Have I fallen off my rocker?

[knightops]

Hey guys, I just wanted to get your opinion. I am selling my 1981 XS1100 special in Southern California. I just want to know if I have completely fallen off my rocker with my price of 2100 obo? I see some XS1100's being sold for 500 and so on, but I think this bike is certainly worth more than 500, but maybe that is because I put so much work into it to get it running right. The bike has 49,877 miles on it. Have I become emotionally attached (haha) to this bike and as a result, think it's worth more than it really is, or is 2100obo a fair price? If not, what would be a fair price? I am going to try to add a picture but I have never done this before. http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

[latexeses]

Looks pretty sharp to me. I don't know how big of an area you are listing your bike but the bigger the crowd looking at your bike the better the chance that you will find the guy who is dying to get his hands on one like yours.

You are in the middle of winter with Christmas looking everyone in the face right now so I would think selling a bike would be tougher than say the Spring.

Southern Cal is sure a better spot to be riding right now than North Dakota so that is on your side. No offense to any Northerners out there.

From what I have seen bikes selling for the last year and if your bike runs as good as it looks, 1500+ would be my guess if you hit the right market. And weather. It gets down to how bad do you need to get rid of the bike?

However that IMHO. Free advice is worth what you've paid for it.

Rodger

[knightops]

Thanks

Haha Rodger,
I appreciate your input. I am only listing it right now in the orange county craigslist. I don't absolutely need to get rid of it right now. I am completely restoring a 1980 XS850 Midnight Special, so any money gained would just go towards that.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Knightops,

Nice Special! Usually, I'm not a big fan of flame jobs... but those looked good!

Bike that nice could bring that price I believe... I'm like you... it should.
But, it all depends on finding the right one w/ the desire & the $$$.

I've seen guys part w/ incredablly nice 11's for $1200, sometimes even less.
We all know that's a shame, but it does happen.

If you're not in a hurry to sell, and can do like Latexeses suggests by expanding your advertising... w/ some patience and a season change, you should get it.

Stick it on EBay in the spring... set your price up there... you'll get it.

Nice bike.
Good luck w/ the sale... it'd be tough for me to part with one that nice!

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Haha Rodger,
I appreciate your input. I am only listing it right now in the orange county craigslist. I don't absolutely need to get rid of it right now. I am completely restoring a 1980 XS850 Midnight Special, so any money gained would just go towards that.

I remind Mike that he needs to work on that 850 seat every time I talk to him Stephan. I think I'll call him right now.

That's a good lookin' 11 Special. This time of year is the worst to sell summer toys but it may not make a difference in southern Cali.

I would suggest some more creative photography though.

[knightops]

Hey Greg!!!

Haha Nice of you to chime in Greg and XJOK2PLAY. Hey Greg, that XS850 is in the powder coat shop right now. I'll tell you, spray paint just doesn't hold up, haha. If possible, I would love to get some pictures of whatever he has done on that seat so far. I am glad to see that I am not getting laughed at by my price. About those flames.... I love the color but they were done before I got the bike, and not up to my standards. The lines on the flames are not clean, probably due to poor taping. I should take a close up picture for you guys. I picked this bike up for 600 bucks, so I really can't complain. You guys can always look up my post on how I fixed this bike up (and messed it up in the process. haha) "Fix one thing, break another," thats my motto. I finally got it all back together though. I got it for so cheap because the PO thought the transmission was gone because it wouldn't shift into anything higher than 1. After an our hour of reading posts from all of you guys and then going outside and putting the shift spring back in place, I was back in business. Greg, I have never been a creative guy, that is me walking in the background of that picture, the guy taking the picture just got done cleaning the bike and I offered him an extra 20 if he would take a few snapshots. Hey XJOK2PLAY, you really think I might get a good price on Ebay? I have always been kind of weary due to the shipping cost and everything. Hope to continue hearing from you guys.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Yeah, I believe it's possible to get the price ya need... especially if your out in Cali!

My buddy put his fine XJ on there a while back, set the limit so high he figured NO ONE in their right mind would ever exceed it... cause he really didn't want to sell it in the first place... he just wondered what it would be worth, to settle an arguement he was having w/ another buddy about it's value.

He was shocked to find, at the closing moments of bidding that it had been FAR exceeded... and was indeed sold! It went for over $8000!

Now, mind you, he had somewhere in the neighborhood invested around $12,000 in the bike... just because it was his love, his hobby, and he had tried every mod in the book on it as a learning process... most of which he shared right here in this forum... documented. All the dyno runs after every mod... showing what worked, what failed, what made HP, what didn't...

It was indeed a sad day when they came to pick it up and take it away to it's new home...

But the moral of this story is...
You'll never know unless you try.

It's all about making that right connection at the right time with the right person who wants it bad enough... and has the cash!

A rock can be totally worthless... but if enough are willing to do anything to get it... what's it's value then? Whatever the highest bidder's willing to pay. And that's what really determines the value of these old bikes....

As for mine... I feel it's priceless! But... one day I may find myself having to part w/ it... hope not, but could happen. And I know the market will determine what she's worth more than what I may need for it.

Give it a shot... set your limit... make it worth your while... especially if you're not in a hurry to sell... wait for the right time... you might be surprised! I hope so for ya!
Bob

[latexeses]

knightops,

I wouldn't worry too much about the shipping costs. Buyer is going to pick that up. Just make sure you remind anyone bidding that they need to check on shippers and the cost of crating a 600lb motorcycle.

Put the reserve where you are comfortable. You don't have to sell for less than you feel you need to get out of the bike.

Do a search on the forums for "shipping a bike" or something like it. The subject has been up several time. Give you an idea of what the shipping costs are going to be.

Rodger

[knightops]

I think I'll do that.

I think I will probably post it on ebay. I am not getting any hits what so ever on OC Craigslist. I even said I would take a trade for a sport bike and still nothing. Maybe I should wait until it warms up a bit haha.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Maybe I should wait until it warms up a bit haha.

Yea 70 is a bit chilly isn't it?

SMART A$$

[knightops]

Spoiled

Hey Greg,
It's actually 64. Anything below 70 and we start complaining, anything blow 65 and us Californians don't even go outside. What price would you guys set on ebay?

[XSokieSPECIAL]

The $2100.00 or make offer would be ok. You don't have to accept the offers under that.

Hell, you could end up with more if you hit it right!

[latexeses]

Wait till the temp is above 70!

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Y'all are californicated.

[knightops]

Last ditch effort.

Well, I just posted my bike up on Orange County craigslist for $1500. I wasn't getting any bites at $2100. If I don't sell it at $1500, it's going on ebay. Any of you guys know of anyone looking for a bike? haha. I hope all of you had happy holidays.