A game of what bike is it.

IMHO bikes like this have a finders price. Collectors buy them restored, but for much less than the cost of restoration. This is collectable, but not particularly valuable.

If someone bought a James in this condition, it would be for a labor of love restoration done by an enthusiasts, but not a money maker.

I figure $2000 would get some interest from vintage bike hobby guys.
 
Mad Mike said:
IMHO bikes like this have a finders price. Collectors buy them restored, but for much less than the cost of restoration. This is collectable, but not particularly valuable.

If someone bought a James in this condition, it would be for a labor of love restoration done by an enthusiasts, but not a money maker.

I figure $2000 would get some interest from vintage bike hobby guys.
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If you want to make money restoring stuff, restore other people's barn finds and charge by the hour. There's a very short list of bikes worth restoring on speculation. Brough Superior, Vincent or something with provenance.

If my uncle was alive and nearby I'd be interested as he worked on the Famous James bikes during WWII.
 
nobbie48 said:
If you want to make money restoring stuff, restore other people's barn finds and charge by the hour. There's a very short list of bikes worth restoring on speculation. Brough Superior, Vincent or something with provenance.

If my uncle was alive and nearby I'd be interested as he worked on the Famous James bikes during WWII.
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They are pretty simple bikes, 2 strokes are simpler and military bikes of that era were made made for easy field repairs. -- most of the work in a restoration would be finding parts.

Back i the 70's my dad leased some old warehouse space in Trenton, it had a pile of new in box surplus WWII BSA military bikes. They were partially assembled, me and another 12 year old were kept busy tryine to assemble one. The front ends, wheels, chain, lights all needed to be assembled. I think we spent more time removing the 30 year old cosmolene.
 
Mad Mike said:
They are pretty simple bikes, 2 strokes are simpler and military bikes of that era were made made for easy field repairs. -- most of the work in a restoration would be finding parts.

Back i the 70's my dad leased some old warehouse space in Trenton, it had a pile of new in box surplus WWII BSA military bikes. They were partially assembled, me and another 12 year old were kept busy tryine to assemble one. The front ends, wheels, chain, lights all needed to be assembled. I think we spent more time removing the 30 year old cosmolene.
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Didn't Deely have a fit when some of those and maybe Triumphs get sold off cheap?

The bike from The Great Escape:

Apparently, after filming, a farmer got hold of it and used it to herd his sheep. Now it’s valued at 1.5m and is in the Triumph Museum.
 
nobbie48 said:
Didn't Deely have a fit when some of those and maybe Triumphs get sold off cheap?

The bike from The Great Escape:

Apparently, after filming, a farmer got hold of it and used it to herd his sheep. Now it’s valued at 1.5m and is in the Triumph Museum.
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In 1980 a scrap yard out in Newtonville was selling off WW2 surplus Triumph TRW's in the crate for $1500. If only 15 year old me had some foresight...
 
This is a picture of a 1964 Yamaha MJ2-T
55cc electric start 2 stroke.
It was the first Yamaha sold in Colorado Springs Colorado.
It was Yamaha's first dual purpose motorcycle along with the YG-1
I spent over 100 hours and $4000.00 to acquire and recondition.
I sold it for $2000.00 and I consider that a good deal.
You do it for fun not for the money!
It was built to be put back on the road but is now sitting in a museum in Southern Alberta.



MJ2-T-2 copy.JPGMJ2-T-1 copy.JPG
 
guzzirider said:
This is a picture of a 1964 Yamaha MJ2-T
55cc electric start 2 stroke.
It was the first Yamaha sold in Colorado Springs Colorado.
It was Yamaha's first dual purpose motorcycle along with the YG-1
I spent over 100 hours and $4000.00 to acquire and recondition.
I sold it for $2000.00 and I consider that a good deal.
You do it for fun not for the money!
It was built to be put back on the road but is now sitting in a museum in Southern Alberta.



View attachment 75581View attachment 75582
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She's a beaut.

Is that the Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin? If so, definitely a sport worth a visit if anyone is ever out that way, and not just to see @guzzirider 's yellow peril rebuild...
 
TwistedKestrel said:
Holy moly that sprocket
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Ok actually I want some explanation as this is something I am absolutely not familiar with. Are you intended to be able to switch between high and low sprocket ratios? If so how do you manage the extra slack?
 
TwistedKestrel said:
Ok actually I want some explanation as this is something I am absolutely not familiar with. Are you intended to be able to switch between high and low sprocket ratios? If so how do you manage the extra slack?
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The big sprocket can be moved over and the chain has 2 mater links so a section can be removed to make it shorter.
 
Priller said:
She's a beaut.

Is that the Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin? If so, definitely a sport worth a visit if anyone is ever out that way, and not just to see @guzzirider 's yellow peril rebuild...
Click to expand...
The bike is in Southrn Alberta but I forget where.
 
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