What's my VFR worth?

[dsmyth8604]

I've got a white 93 VFR750 for sale. Almost 38,000 miles but runs great. It needs a new right side mirror and some work paint work if your picky. Previous owner installed a new clutch. Has a pretty much brand new front tire and a brand new rear tire that needs mounted and balanced. Not sure what it's worth, so I figured I would ask you guys. I'll get some pictures later on today.

thanks
-Dan

[jethro911]

This is a pretty subjective thing. The white bikes will pull a few bucks more than a red one because they are relatively rare but it needs to be pristine. Mine was spotless, well maintained with a corbin seat, two brothers pipe, new tires, vortex sprockets and new 520 chain and I got $3600 for it with just over 20k on the clock. You are probably looking at between 2k to 2500. But really it depends on who walks up to it and how it shows.

Whatever the market will bear and how long you are willing to wait will decide.

good luck!

[emon07]

The older VFRs are something that only certain people would value and seek for purchase. I just recently purchased a 2000 VFR FI w/20k mi for $3,000 (mint condition - all documentation). I also could have bought a 1998 VFR locally for $2000 with 35k mi, so getting a newer model for an affordable price is kinda easy (the 1998 VFR needed some work and need plastics. The owner would not let the bike go for the $1200 I offered so I bought the 2000 VFR). I like the VFR but would not spend much at all on anything older than a 1997. No insult but in the New York Tri-State area a bike that is ten years or older is not attactive to most sportbike riders (especially the younger riders). An older rider may want an old VFR as a project bike to do a restoration. Most people here who do restorations (professionally or as a hobby) visit salvage yards and look for deals. Again no insult but I personally would make a $500.00 - $800.00 offer for the bike if I was interested in a bike that need a lot of work. There is also the issue of parts availablity and knowledgable techs who know how to work on a VFR and the labor cost for work that I cannot do because of skill level or required tools. Your best bet would be to try selling through Ebay or Craigslist. Also depending on the condition ofthe bike you may be better off parting the bike out which may take longer. Anyway, that is just my opinion.

[tbones86]

Originally Posted by emon07

The older VFRs are something that only certain people would value and seek for purchase. I just recently purchased a 2000 VFR FI w/20k mi for $3,000 (mint condition - all documentation). I also could have bought a 1998 VFR locally for $2000 with 35k mi, so getting a newer model for an affordable price is kinda easy (the 1998 VFR needed some work and need plastics. The owner would not let the bike go for the $1200 I offered so I bought the 2000 VFR). I like the VFR but would not spend much at all on anything older than a 1997. No insult but in the New York Tri-State area a bike that is ten years or older is not attactive to most sportbike riders (especially the younger riders). An older rider may want an old VFR as a project bike to do a restoration. Most people here who do restorations (professionally or as a hobby) visit salvage yards and look for deals. Again no insult but I personally would make a $500.00 - $800.00 offer for the bike if I was interested in a bike that need a lot of work. There is also the issue of parts availablity and knowledgable techs who know how to work on a VFR and the labor cost for work that I cannot do because of skill level or required tools. Your best bet would be to try selling through Ebay or Craigslist. Also depending on the condition ofthe bike you may be better off parting the bike out which may take longer. Anyway, that is just my opinion.

WTF are you smoking, maybe you folks over in Zoo York don't feel anything that is older than 10yrs is worth a Sh!t. But in the rest of the world a bike that runs, rides & does it well still has value. You can't touch an early 80's VF in the midwest for under a grand, $1500-$2500 if its immaculate. I could sell 73' CB 350's that have been stored in a leaky shed infested w/ mice for $500 if it ran & rode. You could sell the engine for over $500. You mentioned Ebay have you paid any attention to what bikes in decent shape have been selling for?????

Let me know in couple of years when your ready to sell your Y2K for $1200-$1500, I'll meet you @ your house 2 days after that to buy it.

[Spike]

Originally Posted by tbones86

WTF are you smoking, maybe you folks over in Zoo York don't feel anything that is older than 10yrs is worth a Sh!t. But in the rest of the world a bike that runs, rides & does it well still has value. You can't touch an early 80's VF in the midwest for under a grand, $1500-$2500 if its immaculate. I could sell 73' CB 350's that have been stored in a leaky shed infested w/ mice for $500 if it ran & rode. You could sell the engine for over $500. You mentioned Ebay have you paid any attention to what bikes in decent shape have been selling for?????

Let me know in couple of years when your ready to sell your Y2K for $1200-$1500, I'll meet you @ your house 2 days after that to buy it.

Who the heck is buying an early 80's for $2500, as a rider? OK, maybe 100 miles, all original, & to a collector. But a bike for riding for $2,500, when you can get a '98 for $5 - 6K? Doesn't make sense to me...

[tbones86]

Originally Posted by Spike

Who the heck is buying an early 80's for $2500, as a rider? OK, maybe 100 miles, all original, & to a collector. But a bike for riding for $2,500, when you can get a '98 for $5 - 6K? Doesn't make sense to me...

I promise you it isn't me, but I've seen 84-85 VF700/750 go for regularly for $1400 to $1800 w/ 5 to 15K on the clock. I looked @ a 85' last year w/ under 1K that went for $2300 & the guy that bought it rides it frequently as I pass him on a regular basis. I agree it doesn't make sense, but its pretty much what the market will bear the last few years & atleast in my area used bikes are @ a premium. When I bought my 86' two years ago I paid $1400 & it had cosmetic damage & 20K but all the mechanical issues had been taken care of( the guy actually did buy it for his collection, but his teenage son was becoming way to fond of the VFR). Compared to what I had been looking @ 83' CB900F's & the like where going for $900-$1800, the last one I test drove before I found the 86' the hole back end shifted over to one side when using the rear brake. Scared the hell out me & the guy wouldn't budge off of $1200, the 86' was a god send when I stumbled across it. It's not like I'm in the middle of BFE either I'm a little over an hour east of Minneapolis. It just blew my mind that some one thought a 93' was only worth $5-$800 after some of the crap I've looked @ for a lot more.

[emon07]

Hey you sound angry, and the Zoo York acronym is just silly. As far as Ebay goes you can forget about me doing any business there because I am not going to pay an inflated price for anything (new or old) there when I can find something better and newer for less (I am not bragging or being disrepectful in any way since I do live in an area where it is not necessary to shop online because all the major companies are here). The only useful purpose Ebay serves to me is to sell stuff that is no longer made or a one of a kind item (again this is something that is more for collector types and such - nothing wrong with that just not for me). Old bikes are fine with me, but I am not a collector so they have little to no resale value for my money. It cost more to maintain an older bike where I am, and it is not worth it to me when I can get something newer that is cheaper to maintain and enjoy. You can get mad at me, but I do not have anything to do with the state of the industry here, so your anger at me changes nothing. The reality of the situation is what I choose to deal with and you can make your own decision just as I have. As much respect I have for the past that does not mean I want to go there. The same holds true for me with bike shows, I really love some of the old bikes, but I have no interest in purchasing or owning them because I want something I can ride and have fun with rather than worry about and constantly protect. Hopefully you will understand that not everyone wants the same thing so the value of things will vary with different people. Also please note that in my original post my advice was to try and sell it on Ebay or Craigslist for the purpose of finding a large audience of people which gives you a better chance of finding someone who does like what you are selling - no insult is meant to you. Good Luck and I wish you well with whatever you decide to do.

[emon07]

BTW, just an example of my point, CBC Motorcycles in Colchester, CT has a 1981 KAWASKI CTD 550cc Description: RUN GREAT,TUNED UP NEW TIRES, NEW BATTERY which is on the web for $600.00 (nice bike in my opinion). I would not buy this but, it is really a NEAT bike (of course that is just my opinion). I can find a better deals than what is offered on Ebay. Again, I think this may be true for me here in this area but, it is not the same in other areas. Even though I am living in NYC the Tejas in me is about being a straight shooter and saying what you mean.

[PLCBithead]

On kelly its retail value is $3195, That's based on a bike in good condition with everything working and paint/finish age appropriate. 40K miles would not be considered excessive, but based on your general description I'd say around low to mid 2K range is market value.

[reg71]

Comments have been heating up around here lately. I enjoy the banter, but let's all remember that tone is difficult to convey in a post. Healthy debate makes for more diverse comments to read.

As far as the prices go...around here it seems like you can hardly ever find a running bike for less than 1000. No matter how old. I have seen 1500-2000 on 20 year old bikes in good shape. I did find a good deal on an 84 VF500, though. The seller wanted it gone and I was first to offer some cash.

[tbones86]

Originally Posted by emon07

Hey you sound angry, and the Zoo York acronym is just silly. As far as Ebay goes you can forget about me doing any business there because I am not going to pay an inflated price for anything (new or old) there when I can find something better and newer for less (I am not bragging or being disrepectful in any way since I do live in an area where it is not necessary to shop online because all the major companies are here). The only useful purpose Ebay serves to me is to sell stuff that is no longer made or a one of a kind item (again this is something that is more for collector types and such - nothing wrong with that just not for me). Old bikes are fine with me, but I am not a collector so they have little to no resale value for my money. It cost more to maintain an older bike where I am, and it is not worth it to me when I can get something newer that is cheaper to maintain and enjoy. You can get mad at me, but I do not have anything to do with the state of the industry here, so your anger at me changes nothing. The reality of the situation is what I choose to deal with and you can make your own decision just as I have. As much respect I have for the past that does not mean I want to go there. The same holds true for me with bike shows, I really love some of the old bikes, but I have no interest in purchasing or owning them because I want something I can ride and have fun with rather than worry about and constantly protect. Hopefully you will understand that not everyone wants the same thing so the value of things will vary with different people. Also please note that in my original post my advice was to try and sell it on Ebay or Craigslist for the purpose of finding a large audience of people which gives you a better chance of finding someone who does like what you are selling - no insult is meant to you. Good Luck and I wish you well with whatever you decide to do.

Not mad @ anybody, I was just little dumb founded when I read your post, I like fixing up/restoring older stuff in general. To have some one say what you have or something similar to what you have isn't worth anything just gets under my skin & @ times I can type faster than I can think, no disrespect was intended. But seriously if newer bikes are selling that cheap over there I may have to take a trip out next time I'm shopping for one. I'd even ride my antiquaited 86' out, I've put 15K in a a little over a year & a half; grass doesn't grow under my baby & its never been down for repair for longer than a couple of hours. But I do the majority of my own work, my labor rate is cheap( 1 or 2 adult beverages per hour). If you run across screaming deals on bikes out your way make sure to post them, there are those of us who may be intersted.

[RVFR]

Botom line.. what ever the market will bear. I've sold in the last couple years older 87-87 VFR 750 700 for 2300 to 2600 so you tell me what? Ha. I can say this 93s are getting rare, if this was mint, mileage doesn't matter much. you'd have no problem getting 3500. if folks don't want to pay that so be it there's folks out there that will, fire sale? need it gone tomorrow 2500 should be easy. JMHO

[RVFR]

Oh for what it's worth, I'm seeing 4 gs going anywhere from a pile for $1400 to mint low milage one owner for $5000. I know mines not going anywhere for less than 5K haha, A dealer here was willing to go 4K on a trade in so???? again what ever the market will bear Good luck

[tbones86]

Originally Posted by reg71

Comments have been heating up around here lately. I enjoy the banter, but let's all remember that tone is difficult to convey in a post. Healthy debate makes for more diverse comments to read.

Reg, Its the onset of cabin fever for those of us that can't ride anymore because of snow & the like; makes me cranky

And not enough snow (that stayed) to play w/ snowmobile, just enough to be irratating