I think this is really dumb

debby

debby

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Apr 15, 2004
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There's a very nice looking P11 on ebay atm. The seller describes all the things he did for the restoration in detail. Included in the work was having the motor and tranny professionally rebuilt with no expense spared. Superblend mains, performance cam, "Superblend layshaft bearing" blah blah blah.

When done he rode it around the block once then drained all the fluids and put it on display inside his house, never to be ridden again.

What's the point of having all that motor work done for a non-rider??? You could just bolt up an empty set of cases! Seems dumb to me...

ride em don't hide em,
Debby
 
P11 Ranger on ebay

Hi Debbie,

I saw that and agree with you. However this is for a different group of people..."Collector". They see these machines as an investment rather than a rideable motorcycle. I saw a written comment in one of Roy Bacon's books stating most Manx Nortons are considered too valuable to race (referring to England, not the US). I'm not saying the collector is wrong, just wait until I'm finished riding my Commando before putting it in a museum.
 
Howdy, I used to be from the school of thought that all bikes should be ridden. I've changed my mind however. I have a couple of "collector" friends who have museum quality bikes that are lovingly preserved and admired for their artistic value as well as being an investment. These guys are motorcyclists and ride "rider" quality bikes. I can appreciate the preservation aspect of rare and increasingly valuable motorcycles and understand why others do this. I personally can't see myself owning a bike I don't ride, the temptations would just be too great.-Rob
 
I can understand the collector mindset I guess, and from that point of view the repainting and rechroming etc. all makes sense. But why have the motor professionally built with the superblends etc? These guys never even run the engines! At most every time the bike changes hands the new owner might start it up and run it in his driveway for a few minutes when he first takes delivery.

So why build the motor? Does it add to the bike's market value or give the owner/investor bragging rights or something? Otherwise it just seems like a waste of money.

Debby
 
I'm all for collector bikes too but they must be totally original. You know, original paint, original chrome, original tires, original air in the tires, original oil in the tank, etc.

The reality is that if a perfect motorcycle isn't kept in a light free anaerobic enviroment they will deteriorate ridden or not. So why not ride it and enjoy it instead of watching it slowly deteriorate. Leave the museum bikes to guys like Barber or the British National museum. The guy with the P11 may not realize it but they aren't that rare.

Enough of
scooters twisted wisdom.
 
collectors

Hi Debbie,

One thing about collectors, they vote their opinion with their checkbooks. Value on any collectable is perceived and what other collectors are willing to pay. Don't try to understand it. This is the country that bought pet rocks and Beannie Babies! There's just a lot of disposable income out there.
 
Blast from the past.

This bike was sold about 12 months ago on ebay for £8000 , then readvertised on ebay for £13995 then it dropped to the price it is now . And as it says in the add better than money in the bank, Who's bank though ?
I think this is really dumb
 
Debby

I must agree with you on this point. As much as I admire museum quality trailer queens, I do not think they will be that valuable in the future. A few years back the Model A cars were highly collectible but that age group is all gone and the Model A cars have lost value. I think the same will occur when all us greybeards are gone and the younger generation will view our bikes as an anachronism. For the younger generation to appreciate these bikes a transfer of skills would have to accompany the bikes. For a generation raised on disposable goods it is unlikely that the next generation would have the time or inclination to keep these bikes in running order. Just saying.
 
I believe the wheels are wrong, the stock wheels were Dunlop, chrome. My 68 Commando looks very much like that one, just a few more things to replace. It does have a small dribble of oil on the motor from when I rode it today. It will have more when I ride it tomorrow too. (BTW, I will let it go for only Fifteen K here in the US.) :mrgreen:

Mick



john robert bould said:
The guys a chancer...with not a hope in Hell of getting that price..seen it for ages.
Click to expand...
 
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