What's a bike actually worth?

[Smithy]

I've been prompted by my recent experience of trying to sell my Enfield to reflect on this topic. A friend of mine bought a BSA B31 last year from a friend of his for £3500. His friend must have paid less than that as he always wants a profit from bikes he sells so I imagine he paid around £3000 for it. My friend has offered me the B31 for £4000 because he also likes a profit. So if I bought it, which I'm not going to, that bike would have increased it's 'worth' by £1000 in a year just by being sold twice.

I paid £3990 for my Enfield 6 months ago but as it isn't a classic bike I offered it for sale for £3000 as I figured a loss of £990 for 6 months and 8000 miles of fun was ok. I had one offer below that price but declined as I thought it too much to lose. However since then someone on Hitchcock's website is offering a 2015 Bullet with more miles than mine for £1800 thus making my original price seem high.

Of course the answer is whatever someone will pay for something is it's worth but that doesn't help when trying to price a bike fairly. The Enfield hasn't sold so maybe the universe wants me to hold on to it, who knows, but at least I now know it's not worth £3000!

Ian

[Moto63]

Morning Ian... I think you've raised a very interesting question/topic, I know when I built my XBR cafe racer I had approximately £4000 in it when it was finished. I'll most likely have a good £3000 in the tracker when that's done too. However,  I personally didn't /don't do them to make money. That by the same token doesn't mean if someone offered me more money for them I wouldn't take it, I probably would😁😁. I again, personally think as you say, a bike is worth what someone is willing to pay for it at that given time. I know I've mentioned this before but back in 1990 I bought a totally standard laverda jota for £1500. I then sold it a year later for £3000, if I'd have kept it, it would now be worth in excess of £20,000 but would it be worth £20,000 I don't think so. Especially if you ENJOY getting out on the bike and enjoying it for what it is... a motorcycle and not so form of bank statement.
I would love to hear some more comments/feelings on this topic as I really do think it's an interesting one, with no "right or wrong" answer ultimately. Cheers, Michael

[iansoady]

As said, what someone's prepared to pay for it. Over the last 12 or so years I've rebuilt several old bikes ("classics" if you will). If I disregard the hundreds of hours I've put in, I'm showing a profit of around £500...... Mind you, I've lost much more on my "modern" bikes.

I usually set an asking price which allows some wriggle room to get back to what the bike has cost me. Sometimes it takes months for them to go (the Sunbeam took 6 months, the Arrow around nine) but both new owners have reported being very pleased with their purchases which I always like to hear.

I agree that values seem completely crazy. Bikes which once were written off as grey porridge often sell for ridiculous sums (Vincent Comet anyone?) but much better (IMO) ones like standard A10 Golden Flashes never seem to achieve much.

[SteveC#222]

Look at the Honda Cub - we use to buy em for £50 at the beginning of winter while the 'good' bike was cosy in the garage, thrash the nuts of 'em  and sell them in the spring if they still lived. Now a rough wreck is £800 and a minter £3500!.........(probably cos we bought 'em for £50 and thrashed 'em all winter ).

Any bike is worth what someone is prepared to pay, that said, I've seen some very silly prices asked for very average 'Modern Classics'.

[Propellor]

Hi Ian. I understand your frustration but that's just how the market works. Crazy but it's "always" been like that.

I'm in the stages of buying a new 500 classic, but I know if I decided to sell in a year's time I'd be taking the hit. I'm buying on the assumption that the bike will be with me for some time.

Took a longer test ride this morning and apart from the ridiculously stifled exhaust Ioved it.



Best regards

[Smithy]

You all make some really good points and quite rightly point out that it is market forces that drives prices. Upon reflecting on what you all have to say it becomes obvious that the real value and worth of anything isn't held in it's price but rather in what it means to the owner and what memories it creates and evokes. From that point of view my Enfield is priceless even though I have yet to convince my wife of that statement!

Brilliant news Andy cos now I know that there's someone out there in TC who I might have a chance of staying with on a run!

Ian

[Propellor]

You all make some really good points and quite rightly point out that it is market forces that drives prices. Upon reflecting on what you all have to say it becomes obvious that the real value and worth of anything isn't held in it's price but rather in what it means to the owner and what memories it creates and evokes. From that point of view my Enfield is priceless even though I have yet to convince my wife of that statement!

Brilliant news Andy cos now I know that there's someone out there in TC who I might have a chance of staying with on a run!

Ian

Sounds like you're holding on to the Enfield, which is good. I'll keep you posted regarding my negotiations on a new un. A run down to bakewell to help run it in maybe. Or if you fancy a run up this neck o the woods give us a shout.

The version I took out only had 5 miles on the clock so obviously felt tight and the tyres were unscrubbed. That said it steered beautifully and it felt very good though the corners. With scrubbed in tyres it'll be fun. The tyres were Avon roadriders.

Cheers.

[Smithy]

I think the mighty Enfield has chosen to keep me! Either way I'm happy.

A run oop norf to follow you round some good Yorkshire roads sounds perfect. I don't know when you are hoping to take delivery but the only dates I'm not free in the next few weeks are 22nd and 28th July and the 3rd - 5th August. If you have any date outside of them for a run I'd look forward to joining you.

What's all this about beige? Steve D, a good Yorkshire man, will tell you that the correct name for the colour of his beige XTZ660 Yamaha is Yorkshire Racing Gold!

Ian

[Moto63]

Afternoon Ian, not to sure about big bro and I'm sure he'll be along shortly to confirm his availability, but  I'm away on my hols from this coming weekend 14th until the 1st august so it would have to be Sunday the 5th for me to be able to join in the fun. I promise to stay at the back so as not to deafen you all 😁😁👍. Hopefully we can all make it work.
Cheers, Michael

[Propellor]

Evening chaps.

Apart from our Moffat trip of weekend commencing 17th Aug I think I'm free (Mr Humphries) every other weekend.

Ian, I need to talk to the dealer again on Monday to clarify a couple of things. If those things are in line then I'll give them the go ahead and should have the bike on the road within 10 days I expect...? The date put forward by Mick is probably about right then. Might even have it run in. If I miss that date there's Aug 12th or 26th. Either way we'll make it happen before the summer is over. I'll keep you updated.

[Smithy]

Hi Andy

Just got my rota at work and I'm working on the 5th August but free after that. Drop me a text a few days before you have a run and I'll pop up.

Ian

[Propellor]

Ok dokes. Realistically I'd guess it's going to be after our moffat run. Cheers.

[JOOLZ]

A bikes worth is what someone is willing to pay, in the mid 80's I was buying RD and GT 250's for around £10-£20 look what they go for now. If I was to sell my XBR I recon I might get £3500 as it is way from standard, although I have spent way over that building it, add development time and all the ideas that didnt work out, then your talking serious money. You also have the big problem now where bikes are bought for an investment and are hardly if ever ridden, this pushes prices way higher