Is this guy dreaming?

[HenryDorsetCase]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-720631399.htm

or realistic?

$24k is the start but not the reserve.

Mr G Crosby will sell you a fully restored one for $25k. I get that this is original and has patina. But it has a 4 into 1 and stuffed original pipes.

I am genuinely confused. Your thoughts callers?

[unstuck]

Little steep in my opinion, but if I really wanted it, I would pay.:Punk::Punk:

[Trade_nancy]

Yep - overpriced at that. The pipes are a significant feature of bikes like the Z! and CB750 of that era. Plus a motor job done 14 years ago?? I'd be asking $15-$18...and not b expecting to get it in NZ.

[Hashbandicoot]

After my recent experience going to view bikes that are on TradeMe any of them that do not have pictures uploaded of both sides, front and back tend to have some sort of defect on the side you don't see in the photo. If you are interested I would ask for more pictures. I do think it is a little steep - to a collector that price might not be too bad, but if you were to ride the thing I'm not sure.

[iYRe]

they go for more than that on ebay... well, they go for that in USD. There was a mint z1000 from about the same era for 75000$USD few months ago... and that was just the bids..

But yeah, there is a huge market and not many bikes there... Small market here.

[AllanB]

Spied that the other day and thought the same.

But, it's about the same price as a new CBRR GSXR etc. The new ones will devalue as soon as you ride them away, the Kawaka will ultimately increase in value if you hold on to it long enough.

[jellywrestler]

Spied that the other day and thought the same.

But, it's about the same price as a new CBRR GSXR etc. The new ones will devalue as soon as you ride them away, the Kawaka will ultimately increase in value if you hold on to it long enough.

dunno bout that, as time goes by the generation that was familiar with this bike will be too old to bother, there will be a surplus of them and they will go down in value. they're not like the old british stuff that you could leave fort a year, drain one carb bowl and fire into life, these things get stale sitting.

[AllanB]

dunno bout that, as time goes by the generation that was familiar with this bike will be too old to bother, there will be a surplus of them and they will go down in value. they're not like the old british stuff that you could leave fort a year, drain one carb bowl and fire into life, these things get stale sitting.

The Brit stuff that is getting valuable fits the above - 50-60's bikes, unless you are 70 odd you were most likely introduced to motorcycles via small Japanese bikes. As long as you drain the carbs and have fresh oil in it I see little reason why a 70's Jap bike that's sat for a handful of years won't fire up and run well with a change of plugs.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I thought that the brit stuff (common or garden) had stayed static in value but it was the jap stuff that was increasing. Expensive brit bikes always are and have been expensive (Manx Nortons, Gold Stars, Vincents, Brough Superiors) but my (very untutored) perception is that classic pommy stuff is fairly good buying. Especially as compared to $15000 H1's and $24k Z1's, and $20k plus SOHC Honda 750's

[AllanB]

Nortons are going up in price, Commandos are fetching $10k plus for clean ones. Bitza Bonnies are still good value.

In 1980 I paid $500 for a tidy pre-owned CB200 Honda - seen a couple go for over $2k recently.

[jellywrestler]

Nortons are going up in price, Commandos are fetching $10k plus for clean ones. Bitza Bonnies are still good value.

In 1980 I paid $500 for a tidy pre-owned CB200 Honda - seen a couple go for over $2k recently.

yap and about two will sell in nz for that price, the rest will get pushed back into the shed. fact is jap stuff didn't give people the experinece they remember, it was all to easy whereas the ole pom bombs needed work all the time and bits interchanged and people spent time with their bikes, not just travelling on them.
about half my bikes are jap, i'm not biased and have been following the hobby closely for years, they eveolved real quick too from 69 to 84 was a volatile time and what was cool in 1975 was not in 77 so there's a very narrow window of what people like. mines 79-82ish when i was able to afford new bikes and dream about the bigger models. before that they were old last seasons bike, after that i'd settled and appreciated them but still had fonder memories of the era i mentioned. brit stuff evolved over a longer period, minor facelifts were suffice for an older model

[HenryDorsetCase]

Good points. You are perhaps a few years older than me: I bought my first new bike in 1987 but up till then had some quite good ones. Interesting the ones I have owned since then have been stuff I didn't own back in the day (SOHC 750 Hondas excepted).

I reckon the stuff to buy now is the 90's stuff: 92 CBR900RR, first R1, even 919 and 954 Blades. There are OW01's floating about and the ZXR750s: all starting to climb in value. Even NC30 and NC35 Hondas.

[Katman]

I reckon the stuff to buy now is the 90's stuff:

No worries - you leave the 80's to me.

[AllanB]

they eveolved real quick too from 69 to 84 was a volatile time and what was cool in 1975 was not in 77 so there's a very narrow window of what people like.

Good point. The Japanese collectibles need to be game changers - CB750 for example. First edition GSXR750 should be but I don't see much interest.

The Z900 fits the bill by capacity only - first real 'big' Japanese superbike.

Sadly I see little future collectibles on the current market unless you buy one of those big bore Honda scooter/motorcycle crossover things they released a couple years back. Reckon there will be f-all about in 20-30 years so it will have rarity value :bleh:

[jellywrestler]

Good points. You are perhaps a few years older than me: I bought my first new bike in 1987 but up till then had some quite good ones. Interesting the ones I have owned since then have been stuff I didn't own back in the day (SOHC 750 Hondas excepted).

I reckon the stuff to buy now is the 90's stuff: 92 CBR900RR, first R1, even 919 and 954 Blades. There are OW01's floating about and the ZXR750s: all starting to climb in value. Even NC30 and NC35 Hondas.

51 actually.
the stuff to buy now is the stuff that you want, for the reasons you want, otherwise fuck off and let those who enjoy their bikes enjoy their bikes.
i brought a vincent for $30k, 15 year later and after $10K on restoration it's worth twice that maybe, but i'll find it hard to part with. i could've used that $30k, deposit on a house, borrowed the rest, geared it right then 15 years later rung up someone to sell and made way more than $20k not got my hands dirty, not worried where i park it and not became attached to it etc etc.....

[gammaguy]

He obviously doesn't want to sell it,I'm guessing he's listing it to keep the wife happy

I ask you,one photo?how many buyers does he really expect for what is an expensive motorcycle,classic or not.

I sold a used phone on ebay today and even that had 12 pictures with it

[AllanB]

1st generation i-pod may be worth some coin in 20 years .......

Those early Macs are fetching good coin - shit I made two novelty fish tanks out of ones being trashed by the Mac dealer years back.

[GrayWolf]

yap and about two will sell in nz for that price, the rest will get pushed back into the shed. fact is jap stuff didn't give people the experinece they remember, it was all to easy whereas the ole pom bombs needed work all the time and bits interchanged and people spent time with their bikes, not just travelling on them.
about half my bikes are jap, i'm not biased and have been following the hobby closely for years, they eveolved real quick too from 69 to 84 was a volatile time and what was cool in 1975 was not in 77 so there's a very narrow window of what people like. mines 79-82ish when i was able to afford new bikes and dream about the bigger models. before that they were old last seasons bike, after that i'd settled and appreciated them but still had fonder memories of the era i mentioned. brit stuff evolved over a longer period, minor facelifts were suffice for an older model

oh man do I disagree with that.
Yes the old Brit bikes did give you the need to tinker, I owned 3 and that was enough, back in the 70's. Old Jap bikes give just as much if not more experience. No brit bike ever gave the memories my H1a gave, good or not. Having to manhandle the big japper 900-1100's of the 70/80's through bends with engines that vastly overpowered the chassis, was VERY different to the taught-er handling Nortons, A65's and Bonnie's.
As for minor facelifts 'sufficed' for brit bikes? It was management with their heads up their arses, pure and simple. There were many options that the designers had in the pipeline, or even the current (then) 70's Trident was canned in favour of the vastly outdated Bonnie. Norton had the pre-production Wolf 500, the 100cc Quadrant, a 120 deg crank Trident was in the offing, the 900cc Version in a Norton interstate chassis, the 350 hurricane/fury twins.. either rushed into production and fragile, or canned by stupid management. THAT was the only reason those 'long lived twins carried on for a few years longer.
Maybe I was 'lucky'? I was just there with the change over as the 900 Z1, took over from the H1/H2's as the performance king. The GT750 triple is highly sought after, as are the 250/350/400cc 2T's...
Nah, there are too many classic Jappers with memories abundant.

[pritch]

BIKE magazine commented a few months ago that the CB750 prices were getting a bit too steep to justify in the UK. They recommended the CB500 as a relative bargain as yet, but that will likely change.

[AllanB]

BIKE magazine commented a few months ago that the CB750 prices were getting a bit too steep to justify in the UK. They recommended the CB500 as a relative bargain as yet, but that will likely change.

Maybe it will work down the line, CB750, CB500, CB400 & the jewel of the family the delightful CB350/4 ;)

[Voltaire]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-720631399.htm

or realistic?

$24k is the start but not the reserve.

Mr G Crosby will sell you a fully restored one for $25k. I get that this is original and has patina. But it has a 4 into 1 and stuffed original pipes.

I am genuinely confused. Your thoughts callers?

No he's the owner, the dreamers are here on KB with it on their watch list.
I had Jap 4's in the early 80's, have no real interest in them these days.
I would not push my old 500/4 in Gold out of the shed if it turned up though.

[Crasherfromwayback]

No worries - you leave the 80's to me.

And me...:innocent:

[pritch]

I would not push my old 500/4 in Gold out of the shed if it turned up though.

Yeah, mine was brown, doesn't sound a great colour but it looked nice. Loved it at the time, not sure about now though.

[TLDV8]

Does it matter,dreams are still free.
How many Spitfires or Lancasters were still airworthy after the war.
Remember when RD's were a dime a dozen,Z1's for $2200 as were RZ500's or RG's.
Who would have thought, something common now sells for a premium.

A restored 1974 Kawasaki H2B 750 was re-listed at $19995 on AU eBay,that is more than a Vincent Rapide could be had for less than 20 years ago.
Lotus Cortina's.
Near any early RX Mazda.
Old Sidchrome anything.
Any beveldrive Ducati.
Ching ching,get them while you can.......

[HenryDorsetCase]

I found a phone number the other day for the guy that bought my CB400F (one good thing about moving).

He has on-sold it :( Its in Fangaray now :(

Oh well.

[Voltaire]

You had me till Sidchrome...... :lol:
Can't say I remember the $2200 Z1's :weep:, my Z1000 j cost me $4500 in 1984.

[TLDV8]

You had me till Sidchrome...... :lol:
Can't say I remember the $2200 Z1's :weep:, my Z1000 j cost me $4500 in 1984.

Vintage Sidchrome tools fetch a premium here as far as eBay goes,I still have most of my 40 piece 1/2 drive set circa 1976.

I got mine a year earlier,dead stock and mint for $4800.
I had read the Two Wheels write up in Papua New Guinea,front page 'ballistic missile,wanted a blue one,landed in Auckland,one in the paper,picked it up that week,great bike did 21000 kms in the first 9 months.

Somewhere in the South Island.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/38Small.jpg" border="0" alt="1981 Kawasaki Z1000J. photo 38Small.jpg"/></a>

Put me down for another 'Brit bike,should have been picked up in Melbourne today,delivery next Tuesday.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/1949%20Sunbeam%20S7%20Deluxe/5-1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 5-1.jpg"/></a>

[Voltaire]

I'm more of a Stahlwille sort , hmmm S7.
I sold my Z1000 when I read the 2 Wheels Ducati Darmah article.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I'm more of a Stahlwille sort , hmmm S7.
I sold my Z1000 when I read the 2 Wheels Ducati Darmah article.

All of my tools are Snap on. Love 'em. And I can understand that. Darmah's are cool as shit.

[avgas]

Maybe if it was the Moriwaki Ed.

[TLDV8]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1969-H1-500-Kawasaki-Mach-111-/201082605179?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item2ed1750e7b

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Kawasaki-H2-/171313298247?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item27e3117b47

[Laava]

Darmah's are cool as shit.

To look at and to ride. Not so good was the constant repairing everything.
At 32,000km mine had starter clutch issues, buggered valve guides and hard chrome on the valve closer arms, stripped bolts in the cush drive, rusted out mufflers, and was in need of repaint cos of initial quality.
However I loved the sound from the Staintune Conti replacements and it was a nice bike to ride on the open road.
Another big plus was the massive forearm muscles on your left arm from the clutch, the cable of which was prone to breaking.

[Voltaire]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1969-H1-500-Kawasaki-Mach-111-/201082605179?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item2ed1750e7b

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Kawasaki-H2-/171313298247?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item27e3117b47

Kiwi Widows must be having a sale.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-722736083.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-720579649.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-720579649.htm

for my 2 stroke fix I just fire up the weed eater.:lol:

[TLDV8]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Yamaha-TZ-750-/261468336416?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item3ce0ba3120

I never had that much trouble with the Darmah even at the 84rwhp stage.
Cush drive yes,spigoted fixed that,a regulator,a sprag clutch....
It never missed a beat when on leaded fuel,not even needing a valve adjustment in one 20000 km period.... then unleaded fuel came out then valve seat and oil ring 'drama's.
Still have it after 31 years + a 77 model and the 73 GT.

[Crasherfromwayback]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Yamaha-TZ-750-/261468336416?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item3ce0ba3120

I never had that much trouble with the Darmah even at the 84rwhp stage.
Cush drive yes,spigoted fixed that,a regulator,a sprag clutch....
It never missed a beat when on leaded fuel,not even needing a valve adjustment in one 20000 km period.... then unleaded fuel came out then valve seat and oil ring 'drama's.
Still have it after 31 years + a 77 model and the 73 GT.

Love to own a TZ750 one day! Pics of your Ducati's please!!!???

[98tls]

Love to own a TZ750 one day! Pics of your Ducati's please!!!???

Be prepared to drool...

[Crasherfromwayback]

Be prepared to drool...

Too late mate...

[TLDV8]

Be prepared to drool...

Not much to drool over Mike.
I (In hindsight) was never much in to taking pictures of my own bikes,I have none of the 77 SD,one perhaps of he GT and maybe one of the 81 SD,( on the PC with the bikes back in NZ) even when it was in the 'City of Sails bike show in the mid 1990's I never took a picture of it,didn't even think of it.
Even the picture of the Sunbeam S7 is from the previous owner,14 years of TL1000's and maybe four pictures of the two of them.
My 81 SD was one of the first Vee Two Australia engine builds (NZ wise) I might have been one of the first anywhere to use 41mm FCR's,that was when there was nothing off the shelf.
It seems all things beveldrive twin have become expensive,even Darmahs.

http://s30.photobucket.com/user/manurewa/library/?sort=3&page=1

[GrayWolf]

Kiwi Widows must be having a sale.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-720579649.htm

for my 2 stroke fix I just fire up the weed eater.:lol:

Ahhhhh, that's one of the 'quick ones' .. H1a or b. Flexi frame and the 'light switch' knife edge power band....

ahhhh memories :wacko::wacko::wacko: