Are Hi Riders More Valuable..?

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simpson

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...Or just more ugly?

I have a friend who has a numbers-matching one in good shape. It is an original Hi-Rider.

How much are these things worth?
Is there that much of a premium on them because they are so rare?

the vin is 235146.

Any ideas?

I will try to get some pictures.

-simpson
 
Please don't post pictures. I'm still scarred from the last time I put eyes upon a Hi Rider!
 
Sorry swoosh, we must agree to disagree ... as I just LUV those Hi Riders 8) Wonder why so few at the Empire rally though ... :oops:

So that being said, please post many, many pics of said Hi Rider !!!

So Keewwl ... 8)
 
simpson said:
the vin is 235146.
Click to expand...


Another 235xxx serial number Commando!
Is it a 750 or an 850 ?


simpson said:
Is there that much of a premium on them because they are so rare?
Click to expand...

Erm....No. :wink:
 
I know you can get significant money for the High Rider parts in good shape, but I'd be selling, not buying.

As far as practicality:

Handlebars - not too bad around town, terrible on highway.
Seat - terrible for passenger
Sissy bar - irrelevant, doesn't actually do what typical sissy bars are supposed to do, and can't perform grab bar function
Tank - very short cruising range 'till reserve, then short reserve.
 
Most Hi-Riders seem to exist as a kit of parts, as taken OFF a bike to then convert it to a Roadster ?
Talk of them being more valuable is just wishful thinking ??

Someone had something similar on evilbay just recently, with a massive (and ridiculous) asking price.
No bids = no interest. Even though the opening bid price dropped by HALF during the auction.

When you can just add the same kit of parts onto a Roadster, does originality mean HUGE value ?
Apparently not...

My 2 cents worth.

P.S. Its noticeable lately that bikes are appearing on evilbay as 'original' when quite clearly they are not - no emails received on the matter. "Original paint' when clearly it has been painted (wrong pinstriping!), low miles when clearly the speedo has been changed (wrong speedo), low miles when clearly the seat has been changed (old one worn out ?!), etc etc.
Buyer beware, thats for sure...
 
The poor things are only 'uncommon' because so many were converted either after before or after sale.

Commando owners (and buyers ?) in general don't seem to be quite so originality obsessed as with some other models and generally fiddle with things when they've got them. Even back in the day, a premium was more likely to be paid for the acknowledged 'sensible mods' than 100% ex-factory.

There may be one or two who'd like a full set and who will pay a premium for a top bike with known history but I'd say no more so than would pay a bit extra for any of the other standard 'body-kit' Commando options in a similar condition.

I suppose that a late one might be sought-after as a means of obtaining a steel tank for an ethanol-infected SS Street Scrambler. :roll:
 
grandpaul said:
I know you can get significant money for the High Rider parts in good shape, but I'd be selling, not buying.

As far as practicality:

Handlebars - not too bad around town, terrible on highway.
Seat - terrible for passenger
Sissy bar - irrelevant, doesn't actually do what typical sissy bars are supposed to do, and can't perform grab bar function
Tank - very short cruising range 'till reserve, then short reserve.
Click to expand...

HA! the antithesis of form follows function and lets admit it.... like the unfortunate number of commandos that have been chopped, it is a bastardization of the original concept, plain and simple. And if you think it looks good (it is, after all, a subjective judgement) I have some real nice artwork I got last time I was in Tijuana, and you can have it for a song (hint; Elvis on black velvet)
 
You could probably get CNW to make you one that works and looks like that, only better, for less than half that price.

Dave
69S
 
No, I bought my Hi-Rider at an auction in 2006, it was early in the lot numbers with some nice Commando's in latter lots. No one stuck up a paddle to bid, I conned my good mate into having a bid on it and it was ours, he really wanted the black Mk V 750 which luckily he got also after some after auction trading. It would be fair to say they are a bit of a misfit, the latter Triumph TRX would be worth some money, as are the Hurricanes. I have converted it across to Roadster spec piece by piece. I even managed to restore the Hi-Rider seat back to Roadster spec, by drilling out some spot welds and re-welding the pan, then obtaining a new foam and nice vinyl top.
Oh yeah, I have a nice tangerine steel set of tank and side covers and a sissy bar, any takers?

Cheers Richard
 
Ok, back to the original question "Are Hi Riders more valuable ..?" As in, would I pay more for one over an Interstate, a
Roadster, a John Player, or a Proddie Racer ???

Sorry, but IMO ... no. And I've owned a Hi Rider (1974 850) I also agree with what grandpaul wrote about em' ...

I do luv the Hi Rider (I also luv the 70's "very gaudy" metal flake colors too though) alot .... but not OVER any of the other Commando variants. Still like to see ya post some pics though !!!
 
Are Hi Riders More Valuable..?


This may be the inspiration for that very Norton Highrider. This is my first British Chopper straight from Nottingham! lol
 
Someday they will be back in style, like bell-bottom jeans, and there will not be any around because everyone took the stock body parts off them and threw them in the trash. That said, I will probably put any investment money I have somewhere else than in Hi-Rider futures....
 
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