Motorbike investment - What would you buy?

I have a good friend who wants to buy a new Indian as an Investment. He does not ride. He does this kinda spontaneous stuff, and has the coin to do it.
If he wants to buy a chrome baby to look at it that is fine, but to justify it as an "investment" does not fly with me. Got me thinking, if you had $20K US to buy an investment ordainment, what would you get? I would like to show him that there are real investments out there.
Here they are, didn't know anything about them till today.
http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/home

BMW HP2 Sport, if new still available for 20K.

Japenese 2 Strokes. Low mileage,original and mint. Values are soaring in the UK.

99 R1

The first series with the best colour schemes. I reckon they will be a classic.

06 Low milage mint Katoom.

Vincent

In the UK one of the genres of bikes that is rapidly accruing value and interest is for the Ducati Sports Classic range.

They are still fairly available but limited numbers so rather exclusive, big in the UK and the States.

There are a few different versions from limited edition Cafe racer version through to the more basic road bikes, (GT version), so you can more or less decide how much you want to spend up front. Probably about £6,000 entry level up to £20K+ for a special with some nice tasteful mods and upgrades.

Buy NOW to avoid disappointment! I would if I could afford it.

But this bike was meant to be RIDDEN. Not sit in some hallway or in a vacuum polythene bag in the back of a warehouse so I'm a bit loath to recommend it.

Samsung stock and a picture of a Vincent.

These new Indians wont be worth anything for a hundred years. Vincents and Broughs have shot way above the $20K at this stage. Velocette Thruxtons will be just around the mark and are bound to increase. HD Sturgis or Grey Ghost Fatboy are a couple that will increase but slower. The Ducati Sport classic as someone said earlier are hot right but an unmolested Paul Smart version or the earlier MH900 are sound investments.

Whats $20k? £13k?

In that case I would buy an RC30 no question, already a classic and won't lose a penny. Having said that I would buy my old Aprilia RS250 back in a heartbeat, never thought they would go up in value..

If he went looking around in this economy he could probly find a "real" 48 Indian chief for 20-30 K,,,,,,they are out there,and spare's are still available to keep it moving,,,and if your just looking at it, go for a "wall hanger",,,my friend Howard bought this for three grand 20 years ago,and being the "only" 1913 two valve racer around,(4 factory bike's that year),,it's value has gone way ,way up,,,,,,a good investment in history I'de say,,,,



Or how about this,,,,there'a a few on this site worth a look,,,,,,
http://www.michaelsmotorcycles.com/1975Ducati713.html

If it were me I'de def go for an early Guzzi 750 sport or 850 LeMans I,,,,back in the day my LeMans went out the door for $3600 and a pristeen example sells today 10-15 all day long,,,,

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1976-MV- ... 1e7d2d300c

Terrific suggestions guys! Many I have not even thought about. Keep the ideas coming, the more options I have the better chance I have to guide him into a real investment.

Unless you got a great deal on say, an RC30, there is no bike I know of for $20K USD that I could call an "investment".

Maybe the odd special edition MV or Ducati will retain their values, but I wouldn't anticipate any real appreciation on these for many years to come. I don't believe that the current demand for the Duc "Sport Classics" will last; I see their prices over here softening a bit already from 6 to 18 mos ago. If one gets a something more like a 998R, 998 FE, 748RS, etc. those will go somewhere long term. I do wonder if Treblanche's folly (999R/749Rs in particular) - given their current low values, might not go somewhere long term.

Supposedly having "... the coin to do it ..." - he should be prepared to part with more like $30K+ for anything that is really investment grade. The new Indian is unlikely to appreciate anytime in his lifetime (in then current value - whenever then is ...).

Old race stuff like Rickman Nortons, particularly those with a race pedigree are likely to retain value, if not appreciate.

Good luck in the hunt!

Not a ducati, they need £500 service every 2 years so that's any increase in value gone up before you start

Jap 2 strokes, minters out there if you know where to look, already fetching more that they were new

Early R1
early Blade

Well for one thing I wouldn't put all the money in one bike. A collection, space permitting would cover any drop in the value on any one bike.
Check out eBay and see what gets loads of bids on classics. Single winning bids don't give a clue as to demand and value. Loads of bids from different bidders is a measure of what might be a good bike to hang onto

lots of great posts. Sure do love me some two-strokes!

There are plenty of things that make genuine investments, motorcycles are for sure not one of those things!

If forced to pick what's cheap now but might be worth more within a decade I would pick....

Honda - VTR SP1 / 2 - RC45

Suzuki - Genuine stealth K5 fixer 1000. I had one and wish that I still did.

Yam - Mint completely standard R1 RD350LC.

Kwak - The first of the ZX10's as it was a wild one. Any of the thre cylinder KH range if you can find one now.

Exotic- Jota, 900SS, Dominator, trident.

But in fact my most recent purchases are the SD which will lose me a few grand, an EXC 300 which assuming I don't total it may break even and a ZZR1400 which will cost a fortune to run and lose money when sold.

Bikes are for amusement and pleasure, IG index is for money

Thanks a ton guys! Definitely a great direction if he indeed wants to spend his money for two wheels. Either way I will update if and when anything happens.

How about a big ,fast Honda,,,classic,,,
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad ... &ad_cid=12

888 (sp-1/2/3)
Benelli Tornado tre.
Norton rotary.

GSXR1100. Just starting to go up in price.
I'd by an '89 slabbie.
In fact, I think I'll do just that this winter.

New Penton,,,,,

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Penton-J ... v4exp=true

I don't know the current prices of the oldies, was $7k a good deal for that MadDog?

Thank you MD. I see my friend again next week and will give him an ear full of what I have learned from all you guys. Admin, please move this to General Banter. I should of put it there originally. Thanks

For a keeper bike I would get a Ducati 998r and a Honda SP2.

If your quick, I was thinking about it as the price is right but can't be arsed to bother with the shipping....

Me I am lining up to buy a 1200, ha,ha no not that one...... but a twin yes, one that was produced in a relatively low quantity and I think will hold or increase in value as well as being very usable, fun and a bit different to

A friend of mine and a member here looked at this one the other day,,,it wouldn't start, guy said they would get her running , firm at this price, looks good to me but I would like to hear it run and of course see how it rides..

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad ... =&ad_cid=4

I like it only thing I don't like about BMW's is the "off throttle" squat when closing the throttle into corners, something to get used to, you have to acelerate into corners to keep the heads off the floor,,Guzzi's don't have the same problem, I do like em though,,

"I have a good friend who wants to buy a new Indian as an Investment. He does not ride. He does this kinda spontaneous stuff, and has the coin to do it.
If he wants to buy a chrome baby to look at it that is fine, but to justify it as an "investment" does not fly with me. Got me thinking, if you had $20K US to buy an investment ordainment, what would you get? I would like to show him that there are real investments out there. "

Ok, I''ll bite. I keep passing this one up, trying to wag more and bark less, but bored now so here are my thoughts on this topic.

Tell you friend to buy some investments in his own hobbies, not someone else's.
I want to see the bikes from days past, owned by real bike nuts like my self, who have a REAL passion for what they own.
The less bikes bought and stuffed away from the viewing public to make a buck the better.

So not sorry to offend anyone.

Gosh, I feel so much better now......