There's a number of classic motorcycle auctions coming up, timed nicely to coincide with the itches we all get when winter's frosts and dismal seasonal grey days show signs of receding.
Like wildlife, our classics will progressively surface from hibernation - but while some of us will be happy with our current stable, others want to swap to something fresh and different, or to add to the collection.
But at the moment, it's a confused market. Talking to a range of auction houses such as Iconic Auctioneers, Bonhams and H&H amongst others, values, valuations and demand are all over the place.
Let's look at demand first. Well, ultra-high-end classics are selling; we're talking about six-figure-plus machines, but obviously in small numbers. But there's turbulence. Most bikes with Brough written on them appear to be holding their value, with the occasional anomaly: bad timing or bad luck in terms of the bidders watching or present has seen some relative undervaluing.
However, there's still the occasional unexpectedly-high hammer price, and the really expensive bikes do change hands quietly and privately between wealthy collectors.
There's also been interest in significant and successful race bikes of late, primarily late '90s-'05 bikes, albeit a tier below with prices generally around £45,000-£60,000.
Meanwhile, entry-level bikes, with estimates in the low-ish four figures, also seem to be doing OK; it's probably more influenced by collectors and sellers of low-ish value machines selling at anything from desperate to competitive pricing than buyers being flush.
It's the mid-range and older bikes that are proving difficult to predict.
First, let's look at older bikes: it's well-established that pre-WW2 machine values have fallen off a cliff. It's probably not the values or prices, it's simply that the market just isn't there for such bikes.
It's for a simple and brutal reason: the people who wanted those bikes are no longer with us. It means there's some apparently bargain prices, but forget them from an investment perspective - they'll be as difficult to move on as a two-bedroomed apartment in a Spanish holiday development.
More modern mid-range bikes - '70s and '80s Japanese in the main - seem to have "corrected" in values. Machines that peaked at £20,000 or more just a few years back are now in some cases seeing auction estimates of £12,000-£15,000 - notably Kawasaki Z1s and Honda CB750s.
1980s two-strokes, such as Yamaha RDs, have also recovered from value hysteria: looking through the auction listings there's some very affordable bikes ready to take those of us in certain age ranges back to our years of aspiration (but hard-pressed wallets).
But you've also got to think about the influence of modern bikes: Norton's "resurgence", with a new range of Ducati-competitive bikes, might do something for the profile and desirability of modern Norton classics. Is it me, or are there quite a few Commandos up for auction at the moment.
Honda has also gone a bit retro. Again. The new CB1000F comes out soon, and, to me, it has much of the looks of my 1992 CB1000F Super Four - a big bruiser of a naked. Might the new "F" spark interest in the original, which, by the way, is just such a great bike.
What does all this mean for buying and selling classics? Actually, it's all probably still a little on the uncertain side of a steadying market.
And uncertainty could well mean a very interesting and tempting buyers' market.
Image credits
Bonhams Cars and Motorcycles
H & H Auctions
