Classic Bike Values: Uncertainty Is The Buyer's Friend

22 November 2024

If there's one thing that's certain about the classic motorcycle market towards the end of 2024 it's that it's full of uncertainty. But uncertainty can generate opportunity for speculators - providing they have the cash...

Three visits to three diverse stands at the 2024 Classic Motorcycle Showcase and the NEC's Classic Car Show revealed three very different views and reactions to buying, collecting or hobbying.

"There's definitely been a correction when it comes to values," said Andy Bolas of the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club. "Bikes that commanded a premium two years ago are definitely down in price. For instance a nice Suzuki RG500 that was then £25,000 is now lucky to reach £20,000, and an average condition RGV250 that would have been £8,000 to £10,000 is around £6,000 now."

Over on the BSA Owners' Club stand, the polar opposite of zinging and howling Japanese machines and ownership, the view was very different. "We're not bothered about values, it's all about the enjoyment of ownership," said Bill Nelson.

But what perhaps spelt out the all-over-the-place classics environment was the outcome of the Iconic Auctioneers sale in Hall 2 at the NEC. This time last year I was talking to the team there about £20,000-£35,000 Ducati Senna bikes. This year a Senna 2 sold for £12,650.

Then there were the 1970s and '80s Japanese trail bikes.

Pre- and during-pandemic just about everything seemed to have a £5,000 starting price slapped on it, with some rare (because most were thrashed and trashed) nostalgia-fuelled bikes like Yamaha XT500s often nudging £10,000 or more.

Yes, you could do some bargaining - as I did buying my very own 1972 Yamaha DT2 - but not by much. So had the trail bike market corrected itself too?

Well, a 1975 £3,220 Suzuki TS125 - original and unrestored - made two statements: originality remains key, and, actually, that was probably not far off what I'd have expected at peak value.

A 1979 Yamaha XT500 made £7,590, a slightly less tidy but equally original machine sold for £5,175, and a bunch of other '70s and '80s Honda and Yamaha thumpers, mainly original and ready to ride, fetched between £3,220 and £4,600.

Japanese road bike values were a mixture of as expected and baffling. A safe as houses 1972 Honda CB500 pulled in £5,520, while a 1982 Honda CB250N made £3,910. That's a bike you'd struggle to give away not so long ago.

By today's standards, 1980s Kawasaki GPZs were not always easy on the eye, with a trio of 550s netting between £2,070 and £4,600, but a 600 - albeit a non runner, but almost entirely original - making £1,150.

Scooters too, have "corrected" in value. Pandemic era sales saw a spike, but consulting archives, prices seemed to have dropped by between 30% and 50%.

Andy Bolas is a reasonable arbiter of what's worth looking for: "If you're looking at '90s bike, you're going to be looking at something like Honda's CBR 600F, things like that, they're extremely good value.

"You can pick up something almost showable for under £3,000 pounds, which is extremely good value and they're quite a competent motorcycle.

"I recently I picked up a Suzuki SV650, the T reg, two owners and less than 10,000 miles - £1,400.

"I've been looking on and off for one for a while. Earlier this year I looked at a couple. One was £3,000, the other £3,500."

And judging by the condition it's in - al but immaculate - he's right: it's a buyer's market alright.