Topic: A sandcast restoration....on a budget ? Ridden for the first time since the 80s

[markb]

Congrats, nice work! 

[Skipper]

That's nice I'd never paint it original is best sorry i ever painted my original classic suzuki gt550 I hate it now

[Magpie]

Very nice work! Yes, the HM300's growl like none other. Cliff.

[greenjeans]

Photos always look better than in person.    Plan is to ride it around until the dog days of summer and then blow it apart, paint things, plate things and put it back together to show before selling.   I'm still trying to figure out how to keep it. 

[Greggo]

Photos always look better than in person.    Plan is to ride it around until the dog days of summer and then blow it apart, paint things, plate things and put it back together to show before selling.   I'm still trying to figure out how to keep it. 

I say keep it..they're not making more of these ya know   Unless you're trying to buy a house, or put a kid through college, why sell it?

[bgfootball67]

What tires did u go with & were did u get them?

[tweakin]

Nice work greenjeans.  Way to bring back the bike from the dead.

[markb]

Photos always look better than in person.    Plan is to ride it around until the dog days of summer and then blow it apart, paint things, plate things and put it back together to show before selling.   I'm still trying to figure out how to keep it. 

Or you could always sell it to me.   

[greenjeans]

For tires, I went with the Conti-twins.   They look right on there.    Only have about 20 miles on them - then the rains started.

I'd love to keep it, but there is a house for that is coming up for sale a few doors down from mine that I want to get my hands on.   Hopefully the timing works out.     To do a proper restoration, I still need to get fenders and bits chromed, purchase a new seat cover & foam (or just bite the bullet and throw a grand at Yamiya) re-plate the bolts (that's the cheapest in the equation) and paint things - thankfully, I can do that myself (about $300).    Chrome is going to run me another $500 bucks for the fenders, shock bodies and a few other bits.   So, I'm looking at another $2000 - $2300 to do this thing up nice and shiny.   

So.....my "budget build"  is still a budget - just a bit more than I originally guessed. 

I have no idea what this would go for on ebay in it's current state - I'm guessing maybe 10-12k ?    If I get it all shiney and new again, it seems like the last couple went for right around 20k on ebay.   I think if I got $12k as it sits, I'd have to take it and give someone else the glory of finishing.

Any opinions there ?   My numbers high ?

[markb]

It seems to me that the sandcasts haven't gone for as much as they did a couple of years ago, unless it's completely original in great shape or a super nice restoration with all the VIN-correct parts or a real low VIN.  A VIN in the 3xxx range is a plus.  Numbers less than 3950 have the left hand horn frame (my definition of early) and could (should) have other sought after goodies like 2-hole airboxes and finless oil filter covers.  This definately bumps the price a notch.  Knowing what I've learned from this thread I would guess that your guess of $10-12,000 could be in the ballpark.  If you put another $2500 into it I think you could get that out of it too but I don't think you'll hit $20,000.  Really of lot of it seems to depend on the timing.  Some haven't gone for nearly what I thought they would and others have gone way over.  I'm not putting yours down, I think you've got a nice one and you've put a lot of good work into it and maybe I'd be surprised.  Just my opinion.

[dhall57]

You've got the holy grail of CB750's the 69 sandcast. IMO unless it was a family emergency I would never sell it. If you do Jeans I think you'll hate yourself later for doing it. Hold on to it!!

[greenjeans]

I know I'd hate myself for selling it eventually.   Thing is, I'm not a collector and will likely never be - just me.   If I had it, I'd ride it.  I'd leave it places where I shouldn't and I could see myself worrying about it.     

Good thing is, I really don't have to sell it.   There are just some things that could possibly come up in the next 2-3 months where that money could really help.   Timing.    It's all in the timing.   Who knows, maybe things go differently than I'm predicting - certainly nothing is set in stone, but it will sell one way or the other.   Just have to figure out when and if I will continue the restoration.

[Stev-o]

List it on CL and ask $15K!

[vnz00]

Hi Green Jeans, for what you paid for it and what it owes you, Id hang onto it unless you really need the money....

You know that if you ever need the money, within 2 weeks it can be listed and sold on ebay 'as is' and still make good money.  The reality is, it is a clean, original machine, and any restorer/collector knows that the original machines are the ones to start with - no trying to source hard to get parts, at big $$.  When you are buying a 'restored' machine that has had paint or plating work done, gauges rebuilt etc, it is no longer original.  And if not done to the petential buyers standard, can put people off. 

What you have there, in my opinion, will appeal to a larger market.  Make the best of what you have and keep it clean and running regularly.  You can still enjoy it, park it etc.  Just dont damage it

Start spending money on plating, and it makes everything else appear old.  And to do a nut and bolt restoration is exceptionally time consuming and expensive, and in reality maybe only yield you a couple of grand more than what you would get for it now.  Ask me how I know

Hope this helps you.

[dhall57]

Fix and replace only what has to be so its a safe and reliable bike. Leave everything else alone and just ride and enjoy it. Doesn't have to be a museum piece with ever nut and bolt redone. I would much rather have a close to a original bike and a everyday rider than one your afraid to take off down the road.

Keep it greenjeans it's a sandcast