Ironhead Will Our Bikes ever be Worth Anything?

[80HDXLS]

I talked to a motorcycle dealer last year and he said they are seeing more people becoming interested in locating and purchasing old Sportsters. I suppose everything is cyclical.

[rocketnorton]

Originally Posted by Ferrous Head

Exactly.

But 3 of the bikes I've sold in the past 10 years, to people who really, really, really, loved that particular bike were very quickly on sold. To of them ti Japanese collectors.

Once you die or sell you no longer have control over them.

Best to have them buried with you.

Elvis ? Sounds like a "made up" name to me.

my 70ch went to japan
hopefully it gets to run/ride over there

[Akdawg]

Several years back I was helping set up for a local swap meet. A vendor had backed his rig into the exhibit hall and unloaded a Knuckle frame, grease dirt rust cover engine and trans, no forks, no wheels, no tin, no title. A guy walked up and handed over $16K cash no haggle ....

[Ferrous Head]

Well, the "worth anything" thing, pricked my interest. I went to check out the market here.

I have lost touch a little bit with prices. Not really wanting to sell anything means you don't look to carefully. But prices here have moved up a fair bit since I last looked.

Norton Commandos $20-25K, Honda K1's $20K, Kwaka 9's $25-30K, 60's Triumphs $18-22K. Only found 1 900 (63H) at $18K but it was a "custom" thing. Disc front.

These prices are all up about 20% over the last two years.

They way I see it, it's not "collectors" buying these bikes. These are "nostalgic"
purchases. People buying what they had (or really wanted) in their youth.

Here in Australia it means there are a LOT more people interested in owning a CB750 than there are people interested in Ironheads.

In 1974 a new Honda Four was $1450, plus your choice of a color TV or a vacation on Hamilton Island. A new Triumph Bonneville was $1950 on the road.
A Sportster was $3,200 + on road.

I took the worst option, the Triumph.

But on those prices my Sportster should now be worth roughly $30-35K.

To get that it would have to go to a collector in Japan. Be warned, the Japanese only like stock bikes and they are fastidious. Greasy old rust buckets need not apply.

And bear in mind these prices are in AUD. $20K AUD = $14K USD.

[Sporty1989]

Originally Posted by 80HDXLS

I talked to a motorcycle dealer last year and he said they are seeing more people becoming interested in locating and purchasing old Sportsters. I suppose everything is cyclical.

I can see why too.

[rokytnji]

Thought of this thread when the guy selling the parts bike said

"
Sorry to tell you this but the bike sold someone offered me way more than what I was asking "

So off to unhook the trailer.

[Hopper]

Originally Posted by Ferrous Head

..
...
In 1974 a new Honda Four was $1450, plus your choice of a color TV or a vacation on Hamilton Island. A new Triumph Bonneville was $1950 on the road.
A Sportster was $3,200 + on road.

I took the worst option, the Triumph.

But on those prices my Sportster should now be worth roughly $30-35K.

But if you had put that $3200 in the stockmarket in an index fund tracking the average yearly gain in 1974, it would be worth well over $250,00 today. So don't feel bad.
Motorcycles are not an investment. They are above that.

[Ferrous Head]

You always have to consider ROI, Return on investment.

Fun factor on funds in an indexed fund ? Zero.

I would have had to forgo the experience of owning the Ironhead. Priceless.

[rustydusty]

Damn! All this time I thought my Sportster was my “retirement investment”!