Airhead popularity and values in twenty years

MotoRevive said:
You haven't paid anyone to work on your bike for a while have you ?? 😄😄😄😄

Your local BMW dealer is likely charging £160ph.

Most smaller shops are around £100-120ph

As a one-man band independent, I charge £75 ph.

£75 Sounds a lot. It does to me too. But it doesn't feel that way you see the outgoings. Running a legal and legitimate business in the UK is so expensive it's possitively hostile.
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Haha, I could tell a tale of a main dealer fettling my bike when my mate who used to own it and took it there as a last resort as he had run out of time prior to his holidays, let it be said, I will not be taking it back to a main dealer!

I will tell you tomorrow what my one-man indi charges when he checks over my new steed, prior to its MOT.......I am hoping for a pie and a pint :ROFLMAO:
 
If you intend to keep motorcycling for the next 20 years then it would be interesting to do a comparison between the costs of running a old airhead and a much newer , or even new bike that you would probably need to replace every 3 of 4 years , to keep up with changing emmision legislation . Twice now ive been in my local BMW mottorad dealer and listened to people complaining about servicing and repair costs. The one the other day with a 1250 GS came out with a MOT and sevicing bill for £1500 , he looked a bit pissed off and commented , what with Keir Starmer and BMW his pension wasn't going very far. Maybe he should sell the BMW and buy a Royal Enfield ? If i can keep my airheads going for the next 20 years , i have 4 , then even if there value is £0 , i reckon that i will have saved a packet and had a interesting time tinkering. I just put a new clutch friction plate in my R100 and i think it cost me around £65 , being old teck its a pretty easy job , but on a new bike i dread to think.
 
I wonder whether a ‘sweet spot’ for classics might occur, based upon the last of the repairable bikes?

What I mean, is that it’s possible that modern bikes will become economically unattractive to maintain. When a modern bike gets to the age when it needs an electronic brain, or a dash, an ABS pump, a shaft…these parts can be so expensive the bikes just won’t be repaired.

So the last of the bikes that had carbs, analogue clocks and most likely a chain, will those become the desirable classics of a future generation?
 
The Other PaulG said:
I wonder whether a ‘sweet spot’ for classics might occur, based upon the last of the repairable bikes?
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The airheads and probably the 1100 and 1150 GS....after that, probably not? There'll also be the issue of actually finding someone who can sort out a carb set up, local to you (unless you're mechanically minded or are happy to 'give it a go'?
 
I was talking to a bod at the IOM GP last week who owns a BSA Gold Star. He said it's value has dropped from £25k recently and he'd be lucky to get £11k for it.
It's a bit scary if you only buy a bike for investment purposes but if it's your cherished favourite toy then value doesn't come into it.
I'd love to own an old bike but the running costs put me off as I'm not particularly adept or enthusiastic for tackling anything beyond an oil and filter change etc.
My personal answer to this is modern retro classics. Call me a philistine if you wish but I believe they can be the best of both worlds.
Classic looks, modern tech and reliability in one package. But that's just my humble opinion.
 
£25k to £11k was always going to happen with stuff like that (It'll happen with the mad prices of classic 70s and 80s Fords in years to come) and you're right on both counts.....buy the bike you love for the love of it rather than any idea of 'investment' and you'll be fine....and stuff like the new Z900rs really chime with me, over a 1975 classic Z900 costing more and that I'd be wary of banging miles on.
 
The Other PaulG said:
So the last of the bikes that had carbs, analogue clocks and most likely a chain, will those become the desirable classics of a future generation?
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BMW has been making fuel injected bikes since the 1980s so I don't think having a carb is going to figure greatly in decision making. Are parts for these 40 year old bikes any more scarce than parts for older bikes with a set of Bings?

As I mentioned above, future generations are not going to be collectors of these bikes. My son is an urban dwelling millennial. He has no interest in vehicles and does not even have a licence. Buses, trains and ubers figure in his life. His generation do not have the same security of employment and accommodation older generations enjoyed. Those in that position tend to own less stuff and do not want to breed.
 
I probably don’t fit the conventional classic bike buyer profile as most of mine have become classics in the course of my ownership. I’ve had my R100GS since 1990 bought specifically for a trip to South Africa, it’s still my favourite bike and I don’t care about it’s value. I still have my 1954 BSA A10 which I bought when I was a penniless student in 1975 and my Mk2 LeMans which I bought in 1979 and I have a 1981 R80G/S which I bought more recently as a project. Dozens of other bikes have passed through my hands over the years but these days I just like to keep the bikes I have on the road and to keep riding them. I do everything myself including fitting tyres and have absolutely no interest in their value, although I may thin out the fleet in a few years and will be keen to maximise the value then.

Hopefully, I’ll still be riding in 20 years but that’s in the hands of the gods.

PS @MotoRevive I’m still using my mercury manometers to balance the carbs.
 
My 2 penneth,
For the most part,an 80’s or even 70’s airhead can cut it in modern traffic,reasonable power,brakes and handling.
Add into that the availability of nearly any parts you’ll need.
I can get pretty much anything I need to do a full rebuild on the engine,gearbox,clutch and bevel on the very next day.
Rare parts can be pricey but can normally be found ok.
Compare that to an 80’s jap,or Italian bike.
A good example bike will be reliable,won’t really depreciate.
But,getting it to that point if it’s not had some tlc in its 40 plus years might prove a bit expensive if it’s got issues.



Edit.
In the long term,it’ll be cheaper than owning the latest plastic fantastic
 
Some folk are starting to learn (Or re-learn after forgetting) the joys of riding "Modern classics". Youtubers are all over it. Adam Reiman with his XRV750, Itch Boots on her XT600 etc.

It can be a gradual thing, but people forget the experience of riding a bike that doesn't do all the thinking for you.

No learn angle ABS, no traction control, no ESA, no widescreen TV telling you the weather in Dubai or telematics calling Thunderbirds because you dropped your bike in a carpark.

I enjoy modern bikes. They're fast, smooth, comfortable and mostly reliable. But I only own modern classics now. I have a XRV750, DRZ400 and probably an airhead beemer soon.. They're proper bikes. They smell like proper bikes. The sound like proper bikes. And when I ride them, I know every great ride is because of me. Not because of the on-board computer. I'm connected to the bike. It's man and machine. In harmony.

I truly believe modern classics (90's 00's) are the pinnacle of Motorcycle enjoyment. The technology, engineering, reliability and 'know-how' was all there. But without the influx of gadgets, electronics and EURO safety fanatics ruining everything.

We ride for the experience. Not because it's practical. Otherwise we'd just get in the frigging car.

The happiest bikers I know are those with a newish bike for all the usual reasons. And something 20 years old to compliment it when they're bored of riding a smartphone.

I'll be riding my 20 year old DRZ400 along the Trans-Moroccan trail in November. I sold my 2023 Husqvarna 350 because it's wouldn't be fun when I know I could point it at anything and it do it without trying.
 
My R100GS was not quite new when we bought it in 1989, probably what is called ‘pre-registered’ these days. Apart from things we all knew about back then such as weak shaft drive UJs, bean can issues, feeble OE rear shock etc. I fully expected the bike to be quite capable of a 30,000 mile 2 up, heavily laden overland trip which it proved to be. The bike has, obviously, had a fair amount of attention over the years since then but very few modifications and I would expect it to be just as reliable now, 36 years on as it was then. I wouldn’t hesitate to set off to Cape Town tomorrow on it. I know a lot more now, especially on the tyre and suspension front and, these days, everything that you need to carry on such a trip is much smaller and lighter which would compensate for me and wifey possibly having put on an extra kilo or two!
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I’m off on a short weekend trip to the new forest this weekend, and taking the basic instead of the 1300gs as I want to reconnect to proper biking.
Far too easy on the modern bike, so a bimble along back roads on the old basic gs will be fun.
 
MotoRevive said:
Some folk are starting to learn (Or re-learn after forgetting) the joys of riding "Modern classics". Youtubers are all over it. Adam Reiman with his XRV750, Itch Boots on her XT600 etc.

It can be a gradual thing, but people forget the experience of riding a bike that doesn't do all the thinking for you.

No learn angle ABS, no traction control, no ESA, no widescreen TV telling you the weather in Dubai or telematics calling Thunderbirds because you dropped your bike in a carpark.

I enjoy modern bikes. They're fast, smooth, comfortable and mostly reliable. But I only own modern classics now. I have a XRV750, DRZ400 and probably an airhead beemer soon.. They're proper bikes. They smell like proper bikes. The sound like proper bikes. And when I ride them, I know every great ride is because of me. Not because of the on-board computer. I'm connected to the bike. It's man and machine. In harmony.

I truly believe modern classics (90's 00's) are the pinnacle of Motorcycle enjoyment. The technology, engineering, reliability and 'know-how' was all there. But without the influx of gadgets, electronics and EURO safety fanatics ruining everything.

We ride for the experience. Not because it's practical. Otherwise we'd just get in the frigging car.

The happiest bikers I know are those with a newish bike for all the usual reasons. And something 20 years old to compliment it when they're bored of riding a smartphone.

I'll be riding my 20 year old DRZ400 along the Trans-Moroccan trail in November. I sold my 2023 Husqvarna 350 because it's wouldn't be fun when I know I could point it at anything and it do it without trying.
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Yep. Mrs Berin and I rode down through France to the Costa Brava, now crossing the Pyrenees, mostly on the ACT trails.

I’m on my modern-ish but still 20 year old HP2E, Mrs Berin on her Basic. They are a delight. And whenever we stop, it’s really Mrs Berin’s 30 year old bike that people want to talk about, not just oldies either.

We were talking about how much more fun this trip is, then it would have been on our newer bikes.
 
Must say, my old basic has had some very favourable comments since I’ve owned her ( about four months now)
Just updating bits n pieces to get her exactly as I want her. Lucasz ( denZo) at t tech refurbished the rear shock for me….and that has now shown up the front forks, so will be fitting Andreani cartridges sometime in the near future.

Then maybe swap the ignition for a wedgetail unit as I know from my old ST how good they are, and the Hall effect sensor, and diode board are the only worries I have about the electrics. Maybe a thunderchild diode board when I’m doing the wedgetail…..hmmmmm…..it’s only money, and I can keep the bits I’ve removed to future proof the bike.

Had a nice little trip to the new forest, and the basic was perfect for the roads down there.
 
Bubb said:
I’m off on a short weekend trip to the new forest this weekend, and taking the basic instead of the 1300gs as I want to reconnect to proper biking.
Far too easy on the modern bike, so a bimble along back roads on the old basic gs will be fun.
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That's why I bought my 411 Himalayan, a simple bike for proper riding around the lanes of Dorset and through Europe, I'm not usually in a rush to get anywhere :)
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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