Question about how to value old bikes

Twinstar Joined: Dec 20, 2011 Posts: 61 Location: Toronto

When I picked up my 82 cb900f I only spent 700 to buy it and figured because it was so cheap I could just modify the hell out of it. My mechanic has very much urged me to keep it as original as possible.

This bike I have is absolutely pristinely bone stock, he told me to keep it this way forever. Not often to repaint it or anything.
Now I'm wondering what harm can a little restorative work do to be bikes value? The front fender is scratched and a huge hunk of paint scratched off from probably metal scraping against it.

How far can i go with a restoration before its considered "completely original"

This bike is literally in pristine condition other then a couple of tiny rust spots and scratched top coat

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:23 am

A lot of us are going to agree. Do you have pictures you could post? We upload photos to photobucket or imageshack and post links back here.

If your bike is that nice you consider saving it. If you want to customize one they can be found pretty cheap.

A relatively easy fix for what you describe would be to find an appropriate fender for your bike and replace it.

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:25 am

I have had an offer from one of the other members here to sell me a 900F in pretty good condition for more than twice what you got yours for.

Twinstar Joined: Dec 20, 2011 Posts: 61 Location: Toronto

Well as far as pictures go I have these from the day I went to see the bike after being in storage 27 years (It was under a blanket) This isnt even after a dusting, I swear.

There is 1 small ding in the gas tank but its expensive to fix so im just waiting till I have 200 bucks burning in my pocket. Other then that, it started up and ran like a champ with only a few hour work into it from my experienced mechanic. Bike has 20,000K on it

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:32 am

Something is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Right now, run of the mill 900F's are a dime a dozen anywhere from $1000 up to the high teens.

You got a steal.

Don't change a thing. Clean it up. Keep it stock. You've got something worth close to the high end for stock 900F's. Upper teens.

I have a mostly stock 1981 900F that I'll be actively trying to sell this spring (see my signature) that I'll be asking $1500 for and will take less for to get rid of it.

If you can swing the cash and space, find one that has already been modded somewhat (not "Bubba'ed") that you can chop up and build one from. The one you have should be kept stock.

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 2:40 am

Nice looking bike, very clean. And it's got a sweet deadhead sticker, looks like a keeper.

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:22 am

That bike is in VERY nice original condition, and worth quite a bit more than you paid. I would suggest that if you do anything, just fix whatever is wrong with it, but keep it 100% stock. Repainting the fender is no big deal, and pulling a ding out of the tank will only make it better.

Of course, if what you want is a project bike to mod/build to your own liking, keep looking around and you should be able to come up with a bike that 'needs work' for less than you paid for the one you have now. At that point, you're what we call 'golden', in that you have a project bike to wrench on, and spotless original bike to ride (and blow off steam when the project just won't 'come together'.

There is another option, and if you're short on cash it might be for you - sell the one have for twice what you paid (or more) and use the proceeds to buy a project bike and all of the parts you're going to need. I can tell you from experience, project bikes tend to get built faster when you already have parts on the shelf ready to go, and you could have some nice money left after buying a 'fixxer upper' to stockpile some parts.

Twinstar Joined: Dec 20, 2011 Posts: 61 Location: Toronto

Thanks for the response guys. I do have another bike to wrench on already, my 2008 Suzuki M109R. That bike is all done up.
I've decided I will keep the bike original. It's in such nice shape it would be a waste to tear it up after 30 years.

Well I guess I'll fix the small blemishes and polish her up.... Come spring I can't wait to take her for the first ride of the season!! Very Happy

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:00 am

I like the Deadhead sticker. Its a period "mod".

I had one on my first CBX in '87. Id leave that on it for now.

Quote:

out on the road today
i saw a dead head sticker on a cadillac
a voice inside my head said don't look back
you can never look back

Twinstar Joined: Dec 20, 2011 Posts: 61 Location: Toronto

removing that sticker was my first mod.

I may age myself here but when I was at the sellers place I said "that's one of those bands right" I could tell he wanted to smack me lol

But yeah it came off cleanly with some alcohol

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:58 am

BlightRider wrote:

But yeah it came off cleanly with some alcohol

I also enjoy a cocktail while cleaning my bike. What's your poison?? Wink

That bike is very nice for sitting around for that length of time, you also stole that bike!!

You may want to check out this springs N.E. ride around Hornell, NY.

Cheers!
Chris

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:38 pm

doorpz wrote:

Nice looking bike, very clean. And it's got a sweet deadhead sticker, looks like a keeper.

Dude....remove the deadhead sticker....10% increase in value instantly....for free! Rolling Eyes

Nice survivor......he's right....I wouldn't touch it......clean what you can....change what you need to.

Jebby

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 2:40 pm

I did not know what the sticker was, but I'm glad you removed it. Looks much better!

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:20 pm

wow what a deal. nice to see another Toronto f'er.there is a bunch of us that gather here in TO and do weekly rides, i hope you will join us. What part of TO do u live in?
Ed

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:13 pm

Man that's a beauty, how did you find her?

Like Ed said above, there is a few of us in the GTA and we ride regularly.

You are welcome to join us. Hell I'll be out in March Smile

Joe

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 9:37 pm

Curious where you found this one? Craigslist, kijji?

I wouldn't mind joining you guys come spring for a little ride if you could handle one more?

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:09 pm

Wellcome,

I would even question repainting the tank. Once you repaint it, it is not original and buyers might think it was badly dropped. That little dent is easily done. Maybe you could find someone who could pop it out from the inside.
I was going to Cafe my 1100F when I first got it but no way now (good influence from this site). I do have a beat-up 900F that needs a new tank, forks, etc., etc., and this one is being Cafe'd.
If your bike was mine I would only do the required maintenance, maybe touch-up frame scratchs and buff the rest.
Also cruise the tech section, there is important info on the valves and other stuff.
You haven't asked about pods yet, why not?

Brian

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:22 pm

The paintless dent removal guys can get that dent out easy..

That is a pretty nice example of a bone stock machine.
I would personally keep it that way..

There are plenty of these bikes around still, if you want to mod one just get another one...IMO of course.. Very Happy

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:43 am

cb1234 wrote:

Curious where you found this one? Craigslist, kijji?

I wouldn't mind joining you guys come spring for a little ride if you could handle one more?

Sounds good CB1234, stay tuned!

Twinstar Joined: Dec 20, 2011 Posts: 61 Location: Toronto

basmn wrote:

wow what a deal. nice to see another Toronto f'er.there is a bunch of us that gather here in TO and do weekly rides, i hope you will join us. What part of TO do u live in?
Ed

I live in Richmond Hill. Just moved here from Thornhill about a year ago. Love it!
Yeah please let me know about any group rides in the Toronto area I'd love to meet you guys and get some more information about this bike.

As far as where I found it... A guy I work with who knows I'm an avid biker and sees me riding my M109R to work all summer asked me if I knew what a Cb900f was. Said no. He said he had one in storage for more then 20 years and was tryin to sell it for 1000 bucks. Said no and I'd help find a buyer. Year went by and no one was interested. Lowered the price to $700 and I said I'd pick it up so my girlfriend can ride it.

Now I decided its mine and she can't have it lol

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:04 am

That bike is badly in need of customising.

I want your pipes, seat & wheels. EM me privately when you've made a decision.... Idea

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:09 pm

I think modifying the bike gives me a better appreciation for the bike and how it works. I don’t like getting stranded when I could have fixed something right away. Plus - You can always go back to stock...just keep all your parts. Might as well enjoy the hell out of these old bikes and making them run stronger and better handling. just my 2 cents

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 4:59 pm

I have no issue with some modifications for more reliability - CBR coil conversion for example. I also have no problems with aftermarket upgrades like shocks. Or period correct things like sport kit, etc. If you want to get really radical - monoshock conversion, swap in a modern front end, for example, I would agree with others who are proponents of finding a less pristine example to use as a basis for the bike. Clearly this is a largely unmolested survivor, worth far more "as original" that the amount paid. IMHO, keep it, and find a project bike, or sell it to someone else, take the money and find your project ride.

YMMV,

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:07 pm

Too nice a specimen to do radical mods.

You should be jumping up and down to have found such a bike for the price. Good for you! Enjoy the hell out of it.

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:16 pm

Two years ago I restored this 1980 BMW R100RT for a customer......
It was a "rolling" restoration......the original paint was a 7 out of 10
but it was still very nice.....good patina.
I left this paint and convinced the customer to change as little as possible....
The mods were left to radial Conti GO! tires and reproduction mufflers...
I rebuilt everything and painted everything but the bodywork....

This left a bike that looked like it came straight from 1984.....and
with only 5000 ever imported to the states....it was the right choice....
A BMW collector paid the owner BIG money for this because we didn't mess
with it too much.....it was quite the time capsule...and a rip to ride.

One day our bikes will hit collector status....keep your as intact as possible...

A little trivia: This was the most expensive bike in the world in 1980 @ $6495 Shocked

Jebby

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 12:43 am

Paint the side and center stands and call it done.

CB1100F Joined: Mar 03, 2004 Posts: 3278 Location: Seattle

I have some bone stock 1100F lattice peg holders if you are interested in dumping some aluminum, and picking up some KOOL.

These are NOT rear sets...just VERY clean stockers from an 1100F.

Guys would you care to edjumacate Blight on what these are? Smile

CB1100F Joined: Mar 03, 2004 Posts: 3278 Location: Seattle

Jebbysan wrote:

Two years ago I restored this 1980 BMW R100RT for a customer......
It was a "rolling" restoration......the original paint was a 7 out of 10
but it was still very nice.....good patina.
I left this paint and convinced the customer to change as little as possible....
The mods were left to radial Conti GO! tires and reproduction mufflers...
I rebuilt everything and painted everything but the bodywork....

This left a bike that looked like it came straight from 1984.....and
with only 5000 ever imported to the states....it was the right choice....
A BMW collector paid the owner BIG money for this because we didn't mess
with it too much.....it was quite the time capsule...and a rip to ride.

One day our bikes will hit collector status....keep your as intact as possible...

A little trivia: This was the most expensive bike in the world in 1980 @ $6495 Shocked

Jebby

Jebby that is one SWEET Boxer!! Way back in the day I had a chance to ride a 900S and man oh man was she a sweet ride..

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 8:28 am

Blaine...tell are new friend here not to change his bike too much.....
That 90 is bad ass.....

Jebby

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:30 am

This why so many of us end up with more than one F. And while yours is really freaking nice in its oh so stock condition, and I'm sure you'd regret modding this one... you did only pay $700 for it. Like I wise man once said "these aint hemi 'cudas".

I'm beginning to wonder if the values are going down for this era because of the ages of the riders who had them or lusted after them is going up. These guys may have moved past their mid life crisis'. What will the next craze be? The slab side GSXR's? We're already seeing early CBR900rr's going for near what they were new.

No matter, when something hits rock bottom there will be less of them not more, then your sweet black 900f will be worth even more. Wink

You will get double the stares when you ride around on the stocker.