- Joined
- Sep 25, 2004
- Messages
- 16
Picked up a Classic Bike Guide at the newstand and next to it was a copy of Vintage Motorcycle Price Guide by Old Cars. Out of curiosity I bought it. I was totally stunned at what I found inside. I've been informed I can purchase a near perfect "#1" 1969 750S and a nice rider "#3" of any other model of the same year, both bikes, for app. the same price as say any #1 condition 1971 model. And to top that off I can buy a couple of #1's and a rider quality pre 1971 Commandos for the price of one #1 850 Commando. I personally know of two #1 Commando's, a 1969 Mk1 Fastback and a 1975 E-start Mk3 and I can assure you that my friend who owns them values them about equally and that if push comes to shove the E-start would go first. What planet are these people buying their Commandos on? What really chapped my hide was that a common oil-in-frame late 70's Bonneville in top condition (much more easily attained/obtained) is valued at twice the price of my Mk1 Fastback. Remember those, the bike that won numerous engineering awards, along with the "S" and Roadster stood the motorcycling world on it's collective ear, staved off the Jap performance bikes almost single handedly and brought honor and pride to the dying British motorcycle industry? Some things just are'nt fair and this "price guide" is'nt one of them! Are the first generation Commandos, the same ones that set all those performance records and adorned all the magazine covers becoming the Rodney Dangerfield (God rest his soul) of motorcycling? These publishers need to stick to old cars... Grrrrrrr!