We know what it can cost to buy parts for our bikes. We've seen prices on ebay for stuff we wouldn't buy and been a little surprised. Some of us have restored or upgraded a bike and then sold it later, such as my "camp" bike. This was a 1983 gl1100 standard (poorly dressed) that I worked and learned on for three years. It was my first wing, I paid too much for it, and decided that was the price of tuition. When I decided to take it on a long ride I figured it should have some reliability upgrades. I went through the entire bike, rebuilt every system except the engine, that was swapped out for a low mileage engine from another '83 that I bought for its engine. Of course it got belts, water pump, new tires. I polished all the aluminum, forks, covers, and manifolds. Painted the engine and frame but not the bodywork, remember this bike was expected to fall over in a campground ( it didn't disappoint!) And added many parts from an interstate model to my taste, such as crash bars, bags, and mounts.
The bike performed flawlessly for a three week tour through five states without a hiccup, so when I sold it the following spring I was dismayed that all I could get for it was $1500.00. Picture attached.
And now the question...my friend (who owns a bmw bike repair shop) asked if I would be willing to " get his old goldwing running" He said "since you seem to know these bikes". He bought it in a group of bikes as a"lot" sale, it came in pieces and boxes as a low mileage bike (35k on clock) . We had to pry the front calipers off to roll it in the shop. My only directions were to "get it running for him" because he said "after I rode yours, I thought I might like one of those". When we go for our 1 week ride in august he takes his BMW R90S with a vetter fairing on it.
So I start working on this '79 gl1000. I don't remember why I took the engine out, but I decided I couldn't put it back in without a paint job. That started a domino effect that included polished covers on the new belts, polished manifolds and caps on the rebuilt carbs, new wiring to fix the damage done during a vetter fairing installation. De-rust and paint the gas tank. New parts where needed to rebuild the brakes, and new bearings in the front wheel ( stuck and wobbly) lots of brackets got sandbladted and painted, but I didn't paint the frame ( now I wish I had). I've had this bike for two years, and I know he will reimburse me for any parts and supplies I bought. Just got the new connectors to replace the melted ones on the voltage rectifier circuit, which works fine now that the other connections are clean.
Question is what's all that worth (no, I have no dea how many hours are in it...it's my hobby!)?
When I return the bike to him I will only ask for parts reimburesment and maybe a good deal on a '92 K75 that he has in the shop that needs a bunch of love (elbow grease)
What do you think a restoration like that is worth? Picture attached, he says he has the seat.
No, I'm not sorry for the long post, you going anywhere?
Edit to add pic of finished bike.
The bike performed flawlessly for a three week tour through five states without a hiccup, so when I sold it the following spring I was dismayed that all I could get for it was $1500.00. Picture attached.
And now the question...my friend (who owns a bmw bike repair shop) asked if I would be willing to " get his old goldwing running" He said "since you seem to know these bikes". He bought it in a group of bikes as a"lot" sale, it came in pieces and boxes as a low mileage bike (35k on clock) . We had to pry the front calipers off to roll it in the shop. My only directions were to "get it running for him" because he said "after I rode yours, I thought I might like one of those". When we go for our 1 week ride in august he takes his BMW R90S with a vetter fairing on it.
So I start working on this '79 gl1000. I don't remember why I took the engine out, but I decided I couldn't put it back in without a paint job. That started a domino effect that included polished covers on the new belts, polished manifolds and caps on the rebuilt carbs, new wiring to fix the damage done during a vetter fairing installation. De-rust and paint the gas tank. New parts where needed to rebuild the brakes, and new bearings in the front wheel ( stuck and wobbly) lots of brackets got sandbladted and painted, but I didn't paint the frame ( now I wish I had). I've had this bike for two years, and I know he will reimburse me for any parts and supplies I bought. Just got the new connectors to replace the melted ones on the voltage rectifier circuit, which works fine now that the other connections are clean.
Question is what's all that worth (no, I have no dea how many hours are in it...it's my hobby!)?
When I return the bike to him I will only ask for parts reimburesment and maybe a good deal on a '92 K75 that he has in the shop that needs a bunch of love (elbow grease)
What do you think a restoration like that is worth? Picture attached, he says he has the seat.
No, I'm not sorry for the long post, you going anywhere?
Edit to add pic of finished bike.