New 850 Commandos-Still In Their Crates!

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mike996 said:
As a good friend here in Mexico (he owns two Commandos) said to me re this subject as we sat over a couple of beers ..."Commandos? Shoot, if those had been in the box MANX's, you'd really have something!" :)
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Maybe...or maybe not! Original Manxes are only good as museum pieces nowadays, they're about 15+ Bhp down on a modern replica, so if you want to race the choice is obvious! Also, any decent tuner who got a new manx from the factory always stripped it straight away and blueprinted it!
 
I think a poll is called for...

a) Who would uncrate and ride?
b) Who would uncrate and display?
c) Who would keep it in the crate?
d) Who would uncrate and break for spares?
e) Who would like to observe from a distance, knowing that their bike is far more sorted and useable?

Personally, I'd like to see one uncrated, ridden and then dyno'd.
It's not like they're rare... :roll: but I'd like to understand how good they really were before the cam rounded off!

Some photos of the wiring installation would be welcome too ;)
 
"Personally, I'd like to see one uncrated, ridden and then dyno'd.
It's not like they're rare... but I'd like to understand how good they really were before the cam rounded off!"

I totally agree with that. I would have no interest in owning one of those at all but would be most interested in the results and the concept of "observing from a distance."

"Maybe...or maybe not! Original Manxes are only good as museum pieces nowadays,"

Totally agree that Manxes are museum pieces but I'd expect a new Manx in a box to bring a LOT more money than a new Commando in a box... I think Art's reference was not to riding but to being set for life if you had 13 in-the-box Manxes to sell as opposed to Commandos where you might be "set" for only a couple of years. ;)
 
If I was rich I'd buy one, keep it in the crate, and just look inside once in a while
.... seeing as I'm not lol, I have no interest. Hope they go to Norton, museums, and people that'll take care of them.
 
If I was rich I'd order a monocoque from Norman White!! the spaceframe would be good on the mantlepiece :-)
 
There used to be a BSA Goldstar still in the crate that circulated amongst collectors for some time. It was the last Goldie to go down the assembly line; the crate was signed by the employees. What a strange thing though. A motorcycle in a crate that would drop a significant part of its value if uncreated. An oddity. I wonder if that bike is still in the crate in someone's collection?
 
I'm sure that Goldie is still in its crate, with some collector somewhere.

Personally, if I somehow ended up acquiring one of these crated Commandos (unlikely, as I could probably buy a CNW bike for less!) I'd uncrate it and ride it. After applying the updates we know about now. I think I'd keep the crate however!

Debby
 
"A motorcycle in a crate that would drop a significant part of its value if uncreated. An oddity. "

Actually, that's true of just about anything. For example, let's say you have an original Lionel 2343 Santa Fe engine set (A and B unit) from 1953. If it is still in the original sealed box it will sell (and has) for over 3k USD. With the original box, with the units in new condition but not sealed in the box - maybe 2k. Without the box but in "new" condition, maybe $750. So "uncrating" reduces the amount of money you can get for any item.

Heck, it's true of current items as well. If you sell a new, in the box item, you will get more than you will for a "New but I don't have the box" item. The instant you remove something from the original packing, it's worth less to a buyer.
 
It is a mistake to beleive that something meant to be used and enjoyed by using it is worth more in its original packaging. These things be they barbie dolls or complete motorcycles in their crates are not works of art meant to be stared at, they were built to be used, abused or in plain words enjoyed for what they are, toys or transportation.

Who would be foolish enough to buy a painting by a grand master that was crated up and never had anyone seen it?

So my answer is --e-- watch the fools pay top dollar for something they can't use.

Jean
 
So my answer is --e-- watch the fools pay top dollar for something they can't use.

Jean

Can't fault the logic, would only bid to uncrate and ride so would only bid the same as for a low milage example minus the cost of all the new rubber parts :roll: , hence no point in bidding as its worth more in the box sadly.
 
The whole will be sold per lot and it is not defined yet how many and which items those will contain. Maybe the 11 new Commando's will be sold in one lot ...
 
"It is a mistake to beleive that something meant to be used and enjoyed by using it is worth more in its original packaging.""

It's not a "mistake" to believe that. It may be sad or unfortunate or any other word we might care to apply but it is a fact that it's worth lot more money in the crate, unopened, than it will ever be once it is uncrated.
 
mike996 said:
"It is a mistake to beleive that something meant to be used and enjoyed by using it is worth more in its original packaging.""

It's not a "mistake" to believe that. It may be sad or unfortunate or any other word we might care to apply but it is a fact that it's worth lot more money in the crate, unopened, than it will ever be once it is uncrated.
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I would open it if I was buying one. I think you could ask a premium should you choose to sell being able to show that it is a "new" bike with receipt from the auction. You may loose money, but I have seen restored Triumph's sell for more than $12,600 (the one that was crated on eBay) so it is hard to say.
 
If the bikes were S Types or Two-tone Fastbacks and I had the funds then I think that I could be tempted to buy one just to drool over its uniqueness but there has never been any shortage of unregistered MkIII Interstates. Many realised that they were the last of the proper Nortons (If you can call a twin that wasn't built at Bracebridge Street a proper Norton) and they were often bought as keepsakes, even in 1977.

I also think that the Mk111 Interstate is not a very attractive machine to look at so I wouldn't choose one as an ornament and it's about as close as any Commando can come to being a clitoris motorcycle. :roll:

Perhaps Les 'emmeroids will buy them up to convert them all into 'Geniune Norvils' :D
 
Perhaps Les 'emmeroids will buy them up to convert them all into 'Geniune Norvils' :D[/quote]

LOL, best comment yet :-)
 
Ride em' don't hide em'. As posted, they are just MKIII interstates so uncrate them and get them on the pavement.
 
Anglophile said:
Torture! -Looking at those pics. I'd sell my right arm for one of those "boxed commandos"!
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Don't do it. You would have no way to actuate the front brake. :wink:
 
mike996 said:
But if you actually bought one of these, what would you do with it? The instant you unpack it, it's worth a LOT less money than it is in the crate and the instant you ride it, it's worth a fraction of that.
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Kind of like buying a new car and the moment you drive it of the lot .
 
debby said:
I'm sure that Goldie is still in its crate, with some collector somewhere.

Personally, if I somehow ended up acquiring one of these crated Commandos (unlikely, as I could probably buy a CNW bike for less!) I'd uncrate it and ride it. After applying the updates we know about now. I think I'd keep the crate however!

Debby
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A very expensive way of getting a sorted slightly heavy Commando. :D :D :D Maybe Debby is right we should start a company selling replica crates!!!
 
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