Optimistic sellers

**jellywrestler** · 18th August 2018, 13:51

Originally Posted by AllanB

We are just sitting here making more rubbish.

do you work at the Harley Factory?

**Ocean1** · 18th August 2018, 14:19

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

AHAHAHAHHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

seriously. Ever tried it?

Didn't think so.

Oh no, he's sorta right.

As long as your're not paying anyone to do it for you.

Including yourself.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 18th August 2018, 14:23

Originally Posted by roogazza

Yes , quite small! I had one in the shed a while ago. It was in a mates collection that I stored for a few weeks while he moved house.
His 350 LC looked similar in size next to it.

Liked both bikes when I had them new,in fact the H2 was my fav of all (and I've had 50 bikes!).

Seems silly to me that my GSXR1000 K6 is worth bugger all (and its a minter) ! I'll just keep it and turn it into a coffee table rather than give it away.

Same with my Street Triple.

**Scubbo** · 18th August 2018, 16:34

Originally Posted by roogazza

Seems silly to me that my GSXR1000 K6 is worth bugger all (and its a minter) ! I'll just keep it and turn it into a coffee table rather than give it away.

how much are you asking for it

?

**AllanB** · 18th August 2018, 18:25

Originally Posted by jellywrestler

do you work at the Harley Factory?

I'd last one week there before they fired me for suggesting they actually put the Screaming Eagle stuff they produce and warranty into their standard bikes instead of pushing out average engines knowing they have a fish hook firmly up the arse of 50% of their buyers who will spend silly coin upgrading their engines so they run as a HD should.

Buying a new stock Harley is akin to going to a high end prostitute and accepting that for the quoted price you can only go knob deep - if you pay more she will let you go balls deep.

**OddDuck** · 18th August 2018, 18:39

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Oh no, he's sorta right.

As long as your're not paying anyone to do it for you.

Including yourself.

Exactly. Tools, work space, consumables aren't free. Pay rate per hour likely to be lower than flipping burgers. First time out of the gate expect about a 50% ROI.

How to (just barely) make a living at it, courtesy of builders in the US and Deus Ex Machina:

Sort a customer who's loaded and suss out what they want
Buy the donor bike (and it's something decent to start with)
Do top quality work in consultation with customer (you want several builds under your belt already)
Get paid, make some kind of profit
Run a cafe selling T-shirts, books etc, or run courses, host a TV show, whatever, and that's where your real money comes from.

If you're going to do a bike up, fine, got to it and have fun, but realistically it's something you do for yourself.

**AllanB** · 18th August 2018, 18:49

Originally Posted by OddDuck

but realistically it's something you do for yourself.

This is all that is important.

Pipe-wrap and brown leather seats on Trademe do not make a $5k bike worth $10k.

Anything I do to my bike is because I want to do it. I am personalising it. I am under no illusion that the money I spend will be recouped when sold, I am modifying the machine because I want to do it for me. If other people see value in what I have done that's a compliment.

**Grumph** · 18th August 2018, 19:20

Originally Posted by OddDuck

Exactly. Tools, work space, consumables aren't free. Pay rate per hour likely to be lower than flipping burgers. First time out of the gate expect about a 50% ROI.

How to (just barely) make a living at it, courtesy of builders in the US and Deus Ex Machina:

Sort a customer who's loaded and suss out what they want
Buy the donor bike (and it's something decent to start with)
Do top quality work in consultation with customer (you want several builds under your belt already)
Get paid, make some kind of profit
Run a cafe selling T-shirts, books etc, or run courses, host a TV show, whatever, and that's where your real money comes from.

If you're going to do a bike up, fine, got to it and have fun, but realistically it's something you do for yourself.

I'd love to have done a TV show. A couple of customers have said I should have, LOL. All of the above is fine but you need the skills to deliver.
Several times now, I've been given an engine, forks, sometimes wheels too - and been asked to build a bike around that lot please.
I will certify you could not make a living from it in NZ. I did it as occupational therapy given my state of health....

**Laava** · 18th August 2018, 20:12

Originally Posted by AllanB

Buying a new stock Harley is akin to going to a high end prostitute and accepting that for the quoted price you can only go knob deep - if you pay more she will let you go balls deep.

Also, there is no happy ending...

**babysteps** · 18th August 2018, 20:20

I'm sure this has made it to this thread before but it's definatley good for a laugh!

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/mot...4cd49702cad2ed

**F5 Dave** · 18th August 2018, 20:35

Jesus what a travesty. Yeah that's right (See picture) Park it well clear of the motorbikes.

**AllanB** · 18th August 2018, 22:01

Interesting bike to pick for a trike conversion. If you are wanting one they tend to be a premium above the equivalent 2 wheel price.

**Laava** · 18th August 2018, 22:14

Originally Posted by AllanB

Interesting bike to pick for a trike conversion. If you are wanting one they tend to be a premium above the equivalent 2 wheel price.

Yep, it's a good bike for what it was designed for but strange choice for a trike.
and the resale market is prob proving the point about now...

**jasonu** · 19th August 2018, 04:07

Originally Posted by AllanB

Buying a new stock Harley is akin to going to a high end prostitute and accepting that for the quoted price you can only go knob deep - if you pay more she will let you go balls deep.

For what you get for your hard earned dollar you'd be a bit of a knob to buy a new Hardly.