Vintage bikes, why are they so expensive

[JJH]

...except for the models that are now apparently more numerous than were actually made

Good observation and well said JJH

 

[dazzer]

I've recently joined the Vintage club and rather fancy, or should I say fancied, an old British iron.
Something like a Norton ES2, 500cc, pretty common in it's day, a go to work on type hack back then.
But the prices !
Doubled in the last few years people at the club reckon.
But why ?
You look round the Vintage club meetings and most people are of the retired age group and there are very few aged under 50.
So therefore membership should be on the decline as the reaper and infirmity take their toll, so therefore prices should be going down.
I know a few are exported and a few are bought as an investment but why are they so expensive ?

I thought this 15 years ago. I thought that at some point there would be more classic bikes for sale than people left that enjoyed them. How wrong I was.
Back in the early 1990's with the job I had I used to come across loads of old british bikes in sheds and cellars. Now you never see them as there either restored and in use, or now sold on ebay.

I was lucky with one of my last jobs that the chap had a 1942 Trails AJS in his Kitchen I asked if he wanted to sell it. " No I have had it from new " he says, but I may sell you one of the other 24 british bikes I have in the Barn
There still out there and if your lucky you may just find a genuine seller.

 

[Streetsurfer]

Richard can you contact me, for me there is no possibility to contact.

 

[dazzer]

Here is my 1955 Matchless G3LS only covered 310 miles since full rebuild.
I may put her up for sale soon due to leaving UK.

ps... if your initials are TAH and you own a Ducati 916 the reg plate on my bike is for you !!

 

[patzx12]

Interesting comes to mind something different.
0 Depreciation is nice.
Cost nothing to run, easy to service and cheap parts.
My 5800cc Cadillac costs €48 road tax and €199 insurance.
Would i spend €50k plus and €2000 a year road tax for a big Merc?
No way.

 

[dod]

AJS 1927 K6 350

My 1927 AJS 350 K6, the R6 of its day, a late 'Big Port' -from the large exhaust pipe. A very sporting model, light, goes well, stops badly, typical of the period when engine development exceeded chassis development. This was/is expensive!

 

[Smiler400]

.......but why are they so expensive ?

Because some silly fecker buys them