[Coolerman]

I have been scanning Facebook market place and Craigs List for months looking for a deal on two things: An early 70's Honda CB750 and a small 250 dirt bike like an XL250.

This morning I came across a post on market place for a 1976 Elsinore MR250.
I was expecting to see maybe $500-600 dollars for this thing, but they are asking $4000.00!
Granted it looks like a new one, but $4K? I can buy a running used 1980's Goldwing for far less than that!

Now I know the CB750's can fetch big money if they are restored, or at least all original, but hacked up, cafe'd bikes are going for $3-4000!

I just don't understand the used bike market...

 

[D's Spirit]

I think the $4000 asking price for the '76 Elsinore MR250 is one of those 'throw it out there and see if anyone bites' sort of things. Nevertheless, $2500 for that same bike is not out of the question...at least not out of the question in certain markets. Here in the Austin, Texas area you'll see bikes from the '70's consistently going in the $2500 and up range. They're "collectables" now!

It took a 3 minute search on Craig's List to find a 1970 Yamaha HS1 Twin 90 rust bucket, not running for $1750. If this bike were running, it would easily go for $2500 - $3500. If the rust were knocked off: $4000+

'78 Honda Hobbit PA50: $2200
'74 Honda XR75 (rust bucket, but running: $1650

...and so on...

 

[Coolerman]

I was just thingking maybe it's my area, but a nation wide search revealed exactly what you said. Gone are the days you could find something in a barn and get it for scrap value.

Another irratating thing I have noticed is the number of vehicles for sale with no titles. One ad stated he had lost the title, and it was up to the buyer to get it transferred out of his name! Talk about lazy...

 

[theblooms]

Elsinores are highly desirable, but $4000 is still pretty nuts.

 

[Bentone]

Go to Mecum's auctions. To view the prices sold, sign up to see.

Bring a compression tester and a spark plug tool, or no transfer of cash for that kind of price.

 

[axman88]

JD Power values a 1976 Honda MR250, in excellent condition, at $3760, 1976 Honda MR250 Standard Equipment, Prices & Specs - J.D. Power (jdpower.com)
This guy wants $5K for his 1980 1980 Honda Elsinore MR250 in Yorkville, IL (smartcycleguide.com) , and this one actually sold for $4950 1976 Honda MR250 Elsinore - CLASSIC.COM

Maybe that $4K asking is actually not such a bad deal? The MSRP in '76 was $1287, $4K is just 3x that.

If those moto prices seem nutty, don't even look at what they are asking for this 5 speed bike, starting bid $3400.

1971 Schwinn Stingray 5 Speed Grey Ghost Krate *Sweeeeeeeeeet* | eBay

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Sold brand new for $102 Assuming somebody gets the Grey Ghost for the opening bid, that's 33 times MSRP!

To be fair, the Grey Ghost is the rarest of the StingRay Krates. Once the collectors get interested, sky is the limit!

 

[h13man]

The old XL250's have been commanding high prices for quite some time. Mine was $895 new in the fall of 73'. I have a 71' C100 90% condition I acquired for $800 in 2012 and it was $531 new in 72' as I have the sales slip. I owned 7 pre 73' Honda's over the years and liked the 69' CL350 the best. I saw 71' CB750 that got "cafed" and the tank was in really good condition inside for $500 at a garage sale late summer. I pondered a few minutes as always wanted a Savior softail chopper of my own.

 

[h13man]

Sold brand new for $102 Assuming somebody gets the Grey Ghost for the opening bid, that's 33 times MSRP!
View attachment 305800

To be fair, the Grey Ghost is the rarest of the StingRay Krates. Once the collectors get interested, sky is the limit!

My gold "coaster" was $49.95 the summer of 64'. My very 1st. time recieving a BDay present. Wanted a blue one but the neighbor punk already had one.

 

[squidchief]

The hotrod car market is even worse. Someone watches their motortrend car porn and starts thinking their hunk of junk is worth thousands of $$$. People are demanding thousand of dollars for rusted out hulks in fields. I know of an early 50's Chevy truck that a lady is asking ten grand for. It's just a shell. She told me how she saw Dave Kindig fix one up and sell for half a mil. She was a tad upset when I told her I'd give Kindig a half mil before I'd give her the ten grand she's asking.

 

[theblooms]

Talking about that, my uncle left me a 1975 C-10 shortbed. I got it running great, but it needs some TLC on the bodywork.

Price out an early square body Chevy shortbed. Your mind will be blown. I couldn't believe what this truck is worth. When I was in HS, it was like $1000 tops.

Yeah, no, put an extra 0 on that, and that's just running and driving. Get it pretty, and we're talking double if not triple that.

 

[Beggar]

Talking about that, my uncle left me a 1975 C-10 shortbed. I got it running great, but it needs some TLC on the bodywork.

Price out an early square body Chevy shortbed. Your mind will be blown. I couldn't believe what this truck is worth. When I was in HS, it was like $1000 tops.

Yeah, no, put an extra 0 on that, and that's just running and driving. Get it pretty, and we're talking double if not triple that.

Presently refurbing (not restoring, mind you) a '61 Apache for a friend who spun a bearing in it right after he bought it. He paid 10g, and has 4 more in the work (short block alone was 3g). It's worth still more these days when he's done. That hobby climbed out of my range about a decade ago.

Going to be hawking my last builds ('62 Toad wagon & HA/GR nostalgia dragster, both slant sixes) before long. Heck, I have over 2g just in the triple SU sets on'em.

Ya don't even wanna ask about my model trains.

 

[Pampas56]

How do you think I feel?

I was just looking for an old work truck to replace my Dakota. I ain't paying $10,000 for something just going to throw firewood and gravel into.

I'm sick and tired of people thinking what I call tools are their toys!!

 

[theblooms]

Well, trucks are hot because nobody can afford a Mustang, Nova, or Camaro anymore. And trucks generally have pretty much the same drivetrains, so there you go. And yeah, they can look hot

 

[Bdilz99]

Back to bikes for a moment...I consider my '99 ACE to be older but obviously not as old relative to the subject of the original post. In 2017, I pd $1500, bike had 13k on it. I feel like I got a great deal, especially after riding for a few years. I don't mind now if I need, or want to put a few $$ in her. Not sure I would feel the same way if I had spent $3k - $4k.

Back to cars... I ride the bike more than I drive my jeep and wonder what I could get for that. But then again, my wife likes driving the jeep in summertime sooooo probably keeping it

 

[Bentone]

Current bikes up for auction. Have to join to see prices. Current lot for next event. Newest Lots | Motorcycles | Mecum Auctions If younger and had money to put them somewhere, I'd park those TT's. But look to see what the market brings for the BSA's. Sold a MKII for 9K in '91. Should be double the price today. Fat chance!

 

[Troy Jollimore]

Heh. Last Summer an ‘85 Shadow 750 was listed for $3500CDN. Just from the pictures, it looked like it was falling apart! Too many people out there with money burning a hole in their wallet, I guess.

 

[squidchief]

Talking about that, my uncle left me a 1975 C-10 shortbed. I got it running great, but it needs some TLC on the bodywork.

Price out an early square body Chevy shortbed. Your mind will be blown. I couldn't believe what this truck is worth. When I was in HS, it was like $1000 tops.

Yeah, no, put an extra 0 on that, and that's just running and driving. Get it pretty, and we're talking double if not triple that.

Early to mid 70's C10's are VERY desirable right now. Perfect example. If you have about $30k in your wallet you can make one worth around $40k but it'll also take a boatload of talent and labor. Folks are asking $10k and up for ones that are full of cancer. Crazy

 

[squidchief]

The market worked for me quite well a couple of years ago when separate people offered me well above what I had in my Mustang and T-bucket. Easy decision to sell. Got lucky and found another Mustang at a reasonable price so it's in the process. I'm keeping my eyes open for a 'Cuda. If I find the "one" I'll jump on it and will probably quit looking. At least that's what I tell my wife...

 

[Coolerman]

I also happen to own a 1971 FJ40 Land Cruiser. The prices for these things is also bordering on the crazy side.
I see people asking $15,000 for a FJ40 Land Cruiser that does not run, has cancer, and has parts from many different years bolted to it and of course the ever present 10 foot paint job. The ad always states, "Does not run, but easlily fixed by someone who knows how". Surface rust only (though you can see holes everywhere) Followed by, "No low ball offers, I know what I have..." Yeah right...

I guess with the price of new vehicles, the days of getting good deals on a used vehilce are over.

So are we going to see a glut of gas powered vehicles in the future as states start mandating electric vehicles?

 

[theblooms]

So are we going to see a glut of gas powered vehicles in the future as states start mandating electric vehicles?

Nope. People will be holding on to what they have forever. For example, that nearly 50 year old C10 I have, it was sitting for at least 12 years. I had it running in 2 hours. Fast forward 50 years from now, how easy is it going to be to get a Prius going that was sitting for that long?

I want to get my C10 in really good shape, because I want to flip it to help me get my dream car, an old air cooled 911. Which that, I absolutely will keep forever!