Sell or keep. Why do I keep changing my mind!

It indicates 68 on the road, or at least licensed. 40 sorned or left in crates as investments - poor decision!

That’s not many over 10 years of sales is it? 6 or 7 from each year. In fact the website has a year on year comparison and you can see 35 of those were registered in 2018 (i’ll Assume it was the 50th Anniv models?) so that is very small numbers, much lower than I was expecting. Explains why I can only find one other for sale. Makes me want to keep the old girl even more.

Fast Eddie said:

I thought EVERYONE had a pick up in the states?!

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I'm a New Yawka. Quite the cosmopolitan type. Which is probably why I have a flashy hipster pseudo Norton instead of a big ole Harley Ultra Classic with a big ole American flag flying off the back and trunk full of Bud Lite.

Well I’m in Alabama at the moment and it definitely seems like EVERYONE has a truck here.

Well, actually they all have at least 3, one to drive, one in the barn, and one in the yard with grass and perhaps a small bush growing around / through it.

Accnor73 said:

That’s not many over 10 years of sales is it? 6 or 7 from each year. In fact the website has a year on year comparison and you can see 35 of those were registered in 2018 (i’ll Assume it was the 50th Anniv models?) so that is very small numbers, much lower than I was expecting. Explains why I can only find one other for sale. Makes me want to keep the old girl even more.

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Considering there are still new Anniversary bikes at dealers, perhaps it’s not far off?

If so, it begs the question; where are the ‘10 bikes a week’ going that we’ve been told they’re knocking out...?

Fast Eddie said:

where are the ‘10 bikes a week’ going that we’ve been told they’re knocking out...?

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Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........
Don't ask embarrassing questions.

Fast Eddie said:

Well I’m in Alabama at the moment and it definitely seems like EVERYONE has a truck here.

Well, actually they all have at least 3, one to drive, one in the barn, and one in the yard with grass and perhaps a small bush growing around / through it.

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Don't forget, with a bed liner (aka plastic tarp) it becomes a redneck swimming pool for the neighborhood.

Based on an unofficial count I thought the actual production is closer to 5 bikes a week ? Also , now that the other models are being rolled out , maybe the Commando production will slow more still . I suspect that the Commando will continue to be produced in somewhat smaller numbers but price will be higher. In fact , it may become expensive .

Accnor73 said:

Do I read this info right, that there are 108 961 cafe racers registered in the UK in total, with just 68 licenced for the road? Or is it 68 in total of which 40 are not licenced, meaning just 28 on the road?

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The data this is based on is seriously flawed, it understates by a significant amount.

kommando said:

The data this is based on is seriously flawed, it understates by a significant amount.

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Why is that? This is cafe racer 961’s. do you know there are many more in the UK? Genuine question. Cheers

Accnor73 said:

Why is that? This is cafe racer 961’s. do you know there are many more in the UK? Genuine question. Cheers

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Seen the same database used for other vehicles and its rubbish so it just cannot be trusted, there is a raft of undesignated vehicles in the database which could be anything. It requires the data to be input first correctly when the V5 is first produced. If it's out by one digit on the V5 when registered it never counts correctly as it does not match known models and is dumped to unknown.

Interesting, it must be in the right ballpark though right? I can’t see any reason why a load would be keyed in incorrectly, perhaps 10% at most?

I know there will be some anomalies, for example the new commando street is based on commando sport so will show up as c.50 additional sports registered in 2019.

It shows a 196 commando sports, shows 160 odd norton dominators.... so feels about right doesn’t it? I see the missing category under norton and there are 50 ish since 2010 that don’t fall in to any category so it must be assumed they are spread over commando sports, domi’s, SE’s, California’s, and cafe racers (in fact my money would be on the bulk of those ‘missings’ being SE’s given 38 of them were 2010-2011 registrations.

Accnor 73....even if you put your bike up for sale its not certain it will sell ! I don't think used 961's are the best sellers...Mines been up for sale (on here and car & classic) for a few months now...mint condition,£1000's extras n 1900m...and i've had 2 enquiries- one offering £3000 !! less than my asking price and the other couldn't even be bothered to come n look at the bike!... like yourself, i'm unsure about selling cos i love the bike...but i've another Norton on order and can't keep em all....decisions decisions...

Thats a very good looking bike, and i’ve seen it for sale and thought it was pretty good value but you’ll always get the chancers. I agree, norton perhaps not the easiest sell, but at the end of the day everything sells at the right level, and it just depends if that level meets the Sellers level. I have a price I’d let mine go for and know it’s the cheapest cafe racer you can buy in the UK so if someone wants one they’ll likely knock on my door. But, how many people can lay out that sort of cash without finance? That limits the pool of customers. I saw a dealer and he offered me £500 less than my bottom line which is pretty close, and that was based on an unseen underwriters offer. So I know my expectations are real at least. I just don’t know if i want it gone!

Welshrugby said:

Two possibly going, you are brutal. The thruxton went before to make way for the guzzi and now its going along with what? you might enjoy the guzzi V7 special, two up seat, plenty of grunt and easy to ride, one on ebay as it happens.

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I've been out on the Guzzi twice two-up and it isn't working out. I can just about cope with it solo and shes lovely to ride but when two-up I am on the absolute limits of what weight my right leg can safely handle even though it is mostly CF/Titanium it is built to take my weight and not much more. Then there's the wife, she isn't a spring chicken and her ailments are deteriorating to the point where we went out for a run down to Thetford this weekend but had to abandon the trip and turn back home after just 30 mins... she was in agony. So the Guzzi is now surplus to requirements, we at least tried. So I am a confirmed solo rider now (yippee!)

How are you making out on that Polaris.... err I mean Indian? I am hooked on the FTR1200S and I might just take a trip down to Krazy Horse and put a deposit down.... I am so so sooooo close to doing it. The XR is up and running well but it is a beast to ride (for beast read bugger!)... heavy clutch, extremely heavy throttle, indicator switches from the 70's where you have to keep yer finger on the button, false neutral between 3rd and 4th, put your right leg down at a stop and you can't help but push against the front rubber mounted carb which in turn pulls on the throttle cable... she's a 'classic' in every sense but maybe it's now time for someone else to persevere with..... errr I mean enjoy lol

Accnor73 said:

I saw a dealer and he offered me £500 less than my bottom line which is pretty close.

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From a dealer that's not bad at all... or your bottom line is pretty realistic. I haven't advertised my Guzzi yet but I have a 'bottom line' price in mind and a dealer has contacted me via a friend of a friend and has offered me £250 below my bottom line even though I haven't discussed a price with anyone.... as you say, it comes down to being realistic about prices and the desire to sell, once you get that sorted in your head then sales can take place pretty quickly.

Yeah, that FTR does look interesting...

961al said:

Accnor 73....even if you put your bike up for sale its not certain it will sell ! I don't think used 961's are the best sellers...Mines been up for sale (on here and car & classic) for a few months now...mint condition,£1000's extras n 1900m...and i've had 2 enquiries- one offering £3000 !! less than my asking price and the other couldn't even be bothered to come n look at the bike!... like yourself, i'm unsure about selling cos i love the bike...but i've another Norton on order and can't keep em all....decisions decisions...

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Not sure about the UK, but here in the states, the thousands in extras means nothing. You'd be lucky to recoup 10 to 15% of what those extras cost you. That bike certainly IS in mint condition.

Yesterdays ride went so well, for the moment, she's a KEEPER!

My Indian (established since 1901) is I have to say a very enjoyable ride. The engine is very smooth and with 78 hp, it has some reasonable grunt but best between 60-70mph, any more and it's hard work. Sounds great but not a patch on the 961 for its audible delight. So I am enjoying it and I have to say, gettimg more comments from strangers than the Norton. But it's number 2 for me.