Topic: '71 CB500 - value?

[Leemata]

Guy near me has an original & complete '71 CB500 for sale.  Took a look at it this morning.  Good overall condition and everything is there.  Would need tires, master cylinder rebuild and some valve work (smokes).

Some pictures:










What do you think it's worth?

Terry

[TwoTired]

Whatever you pay for it, expect to add another $1000-1500 to get it streetable/reliable. (Your labor will be free)

If the tank is rusty inside, I wouldn't value it more than $300.  I was given a similar bike for free. (That was a complete bike, just non-running.)

A lot depends on what you want to do with it; resurrect, restore, part out, or customize.  And it's value to YOU.

Sell that seat to a collector ASAP.  It is almost guaranteed to split within a year of routine use.

Cheers,

[Tews19]

A bike is worth what you think it is...

[Greggo]

Whatever you pay for it, expect to add another $1000-1500 to get it streetable/reliable. (Your labor will be free)

If the tank is rusty inside, I wouldn't value it more than $300.  I was given a similar bike for free. (That was a complete bike, just non-running.)

A lot depends on what you want to do with it; resurrect, restore, part out, or customize.  And it's value to YOU.

Sell that seat to a collector ASAP.  It is almost guaranteed to split within a year of routine use.

Cheers,

+1 on what Lloyd said.  It looks nice, but if it needs valve work badly, you could be biting off more than you want.  How is the inside of the tank, and how are the pipes?

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Valve work could be valve and cylinder work with top end gasket set, honing, new rings and a valve job.  That alone is $250 with no labor cost.  I would pay $150 for a bike like that with a clean title.

[Greggo]

Well, if you buy it to part out, I'd definitely like the tank/side covers.

[Stev-o]

How do you know it needs valve work? Did he say so?? (I don't believe much of what is told to me when buying a bike).
Does it have a title?

$350 would be a good deal.

[Leemata]

Clean title, clean tank.  He says it smoked when he ran it up/down the street.....more than he thought it should even after sitting for years.  Pipes are rusted through at the tips on 2 or 3 of them as seen in the pics.

Terry

[Stev-o]

How much is he asking?

[Leemata]

Says he'd like a grand for it, but with it maybe needing valve work....he really doesn't know.  That's why I posted here.  I'm not that interested in it, but could be for the right price.  I have a project Kawi triple already.

I would not give $1000 for it at this point.

Terry

[Stev-o]

Good decision, put your money in the Kaw! Which model?

[Goldbug]

If I were him I'd part it out. If it's as nice cosmetically as the pics make it seem. The trouble with a bike like that is if you want top dollar (which is $1000-1200 in my opinion) you're looking for a very, very specific buyer- one who is mechanically inclined and is looking for a stock survivor rather than some other sort of project like cafe or whatever. It's never good to be in a position where you're looking for someone so specific. He shouldn't expect more than $800 from any average joe. And probably more like $500.

There is a dude near Denver who is selling a CB550 in similar cosmetic condition that actually runs good and has a new battery and tires. He wants $1900 and WILL NOT go lower. It has been for sale for MONTHS at the same price. It's brown and I'd love to have it to keep stock but maybe for $1500. I see CB500s and 550s in good shape for $2500+ and I wonder if they actually ever sell. I doubt it.

[Stev-o]

I sold my '76 550F for $1900 in one day.  It was in original clean condition w/13K miles, ran good but needed fine tuning or carbs cleaned (bogged above 6K RPM).
Found a 750 I wanted more.

[Leemata]

Good decision, put your money in the Kaw! Which model?

It's a '73 S2A that I paid too much for.  Will be a stock restoration with Denco copies down the road.

Terry

[Greggo]

Location Location Location

That bike wouldn't last a day at that price in California. 

[Stev-o]

Location Location Location

That bike wouldn't last a day at that price in California. 

But would you buy it?!?

[Greggo]

Location Location Location

That bike wouldn't last a day at that price in California. 

But would you buy it?!?

I know a little more about the bike than most buyers (maybe, and only because of this forum).  So, I think a grand is a good starting point, and I would give him a gigantic laundry list of things that need fixing, then offer six hundred.  Clean title, nice original paint.  Shoot, IT RUNS.  At 37k miles, I'd want to know if it had been rebuilt.  If not, I'd work even harder to walk away paying six hundred, knowing the engine is probably ready for a rebuild.

[Stev-o]

Agreed!

[dave500]

these bikes are worth more down under,i recently sold a cleaned up one for 3800 you beaut aussie dollars.,id pay 1500 down here for that,the smoking issue might clear with a good proper run and oil change?

[bryanj]

In UK with a MOT (annual inspection) that bike would fetch over £2000 (over $3000 to you)!!

Its got all the early K0 parts that i can see and might have the very early single piece scraper rings and not so good velve stem seals(hence the smoke), I cant quite make out the frame(vin) number and i would love to know the date and number from the plate(plus engine if poss) to put into my list for reference. I could then also tell you what mods might need doing. PM me with details if you can.
Cheers
Bryan

[Leemata]

Location Location Location

That bike wouldn't last a day at that price in California. 

But would you buy it?!?

I know a little more about the bike than most buyers (maybe, and only because of this forum).  So, I think a grand is a good starting point, and I would give him a gigantic laundry list of things that need fixing, then offer six hundred.  Clean title, nice original paint.  Shoot, IT RUNS.  At 37k miles, I'd want to know if it had been rebuilt.  If not, I'd work even harder to walk away paying six hundred, knowing the engine is probably ready for a rebuild.

I think you're referring to the eBay bike, not the one I asked about in the original post.

Terry

[KingCustomCycles.com]

So you all are suggesting he spend $600 for the bike, put $1000 into it, and end up with a bike worth $1900?  Best case scenario? It is very easy to get far too much into these bikes if you aren't careful.  Many of you have experienced that first hand. A 500 will not bring the money of a 550 in the same condition. I stand by my $150 suggestion unless you enjoy tearing down engines for fun. If that is the case, there are thousands of "good deals" for you out there. As far as the worldwide market, you can only achieve a sale in that market with reasonable allowance for shipping.  The last 350 four I sold to Norway cost the guy $1400 and 8 weeks to get it delivered. He paid me $3400 for the bike and it was very clean and original, low mileage, no smoke, but $4800?  A rare buyer indeed.

[Greggo]

Location Location Location

That bike wouldn't last a day at that price in California. 

But would you buy it?!?

I know a little more about the bike than most buyers (maybe, and only because of this forum).  So, I think a grand is a good starting point, and I would give him a gigantic laundry list of things that need fixing, then offer six hundred.  Clean title, nice original paint.  Shoot, IT RUNS.  At 37k miles, I'd want to know if it had been rebuilt.  If not, I'd work even harder to walk away paying six hundred, knowing the engine is probably ready for a rebuild.

I think you're referring to the eBay bike, not the one I asked about in the original post.

Terry

Nope.  That's the first mention of any ebay bike in this thread...unless I'm missing something.  I was referring to the green 500/4 in the OP that smokes (which of course means she pokes!).

[m in sc]

its not a bad deal, the bikes not molested and lets be honest.. after the top end is gone through thats worth tons in peace of mind as a daily rider. I suggested (elsewhere) he offer 800 for it and go from there. Compared to the 2-stroke stuff, particuarily triples, these bikes are massivly cheap as projects. The body work looks good, a little smoke, okay, so pull the head and get it refreshed.  beats dong a crank right off the bat. If its planned on as a rider, its worth it. if its being bought to flip it, no.  me, id use the money to fix the F model you already have....
 just my .02



 

[Greggo]

So you all are suggesting he spend $600 for the bike, put $1000 into it, and end up with a bike worth $1900?  Best case scenario? It is very easy to get far too much into these bikes if you aren't careful.  Many of you have experienced that first hand. A 500 will not bring the money of a 550 in the same condition. I stand by my $150 suggestion unless you enjoy tearing down engines for fun. If that is the case, there are thousands of "good deals" for you out there. As far as the worldwide market, you can only achieve a sale in that market with reasonable allowance for shipping.  The last 350 four I sold to Norway cost the guy $1400 and 8 weeks to get it delivered. He paid me $3400 for the bike and it was very clean and original, low mileage, no smoke, but $4800?  A rare buyer indeed.

At least where I am, (and of course, just my .02 cents) I wouldn't sell that for less than 2500 if the motor were rebuilt, and it was in solid-roadworthy condition.  I've seen 500's bring good money on fleabay too.  $150!!  The tank and side covers are worth that alone.  I think value is subjective, and it has a lot to do with the buyer's intent...If he's not buying it to flip/chop/pull as many dollars from as possible (I ain't no commie, there's nothing wrong with making money! (though I'd hate to see a bike that nice get parted)), then there's nothing wrong with paying close to a grand for that bike.  It's all subjective, and I'm used to California prices, where bikes like that aren't easy to come by.