Don't agree about the R1150 I'm afraid. They will hold a decent value, as do all BMWs, but not a great investment in terms of profit. The original R80G/S, however, is a different matter; well worth seeking out an original condition bike. In 10 years time an S1000RR will be a sound investment too.
Steve McQueen would ride the Fantic. I wouldn't buy any bike as an investment as I would only ride it and devalue it. Neither would i buy an R of anything as it would make me fear ragging it too much on a track day. Unless of course I was flush.
Really good investments should have no emotional value attached at all, like a lump of gold. Then you will buy it when it is cheap and have no qualms in selling it when it can raise a healthy profit. If you have wine, you'd be tempted to drink it. A fine motorbike and you're going to want to use it and this devalue it. You might get unreasonably attached to a work of art. So the only way to look at a bike as an investment, is really to see it as a slowly depreciating asset as you use it. Alternatively, if you are already very rich, you can have a whole heap of bikes, just lying around in your personal private museum, but once again, if you're not emotionally attached to them, why bother, as they take up space? And if you are, when are you going to sell them to make your wedge?
I'll buy any old shite if I think there's a few quid in it...(in fact,I sometimes still do..:biggrin Nothing was safe in my hands,I could fall in and out of love with a bike in weeks. Seemed to be constantly buying/selling/swapping/haggling for parts....just for the craic,any profit was a secondary I could buy something in the morning,a mate would hear I'd got it and he'd have bought it by lunchtime...never even saw some of the bikes! Never advertised for owt,always bought/sold word of mouth/usually unseen...if it had a V5 and a genuine bill of sale,that was good enough for me. I've calmed down a bit now,sadly
I knew a guy that had a Superlight and a 1974 900SS that he kept them for about 7 years and made a £7k profit, that's better than any bank rate. Trouble is, I can't keep anything 7 months let alone 7 years. That little 400SS on ebay at the moment is probably a good investment, but you'll have to keep it a good few years. This is a crackin bike for me but only because I always wanted one, way over priced but tempted to make an offer. Anybody up that way ? 1999 SUZUKI TL1000S BLUE *ONLY 2450 MILES 2450 GENUINE* | eBay
The 400ss is a tricky one, as they are super rare, but only a very narrow interest bike (having said that I'd love one) I'm still keen on picking up either a laverda 750s a Benelli tre 900 or mv Agusta f4 at some point (physical recovery permitting) I'm sure that any of the above will make a reasonable long term investment as they have all pretty much bottomed out in value.
As a Benelli Tornado owner I hope they have bottomed out - you can pick one up for £2.5k or less. I'm not sure prices are likely to pick up anytime soon though. Not selling mine either way - love that bike . It's a bit heavier than the 999 but makes a better all round road bike. The 999 is better on track although the Tre handles very nicely.
Undoubtedly the MV will attract the classic mob in a few years time and the bike will attain value as a result. But the Laverda and Benelli? Both are cheap now because both have garnered a reputation for unreliability and poor build quality, and that reputation will take forever to dilute. They will only ever be niche bikes, and will remain hard to shift - which is why they're cheap now. I love a leftfield choice, and the Benelli has been on my radar for a few years, but not as an investment. I think it'll get a lot cheaper yet...
I think looking long term (15+ years) their rarity value will overcome any negative aspect of their perceived unreliability. Natural classic status dictates anything that is 10 years old now will be worth more when it's 25 years old. Perfect example of course is the Honda CB series, even superdreams are commanding reasonable prices now, especially the 400's
The Benelli (or a triumph daytona 900) would make a nice addition to the fleet, and sit naturally between the 2 cylinder ducati and the 4 cylinder CBR
A really excellent example can fetch £1000 - £1500, a nice (if there is such a thing) CX500 can fetch as much, too
Trouble is Phil, the Honda CB's you're talking about that are attracting good money are more like 40 years old, and that's the sort of time frame you'd have to wait to see an appreciable increase in value for the Benelli or Laverda. That ain't an investment, it's a millstone...
In a fit of madness last year I went to view a CX500, late model one etc, read well, for a bag of sand. What a pile of cack, they don't call em liquid shit pumps for nothing.
They were considered to be carbuncles at the time - known (certainly at least amongst the people I knew) as "The Plastic Maggot". But obviously, 30 years later, they have a certain period charm. Are those camchains I hear a-rattling?
The CX500 is devoid of all and any charm, I had the misfortune to own one and was utter, utter shite; didn't go, didn't stop, didn't handle. You can't even make a decent cafe racer out of one cos the frame's so freakin' ugly. I also owned a Guzzi V50 and that was so far superior to the CX it makes you wonder if the guy that designed the Honda had even ridden a motorbike before. If the CX makes classic status I will kill myself, I swear it
Renowned Benelli specialists Bennetts of Barnsley had a low-mileage CX500 Turbo, which was definitely not a thing of beauty... was described as 'challenging' to ride quickly! If you are after a Tornado though, go see Russ Bennett and the guys - they'll sort you out a good one at least. Properly cared for they're as reliable as any small volume production model.
I know a couple of guys with Benellis, and both have been reliable. As I said they're still very much on my radar, but I know they're gonna get a lot cheaper before they start appreciating in value, so I'm in no rush.
