brand new midnight special

[tw1980]

Hey Dott1 if you want the bike why are you telling us about it?I would have bought the bike then rubbed it in.How I got a great deal.Rather than looking for people to compete with me for the bike.

[DGXSER]

Analysis Paralysis

I think Dott is probably an overly analytical person who gets so ttied up in trying to figure out what somethign is worth and if they should spend the money that the deal will pass by before its figured out. Analysis Paralysis. So came here to get a feel for what is might be worth.

Either that or he is trying to see what an XS junkie will be willing to pay for it to help him decide what to pay for it to get a decent profit when he sells it to one of us.

[tarzan]

If it was stored in a cool dry place and still in the crate,it should be in excellent shape.Except rubber and maybe vinyl.
Remember last year a slew of bikes came up on ebay.A dealer had gone out of business and they found these bikes in the back of a warehouse.They were in excellent condition.
They did fetch hansom prices,but still very reasonable from what I remember.
I think they all sold well below $10,000.Of course they werent 11's though.

[Wildkat]

Or

he could just be trying to find out what a decent price would be for a Midnight Special that's been crated all its life...

I'm kind of curious about that too... We've seen POS-es that go for outrageous amounts... and if everything on this one is in decent condition or easily replaced... I can't even begin to imagine what it would be worth to someone who really wants it...

Good thing it's not an 81... or John's first born would be in trouble...
lol

[trbig]

LOL.. Wow!

Never seen the doubters/haters come out of the woodwork like this before. The guy never said where the bike is.. not even what COUNTRY it's in. How could you get bidders to compete on something he hasn't offered any info on?

For the doubters.. just take a second and think that there is a possibility of this happenening. How many stories have you heard of old motorcycles in a warehouse of a dealer that has been in business forever, but then died and the people selling his stuff. I seem to remember a brand new 850 recently this happened to. What if someone like this bought the bike and had enough money to put it away.. thinking of what it would be worth in the future. If you had the money to do this.. surely you'd do it with the midnight, correct?

Now.. since there is a possibility of this happening, where else would/could you go to try to determine what a bike like this would be worth? Every time I tried to get info about my XJ when I bought it, I kept getting hit after hit of some frikkin XS11 site.. decided I had better take a look. Any sensible person would join and ask a forum with thousands of members that rides these bikes to see what a bike like that would be worth. You don't want to bid too high and screw yourself, and you don't want to bid too low and miss the chance at an opportunity like this. So.. you join, ask, and get a bunch of crap from people and give the impression that we're a regular hateful motorcycle site. How could he get the bike and come on here to brag about it if he has no clue what this frikkin nealry 30 y.o. bike is worth to bid on it?

Now.. imagine he's pulling our legs. What better way to get competition and bidders than to come to a site with thousands of people that ride them? BUT.. if you actually read his posts, he's given absolutely zero reason to doubt him.

Give the poor guy a chance guys. He asked a simple question. There's always time later to lay into someone with the hate if it turns out otherwise. Nobody has taken a dime from you in the mean time.

Tod

[Montreux_Blue]

I would assume, like new bikes, that if it is still in the crate then it wouldn't have any fluids or battery, tires would need to be changed. Is it a "silent" offer or is the owner going to have a bidding war between the 10+ people that you said know about it? Also do they have all the paperwork for the title since it has never been sold or registered??? No title would be worthless if you want to ride it, but you may just want to put it in a glass box in your living room for display! I think maybe a couple thousand if your lucky enough to "steal" it since it will need work.

[Trainzz]

my 2 cents

If......
There is a title and
If....
The condition is near showroom and
If.....
You are serious,
Then........
Get off the computer, head over to wherever and look at it in person. No pictures and e-mail. Put your grubby grabbers on it and really look it over.
My gut feeling is that even in a crate, most of the non metal parts will need replaced. Was it stored with any fluids in it? I would probably off $2.5-3K USD for it.

And God help me, but I find myself agreeing with Tod. (Sheesh, I may have to take up drinking again). Altogether too much hating going on around here lately. Seems like every thread becomes some political BS or bashing exercise.

Everyone take a freaking breath, step back from the keyboard and go for a G-Damn ride or something.

I think I'll take my own advice, its too nice to waste the day inside.

Adios!

[trbig]

And God help me, but I find myself agreeing with Tod.

WOW! Those self-help classes on mind control are working!! They did say the weakest minds would fall prey soonest though...

As far as the bike... The tires will need replaced if riding it, but the rubber parts and plastic in general should be fine unless it was stored where sunlight and U.V. rays got to it. If a guy had enough money to store a new bike in a crate, he had enough money for it to be in a climate controlled atmosphere somewhat. Even the dungy dark corner of a basement.. a few cobwebs aren't goig to eat chrome and paint. Remember that the aluminum had a coating on it.. even though the midnight had very little of this showing.. and the painted parts should be fine.. which the midnight had a LOT of black paint. I think you guys are selling this bike short on price.. but you guys could be right and it could have been in a damp place and is a rust-bucket. It would take an actual inspection to see which was correct. I hope you post back with some pics.. Pretty exciting stuff to me.


Tod

[Larrym]

Spin control

dott1,

My reply wasn't intended to be mean or hurtful. Nor was it a implication that you were a "scammer." It was s'posed to be a reality check...something to put caution/reserve into your thought process. After all, given the "possibilities" it's natural to have not just an interest in the bike but to possibly have an "over-interest" in it. Nothing pushes the price of anything being "bid on" more than the bidders being overly excited about an item.

Just trying to keep you on that fine line between level headedness and goin' for broke. Tough to do with these bikes or on these bikes.

Keep us posted, ok??

[trbig]

And another thing...

If this bike is immaculate and museum quality.. I could see it easily reaching 10-15k dollars. BUT.. once you put it on the road, all you have is a really nice USED mns with low miles that you'd be really really hard pressed to get 3-5k for.


Tod

[Larrym]

Motorcyle Archeology?

Good one, Tod!

I've never seen one in a museum. Found 'em under trees, in boxes, in garages, and on the road.

Can't really picture one in a museum behind the glass with that "interactive" button you push to hear what it would sound like if it actually started up and ran.

[Wildkat]

Actually...

someone posted pics of a Midnight in a motorcycle museum... I've been trying like crazy to remember who and where... but that is SOOO not going to happen...

This getting older stuff sucks...
lol

[dott1]

hey guys i will get my buddy to send me some pics like i said i have not seen this bike i live 9 hours away from it.so as soon as i get them i will post them here.and i will keep u posted with what happens with this bike.it is not in a private persons hands.it is a dealer in a small town .

[madmax-im]

All I can say is Wow! I have no reason to doubt your word...and like Tod...I find this to be quite exciting...I cant wait to see any pics you can get of it...I am not a skeptic...I believe all things are possible...26 years ago I found my '82 XJ...it too was in a crate but it was only 1 year old at that time...it was the very last new XJ that dealer sold...BTW they are still in business and the owner still remembers me (it helps to keep going back there )

[Wildkat]

Okay Super Sleuths...

hey guys i will get my buddy to send me some pics like i said i have not seen this bike i live 9 hours away from it.so as soon as i get them i will post them here.and i will keep u posted with what happens with this bike.it is not in a private persons hands.it is a dealer in a small town .

We have this much info... the bike is apparently 9 hours from Edmonton in a small dealership...
give us just a little more info and you may have a few others looking at it too...



I'm with them... anxious to see what condition it's in...

I hope it looks as good as I think most of us are wanting it to...