When is the best time too sell up?

[greencat]

Investing in retrobikes is like investing a warm jacket. You don't go into it to see a financial return, but may still benefit hugely.

With retrobikes, there is a likelihood that as we age out ie hit our 60s/70s the value will decrease as there will be fewer collectors who were there/adding to their collection and some will want to liquidate their collection to fund their retirement (or their relatives will after their death). It's possible, however, that bike companies/media etc may inject new interest via nostalgia based marketing. That could happen at any point.

Some iconic/rare bikes may continue to increase in value throughout. For a long term view, ask yourself how much the average mass produced bike from the 40s/50s is worth? I've found old rod brake bikes simply dumped on the street, ridden them for a few months and left them out for the next person to ride. A few of the nicer examples sit in museums/collections - but suspect demand is relatively low.

 

[BlackCat]

Re:

I’m 42 and I’ve been into these things since 1991, with my little bro’s red splatter GT Outpost. If I add up the current market value of everything I’ve accumulated, I suppose it starts to feel like real money. However, I was lucky to grab things maybe a decade ago for a lot less than current prices, so you could say I have made money, should I decide to sell. Lucky me. I’m sure most of us that have been on the site a while are in the same boat.

Thing is, this is a hobby for me and all hobbies come with price tags. I spend only what I can afford to, so if it all goes to zero, it won’t affect me materially from a financial perspective. However, this is my passion and I won’t be selling. Frankly, my car goes before this.

Being completely open with you all, there is a dark corner in my soul that sometimes whispers to me about the collections of RBers 20 or 30 yrs older than me.. if they want to hang up their spds.. that feels like a buying opportunity! But... as a collector, not as an investor.

We’re all different. The advice I’d give you is this - if you are beginning to lose sleep over the money sitting in your garden shed, and that has more value than the feel good factor of this hobby.. sell some of it down. Maybe focus on one key bike and “curate” the parts to an ultimate spec over the years. That way you keep the hobby but reduce the financial commitment.

 

[Tootyred]

As another retiree, my take is that everybody at 30, 40, 50 wants the bike they could not have at 15. You know the one......face pressed against the bike shop window, reading the specs time and time again in mbuk, athena poster etc.

However, the section of the general population who will still be riding will decrease with age. All my mates rode as kids....now im pretty much the last who does anything other than a quick tootle with the grandkids at the park!

So, it follows that the number of people seeking bikes of a certain age will eventually decline.

The only exception is .....well......us guys, enthusiasts, and whilst im sure that can support prices to a degree, its not going to compensate for a 30 to 50 general population desperate re conjure their youth for a year!

So the upshot is, if you want cash, sell your bike from 1996 to a 40 year old having a major crisis. Kerrrrr- chingg.

Because by the time he's 50 he wont be bothering.

 

[Gtpulse]

Re:

While I don’t see it as an investment, for me collecting bikes has always been a “self funding” hobby. By this I mean I buy well and generally make back my outlay on selling surplus parts or frames that don’t fit me. I don’t drink/smoke/gamble etc. I’ve only ever spent what I could afford, knowing that if I buy sensibly at worst I’ll get back what I paid for something or even worse just had the pleasure of using it - really not that bad an outcome. Money in savings is dead money these days, likely to be worth less in 5 years in real terms than when you banked it. Stocks and shares maybe worth it if you’ve got the spare cash and/or knowledge/luck ! Money that I could have spent on drink/cigs/foreign holidays is all converted in to my house/old tools/old bikes. I never once regret having spent it that way every time I go out in to the garage for a rummage for parts or a look at the stable.
In terms of when’s the right time to sell up my only concern is if I’ve still got it all in 40 or 50 years time will my kids know the value sentimental or otherwise of all that is there. I can see myself looking down from above cringing at someone doing a clearance on my special things!

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

Don't think you will have to worry if your kit is reasonably desirable as retro bikes have followed a very similar pattern to vintage Radio Controlled buggies but 10 years behind.

1- Interest picks up in a old memory.
2- Forums spring up and interest grows.
3- Lot's of lovely original and sometimes rare items pop up. Plenty of bargains about.
4- Realising there's a market the general public cotton on and empty their garage/loft.
5- Market is busy but demand is there so prices increase. Less bargains.
6- Market get flooded, interest tails off a little.
7- Forums and sales have a lull.
8- The hobby slims right back to early levels but interest remains and most prices hold.

We're at 8, just a the R/C stuff has been for years. A mint Tamiya Egress will still cost loads, a snotty Tamiya Thundershot will still make £100. Collectors have most of the best stuff and don't sell often so there's less stock but demand remains. Honestly, the path has been identical.

 

[Splatter Paint]

Re:

I’ll illustrate my point with a couple of examples:

My Dad was recalling the other day how in the 70s it was cheaper to buy a whole British motorbike from the scrapyard than buy the part he needed (a magneto as it happens). Now all Brit bikes, however basic or crappy are fetching good money.

Have you looked at the prices of early computer games consoles on eBay? They’re going up.

I just sold my MiniDisc player for three times more than it cost me to buy my daughter an iPod Touch (used but mint) for Christmas.

There are trainer resto vids on YouTube!

Vinyl record sales are rising, cassette tape sales are rising.

So old sh*t Brit bikes are worth £££ 50 years later, 90s and early 00s stuff is creeping up in price. I think people are looking back to the 90s with rose tinted specs, or, simply accepting that 90s stuff is what it is and loving it for it. Therefore I think at some point 90s bike prices will begin to rocket.

SP

 

[Splatter Paint]

Re: Re:

Don't think you will have to worry if your kit is reasonably desirable as retro bikes have followed a very similar pattern to vintage Radio Controlled buggies but 10 years behind.

1- Interest picks up in a old memory.
2- Forums spring up and interest grows.
3- Lot's of lovely original and sometimes rare items pop up. Plenty of bargains about.
4- Realising there's a market the general public cotton on and empty their garage/loft.
5- Market is busy but demand is there so prices increase. Less bargains.
6- Market get flooded, interest tails off a little.
7- Forums and sales have a lull.
8- The hobby slims right back to early levels but interest remains and most prices hold.

We're at 8, just a the R/C stuff has been for years. A mint Tamiya Egress will still cost loads, a snotty Tamiya Thundershot will still make £100. Collectors have most of the best stuff and don't sell often so there's less stock but demand remains. Honestly, the path has been identical.

Yep. At 8.... unless bikes become a mainstream investment.

 

[mtbdave]

Re: Re:

I’ll illustrate my point with a couple of examples:

My Dad was recalling the other day how in the 70s it was cheaper to buy a whole British motorbike from the scrapyard than buy the part he needed (a magneto as it happens). Now all Brit bikes, however basic or crappy are fetching good money.

Have you looked at the prices of early computer games consoles on eBay? They’re going up.

I just sold my MiniDisc player for three times more than it cost me to buy my daughter an iPod Touch (used but mint) for Christmas.

There are trainer resto vids on YouTube!

Vinyl record sales are rising, cassette tape sales are rising.

So old sh*t Brit bikes are worth £££ 50 years later, 90s and early 00s stuff is creeping up in price. I think people are looking back to the 90s with rose tinted specs, or, simply accepting that 90s stuff is what it is and loving it for it. Therefore I think at some point 90s bike prices will begin to rocket.

SP

Nothing to do with prices being pushed up with pandemic.

Trainers have always a big collectors thing a mate of mine has a room in his house full of em.

Rest of the things there are because of the pandemic (IMO)

 

[mtbdave]

Re: Re:

Don't think you will have to worry if your kit is reasonably desirable as retro bikes have followed a very similar pattern to vintage Radio Controlled buggies but 10 years behind.

1- Interest picks up in a old memory.
2- Forums spring up and interest grows.
3- Lot's of lovely original and sometimes rare items pop up. Plenty of bargains about.
4- Realising there's a market the general public cotton on and empty their garage/loft.
5- Market is busy but demand is there so prices increase. Less bargains.
6- Market get flooded, interest tails off a little.
7- Forums and sales have a lull.
8- The hobby slims right back to early levels but interest remains and most prices hold.

We're at 8, just a the R/C stuff has been for years. A mint Tamiya Egress will still cost loads, a snotty Tamiya Thundershot will still make £100. Collectors have most of the best stuff and don't sell often so there's less stock but demand remains. Honestly, the path has been identical.

Yep. At 8.... unless bikes become a mainstream investment.

Bitcoin is an investment old bikes will never reach such levels

 

[d8mok]

Re:

I sold all my childhood toys and computer games about 3 years ago when I saw what 80’s/90s stuff fetched. It’s pretty crazy and I had no attachment and made several grand from it.