Question: How many years does it take for a motorcycle to

[Fishbein]

become an antique or classic? I have a Honda Shadow ACE 750 cc 2002. For the $ I would get for it I'd rather hold on to it. Do you think it will be an antique in my lifetime and ever be worth anything more than $5K?

 

[Geek_Law]

If I had kept all the cars and bikes I have ever owned, I could sell them now and retire. Once upon a time they were old, the next thing you know they are classics.

:shock: :shock: :shock:

Care to regale us with stories :lol: Or should we just start screaming ... PICTURES. Seriously though, I'm guessing you must have a very cool garage.

I miss my '74 SS Chevy Nova with a 4x Barrel carbed 350. It was just "old" when I sold it for next to nothing. I've found myself thinking about that car all the time over the past 10 years or so. :cry:

 

[Fishbein]

If I had kept all the cars and bikes I have ever owned, I could sell them now and retire. Once upon a time they were old, the next thing you know they are classics.

I hear ya...I wish I had kept my other bikes, but sold them. I'm thinking of keeping this one, but not sure if it will ever be worth anything a long time from now. It's almost 7 years old now, in very good condition, but I have put 24,000 miles on it...always serviced it timely though. So, anyone know approx. HOW MANY YEARS UNTIL YOU HAVE AN ANTIQUE OR CLASSIC? Does it depend on the model or make? I think it might be about 25 years for a car. Fish 8)

 

[Navigator]

It of course goes by both desirability of the particular bike and age, plus how many were made. The Vintage BMW association defines the terms as such:

“Classic (1970-on, at least 25 years old), Vintage (1948-1969) and Antique (1923-1945) BMW motorcyclesâ€Â

 

[valk97goose]

Wish I had kept my 1951 Vanguard and my 1969 Landrover... Why do we let these things go?

I have a 97 valkyrie Tourer, they offered me $10,000 trade in on my R3T but I couldn't do it, so looks like I will have a Classic one day...

 

[Billythebiker]

Wish I had kept my 1951 Vanguard and my 1969 Landrover... Why do we let these things go?

I have a 97 valkyrie Tourer, they offered me $10,000 trade in on my R3T but I couldn't do it, so looks like I will have a Classic one day...

Keep the Valk mate, that is a modern day classic and residuals on it can only go up 8)

 

[atomsplitter]

Basically you'll have to hold on to it for about 150 years. Japanese bikes (good as they are) are not "investment quality" unless it is rare. For example a Honda 250 cc six cylinder race bike sells for about $1,000,000.00 because they only built about 6 of them (although a Brit is currently making knock-offs for $500,000.00 a pop). The Yamaha GT1000A will be a classic very quickly (few made and fewer sold). A 1960's Honda CB77 305 will fetch upwards of $2000.00 in pristine condition. To get a CB77 in pristine condition takes about $10,000 in labor and cash. If you want to hold onto the bike because you enjoy it, that's a good reason not to sell. If you're thinking it needs to go under glass to hold its value, you need to wake up and smell the coffee.

 

[theBarzeen]

If you look at most classic bikes and cars they were cool even before they became classics....

a 1st gen CB750 was the hotness then, thus a classic now
but
no matter how long you hang on to a Kymco it will never be a classic, just old junk.

The rocket might one day become a classic if any of us can hold on to it without thrashing it to pieces.... a valk or even a Rune might become a classic as it is no longer made and was pretty cool then and now....
I could be wrong but the 750 Shadow, nor my old '81 GS 550, nor my buddies rebel 250 will ever make it to "Classic" status.... just old

 

[Billythebiker]

a valk or even a Rune might become a classic as it is no longer made and was pretty cool then and now....

 

[Fishbein]

Basically you'll have to hold on to it for about 150 years. Japanese bikes (good as they are) are not "investment quality" unless it is rare. For example a Honda 250 cc six cylinder race bike sells for about $1,000,000.00 because they only built about 6 of them (although a Brit is currently making knock-offs for $500,000.00 a pop). The Yamaha GT1000A will be a classic very quickly (few made and fewer sold). A 1960's Honda CB77 305 will fetch upwards of $2000.00 in pristine condition. To get a CB77 in pristine condition takes about $10,000 in labor and cash. If you want to hold onto the bike because you enjoy it, that's a good reason not to sell. If you're thinking it needs to go under glass to hold its value, you need to wake up and smell the coffee.

No, I never thought it would make me millions, my feet are well-planted on the ground, but you think it will be worth $5K or less even when it's 30 years old in excellent condition? That was my question and still is. Btw, no it's not in glass but covered on my carport outside. 8)