The value of a used motorcycle will rarely stay the same year to year—sometimes month to month! There are many factors influencing the value of a given motorcycle, and the buyer or seller of a classic must consider all of them.

Factors Affecting Values:

Condition

Parts Availability

Rarity 

Location

Condition

In general, the overall condition of a motorcycle is the key factor affecting its value. A pristine original running motorcycle with a low recorded mileage will command a much higher price than one in pieces found in a barn showing 90,000 miles on its odometer (as an extreme example).

However, determining the condition is generally subjective rather than objective. Inexperienced sellers (someone who has inherited a motorcycle, for instance) will often think that because a motorcycle is old, it is therefore very valuable--needless to say, that is not always the case.  

There are typically six levels of condition that will apply to a given motorcycle.

1) Perfect

2) Excellent

3) Very Good

4) Good

5) Fair

6) Poor

Perfect

A motorcycle in perfect condition is what many sellers claim, but few actually are!

A perfect motorcycle is one that is new, unused or has been subject to a professional level restoration. Motorcycles in this condition are generally show winners are not ridden on a regular basis (very low mileage examples).

Excellent

Most motorcycles in the excellent category were originally advertised as perfect. Machines in excellent condition typically have a low mileage (less than 1000 miles, for example); they do not have every original part on them for example a fender may have been repainted or the tires have been replaced.

But over all they have no damage to their paintwork and they are mechanically sound.  

Very Good

This level of motorcycle covers most that will be advertised. They will be running examples where everything works as it should. Upon close examination a motorcycle in this category will have plastic that is showing signs of age, chrome that will be slightly dull and a seat that is not perfectly shaped. These imperfections are generally of a cosmetic type only.

Good  

This motorcycle will be very similar to the one above but may have covered a large mileage (on motorcycles this is often considered to be above 50,000 miles on machines built before the 1980s). This level of motorcycle will generally need some basic repairs such as a new chain fitting or the carbs vacuum balancing (where applicable). 

Fair

A classic or vintage motorcycle found in a barn may well fall into this category. For example, it could be complete but in need of a full restoration. Other possibilities for this category include machines that have not run for some time but the engine will turn over and have a good spark (finding out why this bike was stored is important). Machines in this category generally have parts available from dealers.

Poor

A machine genuinely considered to be in poor condition is one that only a qualified or experienced mechanic would consider buying. It will require extensive repairs or a complete restoration and many parts will be missing--some of which will be hard to find.

A machine in poor condition may be worth purchasing if it is a very rare example of a popular make/model that would (in excellent or perfect condition) normally fetch a high price. However, it is very rare for a machine in this category to realize a profit above the costs of purchase and a full restoration. (The old adage of "if it sounds too good to be . . .  " applies here.)