Commando Inflation?

Well guys I appreciate the feedback on this. I had already done the math on oil and other commidities vs the weak US dollar but it hadn't occured to me that these bikes might all be leaving for foreign shores! I suppose Cananda is enjoying the relative strength as well so there is probably a flow north. Sort of ironic that 40 years ago the bikes where shipped to the US because of the relative strength of the dollar and economy...

I am starting to feel pretty good about my meager collection.

Russ

rvich said:

Sort of ironic that 40 years ago the bikes where shipped to the US because of the relative strength of the dollar and economy...

Click to expand...

My guess they came over here because of the size of the market.

Brithit said:

But that bike was a Norton Commander, not just an ordinary Commando like most of us own. It is worth more, just like the Harley Davisons, and Sporsters that I see for sale. Not to mention the Electro-Glides

Click to expand...

You don't have to be illiterate in order to sell an old motorcycle...but it helps ! (Anyone got a cheap MV Augusta ?)

I'm sure that the relatively low value of Commandos in the UK (when compared with other, far inferior,twins) is a consequence of the quantity of machines re-imported from the huge US market. Every time that the price seems to be rising, a few container loads arrive from the States and take the pressure off the demand. It happened in the '90s and seems to be happening again now.

well Im seriously considering this for $7k AUS which is about 7700 US
not been run in 2 years but registered



I think its about on the money for a mk3 out here

Lcgtr,
Looks like an OK buy given the prices now being asked here on the East Coast. Just wondering how it could be still registered if it has not run in two years? More importantly why has it not run? :mrgreen:

Back to the Question rvich posed re project bikes, I think they've been pro rata, more expensive than a restored bike for a number of years here in the UK, Mainly because of us baby boomers (not sure if you have that term in the States), in our 50s with time on our hands, & want the pleasure of doing the work ourselves, so supply & demand, just look at the number on ebay (in the UK) of if not restored, at least very tidy bikes, compared with project bikes, & I'm not just talking about Nortons.
I think we all know that to get your money back on a decent restoration job, the bike must be very cheep to start with, & that don't happen very often. So I think this would suggest we are doing it for the pleasure, with not to much concern over the final cost/value of our project. As someone further back said, you've only got to glance through the forum to see how we love lavishing time & money on our bikes with not much regard for the cost
Terry

Seems to me exporting bikes from the USA to the land of OZ has been a big thing for a long time. Back in the mid 1980's I had a sudden lapse of brain streangth and decided to sell my Nortons and buy a BMW K100rs. I put a add in the paper & got a call from a guy right away that was here filling a container to take back there. He got my 72 and a 68 fastback plus a bunch of dunstall rearsets ect and a tank for not much money. What was a decent rider Commando selling in OZ for in the 1980's??? P.S. The K100 bored me to death but the good thing was selling it and finding the joy of ridding Motoguzzie's for years.

dorteerts said:

Lcgtr,
Looks like an OK buy given the prices now being asked here on the East Coast. Just wondering how it could be still registered if it has not run in two years? More importantly why has it not run? :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

In WA we dont have to do the regular roadworthys you guys do. It only has to go over the pits when its first registered or if it gets defected