Thinking about commando prices , what’s your opinion ?

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We need to keep a perspective here: There isn't going to be a ban on fossil fuelled vehicles - just the sale of new ones.
IMHO the manufacturers would only need to bolt on a token EP system to call it a hybrid, and they meet the regs.
The current targets could be considered as 'aspirational' - after all it's politicians who are telling us how it's going to be :rolleyes:
While private aircraft are still permitted to fly we won't run out of fuel.

It's recognised (in the UK at least) that the classic vehicle industry is becoming a more significant part of the economy, and quite a lot of influential people are involved.
 
Craig said:
We live in interesting times , FaceBook not face to face , driverless trucks, gasoline now a poison, food comes to door , just needs prep , keep a safe 6’ plus from other humans , wear a mask , sanitize constantly , slow down , stay home , get 3 shots minimum , be nice , stare at little screens etc.
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There are just too many humans on the planet!
 
EstuaryBoy said:
Which are???
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Go to any local store that sells electric power tools. Improved battery technology has made corded tools nearly obsolete. The same thing will happen with EV batteries. While stationary corded electric power tools such as table saws, drill presses, etc. will remain relevant, portable electric tools such as circular saws, drills, etc. are now cordless for the most part. It might take a while, but progress in EV batteries is inevitable.
 
Whils
Dan1950 said:
Go to any local store that sells electric power tools. Improved battery technology has made corded tools nearly obsolete. The same thing will happen with EV batteries. While stationary corded electric power tools such as table saws, drill presses, etc. will remain relevant, portable electric tools such as circular saws, drills, etc. are now cordless for the most part. It might take a while, but progress in EV batteries is inevitable.
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Whilst I buy the power tools analogy to a point, the task of drilling a few holes is to my mind a few steps removed to hauling tons of produce cross country..
Be interesting to see how it does pan out..
 
Here's one comparison-
I purchased a 75 MK3 that needed nothing for $4200 US in 2004. I recall looking at and considering the new Triumph Bonneville 790 rather than the Norton. The Triumph was available at a Seattle dealer for 7400 US at that time. It was almost twice the price of the Norton but it was new. It also felt pretty weighty when hefted. It seemed heavier than the MK3, so I passed.
Today those Triumphs go for about 4 k if they are in excellent shape. That's actually a very good resale value. Sportbikes of all makes from back then cost more in 2003 and are now lower in value than the Triumph Bonneville.
What would the Norton be worth?
A tidy estart Commando would bring around 10k us, I think? In 2004 the Triumph was worth almost two Nortons and now the Norton is worth more than two of those same Triumphs.
So by that measure, not a horrible investment at all, although it wasn't purchased as a regular investment. It was more of an investment in fun.
The trick might be to find one that doesn't need a lot spent on it. Some of that is just dumb luck.

Glen
 
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worntorn said:
Here's one comparison-
I purchased a 75 MK3 that needed nothing for $4200 US in 2004.
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There are a ton of jap options alone out there today at 4,200 that offer what a 75 mk3 can only dream of.

The more you spend, the worse it gets.
 
EstuaryBoy said:
Whils
Whilst I buy the power tools analogy to a point, the task of drilling a few holes is to my mind a few steps removed to hauling tons of produce cross country..
Be interesting to see how it does pan out..
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While Cross country EV trucking does seem a bit unattainable. Local or intercity EV transport is probably not that far out. The limiting factor will be battery weight as battery weight will decrease the payload.
 
74ok said:
There are a ton of jap options alone out there today at 4,200 that offer what a 75 mk3 can only dream of.

The more you spend, the worse it gets.
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In terms of performance, certainly!
Shouldn't have to say this out loud, but are you sure you're on the right forum?
Only kidding ;)
I'm here because no Jap bike could put a smile on my face like my Commando does - and yes. I've had loads. All quite forgettable
 
74ok said:
There are a ton of jap options alone out there today at 4,200 that offer what a 75 mk3 can only dream of.

The more you spend, the worse it gets.
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Fully aware, don't want any of them.
Neither does the general market apparently. It seems to prefer the Commando!

Glen
 
B+Bogus said:
In terms of performance, certainly!
Shouldn't have to say this out loud, but are you sure you're on the right forum?
Only kidding ;)
I'm here because no Jap bike could put a smile on my face like my Commando does - and yes. I've had loads. All quite forgettable
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Exactly
 
Dan1950 said:
While Cross country EV trucking does seem a bit unattainable. Local or intercity EV transport is probably not that far out. The limiting factor will be battery weight as battery weight will decrease the payload.
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In the the UK we're getting an increasing number of urban 'clean air zones' where vehicles are excluded or charged to enter. Zones are graded to allow/disallow certain vehicle types, though many see it as another ticket for local authorities to raise revenue....
 
Dan1950 said:
While Cross country EV trucking does seem a bit unattainable. Local or intercity EV transport is probably not that far out. The limiting factor will be battery weight as battery weight will decrease the payload.
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Which has been Toyotas position for some time now, EV for short local needs, hybrid for medium, hydrogen for long distance.
 
baz said:
It's very odd that people own a motorcycle and don't ride it!
I really don't get it
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I love to ride but don't much anymore. Sitting on an air-cooled motorcycle doing the Fred Flintstone thing is not much fun. Yes, I could ride about 60 miles and get to a nice place to ride, but as I age, that's less appealing. I have always enjoyed working on bikes and these days rebuilding them. I have customers that are the opposite - they do NO maintenance on their bikes, they just ride and then pay to have them fixed. And, when the break down on the road, they call MotoTow (motorcycle tow truck) who brings me the bike and them home.
 
worntorn said:
Here's one comparison-
I purchased a 75 MK3 that needed nothing for $4200 US in 2004. I recall looking at and considering the new Triumph Bonneville 790 rather than the Norton. The Triumph was available at a Seattle dealer for 7400 US at that time. It was almost twice the price of the Norton but it was new. It also felt pretty weighty when hefted. It seemed heavier than the MK3, so I passed.
Today those Triumphs go for about 4 k if they are in excellent shape. That's actually a very good resale value. Sportbikes of all makes from back then cost more in 2003 and are now lower in value than the Triumph Bonneville.
What would the Norton be worth?
A tidy estart Commando would bring around 10k us, I think? In 2004 the Triumph was worth almost two Nortons and now the Norton is worth more than two of those same Triumphs.
So by that measure, not a horrible investment at all, although it wasn't purchased as a regular investment. It was more of an investment in fun.
The trick might be to find one that doesn't need a lot spent on it. Some of that is just dumb luck.

Glen
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Well put.

So much depends on a person's available budget, AND personal ability to service, maintain, upgrade & overhaul (if needed) to own a classic bike. The "up front" cost tells about 1/3 of the story when you buy a classic bike, unless it is never actually ridden/used...
 
On the ev front- I've been watching a local 40 year old fellow who is on YouTube slamming the boomers for their fossil fuel addiction and general high level of consumption.
He has it all sorted, bought a new clean power Tesla, recently moved his young family to a cabin in the BC interior ( bloody cold in winter, way too hot in summer) to live off the land. They have solar panels , an outhouse and the Tesla parked outside. The Tesla seems to be the star of the show, he figures it's some kind of a free perpetual motion machine that will cure all the world's ills while providing a luxurious interior and a good amount of money status. Elon Musk has these people figured out.
Right, let's get that garden planted, the growing season is about 5 weeks!
It didn't take long before he clued in on an essential item for this lifestyle- a very large diesel genset complete with 400 gallon fuel storage tank.
This is an absolute must so that one can charge up the Tesla to drive into town for Pizza and beer!

Glen
 
Electricity has to be created. Fossil fuels do not.

Yes, there is refining.

Still, THAT is the difference. Creation of energy takes energy. That inconvenient part generally is left out,

Then, electricity suffers transmission losses that typically exceed transport losses for motor fuels.

The entire subject mirrors a lot of the junk thought we are getting from Fauci, the CDC, Pharma, etcetera.

Where is the “double blind peer reviewed consensus study?”

Political forces are less than rational.

Oh, as for FMV, that’s not my interest or the point, for most of us. Nice to know that my ‘73 isn’t losing value AND that I can ride it, use it up, more or less for free. Considering what I paid for her back in ‘76, and that the internals of the crankcase and trans haven’t seen daylight since England, I’m happy. As for value, the best thing I ever did was paying CR Axtell to port her head. The now hard to find 1970s Borrani rims remain a great modification too. What’s she worth? Not for sale. And, I say that despite the fact that the status of my medical recovery from my October 2020 accident still proceeds but keeps me off my bikes for now.
 
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