johnny5]

Buy right..

 Pay more for a bike with the most of what you want to end up with, already on it.

 Find the most bang for the buck, ie 1 drilled brake & SS line rather than (unless it already has).. they can pay the full nut for you to add the second..

 buy and store parts when you find them cheap, stick to 1 type of bike.. easier.

 Advertise looking for the bikes you want, puts you in the drivers seat on pricing, and you may be amazed what you can get for your money..
................................................................................

 Your bike as example, I would ask 2500 or up to 3K. The fact you been in the motor, and can say its good counts for a lot. Buyers are reluctant to shell out for an unknown..

Good advice. Receipts and pictures cant hurt too. Im planning on sticking with 750's and 350 Twins.

[manjisann]

That is a great looking bike. I've been watching the papers here where I am and seen many people trying to sell good looking cafes. The price starts at 3k but has dropped as time goes on. One thing I think you may have in your favor is you aren't doing it for a living. If you are doing it for the sheer joy of working on these old beauties and can sit on the bike till you get the price you want it may work for you.

If on the other hand you have to finish it and turn it within a specific time frame, this economy seems to be tough for it.

Take lots of build pics, keep the receipts, things like that. Rep is everything, so inless you have one you will need to prove what you have done and that you know what you are doing.

Thats just my 2 cents, from someone that has never tried but has been thinking of doing something similar.

Brandon

[mcuozzo]

I think it's in the 2.5-3K range as well.  Damn economy.

It's complete, running, titled and looks damn good.  And it's a classic antique bike.  In NJ that last bit means something as you can get it registered with no inspection. 

When you add to that you have your receipts, build pictures etc. I think you should be able to get into that range.

I see barely running semi-complete bikes go for the $800-1000 range.

Knowing what I know now, I should've just saved my pennies and waited for you to finish your bike.

You have to market the bike right though - local venues\motorcycle want ads, plus put a for sale sign on it and ride it in the affluent sections of your towns on the weekends.  Enter it at shows and get the word out that it's for sale. 

Two things working against you though - the damn economy and the fact that most people who know what cb's are like to tinker and to them a bike as nice as yours is no fun!  There's nothing to fix and it's a shame to change any cosmetic item, like paint etc.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Matt

[NPHLYT]

Carpy's getting $8 grand+ for his. Now he's worked for his rep, and he has a flair that people will pay for (not me).

I believe Carpy pulls the engines apart as well, you have to add rings, gaskets, polishing, rebuilt gauges (custom faces), powder coat, paint, etcetera. If you do the math then his profit margin is only larger than what you would get because he gets the seats, tanks (unless he bashes one in)... at cost. Then he has the name.