Comments on: 1950 Vincent Series C White Shadow

By: bobc

bobc — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:04:01 +0000

Interesting thread! I bought a 1980 XL250S for $200 in perfect condition that had not been riden in years. All it needed was a coat of wax and to be ridden. It fired up with the old gas still in it. My Tote-Gote I got for $65. My ‘69 Johnson snowmobile for $25. Do you think 3/4″ of frozen crud in the float bowl is enough? More? Less? Once clean I hit the gas and it went straight into the garage door. Yes, I fixed the damn door! There out there. Just keep looking.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:56:38 +0000

Todd, one reason that there are many vintage BMW’s out there is that the old bikes were durable and designed to be rebuilt as needed. Add to that the buyer tends to be older and not as likely to abuse the bike. But in my estimation the single biggest reason that there are a lot of old BMWs about is the manufacturer continues to support the old bikes through parts availability, either through the regular parts catalog or via a robust vintage program. New-old-stock parts dealers, replica parts manufacturers and talented garage machinists who create custom parts for antiques and you have fertile ground for keeping the bikes running.

As far as other manufacturers, I think Harley provides similar support, but most of the great European marques are either gone or have had such checkered financial histories that a vintage group was a luxury.

For some reason the Japanese manufactures have not made it a point to provide vintage support.

By: Mark X

Mark X — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:54:04 +0000

FACT: It is entirely possible to live very well in America, if you don’t have to have everything brand new. RideSafe, Mark.

By: todd

todd — Tue, 12 May 2009 07:00:38 +0000

I guess it’s true. My first bike, a 1970 Yamaha 90cc twin 2-stroke, I got for $75 from a guy at church because he heard me say I liked motorcycles. A couple years later I saw a Vespa P200e in a garage under boxes. I gave the guy $500 – it was in perfect condition, 1,500 miles (it was later stolen from me at the train station). Bought a great little XL350 at a garage sale for $100, got a MT125 for $1 from my dad’s girlfriend, various scooters from friends / teachers / family members, picked up my 1973 BMW R75/5 Toaster for $200 when I told someone I liked the bike he was riding. I dragged home three more R75/5’s when a guy at the gas station said he had some bikes like mine. Etc, etc. In my dad’s garage is his original CB400F with 6,000 miles and his dad’s 1956 AJS 18CS, both in perfect shape. He no longer rides but he doesn’t want to get rid of them either.

I can’t remember how many old bikes (and old cars) I’ve had to turn down because I no longer have room or time. Sure they’re out there but I’m surprised people just hang on to them for years on end. I guess I’m no better. It’s tough to sell something for nothing because it needs tires and a battery when a little bit of effort gets a lot more money for it.

I want to invent a divining rod for valuable old motorcycles.

-todd

By: lostinoz

lostinoz — Tue, 12 May 2009 06:01:07 +0000

Denis,
Odd that you mention Dukes, I know EXACTLY where a 74 duke 750 is laying around in a barn, BEGGING to be restored to it’s glory. Unfortunately the guy KNOWS what he has, and refuses to part with it… every once in a while though, I drop by and remind him, if he ever wants to sell it…

Yeah the CB 350s and 360s were fun little bikes, theyre really a dime a dozen now a days, however it will take you that dozen to come up with the title for one, and enough parts to build one “restored” bike out of the garage finds. I recently bought a titled running 360 that was bastardized too much to restore, but is a prime candidate for a cafe for $200! And as far as Harleys goes, well theyre not AS cheap usually, however I bought my v-rod for 1/2 value because it scared the guy and he never rode it again (04, bought in 07 with 400 miles) and a friend recently picked up a sportster (89 i believe) for 1000 cause the dude dropped it in a parking lot in the early 90’s and broke his ankle and never touched it again.
You keep an eye out for those Dukes, Im personally hoping to find a low mileage forgotten Indian 4 with title!
Failing that, I’m looking for that unused Y2K sitting behind some shed in some farmers yard!