06-07-2015, 03:11 PM
Well... I know essentially nothing about CB1100F's beside what I read off of Wiki and a few quick google searches, so bare with me...
I buy & sell motorcycles/cars for a living (own a small pre-owned lot in Oceanside, CA) and this Saturday I went to go buy a KTM 450EXC Dual Sport for next to nothing in Huntington Beach. As I walk up this guys drive way I notice he has about a 4 bedroom house worth of furniture and miscellaneous items laid out front like a garage sale. Next to the KTM is this red/white nighthawk looking thing that I paid virtually no attention to until I loaded up the KTM and was about 10 seconds from going on my way. I asked him what that bike was and what he wanted for it, "It's a 1983 Honda CB1100F," he says, "they only made them for one year". Unknowly what this thing was worth, I asked what he wanted for it, he replied $300 should do it, I have the pink in hand, but the tags are out since 2012. I offered him $150 thinking it had to be worth 4 times that in parts alone for my ebay business. He said $200 and its yours. 5 minutes later, I'm short $200 bucks and a new owner of a 1983 CB1100F.
A day rolls by and I start realizing the following these bikes have and how much they are potentially worth. This bike doesn't not currently run, but turns over freely (carbs have been removed for cleaning and will need to be synced, which my mechanic can handling for a mere $150, everything is there. It will need your typical items like tires, fluids flushed, battery, Etc. but the bike looks to be in really good shape, there are a few things that could use powder coating (rims, headers, a couple trim pieces, but it's all there (even the front cowl fairing). Has an aftermarket ignition, coils/wires, Vance Hines Exhaust, and 33k miles on the odometer, but the guy had a 2 inch thick stack of service records which state he spent $2900 rebuilding the motor less than 1k miles ago. I guess my question is, what is the best route from here? I've been dying to build a badass dirt/street tracker style motorcycle, but I wouldn't want to diminish the value of an original bike if there is too muc value to lose. Should I get it running and turn it? Build it into a badass cafe or street tracker for myself? Or should I restore it as original as possible before turning it? I'd love your guy's input because like I said, I know virtually nothing about these legends. Thanks!
I buy & sell motorcycles/cars for a living (own a small pre-owned lot in Oceanside, CA) and this Saturday I went to go buy a KTM 450EXC Dual Sport for next to nothing in Huntington Beach. As I walk up this guys drive way I notice he has about a 4 bedroom house worth of furniture and miscellaneous items laid out front like a garage sale. Next to the KTM is this red/white nighthawk looking thing that I paid virtually no attention to until I loaded up the KTM and was about 10 seconds from going on my way. I asked him what that bike was and what he wanted for it, "It's a 1983 Honda CB1100F," he says, "they only made them for one year". Unknowly what this thing was worth, I asked what he wanted for it, he replied $300 should do it, I have the pink in hand, but the tags are out since 2012. I offered him $150 thinking it had to be worth 4 times that in parts alone for my ebay business. He said $200 and its yours. 5 minutes later, I'm short $200 bucks and a new owner of a 1983 CB1100F.
A day rolls by and I start realizing the following these bikes have and how much they are potentially worth. This bike doesn't not currently run, but turns over freely (carbs have been removed for cleaning and will need to be synced, which my mechanic can handling for a mere $150, everything is there. It will need your typical items like tires, fluids flushed, battery, Etc. but the bike looks to be in really good shape, there are a few things that could use powder coating (rims, headers, a couple trim pieces, but it's all there (even the front cowl fairing). Has an aftermarket ignition, coils/wires, Vance Hines Exhaust, and 33k miles on the odometer, but the guy had a 2 inch thick stack of service records which state he spent $2900 rebuilding the motor less than 1k miles ago. I guess my question is, what is the best route from here? I've been dying to build a badass dirt/street tracker style motorcycle, but I wouldn't want to diminish the value of an original bike if there is too muc value to lose. Should I get it running and turn it? Build it into a badass cafe or street tracker for myself? Or should I restore it as original as possible before turning it? I'd love your guy's input because like I said, I know virtually nothing about these legends. Thanks!