If you though that collecting classic motorcycles was a bad investment think again! You can buy four or even five of such bikes for the price of a car. They even take up far less garage space.
Since 2000, the sales of classic motorcycles have doubled. Among the higher end bikes, the Brough Superior SS100, a British bike, which was used in the film, "Lawrence of Arabia", now commands a six figure price in dollars. Don't panic - the prices of such bikes are not as high and are close to $10,000. For $5000, you can get an Italian 1950s Vespa scooter and for about $20,000 you can land up with a British classic motorcycle like Triumph. You can choose from a whole range of British, Italian, American, German and Japanese classic motorcycles.
What you need to look out for while buying them is paying the correct value. If you are inexperienced you might just end up spending on a bike which does not have original parts. Experts can tell you if the serial number of the bike is original or has been forged.
If plan to get into collecting classic motorcycles, make it a point to visit rallies, meets and other events. Subscribe to publications like Vintage Motorcycle and Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader. Look up any local clubs in your area and become a member. This way you will get to meet other collectors and exchange information.
When you start buying classic motorcycles for your collection, look for bikes that started off as expensive, such as limited edition, hand-built ones like Crocker, Brough, Vincent and Mondial.
The rarest examples of American made classic motorcycles are those made before the year 1920. There are only 200 known classic motorcycles that were made in that era and were produced by brands like Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, Cyclone and Flying Merkel. Most of these models have either been sold as scrap or traded privately. In the 1980s, an original paint 1907 Harley-Davidson came up for auction at a farm in Nebraska and sold for the rice of $175,000.
One of the rarest models that one can find is the Grand Prix race bikes in original condition. The Japanese made ones are among the most difficult to find because their engineering was supposed to kept a secret. So after a race, the bikes were compacted so that competitors could not study their inner parts. Japanese examples of such bikes are particularly scarce; since their engineering was considered top-secret.
The values of classic motorcycles are that much higher when their parts and finish are original. If you are not sure if a bike is original, call in an expert.
Since 2000, the sales of classic motorcycles have doubled. Among the higher end bikes, the Brough Superior SS100, a British bike, which was used in the film, "Lawrence of Arabia", now commands a six figure price in dollars. Don't panic - the prices of such bikes are not as high and are close to $10,000. For $5000, you can get an Italian 1950s Vespa scooter and for about $20,000 you can land up with a British classic motorcycle like Triumph. You can choose from a whole range of British, Italian, American, German and Japanese classic motorcycles.
What you need to look out for while buying them is paying the correct value. If you are inexperienced you might just end up spending on a bike which does not have original parts. Experts can tell you if the serial number of the bike is original or has been forged.
If plan to get into collecting classic motorcycles, make it a point to visit rallies, meets and other events. Subscribe to publications like Vintage Motorcycle and Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader. Look up any local clubs in your area and become a member. This way you will get to meet other collectors and exchange information.
When you start buying classic motorcycles for your collection, look for bikes that started off as expensive, such as limited edition, hand-built ones like Crocker, Brough, Vincent and Mondial.
The rarest examples of American made classic motorcycles are those made before the year 1920. There are only 200 known classic motorcycles that were made in that era and were produced by brands like Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, Cyclone and Flying Merkel. Most of these models have either been sold as scrap or traded privately. In the 1980s, an original paint 1907 Harley-Davidson came up for auction at a farm in Nebraska and sold for the rice of $175,000.
One of the rarest models that one can find is the Grand Prix race bikes in original condition. The Japanese made ones are among the most difficult to find because their engineering was supposed to kept a secret. So after a race, the bikes were compacted so that competitors could not study their inner parts. Japanese examples of such bikes are particularly scarce; since their engineering was considered top-secret.
The values of classic motorcycles are that much higher when their parts and finish are original. If you are not sure if a bike is original, call in an expert.
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