What bike did you own and regret selling because it's becoming collectable?

[JIMLARCH]

I owned a new 650 Triumph Bonneville in 1970.  I paid 400 pounds for it ($800).  Now I see them selling in British magazines for $10,000 and more.  I loved that bike, even if it was the most unreliable one I have ever owned.  Best paint job on a Triumph they ever did!

[maddjack]

72 cb750,when i bought it used they were a dime a dozen

[JamesG]

My wife gave away an old project XS750 Special that I got for free.  Also made me sell for basically for free a CB550...  

[sprale]

I still miss my Honda '82 C70. I picked it up in college for $350 with less than 2k miles on it. I replaced some parts, including a new carb, then sold it for $950 at around 2200 miles here in Texas. It was such a fun little bike to ride and easy to maintain. I'd like to have another someday. If not, I'd like to get a 60's Dream, Hawk or Benley.

[chornbe]

Bikes, not many. CB750 Super Sport. GL1100 Standard. GL1200 Standard.

Cars... now THAT is another story altogether.

[iXXion]

Alphabetically or chronologically?

To name a few....my CBX, CB750, and Seca Turbo.  Maybe my 650 Tornado.  Definately my 850 Commando.

I'm gonna sell my 500 Kawi triple soon...and I'm going to regret that as well.  

[Ramming Speed]

My full house 1975 RD350.  Not a day goes by that I don't regret selling it.  Of course, I would not have a driver's license any more...

I also foolishly sold my 1974 TY250 Yamaha "street legal" trials bike.  Yonkers NY was my personal obstacle course in 1982.  I think the statute of limitations is up for the places I rode and stunts done.  Many young kids learned to ride on that bike.

[dm_gsxr]

None. I try not to regret things like that. I also don't baby my bikes (or cars) so they'll become collectors items. I bought it to be used and I'm going to use it. I'll maintain it and clean it but I'm not going to go "there goes my investment" when I inevitably drop the silly thing ('busa's been on the concrete three times now and once in the dirt). Gives it character

Carl

[Steve Smith]

My '78 Kawasaki  Z1-R, '84 Kaw 750 Turbo, '80 and all 3 '82 CBXs

[Zerosum]

This is pretty much why I haven't sold my Hawk GT yet.  It's fun, but totally unnecessary since I got the V-Strom.  

I got it back to 100% this past Spring, with the intent of selling it.  But every time I ride it, I think "No way am I selling this thing!"  

Besides, it's not worth THAT much... it's in good shape, but its certainly not mint.  So it's not like I have a ton of $$ in the thing.  Plus it's one of the blue '88s, which are pretty rare.  The red and gray ones are much more common.

[sagerat]

My '82 CB750F Supersport, definitely, my '02 Viffer periodically.  

[Zeke]

1969 Genuine Cherry H-D Police Trike complete with all the lights, siren, radio.  I got 2,500 bucks 18 yrs ago and now could probably get 12 Grand or more  

[Black Ice]

'76 CB 400 F.  

[Rude_Rydah]

Not that it's becoming a collector, I just miss my TL1000s, I hope to replace it one day cheaply.

I've only owned 3 bikes. A Katana, a TL1000s, and a Busa, like Carl, I just ride them to death.

[CBOrwig]

'78 Yamaha XSEleven, Bought it new in Japan when I was stationed at Yokota. Got it through the navy exchange at Yokosuka. Paid $2800 which is about what it costs now.

[rgbeard]

'85 GL-1200 LTD.   Those are VERY COOL bike in the Goldwing world.

I bought it with around 40k miles for only $1,500.  I made quite a bit selling it on ebay.  But I still drum my fingers every now and then.

[traveler]

Honda CB750 K0

[EricD10563]

76 Honda CB750F Super Sport, It made the best sound with RC headers.

[vguy]

This is pretty much why I haven't sold my Hawk GT yet.  It's fun, but totally unnecessary since I got the V-Strom.  

I'll bet Honda kicks themselves in the ass every time they see a V-Strom, or an SV650.
And, I wonder what the Hawk would be like today, had they kept making it?

[motomem]

ZX750E Turbo

Seca Turbo

What the world needs now is a 750 Turbo sport touring bike.

[Andrew]

Kawasaki H2 750

I my wish I did not sell it, but in all honesty if I had not sold it I most certainly would not be here today to wish I still had it.  

[doug06z]

Do dirt bikes count? I once sold 2 1979 Honda CR125R Elsinoirs for $350. This was in 1987 when I was very young and dumb. One was near mint the other needed a top end rebuild. If only we could go back in time ehh

[fotomoto]

'79 CBX  

I've seen NOS tank and exhausts go for $4,000 on ebay.

[tbolt]

1975 Triumph T160. The electric start Trident, mint condition, sold for $670 in 1987.  Wish I had that one back.

[Jes_VFR]

Let's see,,,

a gs750e with a big bore motor (820cc IIRMC)
a cbr600f first gen red and black.
a rz350 yamaha hybrid, with a rd based big bore.
a fz700/tdm870/Over racing framed custom.
an Over racing OV10 (which I hear a guy is trying to shoehorn a sv650 motor with a big bore kit into).

And the bike that should have bought and finished.
A GTS-1000 based race bike.

Its sort of like I can't ever leave a bike alone.
Eventually they all get sort of frankenbiked.

[Orson]

I never bought it  

In 1984, I had the chance to buy a 1978 Ducati 900 SS.

would be quite the collector's bike now.

I still kick myself when I think about it.

[JimWilliamson]

I'm of the same mind as Carl - it's a material thing for me to use.

Aside from that, my 1984 VF1100c (Honda Magna V-65) was a bike I wanted to keep for a long time. The model might not hit collectible status though it was/is moving in that direction.

[atadaskew]

And, I wonder what the Hawk would be like today, had they kept making it?

It would have Vtec, been heavier than the original, made less power and priced $2k more than it's rivals.

[Zerosum]

I'll bet Honda kicks themselves in the ass every time they see a V-Strom, or an SV650.
And, I wonder what the Hawk would be like today, had they kept making it?

Well, as they say, it was ahead of its time.  The Hawk didn't sell because no one really "got" it.  I was only 13 years old at the time, but my Dad tells me that he remembers seeing Hawks sitting in showrooms, collecting dust for years.  

But, if it weren't for the Hawk's cult popularity in the 90s, I doubt that Suzuki would have ever made the SV.  It proved so popular that it led to the V-Strom.  That's why I kind of like having both the Hawk and the V-Strom in my garage... I've got a 90s cult bike that, indirectly, influenced my modern cult bike.

[Playinthestreet]

1968 BSA Firebird Scrambler.  Original right down to the Made in Great Britain Dunlops.

[Zixxerpilot]

I had a Seca 650 Turbo and a Kawi 750 Turbo. Those would have been some fun ones to keep!

I will say though, the Seca was a very homely looking bike.

[Mr.Black]

In 1980 I sold my 1966 Triumph for Drug money...........  

It looked like this

[Rustydust]

A 1966 Ducati 250 Diana. It wasn't near as cool a bike back in 1969 as it is now. I never did get used to the left hand kick start, and it broke a clutch cable or brake cable or throttle cable weekly it seems. But mechanically, it never let me down and all it all, it was a pretty darn good bike. Oh well......too soon old and too late smart.

[Playinthestreet]

In 1980 I sold my 1966 Triumph for Drug money...........  

It looked like this

Boy, that's a beauty!!

Rustydust I had a 67 Diana.

[JonS]

1973 Norton Commando Fastback. It looked like this, except for the holes in the cases. Mine also had clip-ons and a Dunstall half fairing.
It was the only case of love at first sight that I acted on and bought on the spot.



Edit: Missed the point of the topic. If I had that Norton, I would never sell it, but it.

[JonS]

This is a bike I always lusted after, but never owned one.



 

[sterling]

72 cb750,when i bought it used they were a dime a dozen

I cannot remember what year mine was, later than 72, and I don't really care about the value today, I just wish I never listened to my wife and sold mine! First (and second) crash on it, tons-o-miles, at least 3 different paint jobs, boxes of donated parts, even had a 450 that didn't run just in case, hell, 'our' first dog slept beside it. All I have left now is this tiny picture, I dont' know what happened to the original!

[stevent]

I bought a 1980 WSP surplus 1200 FLHP in 1985, Downtown H.D. in Seattle bought 14 of them at a state auction and sold them for $4500 each, I put 65000 miles on it and sold it for $3500 in 1990 to put my first wife through nursing school. I still had the K100RS so I didn't care at the time. In 1982 I sold my '75 380 CZ motocrosser to buy a transmission for a Shovelhead I was building, the guy I sold it to let his stepson borrow it and he siezed it running straight gas instead of pre-mix, then let it rust to death..a sad end for such a good bike..

Those are the only two I wish I still had....maybe my '79 R100RT and '78 Sportster as well..

[Indefatigable]

Wish I kept this one.  

[JIMLARCH]

1968 BSA Firebird Scrambler.  Original right down to the Made in Great Britain Dunlops.

I test rode one around 1971.  I rode it about 50 yards and the gearshift fell off.  Changed my mind.

[Indefatigable]

I had a BSA  A65T.  You had to drag a magnet behind you to catch all the parts that would fall off.  

[my2dogs]

1970 Yamaha 175 dirt bike bought new.
1972 HD XLCH I bought senior year of High School , new !
1974 Kawasaki 900 Z1 , was the first one the dealer got in. After taking a ride on my fathers 73 900 was no way I could continue riding that Harley. Within 4 months I had Kerker Exhaust, larger Mikuni carbs, cam and head work, 16" rear wheel, and more done to it.
Woman ran redlight on me in 78 that totaled the bike and just about me. I bought it back from insurance company and I rebuilt it from ground up. Was best bike I ever had. Man, I miss that bike !!
1976 Honda CB 750 I bought just because it was cheap as a second bike.
1977 Kawasaki KDX 175
1978 Suzuki PE 175
bunch more dirt bikes as I raced MX and Enduros back in the 70's. But, this all I can remember with out digging through photos.

[rbwilliams2]

My 1975 Ducati 750GT, just like this one. I rode that bike cross country during summer of 1975. Sold it for $800. Now the round-case bevel head Ducs are worth a bunch.

[MisterSmooth]

It's not collectible yet, but I carry a little bit of regret over selling my 2002 Yamaha R1.  What a beautiful bike in performance and appearance.

Some day it will become collectible, and mine was a pristine.  It was given the traditional Pledge wax wipedown every few rides.  These pics were taken about a month before I sold it with roughly 15,000 miles covered.

That said, I've learned that two bikes is really about all I can use at one time, so the garage is full right now.  


Couple of pics:

[vguy]

Well, as they say, it was ahead of its time.  The Hawk didn't sell because no one really "got" it.  I was only 13 years old at the time, but my Dad tells me that he remembers seeing Hawks sitting in showrooms, collecting dust for years.

True, but in 1999 when Suzuki introduced the SV650, and they were selling like hotcakes, why no action from Honda?
And almost 10 years later still nothing. Honda will copy Ducati, but is too proud to copy Suzuki -- who copied Honda's formula to start with.

By 2000 most everyone racing a FZR400, EX500, Hawk 650 and other lightweights had switched to the SV650. I counted more than 100 SV650 race bikes at Homestead one weekend. Honda? Nothing.

[JimWilliamson]

Wish I kept this one.  

My older brother had that bike - bring's back some memories, one was a tire smoker in the garage  

[XbbX]

I guess any street 2 stroke is collectable



really wish I woulda hung on to this bike

[Against The Wind]

My 1965 Triumph 650.  

[1KPerDay]

1973 (I think) Yamaha RT360 enduro. Wish I still had it.

[Daniel Kalal]

Is anybody collecting these things?  Horrible gas mileage, tingling fingers and fouled plugs, but great fun when kept at redline.

[TheGoose]

Well, the RC30 was already collectible..... so no, not really. My two favorite bikes not in the garage in my garage anymore are the 954RR and the Speed Triple and I doubt either will be collectible any time soon.

[stromgal]

So many years, so many bikes...

In perusing the Mid-America Las Vegas auction list, I note many bikes I've owned and subsequently sold. I couldn't afford to buy even one of them.  

[gritsngravy]

My 1994 Pacific Coast, just like the one pictured.   Bought it used a few years ago and it was just like new, even had lights in the trunk so you could see your stuff at night when you opened it up.   Just a neat bike, clearly a honda.  

Most recent sell off was my cbr  .  Spouse hasn't worked in nearly a year and my conservative paranoid side got the best of me and finally let the thing go.  (err da bike, not the wife)   Thankfully my wife is pretty much back to 100% and will possibly be cleared for work early next year but we'll take it slow.   It's been one helluva year for her.  


Ooops, nearly forgot the pic

[Andrew]

Is anybody collecting these things?  Horrible gas mileage, tingling fingers and fouled plugs, but great fun when kept at redline.

Why sure, I would love to have another triple

[ZREXER1]

As some one already posted, my 1975 Honda 400 Four. A little jewel of a bike.

Actually brought it home from the dealer still in the crate. Added a Camber 1/4 fairing.  Picture is with my Dad who had a '77 Honda 550 Super Sport at the time. Did a lot of touring on these bikes.

[Orson]

Totally cool picture with a cool dad  

[Nitro]

My 76 cb400f! The only other ones I had worth keeping,my 750 and 900 f's... I still have...

[cognosticator]

I owned a new 650 Triumph Bonneville in 1970.  I paid 400 pounds for it ($800).  Now I see them selling in British magazines for $10,000 and more.  I loved that bike, even if it was the most unreliable one I have ever owned.  Best paint job on a Triumph they ever did!

Me and you, I bought one in 1970 while stationed in Germany for the same price, then shipped it back to the states in 1971.  I still miss that bike, it was my first    I saw it on the street in front of a dealer shop and just had to have it  

[Indefatigable]

This was another great little bike I owned that never sold well in the U.S.  The Honda CB1 400-4.  It had gear driven cams and handled like a dream.  

[Global Rider]

Other than a Honda 250-6 and others like it (racing lineage or celebrity bikes), few are "collactable" or fetch any serious coin.

But there are a few oldies that are nice to own...Kawasaki Eddie Lawson Replica, Suzuki RG 500 Gamma, etc. to name a very few.

[ZREXER1]

Totally cool picture with a cool dad  

I would have been 17 in that picture, 48 now. My dad was 52 at the time of that picture. he just turned 83 this week. He rode until his mid 70's. Still in excellent health, could probably still ride if he wanted to. Picture below is when he was 81, sitting on my ZX-14

[Counter Steer]

Any bike I owned before 1970, even this beast, my beer wagon, a '42, 45 flathead.

[ZREXER1]

Also regret selling my 2002 Kawasaki ZRX 1200R, not sure if it will be a collectable any time soon though.

[Galo]

My Yamaha RD-350 and my Kawi 500cc H1 triple.  I put 33k miles on that bike....still running great when I sold it.....
Sigh....
 

[rabbott5]

While maybe not collectable yet.  My 1985 Honda Nighthawk 650SC.  I bought it used for $600 and sold it 4 years later for a grand.  Classic style that was copied by many others.

[radman]

Square Four Ariel.  A sometimes daily rider.  Yeah, I know.

[Indefatigable]

I miss my ZRX also.  

[EnthusiastII]

I'm torn. The two bikes I regret selling most were the 1976 KZ900 and the bike that replaced it, a 1978 GS1000. The 900 was the attractive brown metalflake with the pinstripes, the GS, a blue one. I had Kerker 4-1 exhaust and Dyna III ignition on both.  

[Stray Cat]

Sometimes I think I'm an idiot for selling it.  

[Tar Snake]

Why sure, I would love to have another triple

I think that's Suzuki's 500cc twin cylinder Titan. For some reason I always wanted one I ended up with a 1977 Honda CB550K as my 1st street bike.

I think Suzuki's triples were the 380 Sebring, 550 Indy, and GT750 "water buffalo". The air cooled triples had a sort of scoop shaped deal over the head that was supposed to ram cooling air past the cylinders. Don't know if it worked or not but it looked neat.

[Busy Little Whiner]

Perhaps the original owner of Mr.RC45 has regretted selling such a collectable prize to Juan Ruiz for only
10K... but I'm thanking my lucky stars... I having the ride of my life... I shall never sell... so talk to the Bank
of Mary after I'm gone...  



 

[DredheadV2.0]

I owned a new 650 Triumph Bonneville in 1970.  I paid 400 pounds for it ($800).  Now I see them selling in British magazines for $10,000 and more.  I loved that bike, even if it was the most unreliable one I have ever owned.  Best paint job on a Triumph they ever did!

1959 Honda Benly.

It was collectible when I sold it, but I didn't have any place to put it and it needed work.  But still, now that I have a garage I wish I had it back.  

It was an oddball, though - someone had taken the valanced stuff off and replaced it with SuperHawk stuff.  Even had shorty silencers.  But the motor and frame were original... as were the tires I think  

[Orson]

that silhouette embodies the true essence of "motorcycle" for me  

[boardsNbikes]

Not quite a collectable but maybe some day.  I regret selling my 1992 Honda VFR750 -- I was really in tune with that bike -- many miles and many memories.

[Hunter]

Only bike I really wish I had not sold was my RZ 350. Had the solo tail and full fairing put on it, Wiseco Pistons, Lectron carbs and Spec II pipes. Grand plans of something like a Spondon frame but it never came to pass.

...sigh, the memories.

[rsrat]

1968 Hodaka Ace 100(owned new until 1973)
1970 Hodaka Super Rat(owned from 1999-2002)

[Galo]

1968 Hodaka Ace 100(owned new until 1973)
1970 Hodaka Super Rat(owned from 1999-2002)

Along the lines of dem, one bike I rode that I WISH I had bought but didn't was a Penton ISDT...
sigh.....

[rsrat]

hey, hey!

sounds like someone of my own vintage:)

I too rode the Penton, along with Greves, Bultaco, Husquavarna and others of that ilk.