any early rare commandos' out there worth big dough?

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Craig said:
There is “Bring a Trailer .com” mostly cars but lately more bikes have been showing up , most seem to fetch decent prices .... think it $90 to put up a listing for auction ....
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they pick and choose which vehicles they list
 
Other than admiring what I see listed on the auction site , have no idea how their process works , just seemed like a realistic option for someone looking to get best price for their Ride , for a reasonable fee
 
DogT said:
Do youse guys think I would do better going through some 'bike dealer/sales' than trying to sell it myself. I haven't had a single nibble at $9K. Even on Craig's List although I've only put it up there once.
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Have you tried listing it in For Sale here in the forum? We are a cheap bunch but people here have a better idea than most what it is.
 
Yeah, it's on Jerry's list. At 6-7K I almost would drain the oil out and bring it in my room so I can admire it. I have loot in a Roth IRA I don't know what to do with either. I guess I could take the wife to Florence, she's always wanted to do that.

Re: behind the times, my w7 computer died the other week and this w10 computer only has 9 usb ports, a dvd r/w and 3 in 1 memory card reader. It took me 2 weeks to get rid of all the marketing crap, both HP and MS.
 
I've never approached Commando purchases as an investment looking for growth. So much maintenance and machining and parts purchases involved. I've just been offered a 74 Pacific Blue 828 10 K. mileage for 6 K. Cdn., longtime friendship deal. Lets see what I do. Last week sold my 72 for $3500. 45 interested parties , but happily let the best man take her away to the best home , in my view.
 
DogT said:
Yeah, it's on Jerry's list. At 6-7K I almost would drain the oil out and bring it in my room so I can admire it. I have loot in a Roth IRA I don't know what to do with either. I guess I could take the wife to Florence, she's always wanted to do that.

Re: behind the times, my w7 computer died the other week and this w10 computer only has 9 usb ports, a dvd r/w and 3 in 1 memory card reader. It took me 2 weeks to get rid of all the marketing crap, both HP and MS.
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I agree with you. At the right price sell, if not drain the oil and look at it. Maybe after the 2020 election money will free up. The crowd on this site indicates there is an International crowd not afraid to spend a lot on a Commando from Lansdowne forks to trick headsteadies on and on.
 
Eddie Lawson's JPN-liveried Mk III sold for pretty big bucks, but I think that had more to do with the owner than the bike.
 
DogT, wait for better weather and then put it in one of the auctions with a reasonable reserve. If you can’t get the right money then do keep it and enjoy looking at it until someone who loves it as much as you do comes along. I remember we were both building our S-Types at the same time and your restoration certainly was an inspiration for me.
 
Danno said:
Eddie Lawson's JPN-liveried Mk III sold for pretty big bucks, but I think that had more to do with the owner than the bike.
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That's true of any vehicle - if there was a famous owner, especially a racer - the 'value' is much higher. IMO, most interest will pretty much go away when the 'famous' names of the related era are unknown to the current generation.

Last summer, when I bought my Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe in Bristol, England, the owner was telling me that motorcycle sales are poor and what business they get is, as he said, "from people your age." ;)
 
A Commando's worth is measured in smiles, I suspect that CB750 will not generate that many smiles for the owner.

Most none biking public look at Commando and see a nice old bike, the same people would look at the CB750 and just another motorbike.
 
It is possible but not likely that there could be a replacement fuel developed. Just dont see it happening.
Exotic bikes will hold interest if only for a floor display but our bikes sorry to say are going to be of little value.
Hard to believe but we all knew this ten years ago and now it is our turn to stand down. :-(
 
Greg Lawn from Central Motorcycles at Huntingdale in Melbourne, Australia, was visiting the US regularly and buying old British motorcycles from wrecking yards. He has had a couple of very nice Commandos in his shop at around the $18,000 mark, Australian. I don't know who would buy them at that price, but Greg must make a profit.

Central Motorcycles

centralmotorcycles.com.au centralmotorcycles.com.au
 
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I would not buy a T Model Ford, but there are people who love them. At one time many were piled up and burned. The price of vintage motorcycles waxes and wanes. However there is such a thing as 'curiosity value'. The longer you keep an old motorcycle, the more likely it is to fall into that category. My Seeley 850 is in my eyes a modern motorcycle. However the young guys do not see it that way. Whenever I take it to a race meeting. they are all over it. I suggest the nearer a road bike is to standard, the more valuable it becomes as it ages. Even with race bikes, a genuine production racer which is completely original is worth big dough, eventually.
In 1973, I was offered an original 1961 30M Manx for $1300. What is it worth today ?
 
Onder said:
As for that 38,500k bike I think it is a typo...8,500 is more like it!
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I figured the typo was on the other end...$3,850. ;)


"My Seeley 850 is in my eyes a modern motorcycle. However the young guys do not see it that way. Whenever I take it to a race meeting. they are all over it."

Well, I've seen the same sort of thing with a variety of vintage vehicles but there is a huge difference between drawing an admiring crowd and having someone in that crowd pay money!

I think that the last group people who are interested in these bike as far as paying money is......us.:oops:
 
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