Topic: Where to sell a vintage Honda cb350?

[Hondawggie]

I don't want to use Craigslist -- I've sold a bike on there before, great for reselling a modern, recent-model-year popular bike.  But not vintage bikes.  Just seems like people think
"old = has to be low-ballable, has to be dirt cheap."


I have a 1969 cb350 in my garage the past many years.  It runs fine and I periodically drive it in town and keep the battery on a tender.  It has just over 4000 miles.
It's 100% stock.  It is in excellent condition.  Man you should see the original tires, I'm surprised in 41 years no cracking.    I love the tires, especially the front tire as the tread pattern is the familiar and ancient linear grooves around the circumference of the tire.  Just cool.  I guess you'd have to be 51 and saw those as a kid to drool over a tire tread pattern.

I want to sell it but not have to go through 6-12 months to do it.  ebay is also a non-starter -- I see the bikes sell on there and you can pretty much tell everyone bidding is subtracting the $500 to $900 cost of shipping when they bid.

Is cycle trader or walnecks good?  Or another option?

[kirkn]

Pre-Craigslist, I used Cycle Trader all the time.  It did the job.

Walneck's, IMHO, is the magazine for snobs.  People who think their clapped-out '71 CB350 with missing side covers, shot tires and leaking fork seals is worth $3500 because it's "Vintage".  Or that their 69 CB350 with original 41 year old tires is, therefore, worth $12,500...   

National stuff - ebay, etc?  Forget it.  I'm of the same opinion as you - tough to deal long-distance.

I'd go with Craigslist.  Way better to deal locally.  Sure, some people will low-ball you.  That's the whole 'make 'em an offer and negotiate' mentality.  All you gotta do is say no or counter.  Don't take it personally.  Plus, CL is free, and runs forever.  Way better than $45 for two measly weeks.  Plus, the potential buyer has to pay 2 or 3 bucks to buy the dang magazine anyway.  Not anymore for me.

Good luck with it,

Kirk

[Shenanigans]

Craigslist, Put in the ad FIRM, FIRM FIRM FIRRRMY FIRM. 

[Markcb750]

Where you are would be helpful.


41 year old tires are less then worthless, they are a hazard to your life.

[TwoBigCats]

I don't want to use Craigslist -- I've sold a bike on there before, great for reselling a modern, recent-model-year popular bike.  But not vintage bikes.  Just seems like people think
"old = has to be low-ballable, has to be dirt cheap."


I have a 1969 cb350 in my garage the past many years.  It runs fine and I periodically drive it in town and keep the battery on a tender.  It has just over 4000 miles.
It's 100% stock.  It is in excellent condition.  Man you should see the original tires, I'm surprised in 41 years no cracking.    I love the tires, especially the front tire as the tread pattern is the familiar and ancient linear grooves around the circumference of the tire.  Just cool.  I guess you'd have to be 51 and saw those as a kid to drool over a tire tread pattern.

I want to sell it but not have to go through 6-12 months to do it.  ebay is also a non-starter -- I see the bikes sell on there and you can pretty much tell everyone bidding is subtracting the $500 to $900 cost of shipping when they bid.

Is cycle trader or walnecks good?  Or another option?

i vote vehicle-specific forums such as http://hondatwins.com/ where they will appreciate your 350.  after that, craigslist.  (i just sold an exotic car by creating a free blog @ blogger.com, telling my car's story / posting pics, then listed the thing on CL and appropriate car-specific forums. i sold for my asking price in 4 days.

that said, (1) where are you and the bike located and (2) do you have pics you can post someplace (like a free blog @ blogger where an interested buyer can view it?

re the 41 y.o. tires, yep, they're nice to look @ but not something you really want to spend a lot of time riding on.  (my 750k6 has has original tires that i'm replacing for that very reason - i'll keep them for static display if i/the bike ever get to that point)  i suggest if you like 'em, replace and retain them.

[Stev-o]

I'd list it on CL, and ask a higher price that you will accept.
Put an ad on this forum too, we are all looking for another CB [but probably won't pay what you'd like!]

[MidTNJasonF]

Honestly 350 twins are just not worth that much so if you put it out there on non specific public sites you are going to get low balled. The 350 twins are very popular with the vintage race folks so you could put it up on the WERA BBS and whatever you can find for AHRMA.

[Hondawggie]

Honestly 350 twins are just not worth that much so if you put it out there on non specific public sites you are going to get low balled. The 350 twins are very popular with the vintage race folks so you could put it up on the WERA BBS and whatever you can find for AHRMA.

The NADA price guide calls for $2025,  I'm thinking to myself "Hah, on Craigslist no way."

I can just see some 27yo guy laughing at the Craigslist ad "Wow here's guy asking $2 grand for -- a 350 twin.  Think I'll call him and offer $100 bucks."

You folks have some good ideas -- I agree, it has to be in front of the right audience.  Sure there are some 27yo's who are into these, but when I was 27 it was power-power-power and handling to keep up with riding buddies.

[Gordon]

You really can't go by the NADA value.  The price you can get for classic bikes, especially Japanese bikes, is very dependent on the location.  The broader your potential buyer base, the more you can expect to get for it. 

If it's truly in show-quality condition, which is what the NADA $2025 value is based on, and that's what you're looking to get for it, then you need to either advertise it on a national level or at least in a major metropolitan area. 

With a bike like this that has a somewhat limited appeal you really have to work to get top dollar for it.  And when top dollar is only 2 grand you have to decide if getting top dollar is worth the extra time and effort it's going to take, or if you're willing to settle for less in order to have less of a hassle.   

[Coyote13]

Let's see some pics! Chances are pretty good that someone on this forum will make you an offer now that you've got our attention 

[MidTNJasonF]

Yeah NADA has no clue. A very nice fresh restoration on a 350 twin might bring $2000 but I have seen some really nice original examples barely bring $1000. I would not and have not paid more than $750 for a Honda twin and it would have to be pretty complete and nice to bring $750 out of my wallet. I see people asking  $1200 to $1600 on craigslist all the time but never getting it.

[Bryce]

Though I know it is an antiquated way of thinking, I tend to believe that a decent bike - one of an "unimpressive" pedigree (ie Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha - in comparison to Ducati or BMW) that's merely "been taken care of" and appears to "be of its age" - is worth about $1/CC. I remember how you couldn't give these bikes away to people just a few years ago (an exaggeration, but not far from the truth). When I see people asking $1000+ (lately $2-3k) for a non-running bike without title I just want to gag. Hell, when I see them asking $250 for a non-running bike without title I start to get excited before my head cools down a bit (thanks to posters here, mostly) and I realize I'll be putting more time and money into it than just that initial cost.

Motorcycles - like musical instruments - are not a hedge against inflation. I'm really not so sure why people think they are.