What Happened After 1980?

[Wagonpeddler]

For some reason, the value of the 750 seems so much lower after 1980. I have seen similar models to my 1981 750C sell for less than $1200.00. I paid that for mine back in 1984. Wanted to sell, but perhaps I'll just keep it. Any thoughts?
Thanks.

[Re-run]

For the last few years, there has been a huge "retro" craze going on. The sohc was the centerpiece of that. Mainly cause of the way it lends itself to the cafe look. The later dohc was not as desirable as it doesn't do cafe as well.

The large numbers of sohc also gave the customization crowd and platform and many a nice cb lost their lives to shitty custom jobs.

So you have people riding this wave. Plus, a running bike really only drops so far in price and then it hovers there no matter how old it gets. Then it gets old enough to be a collector bike and the price goes back up.

In my area, a decent running bike will never be below 1000.

[shinyribs]

Well, I was born in 1980. Pretty sure everything went to pot after that.

[Wagonpeddler]

Thanks. Perhaps it would be better if this was a "Completely restored" motorcycle. Fact is, it's in the same original condition, minus tires and a few minor parts, that it was when I bought it.
Appreciate the explanation...makes sense.

[Re-run]

Yeah, there isn't a whole lot of rhyme or reason for some prices. Part of it is that non-harley bikes can drop so fast in resale that a person can get a bike from the 90s for 12-1500. Given that. most people going to think "why get an older bike for the same price". Part of it is poor info on what is actually "high" miles on a bike. Some think that number is as low as 20,000. Yes, crazy, I know.

So then with older bikes, it comes down to a person really liking that style and wanting that year.

That is just my thoughts on it. Makes sense but who knows for sure. And why harleys dodge this, I'll never know. They sure aren't any better than our bikes. Hell, my 78 will still corner, stop, and accelerate about as good and most of the harleys out there. All comes down to image I suppose.

[Truck]

Personally I think if you ride a bike your cool with me, even one of those Can-am's. Most Harley riders I ask why they ride a Harley answer "It's a Harley". Some people are willing to over spend for 1950's technology just for the name. I grew up riding on my dads BSA's and Triumphs, those were awsome bikes. And I love the variety I see in the bikes on this site.

[Re-run]

Well I don't think anyone is cutting another bike, unless it is for fun! Heck, last night I passed a guy on a ruckus. He may have been slow, but I bet he was having a good time on it.
 After I passed him, he was just weaving back and forth in his lane, just tootling along.

[Truck]

Naa, I didn't think anyone was putting anyone down.

When I was living in Va Beach we lived in a beach area on the Bay. the place was away from the tourists and kinda self contained with 3-4 bars in the area where locals would hang out. Our house and the houses on either side were full of single people who liked to have fun. My roomate had a bunch od scooters, little 50 somthing cc jobs. On Fridays we'd all get off work hang on the porch and kick back a few brews, then hop on the scooters and bar hop. those scooters were a blast. we may have buryied a few in the sand, and I may have hit a house (it was a friends place) but we had some good times!

[Wagonpeddler]

My first try was a Vespa that my neighbor asked me to "watch" while he was away. Well...I cracked it up pretty good...after I discovered that the fuel petcock had to be on for the thing to run. Shortly after, a few friends and I put together a Rabbit Lambretta that was in pieces....actually got it to run. First bike I owned was a 1967 Honda Super 90, then a 1973 CB450, and finally, the 750 Custom. Lots of good memories.

[Re-run]

I first started on a trail 70. It was already beat up by the time I got it. No front brake and bent bars. Proceeded to run that thing like hell and bet it even more. When you are going up and down steep hills, you really learn how to work a rear brake!

By the time I was done, the headlight was held on with duct tape, the exhaust had fallen off, and who knows what else. Damn thing STILL ran.