resale value

[oldyam80sg]

I have read several posts on this and another motorcycle site i belong to and am curious about what kind of money people think that their bikes are worth(cash value/sentimental value).To me, i was tempted to sell my SG about 2 years ago to a friend of mine who was in the same National Guard unit.He looked at the bike and said before a test ride $250.00 /$300.00 tops.I told him that i spent a lot of money to get it in the shape its in.He also told me that he doesn't work on his vehicles and that he takes them to shops to have work done.After thinking about the hard work i put into the bike i told him no -he should look elsewhere.He finally settled on a newer model bike.But it cost him alot more than $300.00

[trbig]

Total cost I have put into the bike with all the different motors and such, 1179 bore now, plus the innitial cost of the bike... not to mention hour upon hour of rubbing on old corroded aluminum to make it shine... If someone handed me a $5,000 check for it right now, I'd tear it up in front of them. SO... It looks like I'll be keeping this thing for a while since that would happen.. ummm.. NEVER!! lol.

Even though I wouldn't sell it... I have been very tempted to set it up in the drive and put a match to it a time or four...


Tod

[79XS11F]

I'm with you Tod .. I have no idea how much money I have invested in my 1979 restored bike but I do know that I have 100s of hours of work into her. I would not part with this bike for 5K. 5K wouldn't come close to it's "true" future value. That is of course my opinion. Sooner or later scrapers will run out of parts and then even these hardy 11s will become more and more scarce in running condition much less restored condition.
If someone wanted my bike as badly as I want to keep it ... they would have to buy it for what I believe it will be worth in 20 more years, Because my bike will still be running and look like it does today.
Rob

[XSPastor]

There's a midnight special for sale on eBay that's heading past 3K. Pretty good resale value there I'd say.

[tarzan]

I just saw this post after I posted about a 80 midnight special on craigslist and the guy wants $6500.HAHAHAHAHA

[Tusler]

Well according to this web site
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1981-y...ht-special.htm

If you have a Midnight special either an 80 or 81 there were only 250 produced. That would mean the value is definitely over $300 maybe even bumping $450 LoL.

In good running condition $3000 to $5000 depending on mods and mileage.
Thats what I would figure.

[mro]

they would have to buy it for what I believe it will be worth in 20 more years

I hope I'm still kicking in 20 years and tho I'm not advertising any of my XSes for sale would sell any one (or two) if offered the right amount. Would still leave me with a few


mro

[oldyam80sg]

I have 2 bikes-my 80 SG and a 99 ZRX.Both have alot of hard work and money put into them.How can you put a price on labor and time?I cant.My ZRX gets alot of compliments and once in a while i get squids that say "I'll give you good money for it".Sorry-not for sale!

[Jerry]

Much depends on your location. In Wisconsin, where you can ride maybe half the year, we used to figure about $1 per CC of displacment. XS11 = $1,100.00 in good running condition. Same with other Japanese bikes, with a few exceptions. Cosmetic condition or accessories could bump the value up or down a few hundred.

Time of year also makes a difference...fewer bikes get bought / sold after Labor day and before Easter. Bike prices are generally lower during that period.

On the other hand, folks in warmer southern climates have more consistent bike pricing the year round and prices are generally a bit higher than in northern climates.

There are always "deals" out there, it seems. I missed a good deal on a pair of 11s about a month ago, both running and titled, $1,300.00 for the pair. I got there to late. (Denver Craig's List.) Pictures had them looking prety good. I spoke to the lister; he had owned severall 11s and said these were in pretty good shape. One was an '81 H full-dress, the other was an '80 Standard.

There is a '78 Standard on eBay right now; last I checked price was $650.00.

So, there are several variables that come into play when you try to determine what your bike is worth. Location, time of year, mechanical and cosmetic condition, upgrades (most buyers prefer stock or near-stock bikes) and clean paperwork all factor in. My general observaction of $1 per CC has worked for me in the past, putting the value of a "typical" 11 in the $1,100.00 - $1,200.00 range.

Midnight Specials always go for more, since they were a limited edition model.

My other experience is that you will almost never get out of a bike what you put in. If you complete major upgrades to your XS or XJ, plan to own it for a while!

[rockjok]

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1981-y...ht-special.htm

I think the authors of this article got some wrong information. I was under the impression that there were around 1500 Midnights produced in 1980 tho' I can't remember where I got this figure. I know I've seen a lot of Midnights parted out on ebay so it seems that they aren't as uncommon as the article implies. Does anyone have a source for the real production numbers?

I've got an LG with ~4000 miles on it that I bought from the original owner. It had the original factory tires on it and I'm still kicking myself for replacing them with dunlops. It mostly sits in storage until I finally wear out my daily rider - a 79 SF sidecar rig.

Rob