KP, Couldn't agree with you more on getting some needed parts, but do you really think a 3 digit SC would bring more in parts than say that recent example on eBay that apparently just sold for $23,100.00? Maybe on a good day, $3500 for an original motor, $2500 for an original frame, got a long way to go to make it up on the beads and trinkets. I just bought that last 4 digit basket case, complete bike, for $4500.00. Not howling, just asking.
Keith, i paid $4.5k for E254 around 2006. i think both you and KP are right.
that 3 digit (7xx?) that just sold on ebay is not the same bike dollar-wise as a 3 digit under the 300 - 400 vin range. other than a very few parts and one less zero, vins 100-300 are precious little different from any 2 digit.
a few digits beyond vin 400, vins are nearly the same as any of the 4 digit bikes up thru vin 4148. i believe the early 3 digits have their own price range, separate from later 3 digit units. just like lh horn vinss are viewed generally more desirable than rh horn vins.
depending on who's bidding to win a part to complete whatever vin they need parts for, i think it's entirely possible parted out is worth more than together, especially if the parts are coming off a "scab." and, depending on the variables affecting making up a fickle day on ebay.
i can't imagine attempting in today's climate restoring a sandcast with nos and staying away from repro parts. some nos parts have become nla, especially nos gauges. if one's using repro parts, prob can keep price down significantly compared to finding/buying nos.
that 7xx ebay bike was no scab and brought close to what it's worth, imho. parted out, it's hard to imagine the bike bringing as much or more then the $23.1k figure. and it's hard to imagine doing a nos or original parts restoration much under $23.1k, much less a restoration with a few key repro parts for under $23.1k. so, maybe that 7xx bike would be worth more dead than alive.
so many variables affecting values; parts bikes, basket cases, complete bikes, running vs rolling, vin ranges, original vs repro, integrity of restoration, buyer being saavy of correctness, etc.
personally, i hate to see any bike parted out, but i've parted out bikes myself. agreed, if bikes were not parted out, it would be an even stiffer course for making our restorations right. and i've restored more than one bike starting with a parts book and literally a handful of parts. and in some cases paid dearly for what parts i needed when i found them. 232 needed a 19 L tank. i bid to win and win i did.... paid $2.6k for that nineteener.... paid $1.2k for an 11 hole like nos seat. Paid $1.1k for a set of nos gauges. all this was nearly 10 years ago. Seen a total of 3 ninteeners on ebay since 2000. seen only 1 original 11 hole seat since 2000. when's the last time we saw a set of nos gauges on ebay ? My how time flies !!!!!
in order to test the "worth more dead than alive theory," i think Mark should part out vin 97 on ebay giving reference in his auction to the authenticity of his parts as seen in his restoration thread........
