Lava Lamp Syndrome Ponder

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Hobot

Hobot

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... when people who own lava lamps demand more to give them up than the people who do not own lava lamps will pay to get them. Deals go unmade and storage lockers remain filled with lava lamps that are destined never again to glow...

Lava Lamp Syndrome Ponder


http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-01-w ... -also.html
 
Sounds like the unrestored "classic" bike market in a nut shell. Seen many "ran a few years ago"', "just needs carb work" examples on craigslist asking for running, retail prices...

Jim H
 
Jim, it struck me as applying more to fully restored Commandos with over 10 grand invested but gets poo poo'd by buyers if selling for 1/3rd or more loss.
 
When I built my '72 money wasn't a consideration...

I have recently figured that to get a full return on the money my heirs will have to hold on to the motorcycle until some time in the 2040s...

George Patton called the Maginot Line a monument to stupidity; I have few monuments that might qualify, but they are a blast to ride and look at.

Bill.
 
I have a Commando and a lava lamp. Only have one each so no need to sell anything....maybe those that need to get a lot of money have bought too many toys....maybe?
 
hobot said:
... when people who own lava lamps demand more to give them up than the people who do not own lava lamps will pay to get them. Deals go unmade and storage lockers remain filled with lava lamps that are destined never again to glow...

Lava Lamp Syndrome Ponder


http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-01-w ... -also.html
Click to expand...


At some point though.. people DO come to terms and sell toys :mrgreen: usually when they are smitten with the sweet notion of a NEW TOY!!!
 
I don't know how much mine cost but I know it would never sell for anything like breaking even never mind profit . But I don't intend to sell it not even to buy a lava lamp!!!! For what most of us spend on these bikes we could easily get a much newer faster more reliable bike better in every way (in my case 2 in fact) but would you like it as much that when problems an big bills came you wouldn't just sell it an buy something else???
I would guess we like these old bike partly because we want to be different an to most of us money is not what its about.
 
In the included article it showed chimps and infants over valved things in their held in their possession and those not possecssing it under valued but they didn't put a Norton Commando in the study so we know cost is just relative numbers compared to the life force pay back.
 
Hey Steve,

You're getting all philosophical on us and it is a slippery slope.

Why do we have the things we have and do the things we do ? Values. I don't have a lot of things that consumers think are important because I'm not going that way. I don't have a flashy bike with a Corbin seat and creditcardful of CNW parts ( which are some very nice parts). It is a lot of fun and always gets me home.

I figure that I had spent somewhere upwards of $7k on my bike before I quit keeping track 20 years ago. It is a wonderful old piece of shit. Well worth every dime and the hours and hours I spend on it. I could never sell it and make a 'profit', much less cover my expenses. Better to use it up and enjoy it, rebuild it and wear it out again.

BTW, quantum mechanics is a bunch of bunk. Schrodinger's cat is dead. Why else would he keep it in a box ?

Greg
 
My bike cost well over £8000 I don't count or worry its not important as I have no plans to sell it ever. Not so long back when values where lower is how i think of it still I think its worth 2 or 3k then find you can't get a wreck for that. I have always had out of the ordinary cars an found people always ask what's it worth an I always say I don't know or care because I don't.
As others have said its not about money it the fun and satisfaction I get that matter to me an that am not stuck in the buy the latest toy every year fashion trap.
You can buy every part for a Commando unlike many old an even newer bikes so I can us it an just fix it when I have to it will never be taken of road as I can't get parts which is another reason I like it
 
While owing a Norton is not inexpensive, try owning and operating a boat. At least we own an appreciating asset, even if it doesn't always appreciate us back.
 
Diablouph said:
While owing a Norton is not inexpensive, try owning and operating a boat. At least we own an appreciating asset, even if it doesn't always appreciate us back.
Click to expand...

That's the best way of explaining it I have ever heard :lol:
 
toppy said:
My bike cost well over £8000 I don't count or worry its not important as I have no plans to sell it ever. Not so long back when values where lower is how i think of it still I think its worth 2 or 3k then find you can't get a wreck for that. I have always had out of the ordinary cars an found people always ask what's it worth an I always say I don't know or care because I don't.
As others have said its not about money it the fun and satisfaction I get that matter to me an that am not stuck in the buy the latest toy every year fashion trap.
You can buy every part for a Commando unlike many old an even newer bikes so I can us it an just fix it when I have to it will never be taken of road as I can't get parts which is another reason I like it
Click to expand...


+1 if you spread the costs of rebuilding an old bike over a few years, its so much cheaper than getting into i can afford to spend £XYZ per month on the finance costs of my rapidly depreciating latest toy
 
I tend to subscribe to the adage that you buy the best possible condition bike you can to start with, it will almost always be cheaper in the long run.

Has worked for me 100% of the time as I'm confident I do NOT have more in any of my bikes than they are worth, not counting labor of course.

but to be fair, I can truly understand and appreciate the skill and talent some possess to bring back a true junk yard dog to pristine condition. I just can't justify the expense.
 
lrutt said:
I tend to subscribe to the adage that you buy the best possible condition bike you can to start with, it will almost always be cheaper in the long run.

Has worked for me 100% of the time as I'm confident I do NOT have more in any of my bikes than they are worth, not counting labor of course.

but to be fair, I can truly understand and appreciate the skill and talent some possess to bring back a true junk yard dog to pristine condition. I just can't justify the expense.
Click to expand...

I agree with this, however do you really know what you're buying with an old motorcycle? The other line of thinking is get a complete machine then rebuild it so you know exactly what you have.
 
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