Finding a new stable for the mighty iron horse.

[Pete.]

After 11 years of ownership, 2 complete turbo systems built, many hundreds of hours and thousands of pounds spent, landspeed events attended, sprinting and RWYB drag racing, a few thousand miles of road riding and very much fun had, it's time to find my turbo bike another home. I don't need the money or the space as I intend to replace it with a more standard roadgoing machine, I just feel that the three years of occasional road-riding have brought things full-circle in the ownership of the bike and it's time to let it go.

A question that bothers me is how do you go about finding an owner that will appreciate and understand the risks and duties of owning such a machine? Aside from the obvious risks that come with huge performance, there's the cost and effort of constant maintenance, careful preparation and vigilance over all the aspects of running the bike. It's definitely NOT a low-maintenance daily driver, it's a money-pit and a labour of love for whomever owns it.

It would be easy to say that I'd absolve myself of all legal responsibility once the transfer is made, I could even draft a document spelling out the risks of owning and riding such a modified bike for the new owner to sign but that still won't remove the burden of personal responsibility that I'd feel from having personally MADE most of the custom-built parts on the bike. It's got all the best stuff I could afford, Carillo rods, JE pistons, Orient Express valve springs, head bolts and camwheels but that won't stop me worrying that the new owner might not notice a failing part I've made, or something I've had happen to me such as a disintegrating drive chain .

I'm really wrestling with this - how would YOU feel in this situation?
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[wr6133]

Give it to someone you trust for a token price? That would seem the best way if you want it to go to a "vetted" owner. Selling it for max value I don't think you could be so picky....... well you could but you may struggle to sell.

[Shaft]

You have two choices.

1/ take loads of pictures so you have something concrete to back up the fading memories, then flog it on egay and move on, or

2/ don't sell it, you don't need the money or space, put it in a corner with a cover over it and dig it out the next time you feel nostalgic.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Pete.]

Ain't giving it to anyone. It'll be sold for a fair price, but I ain't running a charity.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Shaft]

I sold a bike I'd had for 30 years to someone, he told me he would look after it, sell the spares he didn't use and give me a cut and let me have a chance of a go on it, when he'd sorted it out.

Next thing I know, he'd restored it, flogged it on and I never saw another penny, which pissed me off, but hey, it was my choice to sell it.

Once you've passed it on, it's the next owner's toy to do what they like with, if you don't like the idea of that, don't sell it.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[KLR600]

[Fisty]

You aren't ready to sell it.
____________________
Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[P.addy]

[MCN.]

If you are moving it try to sell it within the drag race community, more chance of finding someone who understands what it is they are buying.

[Iain.]

I'd not sell it unless I needed the money, or the space.

It's a race bike with a numberplate & needs to be treated as such. Doesn't matter how many times you explain this to people, they won't treat it the same way you'd treat it. The CR engine you built with me lasted 48hrs in the hands of the bloke I sold it to despite putting it together with all the good stuff.

It's a work of art that thing & I think if you're asking BCF for advice about selling it then it's probbably not the right time for it to go.

[onefourk]

If you're worried about it falling into the wrong hands - someone who won't respect the dangers of something like this, or won't maintain it, then the best bet is to return it to standard and sell the turbo bits to someone who is building their own. You might even make money over selling it as a whole bike.

[N cee thirty]

you'll get sick to death of people offering you stupid money for it if its something you love
____________________
'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[WD Forte]

Sell it as a 'Project' or 'Work in progress' machine
'Under constant development' etc etc
with written caveats.
That way you can hardly be accused of passing it off as a
standard model roadgoing machine.
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[Pete.]

Hmm, I think that some have got the wrong end of the stick. Once it's sold it's sold, I don't give a hoot how they treat it, what they do with it or who they sell it on to. I don't expect promises of how it'll be looked after or anything like that.

What does concern me is that it goes to someone who understands what they are taking on and accepts all the responsibility for owning and riding such a finnicky beast.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Iain.]

[G]

[chickenstrip]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. When I bought my H2, I got a few sheets of spec list regarding the Denco tune, and that was it. The dealer I bought it from gave me no warnings about how mad it was. I sold it on with the bumf and just told the new owner it was nuts. After that, his responsibility.

I think it's a good idea to put together a little history and spec sheet for the next owner, and just speak to whoever buys it about what you think they are letting themselves in for. Job done. Loads of mad projects get sold with dubious spec, "unfinished projects" etc, and no one bats an eyelid. Just make it clear that once they've bought it, there'll be no comebacks and it's all their responsibility. But I think the fact that much is your own work, i.e. no replacement parts available, and the fact that you're willing to let a buyer know about all that (good on you) will make it a hard sell, unless you sell it to some complete nut job who just doesn't care (highly likely )!

Also agree with finding the right places (drag bike forums or whatever there is, RWYBs, shows etc) is a good idea; more likely to find the right kind of person, if that really matters to you.
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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!

[P.addy]

[chickenstrip]

[sidewinder]

Could you not put a standard engine into it.and keep the tuned lump for a rainy day !
____________________
"Nitrous is like a cheap hooker, you want to hit it but are scared of the consequences

[G]

[stevo as b4]

I kind of see Pete's viewpoint and worry's over this dilemma.

All I would say is what other's have said really, in that selling it as a complete bike is only reasonable/feasible within the racing/competition community to someone else with lots of time, money and engineering skills/knowledge of such specialised machinery.

As you said it's never going to be a useable road bike for 99% of people, and most people me included would not have the first clue in how to maintain/look after and work on such a modified and developed machine.

I know it could be a heart breaker to some, but have you considered breaking it for parts/selling on the whole powertrain and putting in a more std engine if you want to sell the bike as a whole working machine.

Surely the engine, transmission, electronics, and ancillary systems are worth a great deal more on their own than the complete bike, and you would not have the worry of an inexperienced novice trying to think they can ride the bike as a daily machine or get used to it.

Unless someone who competes in competition events wants your bike for a price that seems fair to you, then that's the only way I can see it being sold. Say you did sell it on to someone else, you also run the risk of said buyer knowing it's value in parts and taking it apart to make them more money would personally would make me sick, as if it were my bike I would want to be the one doing this and not helping someone else earn a few quid.

[chickenstrip]

I don't understand the folks who say a new owner may decide to do this or that, might break it and make more profit, or whatever. If you sell something, then that's it, it ain't yours anymore - they can do what the fk they like with it. If you don't like that, you shouldn't sell it. Easy

(Yeah, I get you're not worried by this side of it Pete).
____________________
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!

[Pete.]

[Pete.]