The future of the classic bike
Discussion
Scratched the itch with a Commando a few years back and, excuse me mixing my metaphors, got my fingers burnt.
This got me wondering about future classics and their values and came across the YT video below which suggests there just won't be the same kind of demand in the future for 90s and Noughties bikes as there has been for bikes from the 50s through to the early 80s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQxIUpwvnK4
There aren't the same numbers of us who rode them or lusted after them when we were younger and now finding ourselves with a bit of spare case as there were for bikes from previous decades. That's never mind whether we'll be able to buy the fuel to run them or be able to maintain them given their electronic complexity.
So I'll not be putting that SP1 aside for my pension.
This got me wondering about future classics and their values and came across the YT video below which suggests there just won't be the same kind of demand in the future for 90s and Noughties bikes as there has been for bikes from the 50s through to the early 80s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQxIUpwvnK4
There aren't the same numbers of us who rode them or lusted after them when we were younger and now finding ourselves with a bit of spare case as there were for bikes from previous decades. That's never mind whether we'll be able to buy the fuel to run them or be able to maintain them given their electronic complexity.
So I'll not be putting that SP1 aside for my pension.
clive_candy said:
Scratched the itch with a Commando a few years back and, excuse me mixing my metaphors, got my fingers burnt.
There aren't the same numbers of us who rode them or lusted after them when we were younger and now finding ourselves with a bit of spare case as there were for bikes from previous decades. That's never mind whether we'll be able to buy the fuel to run them or be able to maintain them given their electronic complexity.
So I'll not be putting that SP1 aside for my pension.
I think this is it. Much less people ride now. There aren't the same numbers of us who rode them or lusted after them when we were younger and now finding ourselves with a bit of spare case as there were for bikes from previous decades. That's never mind whether we'll be able to buy the fuel to run them or be able to maintain them given their electronic complexity.
So I'll not be putting that SP1 aside for my pension.
What went wrong with the Commando?
I have to say I'd be pleased when some of the classic love dies off. It seems every classic bike style mag just perpetually w
ks over the same 2 or 3 Triumphs and grey porridge thumpers from the 50s.If I was into buying classics and had the money and space (neither of which I have) I’d be buying bikes that I liked to look at.
Yes an SP1 might be one of those but I wouldn’t buy it to make money. I’d buy it because I either had one or lusted after one.
Bikes and cars aren’t things to make money off. Everyone and their dog is looking for the next RC30 but you’d be better off putting the money into a decent share tracker account.
There won't be the same kind of demand as less people rode SP1s in the day...which is why there's fewer SP1s around. Assuming similar survival rates then demand will be about the same for each bike. I think there is less interest in 90s-00s bikes as 20-30 year old bikes, as the survival rates are much higher (e.g. a 30 year old VFR750 has survived better than a 30 year old BSA A10 did). Once supply drops in the longer term, demand increases and values will rise for the desirable stuff but it's taking longer. There's plenty of demand for '98 R1s, SP1/2s, 916s etc so the demand is there for the poster bikes. I think that will continue. It's all image though as it always has been (e.g. a 916 being worth more than a 851/888 objectively doesn't make much sense).
The Classic Bike drop that's already showing is the drop in "grey porridge thumpers from the 50s" (to quote a previous post). As the number of older riders who had them originally drops (either death, illness, inability to kickstart, etc.) then the supply is outstripping demand and apparently the value of BSA A7s/A10, Velocettes etc. is dropping. Not really a surprise. I guess we'll shortly be in a period where Mk1 Cortinas, Morris Minors etc. start dropping in value too...maybe we already are as a Mk1 Cortina isn't worth anything like a Mk1 Escort. I'm unbiased on this, as a '59 AJS M18 owner I am looking forward to £2,000 Rudges....but won't be holding my breath.
As has been said, buying cars/bikes to make money is probably not the best investment strategy anyway. The world is going mad, buy what you want when you can afford it and enjoy it for what it is.
The Classic Bike drop that's already showing is the drop in "grey porridge thumpers from the 50s" (to quote a previous post). As the number of older riders who had them originally drops (either death, illness, inability to kickstart, etc.) then the supply is outstripping demand and apparently the value of BSA A7s/A10, Velocettes etc. is dropping. Not really a surprise. I guess we'll shortly be in a period where Mk1 Cortinas, Morris Minors etc. start dropping in value too...maybe we already are as a Mk1 Cortina isn't worth anything like a Mk1 Escort. I'm unbiased on this, as a '59 AJS M18 owner I am looking forward to £2,000 Rudges....but won't be holding my breath.
As has been said, buying cars/bikes to make money is probably not the best investment strategy anyway. The world is going mad, buy what you want when you can afford it and enjoy it for what it is.
clive_candy said:
Scratched the itch with a Commando a few years back and, excuse me mixing my metaphors, got my fingers burnt.
This got me wondering about future classics and their values and came across the YT video below which suggests there just won't be the same kind of demand in the future for 90s and Noughties bikes as there has been for bikes from the 50s through to the early 80s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQxIUpwvnK4
There aren't the same numbers of us who rode them or lusted after them when we were younger and now finding ourselves with a bit of spare case as there were for bikes from previous decades. That's never mind whether we'll be able to buy the fuel to run them or be able to maintain them given their electronic complexity.
So I'll not be putting that SP1 aside for my pension.
I dunno. I just sold my SP2 for more that double what I paid for it pre-covid. Albeit I did put some money into it.This got me wondering about future classics and their values and came across the YT video below which suggests there just won't be the same kind of demand in the future for 90s and Noughties bikes as there has been for bikes from the 50s through to the early 80s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQxIUpwvnK4
There aren't the same numbers of us who rode them or lusted after them when we were younger and now finding ourselves with a bit of spare case as there were for bikes from previous decades. That's never mind whether we'll be able to buy the fuel to run them or be able to maintain them given their electronic complexity.
So I'll not be putting that SP1 aside for my pension.
I just realised I'm not mechanically minded at all.
Steve Bass said:
Bob_Defly said:
I just sold my SP2 ........
Shame on you Bob 
My feeling is that classic (50s 60s) bike prices have already softened.
Over a 10-20-30 year horizon as we go (somewhat) electric and youngsters are not bought up in a "petrol head" environment, surely demand and therefore prices will inevitably decay.
Maybe that is too long a horizon for some of us to worry about!
Over a 10-20-30 year horizon as we go (somewhat) electric and youngsters are not bought up in a "petrol head" environment, surely demand and therefore prices will inevitably decay.
Maybe that is too long a horizon for some of us to worry about!
hiccy18 said:
EV could make ICE socially unacceptable and restrict its use, so you'd have to expect that would dramatically change the classic market, two wheels and four.
I just don't see EV taking off for 2 wheelers, simply because of the packaging constraints....Cars can carry a greater density low down and make it work... Bikes not so much
Steve Bass said:
I just don't see EV taking off for 2 wheelers, simply because of the packaging constraints....
Cars can carry a greater density low down and make it work... Bikes not so much
I agree, I think there's also issues over having sufficient rapid chargers at the frequently remote areas that bikers like to congregate. I worry what the impact on biking as a whole will be if EV takes over on four wheels as we've yet to see a convincing EV bike outside of urban runabouts. The Energica's and Zero's are not quite suitable for most bikers right now, and the problem is infrastructure as well as battery mass.Cars can carry a greater density low down and make it work... Bikes not so much
I have a few 90s/00s bikes, but purchased because I enjoy looking at them as much as I do riding..and being fairly analogue bikes, I can work on them myself.
I don’t buy to make money (as a rule, never happens anyway
), I buy for the joy of it all.. & I don’t tend to overthink the whole future EV/what ifs/petrol banned/stuff.. I live for the here and now. 
Of the bikes I do own, I think only the ZXR H2 & possibly TL-R have any chance of at least holding their value. The trick is to at least find good condition, all original examples.
But whatever, just do what you love & what brings you joy.
Peace.
I don’t buy to make money (as a rule, never happens anyway
), I buy for the joy of it all.. & I don’t tend to overthink the whole future EV/what ifs/petrol banned/stuff.. I live for the here and now. Of the bikes I do own, I think only the ZXR H2 & possibly TL-R have any chance of at least holding their value. The trick is to at least find good condition, all original examples.
But whatever, just do what you love & what brings you joy.
Peace.
Same as cars really
People get to an age where they have some spare cash typically 50s and either buy an iconic bike or one they wanted to own when they were young
Then as they get to 70/80 they die / sell them off and typically they are worth less as they are too old to be of as much interest to the younger buyers
People get to an age where they have some spare cash typically 50s and either buy an iconic bike or one they wanted to own when they were young
Then as they get to 70/80 they die / sell them off and typically they are worth less as they are too old to be of as much interest to the younger buyers
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