Motorcycle Conundrum...

Brando · Brando's Garage

I'll jump right in.

I've got an 86 Honda Shadow VT700 that I posted up for sale. I've dropped the price by $100/wk now for the last 3 weeks, currently listed for $1700. My friend and I did a near-complete resto on this thing. New paint, shiny bits, lots of electrical fixed, yadda yadda, there's no way we'll get back what we put into it.

I've had one serious party come check out the bike. The lowest I had planned to go was $1500. I can sympathize with this guy, college student, low income, etc. The MOST he can pay is $1350. I'm not getting any serious offers from anyone else and the usual "I'm in Europe can my agent come pick it up and give you a cashier's check for $15,000?" requests have been piling up...

I don't want this bike, despite the hard work I've put into it. I want something smaller, faster and lighter (if possible). I will probably get only $200 if I try to use it as a trade in, even then I'll still be paying someone to take it off my hands. If it weren't for the fact that this bike needs a new plate and reg, I'd probably be on it like a fat kid on cake. But still - I don't want this bike.

So, what should I do? Trade it and buy something newer? Sell it to this kid and take my $1350 as a down payment on a new bike? STFU and ride it?

stomachmonkey · 09-23-2010, 07:14 PM

Take the $1,350.

Laneco · 09-23-2010, 07:23 PM

Take $1350 - this is NOT the season to sell a bike. Alot of people are looking at winter just around the corner.

The student will probably appreciate it and you get that full-of-yummy-cookies feeling from doing a good dead for another human being.

angela

jwasbury · 09-23-2010, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Take the $1,350.

Yep

You already know this is what you must do...you don't want the bike. The offer is only $150 less than your "rock bottom." Suck it up and realize that you're lucky that you've found someone willing to pay you any amount of money for an '86 Honda Shadow

Steve Carlton · 09-23-2010, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brando

If it weren't for the fact that this bike needs a new plate and reg, I'd probably be on it like a fat kid on cake. But still - I don't want this bike.

I'm not sure what this means. Are you thinking you need to get a new plate and register it before you sell it to the kid? Can't you sell it as-is?

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Angela, are you trying to put the hex on him with the "doing a good dead

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

You gotta watch those redheads man.....

KaptKaos · 09-23-2010, 08:35 PM

I've got a 914 I can trade you for it.

Hiya Brando! Good luck with the bike.

crustychief · crustychief's Garage

I would take the money. I sold some bikes this year for stupid cheap.

aigel · aigel's Garage

$1,350 is only 10% off your lowest price of $1,500. And we aren't talking 10% off your $150,000 GT2 either.

Simple answer = Sell at 1350 or STFU and keep riding it.

I am no rich guy (maybe because of it) but I never eff around too long selling something. Time is money too and once you are done with an item mentally, it is time to let go.

George

HardDrive · 09-23-2010, 09:38 PM

You have stumbled on the BS excuse I gave my wife as to why I have not sold my Ducati 748 yet. "Its just a bad time of year....."

Brando · Brando's Garage

Angela,
Thank you for convincing me to keep the bike.

Just kidding though... Thank you everyone for your input.

I'm going to take the cash. I'm looking at the new Suzuki boulevard C50 and... I like it a lot. Same with the M50. I'll see where this takes me.

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

That's a prety radical change in bikes, going from the Shadow to a Boulevard

Jim

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

What's so bad about it? Why not keep & ride?

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Sell it. imho you're probably lucky to get an offer at $1350. Market is very soft for "toys" at the moment, and moto season is about over. Well, in much of the country

speaking of bikes, I think I need one of these

scottmandue · 09-24-2010, 07:07 AM

I'll trade you my 944

Burnin' oil · 09-24-2010, 10:53 AM

I had a VT700 in the mid 80s. I loved it. I think I bought and sold it for what you're asking.

Sell it for $1360, to ME. Can you post a pic? My wife would flip out.

Brando · Brando's Garage

Scotty, what condition is your 944 in? I know that text color, but if there's even an inkling of there being some merit behind that...

Pictures, by Request.

Body Stripped

Body Primed

Forks rebuilt

Seat Re-Done (with memory foam)

Parts Re-painted (Laquer)

Re-Assembled

Gauges installed (Bike running):

Bike complete:

That good 'nuf?