Cla$$ic motorcycle??

[recman25]

  I just watched an episode of "PawnStars" where a guy brought in a classic Triumph 750 that was apparently worth $20000. So Im curious what does everyone think the chances are that our Valkyries could bring in that kind of cash in the future. Any idea how many of these bikes are still on the road? P.S. if anyone wants to buy mine for 20k, its yours!

[Murrgh]

  I just watched an episode of "PawnStars" where a guy brought in a classic Triumph 750 that was apparently worth $20000. So Im curious what does everyone think the chances are that our Valkyries could bring in that kind of cash in the future. Any idea how many of these bikes are still on the road? P.S. if anyone wants to buy mine for 20k, its yours!

There are an excessive amount for sale between Craigslist/Facebook/CycleTrader. They range from $3000-6000. Plenty of them still out there with <40k miles.

[Jess from VA]

You'll have to wait another 75 years or so for the numbers to go down, and collector values up.

In 75 years, I'll be 140, and won't remember my own name.   

[John Schmidt]

You'll have to wait another 75 years or so for the numbers to go down, and collector values up.

In 75 years, I'll be 140, and won't remember my own name.   

Jess, I just sing Happy Birthday to Me and when it comes to the point where you say the name, it all comes flooding back. 

[Jess from VA]

 

John, before my voice changed, and for about 10 years after, I had a beautiful singing voice. I sang in glee clubs, choirs and madrigals in school, and really enjoyed it. 

At some point later on, it was only good for starting the dogs barking. 

[Chrisj CMA]

  I just watched an episode of "PawnStars" where a guy brought in a classic Triumph 750 that was apparently worth $20000. So Im curious what does everyone think the chances are that our Valkyries could bring in that kind of cash in the future. Any idea how many of these bikes are still on the road? P.S. if anyone wants to buy mine for 20k, its yours!

If Tom Cruise does a movie or two with a Valkyrie maybe.

[DK]

The Valk is such a good bike and has such a large number of enthusiasts around the world still riding them as their primary bike that it may never become a classic; for a 20 year old bike, too many are still being maintained in excellent condition and ridden daily.

To become a classic, it helps for the bike to fall out of favor and not be ridden or maintained. Scarcity must exist for something to become a classic.

I think the Valk will follow the pattern of the early mass imported Mercedes of ‘70 - ‘73. They were great cars but their owners moved on to better cars until most have been crushed or trashed out. You can buy them today for the price of hauling them away. HOWEVER: there’s a few out there that have been garaged and maintained and if you want one, it will cost. Solid burl hardwood never really falls out of favor especially when you can’t find it anymore. Good design coupled with quality never completely loses its appeal.

[Tfrank59]

Yeah they just last too long that's the problem. If it was a leaky Triumph it would be worth something in 20 years but as it is it's just a plain old Valkyrie that keeps on going and going and going

[old2soon]

Yeah they just last too long that's the problem. If it was a leaky Triumph it would be worth something in 20 years but as it is it's just a plain old Valkyrie that keeps on going and going and going

         Sooooooo our Phatt Ghurla are more annoying than the Energizer wabbit?  Well Maybe NOT as annoying.  RIDE SAFE.

[JimC]

I look at it the other way, the Valkyrie will definitely be a classic, it is just going to take a little longer. I feel that barring some asinine rule by the EPA, it will make it.  

Cars, like the 57 Chevy became a classic in 25 years,
Motorcycles, like the Triumphs, BSA's, and early 750 Honda's (even AMF Harley's) took longer, like 50 years. Try and buy a good running 50 year old 1968 BSA today and see what it costs.

I am guessing they took longer because there are a great many fewer riders than drivers, just less interested people, and those numbers go down everyday.

Jim

[Gryphon Rider]

The Valk is such a good bike and has such a large number of enthusiasts around the world still riding them as their primary bike that it may never become a classic; for a 20 year old bike, too many are still being maintained in excellent condition and ridden daily.

To become a classic, it helps for the bike to fall out of favor and not be ridden or maintained. Scarcity must exist for something to become a classic.

I think the Valk will follow the pattern of the early mass imported Mercedes of ‘70 - ‘73. They were great cars but their owners moved on to better cars until most have been crushed or trashed out. You can buy them today for the price of hauling them away. HOWEVER: there’s a few out there that have been garaged and maintained and if you want one, it will cost. Solid burl hardwood never really falls out of favor especially when you can’t find it anymore. Good design coupled with quality never completely loses its appeal.

I think the Valkyrie certainly has the potential to become a classic.  Most cars we consider to be classics were handsome/beautiful/striking in their day, a little bit (in some cases a lot) more so than other cars in a similar category, and made people proud to own them.  I don't think a vehicle has to fall out of favour, but certainly it has to be out of production long enough that people have moved on to newer vehicles and is thus becoming far less common.  I think any vehicle that regularly gets unsolicited compliments from strangers is destined to become a classic.

I just hope I can afford to get the four-wheeler I want before the price for driveable but unrestored examples becomes unreachable.

[Jess from VA]

Classic motor vehicles may be similar to classic firearms.

The one that amazes me is the simple WWII era US M1 Carbine.

A total of over 6.1 million M1 carbines of various models was manufactured, making it the most produced small arm for the American military during World War II.

They were designed for support troops, and cheaper (and more accurate) than the .45 1911 pistol to produce.

For decades, you could find good shooters everywhere for at or under $200.  Now people are asking $800 to a thousand for one.  That's nuts.

[Patrick]

The '70s 3 cylinder Triumph's are kinda rare, but, I doubt its worth that much. Most seem to be in $5-8k range.



As far as our Valks becoming classics worthy of bringing some decent money, I'm hoping. I've told family members that I expect the Valk to be in the family 100 years from now and in the same shape its in now.

[Tfrank59]

Well a hundred years might be pushing it a little. But the key to longevity for any machine like a valkyrie is continued responsible use and of course keeping up with the maintenance. Unless somebody's going to put it in a museum where it never starts up or anything you have to keep these bikes going on a regular basis or else everything atrophies in a relatively short amount of time, methinks. It's just like the human body

[woofred1832]

          About 1 1/2 year ago I went looking and found an original 1975 GL1000  with only 18000 miles on it. Bought it for $1000.00 with some carb work and seals and a battery,  its all good. I ride it on those days when it's out for afew drinks, one guy that was looking at it offered me $5000.00 told him its not for sale. My 2014 Valk is my cruiser and the GL is my day bike, I don't plan on selling either.  I'm set for the rest of my riding years. I'm 68 now and plan to ride till I ccan't throw my leg over and go, hopefully several more years,, and my son has already put in a claim for the Valk when that day comes. Ride on life is good.