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

[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.