latest bevel valuations 77 900 ss $18100?

[seddy]

Does anyone have a source for accurate valuations on our bikes?.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/977-DUCA ... dZViewItem

[Spub]

My lastest issue of Vintage Motorcycle Price Guide shows the value for a number "1" (pristine, just off the showroom floor condition) 1975 900SS to be $16,000, with an number "2" at $14,400 and a "3" at $8,400. A 1977 "1" goes for $14,000, a "3" for 8,400. A 1980 "1" goes for $10,000, and a "3" for $6,000. I think the one on E-bay (a 1977) went for too much...mainly because I bought it.....but it is a very nice complete original example (except for missing turning indicators), though tarted up a bit with the nickle plate and polishing... There is a 1977 being offered by a shop in Missouri for $16,500, and I would esimate this one to be about a "3" or below, from the pics sent to me. There was another restored example for sale by a shop in Connecticutt (1977) and they were asking $21,000. It appeared to be a "2" or below. A 1982, apparently one that appeared in the first Ian Falloon book on Supersports, was on Ebay last month, and it did not meet reserve, attracting less than $12,000. There is another bike, which appears to have titling issues on Ebay now, and it is at $9,600 at this time...

[Geoff]

Spub, I think your purchase price was spot on! If you want one in great condition then it take a heck of a lot of parts and time to make them right; ask me how I know..... I paid $8600 for a 76/77 in 2003 and spent about $5k on parts (including 'consumables'...) making it very nice. So I think $18k-ish without the hassle of first finding the parts and second putting it all together isn't over the top. Unless you like putting them together and finding the parts; which I do!

It's easy to spend too much, harder to say no!
Cheers!

[seddy]

Thanks guys, from what I have observed the 79 and newer 900ss (or variations) attract less money regardless of condition. I paid $9800 for my 77, 6 years ago, it was pretty original, but was a riders bike, so the engine had been rebuilt in the 80's. It had all the original fiberglass, and ran pretty good, but after a year I had gearbox problems, compression issues, and it shot a sparkplug out of the cylnder, so it got a rebuild. One nice thing is I know its history from new, I have the original manual, toolkit, and the geargazer has the bike shop name engraved in it, I also have the lead seal from the cases. It has one unusual modification that I havent seen before, the swing arm was modified to have steering head bearings, I wish I had photos from when it was apart, the original owner (bike restorer at Barber museum) did it to vertually remove any swing arm maintenance.
I figured it was worth 16k, but its nice to know I may not be as upside down as I thought.

[Spub]

A 1982 900SS, the one referred to in my post above as having attracted less than $12,000 on Ebay, just sold for $15,500 on Ebay.

[Spub]

I'm not sure if anyone caught this, but a 1974 "Greenframe" 750SS was up for auction on Ebay and it was bid up to $50,000+ at the time the listing ended 6/26/06. Did not meet reserve, believe it or not...... I have read stories of these bikes going for over 60K, but geez....perhaps a coat of green paint on frame is in order for my 900SS.....

[Spub]

A 1977 900SS in what appears to be excellent original condition just made $16,625 on Ebay, and did not meet reserve. I suspect the reserve was close to 20k, if not over 20...

That brings up a good point about these bikes: Is it wise to ride around a bike that is increasing in value, and would be hard to replace or repair if it was crashed? My bike was a "living room bike" when I bought it, but I did not hesitate to get it in running condition, and acutally run it. It had 222 miles after a complete cosmetic and mechanical restoration, and I have put on almost 2000 miles in the 9 months I have owned it. Get on it and ride it for any length of time, and you cannot help but come to the conclusion that it would be a complete travesty to keep a bike like this couped up as a museum piece...Now, I'm all for preserving history for those that come after us, but who says what we pass on has to be new? I'd rather pass it on with a patina....preferably put on by me.....with 40MM Dellortos that do not have to be uncrusted and actually work......

[DesmoDog]

That brings up a good point about these bikes: Is it wise to ride around a bike that is increasing in value, and would be hard to replace or repair if it was crashed?

I can't remember for sure who said it so I'll credit it to Phill Hill.

When asked about racing some priceless vintage car, he responded along the lines of "it's it worth that much just sitting here, it's worth fixing if I crash it".

I guess that's easier to say when it's not your car, but still.

[Spub]

DesmoD:

I think one person who has a healthy outlook on how much vintage bikes should be ridden is Jay Leno. He frequents several popular biker spots here in So Cal, and some of the bikes I can remember him on on when I've run into him: Jet bike; Brough Superior 100SS; Vincent Black Shadow; Vincent Black Knight; Munch Mammot; are irreplaceable (well, perhaps not the Jetbike) yet, there he is, riding them and parking them next to everyone else's rides.....If he's gonna tool around on a Brough in LA traffic, I guess I would look foolish keeping my duc couped up for posterity.... although......he does have a very nice 79 black and gold 900SS, but I have not seen him tooling around on it.....

[Spub]

A very nice 1977 900SS just sold for $18,100 on E-bay.