My Uncles Barn bike, Value??

duggyb · Jan 19, 2017

My Uncle has owned this bike since it was almost new in the early 70s, i have been into bikes for awhile now and built up a little honda as well as i ride moto etc now i am thinking about grabbing a restoration project.

Here is the pics of the bike and how it sits, it's a 72 Combat 750, originally was the blue color with gold writing i do believe.

He parked it when it had a transmission issue(shifting) but assures me it was still running when parked, although i know the Combat engines are notorious for problems and to no one's knowledge was this engine ever apart. So I suspect it would need the full meal treatment regardless.

The problem? He thinks its worth a fortune. I know its not.

The bike does have a bit of family value to it, him and my dad both rode nortons and my dad still has his 73 850 unrestored, so the plan for me is to restore this if i can get it for reasonable dollar over the next 3 or 4 years and then also dad fix his up so we can do a father son ride.

What would you guys peg the value of it in its current state? the bike is very complete so it does have that going for it.

Thanks
Dustin

Deckard · Jan 19, 2017

Pretty crusty. Just about every part shows corrosion, so a crap shoot as to what can be saved. I've seen reclamation projects like this advertised for as much as $2000, but I'm not sure what final price was settled at. I don't know what kind of fortune your Uncle thinks this is worth, but it's way South of what a good example is worth.

duggyb · Jan 19, 2017

well i dont know an actual value as he has never stated but i know my uncle and i'm sure he thinks its worth 5000 to 8000 dollars or something absurd(just how he is)

that being said i would never pay anything even remotely close to that for it, i'm just trying to establish a fair value considering its shape.

I more or less want the bike so i can ride with my dad, and keep it in the family so restoring it isn't a problem for me even if its more work than another one, but i definitely am not paying for it.

Better question what would you pay for it? $1000? $2000?

Thanks
Dustin

pierodn · Jan 19, 2017

Hi.
Here in Italy this bike values 5000 euro, not less.
But you know that in USA this bike costs more less than here.
Piero

Anglophile · Jan 19, 2017

Too bad it saw plenty of time outside in the weather . In the US you could get as much as $2000 (personally I'd pay $1500). Plan on spending $5k to restore assuming you perform all the labor (including paint). Good luck! Fun project.

norton73 · Jan 19, 2017

Yeah, it's all there and needs everything.

There's so much rust it would be a ton of work to make it a parts bike.

$1500 if you feel generous.

grandpaul · Jan 19, 2017

I wouldn't sell it for less than $2,500 if it was mine. I'll bet it could fetch $3,000 on e-bay without dusting it off, if it has a clean title.

Actually, I'd dust it off, flush the carbs and gas tank, flush & change the oil & filter, install fresh plugs and a battery, new tires, sort the transmission, and then get $3,500 - $4,000 for it pretty easily. All of the above would cost me maybe $500 tops (I don't think the transmission issue is an expensive one).

If I was buying it, I'd LOVE to pay $2,000 for it!

Stephen Hill · Jan 19, 2017

He thinks it is worth $8000? Cheaper to get a new uncle. He should give it to you for free.

Stephen Hill

N0rt0nelectr@ · Jan 19, 2017

Deckard said:
Pretty crusty. Just about every part shows corrosion, so a crap shoot as to what can be saved. I've seen reclamation projects like this advertised for as much as $2000, but I'm not sure what final price was settled at. I don't know what kind of fortune your Uncle thinks this is worth, but it's way South of what a good example is worth.

The last Norton I bought cost me $2000 and right now I have around another $1500 in it.
Is it a Combat? The disc brake would lead me to think it was a 73.

John in Texas

N0rt0nelectr@ · Jan 19, 2017

What's to the left of the bike in the first picture? Looks like a rear fender license plate bracket and a seat.

John in Texas

duggyb · Jan 19, 2017

Yes the bike is a Combat, pretty sure its a 72 based on serial number. 72 and combat did have disc brake to my knowledge.

Good eye on the other bike, that one is my dads, the one i want him to fix up while i fix up this one.

His is a 73 850 Commando, in a bit better shape might i ad. although that windjammer is hideous haha

xbacksideslider · Jan 19, 2017

If it was all shiny and nice, and it ran and shifted properly, it's worth the $8K he wants.
But it is not, so what will it cost to make it so? Deduct that and you have fair value.
Since you are new to these bikes, learning by trial and error will cost you more, to make it so.
So, that's an expense to be deducted too.

What would it cost for a professional Norton guy to make it so? Probably most of that $8K.
It only makes sense when you throw in your sweat at no charge.

Matt Spencer · Jan 19, 2017

A drop of oil and a quick polish and itll be as good as new . :?

Think youll find it pays to spray some ' peservative ' on them. What , I dont know .
Stale ( used ) oil is said to have acids & be corrosive . Some Turkeys flood with
clean oil to the gunnels . No air = No Oxidation .

Theyre both the ' worthwhile ' models for hotting up / thrashing . So LOOK AFTER EM .

See what similar trsh goes/ went for on Ebay . Bestn I saw was $ 860 for a Mk V 750 ,
someone here got a similar one for $ 1800 . Id think 4.000 would be over the top ,
but you never know. A lot of nutters on ebay . Its not ' What is it worth ' But what
the stupidist rich prick fells like paying .

So Not ' true market value ' .

A pommy bike shop MIGHT give you One Grand. If you washed it first .

ILLF8ED · Jan 19, 2017

Personally I'd pass on it. The parts to put it together will cost more than finding one already together. Check into good running machine ads first. Chrome costs a bunch now. If you can even find a shop. I paid $1200 for my combat in '97. Probably cost another $8,000 in parts and machining even 20 years ago. Combat machines are out there and don't cost as much as an 850 Mk3. Locally on Craigslist is a '71 for $6500, looks ready to go.

eskasteve · Jan 19, 2017

Based on personal experience with a barn find '72 I'd pass on it. Even if you got it for free, which doesn't seem to be the case, expect to spend at least $8000 to get it up and running and also looking good. Norton parts are not cheap. Expect to have to do a complete engine and transmission rebuild, plus the isolastics are going to be shot. Paint, new tank or line the glass one if it's still serviceable, wiring and ignition are probably toast, all that polishing, plus chroming has gotten so pricy that just purchasing new parts is a viable alternative. New chromed parts from Europe have probably been chromed elsewhere since chroming has all but been banned in Europe. Quality has plummeted. Rusted swing arm pivot pin, rusted shocks and fork tubes, front brake will need to be rebuilt.... on and on. As most folks have advised your money could be spent much wiser. That all said value is probably around $1000.

MikeM · Jan 19, 2017

I spent 1500 on a barn find and about 5000 more to make it run and ride. Its still not where I want it to be. Expect to spend much more than you think.
Its not worth anywhere near what he wants. My opinion, plus its a Combat. That has its own issues.
Great bikes but they are a money pit for sure. Too bad those bikes look like they do. An old sheet or canvas goes a long way.

Good luck and make the right choice.

Fast Eddie · Jan 19, 2017

Well, I have voiced this opinion before and I'll do so again...

Yes it looks rough and yes it looks like it needs 'everything' doing to it.

But if you wish to embark on a full restoration project, you will intend to do 'everything' anyway.

So, when looked at like that, a very rough bike won't cost much more to restore than a mildly rough bike.

But it will take more of your time and effort, just the thought of stripping it down brings images of seized fasteners etc. You should buy a bulk delivery of penetrating oil!

I would suggest that the real question is, how much value do you put on the family history and sentimentality part? None = pass on it and look elsewhere. Lots = go for it !

Torontonian · Jan 19, 2017

Yes this is family important stuff. The bike itself is worth a grand. Ask your uncle to give it to you outright.

gortnipper · Jan 19, 2017

eskasteve said:
Based on personal experience with a barn find '72 I'd pass on it. Even if you got it for free, which doesn't seem to be the case, expect to spend at least $8000 to get it up and running and also looking good. Norton parts are not cheap. Expect to have to do a complete engine and transmission rebuild, plus the isolastics are going to be shot. Paint, new tank or line the glass one if it's still serviceable, wiring and ignition are probably toast, all that polishing, plus chroming has gotten so pricy that just purchasing new parts is a viable alternative. New chromed parts from Europe have probably been chromed elsewhere since chroming has all but been banned in Europe. Quality has plummeted. Rusted swing arm pivot pin, rusted shocks and fork tubes, front brake will need to be rebuilt.... on and on. As most folks have advised your money could be spent much wiser. That all said value is probably around $1000.

I am in the process of rebuilding my 74 850, and originally what I wanted to do was replace all the shot wiring and rubber, along with most of the rusted fasteners.

At the end of it, I am in for more than I bargained for, and more than has been mentioned. But, I am also building a bit of an upgraded machine IMHO.

If it is important to you to take your uncle's machuine forward in time, then there is no value that can really be placed on that , is there? That is why I rebuilt mine instead of simply buying a nicely restored one with a good restoration provenance.

Tin Man · Jan 19, 2017

Fast Eddie said:
Well, I have voiced this opinion before and I'll do so again...

Yes it looks rough and yes it looks like it needs 'everything' doing to it.

But if you wish to embark on a full restoration project, you will intend to do 'everything' anyway.

So, when looked at like that, a very rough bike won't cost much more to restore than a mildly rough bike.

But it will take more of your time and effort, just the thought of stripping it down brings images of seized fasteners etc. You should buy a bulk delivery of penetrating oil!

I would suggest that the real question is, how much value do you put on the family history and sentimentality part? None = pass on it and look elsewhere. Lots = go for it !

Fast Eddies right. One man's garbage is another man's treasure.

Unless they skyrocket in value there will be no way to recover your money from a restomod, but don't let that stop you! You'll save a bit of history, get closer to your dad, learn something, and have a bit of fun.

I paid $625.00 for mine in the same condition, but the engine is frozen. Like yours, it needs everything. Both will have a different price tag, depending on how we choose to build it. If you go through the rebuild threads you'll see that others have started with much less.

It's a little late for Christmas, but your uncle's heart would grow larger if he gave it to you.

My Uncles Barn bike, Value??

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