Another motorcycle.... Couldn't resist!

[JimJ[VT]]

When I bought my FXE-1200 back in 1977, I paid $3962 for it. Everybody that I worked with at the time said I was crazy to spend that kind of money for a motorcycle. For a reference here, a co-worker of mine spent $3800 and bought a brand new 1976 Stepside 6-cylinder Chevrolet Pick-up.

Now it's 33 years later, and that same 1977 FXE-1200 is appraised at $10,000. My insurance company requires that it be appraised every 3 years in order to insure it for the "true market value".

Who's laughing now?

I bet there's a fair amount of people who wish their stock portfolios maintained 76% of their value :tongue:

 

[mikethebike]

Well it is a KNOWN fact ... :yes:

That the JAP bike guys claim to like theirs and US Harley guys like ours.

But a whole LOT of current Harley owners ...
Used to be JAP bike owners ...

The cross-over ratio from JAP bike ownership to Harley ownership is vastly higher than the other way ...

I had a Honda ... almost 40 years ago.
I wanted a Harley but bought what I could afford at the time. :thmbsp:

Later, I was in better financial shape and bought a HARLEY.
I later even sold it to MIKETHEBIKE ...

Had motorcycles since ( off and on for 35 years ) and always had HARLEYS

Had two FXSTDI's ( the Deuce ) since 2001.

My good friend has a Kaw ... Z-10 and he has had LOTS of problems with it and the dealer NEVER has any parts for it without a 2 to 3 week wait.

....................

Hello Deuce, thought I recognized the 3-Deuces. For any of ya'll who don't know, THAT 32 is one of the very best in the country. Been invited to numerous 32 anniversaries around the country including if memory serves me the L.A. Roadster shows 75th anniversary in 07 along with Charlotte Motor Speedways Spring AutoFair the same year. Of all the 32's I've seen in my 61 years that black one and the pearl white 32 sedan Jody Garland built in Burlington, NC are the best I've encountered. Both have been driven more miles as street rods than they were as family cars when new. :thmbsp:

 

[70salesguy]

I bet there's a fair amount of people who wish their stock portfolios maintained 76% of their value :tongue:

My FXE hasn't spent 33 years in a safe deposit box! :tongue:

 

[mikethebike]

I bet there's a fair amount of people who wish their stock portfolios maintained 76% of their value :tongue:

76%????? MY math professor would disagree. Last time I did that math 10k was more than 150% better than 3.9k.:scratch2:

 

[krowmagnum]

Can we generalize any more please?

There might not be many parts available for the particular makes and models in the OP's stable. That is hardly indicative of the massive vintage UJM scene.

No generalizing. It's a fact. There are way more new aftermarket parts available for HD's than any brand of UJM's. In 50 years the availability of aftermarket replacement parts for Jap bikes may change but right now it's not the same.

 

[mikethebike]

There are no "JAP bike guys and US Harley guys".

There are only the guys who appreciate motorcycles, riders and the sport/culture.


And the ones that bash the guys who appreciate motorcycles, riders and the sport/culture.



So who's the bigger man?

Scooter Coleman.

 

[mikethebike]

Sorry, your opinion and not fact. I've already posted several examples of UJMs that go for the same or more now than when new.

THAT is a fact. :yes:

It's also a well known fact that the world will end in 2012. And cock roaches can't ride. At least not now. So "50 years from now" is hardly the way to hammer home a biased opinion that is mute.

As I said the world of motorcycles is huge. It would be a shame to sit in the corner and ignore it all.

:thmbsp:

Exactly WHAT in my post said anything about the future. I said that for the PAST 50 years Harleys held their value better than anything else out there. No other mass produced bike is even close. And it is NOT an opinion any more than the NADA book on a 2008 Z/06 is an opinion. It is a financial and mathematical fact. If you cannot or will not accept fact I put forth the theory that it is you who are sitting in the corner ignoring it all.:yes:

 

[whoaru99]

Who's laughing now?

You, I take it? :scratch2:

BTW, how many miles on it?

 

[krowmagnum]

That's great and thanks for ignoring the point. COMPLETELY. :thmbsp:

Sorry, I didn't realize you already knew it all so I won't waste any time learning you a thing or two.

Anyway, congrats to the OP on the new toy.

 

[Cogito]

Exactly WHAT in my post said anything about the future. I said that for the PAST 50 years Harleys held their value better than anything else out there. No other mass produced bike is even close. And it is NOT an opinion any more than the NADA book on a 2008 Z/06 is an opinion. It is a financial and mathematical fact. If you cannot or will not accept fact I put forth the theory that it is you who are sitting in the corner ignoring it all.:yes:

OLDER H-Ds retain there value and then some. Again, this is because of the relative rarity of these machines. Newer H-Ds simply don't hold their value any better than most other brands (Yamaha/Star and Honda are good examples of value retention). I could have easily bought H-D, but quite frankly, the Japanese offerings are simply better built, higher performing and offer better "bang for the buck". For me, I buy motorcycles to ride, not for investing.

 

[70salesguy]

For me, I buy motorcycles to ride, not for investing.

I've been riding mine for 33 years.

How about yours?

 

[mikethebike]

OLDER H-Ds retain there value and then some. Again, this is because of the relative rarity of these machines. Newer H-Ds simply don't hold their value any better than most other brands (Yamaha/Star and Honda are good examples of value retention). I could have easily bought H-D, but quite frankly, the Japanese offerings are simply better built, higher performing and offer better "bang for the buck". For me, I buy motorcycles to ride, not for investing.

Old Harleys are not rare, they are desirable. Like aged bourbon. Old, expensive and tasteful.

 

[HandyHamlet]

As I've said in previous threads, I have a couple of vintage Japanese sport bikes, which I now am nearly afraid to ride due to parts non-availability...

Old Sport bikes are rare and very desirable. Like a P-51 the lines scream speed, grace, and badass. The race heritage gives these bikes an important place in the evolution of the sport and what we ride today.

To keep one vintage bike on the road takes effort. To maintain a small fleet is a labor of love.

Kudos.

 

[kx250rider]

Old Sport bikes are rare and very desirable. Like a P-51 the lines scream speed, grace, and badass. The race heritage gives these bikes an important place in the evolution of the sport and what we ride today.

To keep one vintage bike on the road takes effort. To maintain a small fleet is a labor of love.

Kudos.

Thanks for the kudos!

That's the thing... My '85 Honda VF1000R is fun to ride, but since they stopped making any of the plastics for it in the last few years, I'm so scared something will break that it's not so much fun. A showroom-condition '85 seems to bring around $7500 on eBay, whereas the same bike with a repaired fairing that looks good, but isn't factory-original paint and plasticwork, might only bring around $2500. And it's not the investment I'm worried about... It's that I wanted that bike so desperately when I was in high school, and there was a waiting list with bids up above the sticker price at the dealers. I finally got it 20 years later, and I don't want to have to wait another 20 years if something happens to it. It's sure nice to go on eBay and see complete new bodywork sets for this '00 R1 for $500, knowing a stone chip won't ruin my year.

I'm going to get a new front tire for the R1 today, and will take it out this week and dial in the suspension. It has all kinds of cool stuff to adjust :thmbsp:

Charles

 

[Fisherdude]

You guys are seriously making me want another one. I'd have to sell the MGA, though. On the plus side, the wife would have enough room in the garage to park her car in there...

And you wouldn't believe how cheap even 3-4 year old 883 Sporties are going for.:drool:

 

[Cogito]

I've been riding mine for 33 years.

How about yours?

Well, I'm hardly old enough to have been riding any motorcycle for 33 years But as posted elsewhere, I trade in every two years or so. Why? Because I like the latest and greatest. I have no allegiance to any brand. I buy what I consider the best "bang for the buck' at the time. In fact, I'm entertaining the idea of picking up a Triumph Rocket III Cruiser next spring. I'll be test driving one at some point this summer and see how it "fits".

I don't diminish the fact that you've had your bike for 33 years. It's quite an achievment, but not THAT uncommon for the "classics". After all, most bikers take far better care of their bikes than themselves.

 

[JimJ[VT]]

76%????? MY math professor would disagree. Last time I did that math 10k was more than 150% better than 3.9k.:scratch2:

Inflation...$3K in 1977 is not $3K now.

 

[mikethebike]

Inflation...$3K in 1977 is not $3K now.

I have a degree in accounting, I KNOW that. YOU didn't mention you were using an inflation indexed calculation. And guess what....if you paid $3700 in 1977 and it's now worth $10k that is still better than $3500 that's now worth $2k.

 

[mikethebike]

Well, I'm hardly old enough to have been riding any motorcycle for 33 years But as posted elsewhere, I trade in every two years or so. Why? Because I like the latest and greatest. I have no allegiance to any brand. I buy what I consider the best "bang for the buck' at the time. In fact, I'm entertaining the idea of picking up a Triumph Rocket III Cruiser next spring. I'll be test driving one at some point this summer and see how it "fits".

I don't diminish the fact that you've had your bike for 33 years. It's quite an achievment, but not THAT uncommon for the "classics". After all, most bikers take far better care of their bikes than themselves.

Based on what they offer on trade-in for a 2 year old Jap bike I'd say you could have bought that $72,000.00 carbon fiber 220 h-p Ducati at Touring-Sport just off the depreciation losses you have incurred.

 

[Cogito]

Based on what they offer on trade-in for a 2 year old Jap bike I'd say you could have bought that $72,000.00 carbon fiber 220 h-p Ducati at Touring-Sport just off the depreciation losses you have incurred.

LOL You may be right, but Ducs aren't my thing! So far, my trade-ins have been very favorable. I think a big part of it is that when I trade in, the bikes are very clean and perform like new. For me, the losses are quite mild and well worth it.