I see that the 1974 750SS greenframe auctioned by Mecum at Las Vegas yesterday went for 198,000 dollars. Vey original and unmolested, but rusty in places. Much in need of an overhaul, whilst preserving the patina.
Not really motorcycles anymore, just investors investments. IMHO they are a can of worms, i remember Ian Falloon telling me that most are fake, i rebuilt one for a customer many moons ago, certified original and been in a barn almost since new. It became apparent when i stripped it down it was fake but i rebuilt in anyway and kept quiet, he was happy so why spoil it for him.... The only other one i saw that i was sure was original was a rusty heap that no one would have faked it even fired up in a cloud of smoke after donkeys years of rotting away....
John Fallon had two greenframes in stock a couple of years ago. One very good fake for £45K, and one genuine for £145K. You had to look carefully to tell the difference.
TBH,you shouldn't be able to tell from the outside , inside is the usual giveaway but even that can be faked. The only real way is historical provenance . The point is if John had a perfect copy and a perfect original , both must have been restored and at that point you have to ask what is original ? If you put new rims, spokes discs calipers pistons bores valves and valve guides, tanks seat, fairing , paint of course, exhaust and so on...is it original apart from its frame ? and even that can be stamped to suit
Very true, one that I had and raced in the mid eighties till year 2000,the only original bits that were left was the swinging arm and frame and even that had the rake altered to help quicker steering.
So true & I find that a real shame and even an insult to the people who designed & made them. Yes, keep them in good nick but for lords sake they were made to be ridden so start 'em up and use them. I've mentioned before that I saw one recently and it still had the packing grease on the chain....
I have a 1977 Bimota SB2 waiting for some TLC in my garage. Only 140 build but few remain. No replicas exist for all I know. Even if its the rarer bike, and technically much more interesting and advanced, I can only dream of the prices those greenframes fetch.
$198,000 - £156,000 for a bike with a production run of 200 ? Gee whiz, has the motorcycle (investing) fraternity gone totally daft ? That's now in Brough Superior SS100 and Vincent Black Lightning territory and I'm damn sure I'd go for the latter two regardless of being a Ducatisti for over 60 years. At least my '76' 900SS has had a life and experienced the pain of battle and yet never been registered for road use.
There is a replica greenframe 750SS up for auction at the Excel show tomorrow 16 February. It is clearly a replica, no pretence involved, but a good one. My estimate would be £45K. Let's see if I'm right
[QUOTE="There is a replica greenframe 750SS up for auction at the Excel show tomorrow 16 February. It is clearly a replica, no pretence involved, but a good one. My estimate would be £45K. Let's see if I'm right] WoW! For a genuine Bimota even 45K seems unlikely.
