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http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-NOR ... 620wt_1182
Who in their right mind would pay nearly 2 grand for this??????????????
Who in their right mind would pay nearly 2 grand for this??????????????
This has got be shill bidding for a Commando
- Thread starter montelatici
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I saw a mk3 in much worse condition than that sell very quickly at a swap meet for $3000. It did have a steel Interestate tank which the seller valued at $600. I couldn't quite see that as the tank was beat up and rusty inside.
The engine was in a thousand pieces with everything made of steel rusted solid.
Often the basket cases bring a silly price as it is an affordable number for many at that point. We all know what happens to the true total cost once the reality of Restoration budget becomes apparent.
With these basket cases, the buyer has usually "bought the dream" and paid dearly for it.
A friend of mine who has restored many old bikes says the real value of these old carcasses should be "give me a case of beer and haul it away" when viewed against restoration costs and end value.
Glen
The engine was in a thousand pieces with everything made of steel rusted solid.
Often the basket cases bring a silly price as it is an affordable number for many at that point. We all know what happens to the true total cost once the reality of Restoration budget becomes apparent.
With these basket cases, the buyer has usually "bought the dream" and paid dearly for it.
A friend of mine who has restored many old bikes says the real value of these old carcasses should be "give me a case of beer and haul it away" when viewed against restoration costs and end value.
Glen
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On the same note you can get a "restored" bike done by a self proclaimed expert for 10-12K only have to dump more serious cash into it to correct the mess they've made of it - we see it time and time again :shock:
I'm in the process of redoing a 69 commando with my brother that was pretty much a rolling basket - we've have discovered lots of nasty surprises which i'll post on when we've completed the project (i don't have the time for a real time rebuild thread)
like i told the brother - its probably best if you don't add up the cost as you'll be shocked & disappointed in the end :shock:
I'm in the process of redoing a 69 commando with my brother that was pretty much a rolling basket - we've have discovered lots of nasty surprises which i'll post on when we've completed the project (i don't have the time for a real time rebuild thread)
like i told the brother - its probably best if you don't add up the cost as you'll be shocked & disappointed in the end :shock:
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Titled frame and rebuildable motor has got to be worth at least a thousand? If there would be a handfull of other useable parts, I would think 2grand isn't all that outragous.
Hopefully the buyer understands how expensive it can be to rebuild a Norton (or any old bike). If you know your going to spend 5-10grand on a rebuild, 2 doesn't seem like all that much to get started.
Hopefully the buyer understands how expensive it can be to rebuild a Norton (or any old bike). If you know your going to spend 5-10grand on a rebuild, 2 doesn't seem like all that much to get started.
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I don't know, but even when much younger when I would buy basket case Commandos and rebuild them (and I'd pay no more than 200-300 bucks) I wouldn't buy one like this POS that has been out in the elements for a decade. The ones I would buy would be in a basement in the back of a garage in a barn etc. And to the guy who said that it would be worth the bidding price in parts. How many manhours will it take to dismantle the thing and clean up the parts, how much is someone's time worth? I find this listing and the bid price really outrageous.
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Man, when I see stuff like this, I count my lucky stars and feel that I got the deal of a lifetime with my bike. $2200US and about another $1500 into it. For under 4k I am riding a pretty well tuned machine, that looks pretty good. Although, if I am REALLY honest with myself, I am probably just over 4k at this point. No need to quibble about a few dollars....
DogT
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That thing is going to be $10K or more to fix up right. I certainly wouldn't take it on. There are lots more out there that have fewer problems for not much more. I have about $8K in mine and it was running. Unfortunately at this point, it looks like a parts bike to me, but I'm sure someone could take it on.
Dave
69S
Dave
69S
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That bike would easily make $3500 if it was in the UK. I've yet to see anything approximating to a complete bike go for less than Two Thousand Five Hundred of Our British Pounds Stirling. Barn finds go for £3k plus = nearly $5k
Even my madness can't keep up with the modern world :roll:
Even my madness can't keep up with the modern world :roll:
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montelatici said:
How much is someone's time worth? Zero, unless they are at a paying job.
I sometimes buy an old bike to fix up and sell, just as a way of keeping myself busy in the garage. I bragged to my wife that I made a few hundred dollars on a bike, and she commented "not if you include your time". I told her that I prefered to tinker in the garage for free, rather than sit on the couch for the same pay. Now, if it takes away from billable hours, that's a different story.
Either way, I don't think it's a great deal, but not much worse than buying a "mint condition survivor" for 5 or 6 thousand, then finding out it needs thousands to keep it going.
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you got less to take apart with this one if your looking for a full rebuild anyways....
I dont think its a bad deal if numbers match. Most these things get redone anyway.
I dont think its a bad deal if numbers match. Most these things get redone anyway.
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Now you tell me...just thrown a load of dirt away :lol:
hershey said:
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I personally know several people who are attracted to projects like this. The more horrible it is, the better. They feel they are saving a bike, and don't care if they "come out" on the deal or not. With a title, the 1,900 I see it bringing at the moment isn't too outrageous. And, a lot of us have boxes and boxes of Norton parts we've had for years, if they weren't free, we got them for pennies on the dollar. I just passed on a MKIII, 6,000 documented miles, two owner, Nebraska title. Top end apart, fiberglass tank, stuff wrong, etc. Guy was firm on 2,000. I tossed it around for a week, and decided to call him. He had sold it, right after I talked to him, and two guys showed up at the same time. They practically fought over it, and the one guy offered 400 more, but he was second in line, and the guy honored 2K for the first guy. Thing is, I have a steel roadster tank on the shelf, and lots of other parts that I would have needed on this one.
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