Bike salvage project - economical or not?

[droog]

Just wondering what your opinions are on this topic - I'm sure it's something some of you guys have either considered or actually carried out.

Just to clarify - this is purely a way of getting my next bike cheaper than trade/private - not to start a business or anything.

I've spent quite a while looking at motorcycle salvage bikes on Ebay for a potential rebuild project

My target bike is usually a category N (cosmetic damage) 04 to 08 litre sports bike from one of the 'big four' Japanese manufacturers.

Because I've put significant time, effort and money into getting the knowledge and tools together to work on and repair bikes I was looking to benefit from this investment and recoup some of the money spent by getting a salvage bike at a significant discount on private/trade price and getting it back into roadworthy condition (the final bill after sourcing spare parts etc should still represent a significant saving over private/trade).

After looking at the final bid/sale prices on many of these salvage bikes I got the impression that the savings (over the purchase price of an equivalent private/trade bike) were not large enough to justify the project - unless you were going to fit the bike out for the track (so no need to worry about replacing expensive bodywork, headlights etc - just throw on some relatively cheap track fairings).

Perhaps bypassing Ebay and going direct to a salvage outfit like Copart might be cheaper? (alhough you have to pay a registration fee).

Am I right on this or am I wrong - or somewhere in between?

As always I would be interested to know your opinions on this subject.

[A100man]

Hmm interesting. for the economics I'd work backwards
i.e. start with how much money per month I'd like from this enterprise.

So let's say you want to make net 1500 per month as it's a sideline, Working on trader margins of 15% (Est.) that works out at two 5k (a sale price) bikes a month so you'd have to buy, transport, buy parts work on and sell these bikes for 4250 each.

With that level of business HMRC will also want their chunk too I guess and as a trader you'll be subject to sale of goods etc..

IMO loads of hassle unless you only want to do a couple a year under the taxman's radar to clear a few hundred/thousand quid.

Yes Copart are cheapest.. no idea how big track day market is.
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[Polarbear]

I looked into this a while back both with Copart and buying privately.

I came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth it then although prices might have changed that by now.

With Copart it looked like you are fighting the trade people who have access to parts at trade prices and if the trade didn't want it, it wasn't worth doing. Then there was the stuff that was broken you couldn't see. Electronics are expensive to replace. etc. etc. Then when you come to sell it there is still the 'written off' classification hanging over it.

To summarise, doing it for fun and to make yourself a good bike on the cheap, possible. Doing it to make money, not worth the effort.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[droog]

[Easy-X]

Having taken three salvage bikes and only resurrected two successfully some things to think about...

If you have plenty of storage space and patience the risk is lower. A bike that is CAT N but still uneconomical to repair can be broken down into parts and sold off on eBay. It'd take a while but it's a way of minimising losses. Otherwise be very canny with your purchases!

It's best to think about it as bike + parts price. If you try and work out what your hourly rate would be as a make-believe garage mechanic you'll never start

Plenty of research before buying. If a bike is Cat N due to theft damage then maybe it just needs a new ignition barrel or some loom repairs but if it has an immobiliser like HISS then you're getting closer to "dealer only" territory. Lowsides are probably the easiest as you can see the work ahead in probably one photo but don't assume there aren't other problems on the bike!

Slightly more entertaining than this I suppose:

https://media.giphy.com/media/Kerg053G7ZJUQ/giphy.gif
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[droog]

[Ste]

It might be possible if you can buy a crashed bike from someone who's bought the bike back from the insurance company after it's been written off or from someone who's crashed their bike but didn't have fully comp and there wasn't another vehicle involved.

Look at what sell for on eBay. And footpeg hangers. And subframes. And forks. And switchgears. And clipons. Etc etc etc.

Spoiler: the total cost of replacing everything will add up quickly!

[chickenstrip]

[droog]

[A100man]

As an aside I've watched a few scenes from 'Bangers and Cash' where they pick up mostly cars (sometimes bikes) from old buffers who have been renovating cars pretty much for the hell of it. i.e. the enjoyment of 'making things better' and/or escaping from the missus. They patently admit they won't make money and seem quite glad to break even not even allowing for time...

to make money out of that game you need to target exotic, big bucks classic machines.
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[Ste]

If buying a complete bike, how much would you spend?

[chickenstrip]

Nothing to stop you buying something as a project, not too involved, just for the enjoyment, doing it up and then if you do happen, by some strange and rare anomaly in the fabric of the universe, to make a profit, ploughing it back into another if you're just itching to get your hands dirty.
You might find it leads into something else that you can make a buck from eventually. Like astrology or something No, seriously, you might learn some new skills and/or make some useful contacts along the way and hit on a better idea.
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Robby]

Enough people are doing this because they want a project to occupy their time that it pushes prices up. On top of that, bike parts are oddly expensive - to the point where it's cheaper over the long term to buy a bike in decent condition than to buy one slightly neglected, let alone crashed.

If you do get lucky and find the right bike at the right price, it will still be worth less when you come to sell because of the write-off tag.

Finally there is a safety aspect here. You're talking around litre class sportsbikes. Do you really want to be riding something at silly speeds when it has a good chance of it having hidden damage that could let go at precisely the wrong time?

[Easy-X]

Start small, even a 50/125cc scooter would do. Preferably something from a friend or relative you can get hold of for peanuts. Get a feel for how many tools you don't have
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[droog]

[droog]

[Ste]

[stinkwheel]

Find one that's pretty much a plastics write-off, make sure you can order Chinese pattern plastics, fit them and punt it on.

You'd have to be prepared to not give a fuck about it being "right" just good enough to sell.

You can get a "good" bike cheap for your own use if you are prepared to ride something scruffy. A lot of my bike club cut their teeth on proper "streetfighters". So high-end sportsbike write-offs with plastics damage and a dented and scuffed end can that they fitted a 250LC headlamp and drag bars to.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Nobby the Bastard]

Can't be arsed to read through all of the above but insurers will pay out less on total loss on something that had previously been written off.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[droog]

[droog]

[Ste]

[stinkwheel]

Or sit on BCF like a vulture and offer anyone who reports crashing, dropping, recovering, burning or otherwise damaging their bike 'bout tree fiddy for it.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[droog]

[andy46]

when my lad was 17 I bought him a 3 yr old ybr custom off surreymcsalvage on ebay for 650. the bike had twisted forks, bent gear lever, a busted indicator and a dented/heavilly scratched headlight rim.
The headight rim was the expensive bit at about 50 from yamaha - a cheap aftermarket headlight would have saved here.

He used the bike for around 2 yrs and did some more light cosmetic damage which we fixed up to a good standard.

After passing his A2 I put the bike for sale on gumtree for 850 and a local bike shop had it for the asking price within 24 hrs.

So, yes if you want cost effective bike for yourself this can work but I don't think it would have been a great profit if I counted all time spent. It helped me show my lad how to fix things tho.

"study the pictures carefully" if you buy on ebay - I don't think these large salvage companys deliberately try to hide stuff but they have a lot of bikes to shift.