Wow, the custom Harley market is really in the gutter
 

I can't believe $9,995 buys something like this. I remember when these were going for $70,000!

Custom Pro Street Bike

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1486396244.jpg

Thats a man's bike!:cool:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1486396360.jpg

I never really liked the famboyant bike craze, though I really appreciated some of the workmanship.

They have aged about as well as the over the top 80s porches. Painting that thing black would be a huge improvement IMHO

Don't do that! It seems like everybody is panting everything black, don't bastardize some one's hard work.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1486397018.jpg

I have no idea what is going on in the bike world, but there is no way I could ride around on that chrome and near florescent pink thing. It seems perfect for the affliction tribal arm tatoo crowd though.

Even at 9995, that's a lot of cash for a device that turns gas into noise (and won't go around a corner).

I wouldn't ever have a bike like that - just not appealing to me. I like my simple Yamaha. My guess is the high prices they brought back in the day resulted from the time people were using their houses as banks. Now that's gone by the wayside and so has the allure of those flashy motos.

Everything motorcycle related has 'imploded' after the recession. MO, regardless of the brand or style of riding, the market was over- saturated prior to that and an 'major adjustment' was inevitable. Toys; especially low $$ ones like motorcycles, personal watercraft, small boats are usually the first to go when things get tight around the house.

I do believe that there has been a huge leap in technology that continues today in everything 2 wheel ( even 3 wheel) transportation. There definitely was a trend for the outrageous in all areas Harley related to 1 - up the next guy just like Detroit with excess chrome and tail fins on late 50's cars. Except those bikes won't be increasing in value anytime in the future.

Exactly! Couldn't have said it better myself.

"Custom" anythings never really hold their value.

Custom Art
Custom musical instruments
Custom homes
Custom . . . 911.

Etc. :)


Seems like that bike is ok, probably cost more than that in parts for sure!!!

That's nice work but the last time I rode a hard tail I needed chiropractic. I don't think HD is the only one taking a hit. I'm thinking of selling the R1100S but it's worth so little that parting it out may have higher value. (but that's ALOT of work).

Everyone that I know that owns a similar bike hates to ride it, so that probably plays a role...

JR

Uh...old custom pool cues, those made by a handful of now deceased craftsmen, still demand gold.

Forgot your green font? :)

Custom Art? LOL

Agreed. What is a used tattoo worth?

What really kills the value on most bikes like these is that, while we refer to them as "Harleys", there typically is not a single Harley-Davidson produced component anywhere on the entire bike. It's a bastard collection of aftermarket parts. And it doesn't help that it well and truly sucks to ride, and when you get there, the rest of us just yawn and walk right past it.

I remember when the fat-tire "store-bought custom" bikes were all the rage. I had a riding buddy who forked out 28K for an Iron Horse, and another acquaintance paid over 35K for a Bourget. Never understood the appeal as they are not even really "custom" machines. They look like every other "custom"--raked front, wide rear tire, weird air cleaner, fancy pipes and chrome everything. :confused:

The bike in the OP is a soft tail.

I guess "bespoke art" is the word I was looking for.
Like . . . paintings of loved ones or pets.

And custom musical instruments almost NEVER will resale to the original cost to make them.
If they have an association with a human that makes them valuable, that's different.

The insanely expensive fixtures and finishes in high-end homes will hardly ever raise the resale of a home in proportion to their actual cost. Quality fixtures installed with a good idea will bring just as much at the sale. That $40/ft kokobolo floor is pretty, but not 4 times as pretty as a nice $10/ft oak floor.

Etc. I -think that's what I was aiming at. SmileWavy


This motorcycle is beautiful to the guy who made it and hopefully he got the same amount of enjoyment as $$. Until he sells it, of course. :)

Kind of like modified cars. By modifying to your taste, when it comes to selling time, the buyer pool becomes narrower. One man's beautiful custom is an eyesore to the taste of another, but all potential buyers will look at an unmodified vehicle in the model/year they're interested in.

Same in the collectable market...the more original, the higher the price. condition-condition-condition.