Afraid I'd disagree with the "anything". They are inflation proof but I wouldn't consider them investments unless they are special (Broughs, HRDs, Gold Stars etc. ). More run of the mill stuff (BSA A65, AJS M18 etc.) isn't going to make you much better off. The days have gone when people looked back with rose tinted specs at normal BSAs and such like, things have moved on to the 70s now hence the rise in prices of CB750 SOHC etc. Good advice, the profit is in the buying. At a risk of throwing a curve ball, if you're not going to ride them anyway and have the room you suggest I think you'd be better off buying restoration projects. That way you can buy 5-10 bikes and spread the risk of predicting what's going to be hot. As long as you buy something with enough cache that people will be restoring them in a few years you'll either make money on the bikes or by breaking them to sell bits to restorers. I nearly doubled my money on a Honda Cub (C100 ohv model) just by parking it in the garage for a couple of years. I'd be buying early '80s CB750/900, early Fox-Eye blades, C90s, GSXR SRAD, Blackbirds etc. Stuff like this can be bought pretty much complete and often running/MOTd for £500-£1,000. A restoration project won't really deteriorate in storage and people won't expect you to have had it serviced every year regardless.
i currently have three bikes that I bought as investments. A nice T3 California, a 916 and one of the last slabside GSXR1100s. Slabbies are on the way up but have a long to go yet i think for good examples. They were game changers and so many got streetfightered so good ones are rare.
Main problem is that Broughs and Vincent's are already changing hands at mental money? The more you give for any item the further it has a chance of losing big money if we hit a recession- remember E Types changing hands for £125/150,000? All of a sudden they were £35/50,000 for the exact same car!It happened with 911 Turbo's,Ferrari Dinos,RS 200 Rally cars,Classic Bentleys to name just a few.I think the Jap 2 stroke market is peaking right now?I would say buy anything a bit different or with some sort of race/track history if you can track one down at half sensible money? I think the next thing will be first generation super bikes that are low mileage and not multiple owners - it's already happening
I had a bike collected today by the motorcycle transport fella I use for delivery up north.He literally goes all over the UK and always has 2/4 interesting bikes on board.Today he had the identical Honda 1100 on the van,Restored totally about 6 years ago so not a total minter but a lovely example all the same.The guy he was delivering it to just bought it from a specialist auction - I nearly fell over when he told me the price? £12,000!
Not surprised the CB1100R is finally going up. For a couple of years they were the best bike in the World and homologation specials with ally tank, carbon bodywork. I used to own an RC. If you want a classic to cover distance on these are hard to beat. That fairing is superb. 12K for one that isnt mint seem a little expensive compared to what recent ones have gone for. Having the original exhausts is critical.
A few of the bikes mentioned are already well on their way to silly money, Aprilia RS250's are in the £4-5k range for tidy ones which is already nearly what they were new, Honda SP1-2 if u can find a clean one are in the £6k range, Suzuki SRADS are £3k for clean ones, they are all really getting up there so I'm not sure I would bank on them, of the 3 the RS is probably the rarest but still, I don't think u will double your money on it. The thing to buy is super rare stuff like a few on here have RGV250 SP's with the 70 degree engine, they were kicking around for 3-4K 5 years ago and now they are worth silly money because there are probably only 15 in the country as they were import only. With ease of shipping and import/export these days I'm not sure if there will be any 'rare' gems... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I bought my 2001 Honda Sp1 for £5600 aprox 2 months ago, intention was to ride it very occasionally & let it appreciate, trouble is I bloody love the look, the ride & the noise..I've put 1000 miles on it since I've had it !!
That's the trouble, very difficult to buy something you love and not use it! I actually think bikes like the TLR1000R are still worth buying, not for looks but as a 'snapshot' of an era where manufacturers were trying things and getting them wrong, and a little right. But the reputation of the TL series creates an appreciation which I think helps. If the OP could pick up a clean TLR I think it will appreciate
Haha.. if its the same guy I used for transport, then whilst having a quick cuppa and doing the paperwork, you will end up knowing every previous customers business! Yep, I too pondered over the "buy a bike for an investment" thing.. and have had a number of 50-70's brit stuff that has crept up consistently. I tried to apply the same approach to Ducati's but as they are more complicated machines I found that... 1) They are expensive bikes full stop. And sourcing parts for even my current 998 Ive actually found more difficult than for say my 65' Bonnie. If you want to keep the bike "OEM Original" (Im a bit anal about originality for the value thing) then costs could escalate over time. Not an issue if you are not using the bike. 2) If you don't do all the work yourself, then your in for steep bills to take to a service agent. Another cost consideration. 3) Insurance and other on-going costs can eat into an overall profit. 4) Unless you do prepare for "long storage" and stick under a sheet and forget about it... these bikes are better off with some form of use at regular intervals. If your trying to keep it mint then an investment will deteriorate every time you ride it (in some form: mileage / stone chips / road grime/ wear tear etc). Personally, I wanted to use my bikes for what they were intended for... but did also want my money back out of it at some stage.. Then found myself struggling with the "I want to ride and enjoy it / but its gonna lose money with that extra 500 miles on it". I still struggle with that but have found a solution.... Ive come to the conclusion (and also advice to the OP) that every biker should have a minimum of 3 Ducati's in the garage..:grin:
I enquired about a 998s final edition 2003 first reg in 05 didn't hear anything from the seller so bought a 996 2002 with 3300 miles on her, mint bike too. THEN the fella with the 998s final edition got in touch!! Came on here asking about buying as an investment and got slated a bit.........so bought the beauty with only 4200 miles on her and am going to enjoy riding it!!! Might be a lovely mint 996 for sale soon as can't afford to keep both!
dont understand why people being slated for collecting bikes? i think its a bit more weird to collect watches, and yet i know loads of people who do that. and i dont slate them!
