Short Term Future Classics

[Polarbear]

Morbid thoughts time as a friend has just died.......

I've been trying to think of something a bit different to leave for my grandson for when I myself depart this shitty old world.

He's 4 years old and machinery mad so i was thinking of buying a modern bike and laying it up properly in a drybag and a container for him when he turns 17 or when I snuff it, and it will really really piss off his non motorcycling mother.

Just in case he turns into a non biking pooftah it might as well be something that will get him a few quid if he decides to sell it.

I was thinking of a Triumph Rocket 3, relatively rare and like it or loath it, one hell of a piece of motorcycle hardware.

What else is there that people would recommend. Max budget about 10 thousand and something that will be desirable in 15 or so years time?
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[stinkwheel]

Honda Grom, just look at what's happened to fizzies.

BMW S1000R? Pretty much broke the mould and gave the green light to everyone else to start with traction control etc.

Tuono V4? Undenialbly batshit mental.

Push your budget a bit and you've got a kawadsaki H2. Forced induction always seems to be a popular
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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.

[M.C]

If think he'd prefer the cash rather than a f**ked old bike he'll have to pay someone to get going again.

[stevo as b4]

All good thoughts!

But we are now entering the pinnacle 125cc bubble, and I expect RS125's or Pegaso's to go the way of FS1E's.
I can see the more trendy 2005-2015 plastic sporty scooters going the same way. Speedfight's, Runners, Aerox's etc.

I think BMW R1200GS's will go up as will original Africa Twins and Super Tenere's. They were the first Modern adventure bikes, and started a hugely popular class and genre of motorcycling today.

How about a retro muscle bike or something like a new Kawasaki Z900RS? Retro is still a huge thing for older bikers still alive today and despite lots of people and BCF'ers saying the retro bubble has or would burst, it's not panned out that way yet. There's still plenty of 50-60 somethings with deep pockets that a really good retro bike to take them back to their youth will make their dick rock hard.

Or maybe take a chance on one of the most wacky looking transformers bikes like the MT10 etc, as one day young people might look back all misty eyed over the transformers generation?

[linuxyeti]

Not only that, but by the time he's ready to ride, don't forget, will have to be at least 21 to ride a Rockett, by which time, spares will be hard to come by, and the ice will be well on it's way out..

Why not, an piece of electric motorcycling history, and get a Zero or 1 of the other marques being realesed in the short term. Granted the battery will be buggered, but, replacements should be relatively easy to come by/made up..
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Beware what photos you upload, or link to on here, especially if you have family members on them

[A100man]

I don't think 13 years is enough time for anything to become a classic and hence worthwhile investment. Original R1s are now getting in the frame - aren't they? I'd go for the best of that ilk I could afford.. or 10 grand could just about buy you my big bro's 916 I think..
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

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

[Teflon-Mike]

I was bequeathed my Grandad's camera.. it aint worth anything, but I do use it.. so how much its not worth, really isn't at issue... it was my Grandads.

I actually also have my Gt Uncle's camera. Grandads's is a 35mm Kodak Retinette, Uncle Johns is a 120 Medium-Format Ziess Ikonta, and at every f-f-f-family get to gether I recall for twenty odd years, the two of them would be arguing over why thier chosen camera was 'better'. Uncle John had been a spotter during WWI and taught to take and develop photo's by the army, and he argued that the enormouse 6x9cm negative and wonderful Ziess optics gave fantastic resolution, and although he could only get I think Eight photo's per roll of film... and that film was 'expensive', he could bring it home, develop it in the kitchen and make contact prints, without an enlarger to go in the album, he could even do it in thier caravan when they went on holiday. Grandad's argument was always "Yes, but COLOUR!" siting that shooting slide-film, he only paid to get it developed and every-one could look at the pictures blown up to the size of a projector screen... which we never did, despite his attempts when all the Christmas goodies had been devoured and novelties had lost thier interest, and he disapeared into the dining room to set up the projector... that perenially had a blown bulb, no shop open between Christmas and new-year sold!!!!

Oh the bisto......

SO! Your bequest aught to have some 'personal' connection and or sentimental value... if it does, what it worth matters little... its the memories that matter.

A bike YOU never ride, wont have any.....

If it turns out to be worth a fortune when he inherits it.... it will be sold... as a financial investment, you would be better off buying bonds or shares in his name every year, that the tax man cant lump in the inheritance taxes and other family members cant argue over.

If it turns out NOT to be worth anything but scrap value... 'cos the oil's run out, or governments Banned bikes, or new test rules say you have to do a double flip back table top in a pink tutu or whatever, its niether the investment you hoped, nor the sentimental memory it could have been, its just a folly.

Most valuable thing you can give the kid?

Time.

You want to piss of motorcycle loathing mother? Take the kid to bike races; to school-boy scrambles; stunt shows, rallies; give him things that will inspire him, invest in his future with things that no-one can take away, here and now, while he can enjoy YOU to go with them.

And knowledge is eternal.... material goods fleeting. Give him your time, and instead of putting stuff in the bank or shed, put it in his head...
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[Shaft]

Why not go the whole hog and get something that's going up in value exponentially now, then add enough spares to keep it going, that won't be available in 20 years and will piss off everyone.

I'm thinking a really nice 350LC for around £5K, then the same again in spare parts

Sounds slightly facetious, but as I've just discovered with my 17 year old scooter, it's the parts situation that will be the ruination of many an old bike and, assuming the grandson just wants to cash in, that could be the way to a small fortune, maybe more so than the actual bike.
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[G]

Aprilia SXV?
Prices don't seem to be going down too much and there's nothing really similar.

While I'm sure the S1000RR etc could easily get a cult following - as the early R1 and early blade seem to be - with all of them, there's always been better models evolving from them.

Of course there's some reasons the hand-grenade reliability of the competition twin hasn't justified any competitor models.

[Vracktal]

Yamaha MT01. It's rare and odd enough to have a cult following and prices already seem to be upticking.
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2007 BMW R1200R: On road
2009 BMW G650X Challenge: On road
1975 Norton Commando 850: Off road, awaiting recommissioning

[Old Git Racing]

Bikes will be banned when he's 17, get him a good quality tin foil hat and a mumsnet subscription.

OGR.
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[Polarbear]

Thanks for all your input.

To answer a few points, I do loads with him. We are the Tomy Thomas the tank engine master track builders and he comes on my boats with me with his pirate suit and cutlass.

I want him to have something a bit different to remember me by. All my grandkids will get a legacy but he's a little bit special and, I hate to say it, but my favourite. He's the only one who gets excited when he's going to visit Grampy.

So maybe a bike, maybe something else but I have no idea what.

ATM I quite like the idea from Shaft of something like an LC and bits but will 2 smokes be allowed at all by then?
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Shaft]

[Big Jock]

Buy as much gold as the cost of the bike.
Probably best off with gold Brittanie coins to avoid tax.

Probably make him a very rich young man
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1998 Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat

[linuxyeti]

[linuxyeti]

[rpsmith79]

[linuxyeti]

Yes, true, but as most manufacturers aren't going down the hybrid route, it will be increasingly economically unviable for petrol stations to remain, or certainly for the number of current petrol station to be maintained.. Couple that with ever increasing pressure to bring forward the date.. I really wouldn't count on a traditional fueled vehicle as a long term investment
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Beware what photos you upload, or link to on here, especially if you have family members on them

[Polarbear]

[rpsmith79]

[chickenstrip]

[chickenstrip]

[ADSrox0r]

Take on a project and do something 'different'. He will treasure something a lot more if it's something Grampy made than just a bike that he maybe doesn't appreciate is a 'classic'.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[M.C]

[chickenstrip]

Buying 39 of the same model is certainly weird behaviour in my book. You'd have thought he'd make it 40, a nice round number
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