| Author | Message | ||
     Robinpeck |
In the book Legends in their Lifetime: George Brough & Lawrence of Arabia, the author Titch Allen, quotes a British motorcycle writer named Michael Jackson on the ever increasing value of Brough-Superior motorcycles..."(In terms of value, what will be) todays equivalent of yesteryears Brough? Fundamental requirements: it should already be expensive; it should already be scarce; and it must be seen to be outstanding in its category. Three bikes unlikely to qualify are Rotary Nortons...; any Hesketh; or a Buell." p. 282 So why did he include Buell in the short list of bikes that will never be worth a lot? What sort of strange reputation do Buells have in the bike world at large? I don't get it. They seem very desirable to me. Maybe its just a British thing. | ||
| Kilroy |
If he speaketh of the older Buells, he is right, they were not outstanding in any category (performance wise)- due to the Harley power plant. They may be special to us, but not the motorcycling world at large. I go on record to whole-heartedly disagree BTW. Kilroy | ||
| Buellistic |
There are two kinds of motorcycle riders, THOSE THAT OWN AND RIDE BUELLs AND THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE A CLUE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO OWN OR RIDE A BUELL!!! | ||
| Xl1200r |
Buell's aren't scarce, expensive, or excel at all areas of performance (despite what we might believe). They handle great and stop good, but the engine was a drawback for joe public. Not sure how you can get a Buell into same arena as a Brough when you can buy a "rare" tuber for $2500. | ||
| Pm2237 |
motorcycles are like cigars, expensive doesn't always mean good, and vice versa. | ||
| Rex |
Buell is a modern day Vincent... | ||
| Buellistic |
Any engine that is a bicycle engine(45 DEGREE V-TWIN), must be a minimum of 70 DEGREES or it is a draw back for RACING !!! (Message edited by buellistic on February 28, 2012) | ||
| Agusta74 |
I agree with some of what the British guy says but only IF you read what he said carefully... "In terms of value, what will be todays equivalent of yesteryears Brough?" So he is talking about the one top bike over a 50 year period or more, and in terms of dollar value. Early Buell Motor Company bikes (441 total production) WILL be expensive, and very collectable, but not the "one in 50 years" like the Brough Superior SS100. He then goes on to quote three things that the early Buells have! "expensive, scarce, outstanding in its category" RR1000 and RR1200 are already their and it's just a matter of time before they get so expensive that collectors will move on to the RS models and push their values right up. I would bet that the British guy didn't know the history, production numbers of the early bikes.... after all he is quoted as a "British motorcycle writer".... what's the quote "never argue with an idiot"?? lol  Gavin RS1200 1990 | ||
| Davegess |
The tube frame bikes, particularly the BMC ones will be very collectable BUT not to the level a Brough. Those were the very best of everything made in very small numbers. Priceless today. The RR/Rs were not. | ||
| Leftcoastal |
Somewhere I heard the quote: "everytime NBC renews Jay Leno's contract, the price of Brough-Superiors goes up 10%" He has several. I've seen him on at least one of them in the last few years. Lets see what the tube frame Buell's are worth in 70 or 80 years. er - maybe someone else will have to do that. | ||
| Tleighbell |
The British magazine Ride does a reader survey of bike rankings every year. I still have the copy from 2004 where the bike I had (YZF750) and the bike I wanted (Buell tuber) were ranked very high. The Buell was number 11 of 213 bikes overall and 2nd in its class, just a little behind the Aprillia Tuono. Which must mean that the owners know a lot more about Buells than the writers! | ||
| Rich |
Shit. I wish my Buell was worth just half of what I paid for it. | ||
| Todsho |
It's pretty bad when a Corbin seat costs a quarter of what I paid for my Buell! | ||
| Chauly |
"I wish my Buell was worth just half of what I paid for it." Amen... | ||
| Buellathebuzzer |
Just curious: When was the last time you saw an early tube frame for sale, like an RR1000, what was it listed for, or if you know, what did it sell for? | ||
| Hootowl |
My Buell is still worth what I paid for it. to me | ||
| Radon30 |
I have paid for my bike twice now and its still only worth half of what I paid for it. WTF | ||
| 46champ |
I have never seen a RR1000 for sale. In 1988 we had a new RR1200 for sale for 12 to 13 thousand at that time it was 1 or 2 thousand more than the most expensive FLH. This was in Reno Nv. | ||
| Dutch_x1 |
wouldn`t sell my x1 for double what i paid for it | ||
| Hootowl |
Motorcycles, by and large, are not investment vehicles. [pun intended ] If you bought yours with the hope that you could one day recoup your investment, you have chosen...poorly. | ||
| Triman023 |
69 Triumph Bonnyville Paid $1600 worth $8500 96 Buell S2T Paid $8500 worth $1600 I am even! Priceless riding and repairing lessons though! | ||
| Rex |
Yep, it will be a while before our Buells come back in value. but they will. I would not sell my M2 either. Not even for what I paid for it originally. Too much invested, and I said I would never sell it. | ||
| Rex |
I wish I had not sold my RSS 1200 to Thom in Vallejo. I would like to have that one back. It was extremely clean. | ||
| Dinobike |
In the old days in America (1940's and 1950's) the most expensive two-wheeled Indian motorcycle was the Indian Four cylinder (Forget the three-wheeler). They were known to blow up catastrophically, and had a LOWER resale value than the twin cylinder Chiefs. They were "never going to be worth anything because they are junk". Today? A four cylinder will cost you twice what a Chief will. Times change, tastes change, and appreciation of a machine will change. Usually people who knock a machine never owned one, or if they did, they worked on it with a hammer, vice grips, and drunk...so the results were less than stellar. | ||
| Rex |
Thom, if you are reading this, and if you ever sell the RSS, give the option to rebuy first. REX | ||
| Norcalsaint |
Not sure how old this ad is but check it out... http://www.jameslist.com/advert/381223/for-sale-bu ell-rr-1000-battletwin | ||
| 46champ |
That's funny they said RR1000 in the header but their selling a 1200 wonder if they ever sold it. Since we are comparing Brough-Superiors and Buells. 1. When did Brough-Superiors become highly sought after collector bikes the day after the factory shut down in 1940 or much later 1960's or even later than that. 2. The bike that is always quoted for value is the SS100 of which 383 were made are the other models worth almost as much or a lot less. 3. The RR1000 and RR1200 may be hurt value wise by sure lack of numbers if they never come up for sale they never go up in value. 4. The only Buell built after the H-D buy in that stands to substantially increase in value is the S2, no I don't own one. | ||
| Norcalsaint |
@ 46Champ, Why the S2? | ||
| Murgatroid |
I'm also interesting in why the S2? To me, the iconic HD era Buell is the S1 Lightning, due to it's aggressive bad boy personality. The S1 White Lightning is the post HD Buell I would think would have a chance of being a collector's item. | ||
| 46champ |
1. I think too many S1's were built. 2. The aesthetics for the S2 is better for the general connoisseur of collectible items. To the people who have a lot of money S1's look like a striped down motorcycle they like things with a long option list. But I'm not sure a S2T would be worth more than a S2, I know that sounds contradictory but it's just a feeling I have. 3. I may be wrong so don't take my advice to further your retirement. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I agree with both the above posts. The S1 was the first "mainstream" production Buell. But, the S2 is simply...gorgeous. And handmade. A true "generational crossover" motorcycle for Buell. I have both. I love both. And I don't care what they're worth on the market because they're not leaving my garage! | ||
| Xl1200r |
There's a gorgeous low-mile S2T for sale near me... really hard to pass it up... Personally, I think all models of Buells will be collectible. The pre-HD Buells will always be way more valuable due to being pre-HD and so few of them. I also think S2's will be worth more than S1's, S3s next, then X1s and M2s. The XBs and 1125s will be collectible as well, but probably a little less so just due to how many were made. |
