So called upgrades, Why Bother?

Forum Sponsor
Many aftermarket parts are of questionable quality. It's a prime reason why some people consider them to be a negative, when buying a used bike, rather than a bonus. They rarely add any value, though everyone who mods their bike seems to think that they should get the full value back when they sell.

The mods, that I've made, are largely functional ones.

- Bitubo cartridge fork inserts
- Hyperpro shock
- Kawasaki windscreen
- Givi saddlebags and top box

I had a set of braced dirtbike handlebars mounted but had to take them off, because they interfered with the windscreen mounts. I'll be getting another set, with a different bend, and mount them over the winter. I find that they help with vibration. I've also got a set of barkbusters (cold weather protection) and LED signal light inserts for the Givi saddlebags (more visibility) on the way.
 
ItIsWhatItIs said:
You are talking a very small part of the motorcycle market. Not everyone is shopping for a bike to be a weekend track warrior. Look through the classifieds, track bikes are worth less than street bikes. What does that say? If anything a modded bike is scaring away potential buyers, and not drawing them in as you say. There are plenty of ads boasting unraced, garage kept, never seen rain, and so on. Why is that? New like and original is what buyers are looking for. Yeah, this a bike forum, using vintage cars as an example of value reveals what creates value at auctions.
Click to expand...

Track bikes are valued as less because they have been crashed, fixed, crashed, fixed, have no lights, sometimes no bodywork, everything scarred, and abused to ratshit. I would think that to be quite obvious.
 
Honestly, I think the OP is either 1) trolling or 2) buying a bike from a forum member with said mods, hoping this thread will be brought to the seller's attention and give the OP leverage on negotiating the price.

...weak!
 
RedDogDarren said:
Track bikes are valued as less because they have been crashed, fixed, crashed, fixed, have no lights, sometimes no bodywork, everything scarred, and abused to ratshit. I would think that to be quite obvious.
Click to expand...

Exactly.. theyre literally gutted and to put a track bike back into street ready order will cost you the difference or more if you must source the parts
 
stormcat said:
Snapped this pic of a guy's exhaust at GP Bikes this afternoon. Enjoy! :cool:

2ag59ad.jpg
Click to expand...
Oh Lord! hahahhaha! erh! {choke} wait a Min! that engine looks in pretty good shape (cosmetically)!
 
Last edited:
2live&ride said:
Honestly, I think the OP is either 1) trolling or 2) buying a bike from a forum member with said mods, hoping this thread will be brought to the seller's attention and give the OP leverage on negotiating the price.

...weak!
Click to expand...

Trolling? Read through the responses, not everyone shares your views. Not everyone thinks mods creates value. If anything mods are a liability, tell the insurance company you have an aftermarket exhaust see what happens. Some exhausts are designed for the track. I am sure that hasn't stopped people from using them for the street. If you are pulled over by a bored cop then what? You expect a buyer to give you extra money for this risk, unreal and Delusional!
 
ItIsWhatItIs said:
Trolling? Read through the responses, not everyone shares your views. Not everyone thinks mods creates value. If anything mods are a liability, tell the insurance company you have an aftermarket exhaust see what happens. Some exhausts are designed for the track. I am sure that hasn't stopped people from using them for the street. If you are pulled over by a bored cop then what? You expect a buyer to give you extra money for this risk, unreal and Delusional!
Click to expand...

Your posts are too broad. while a lot of mods are more trouble than they're worth, that doesn't mean that they're all worthless. Knowing what to look for and being informed go a long way.
 
Flashmonkey said:
Your posts are too broad. while a lot of mods are more trouble than they're worth, that doesn't mean that they're all worthless. Knowing what to look for and being informed go a long way.
Click to expand...

Maybe some mods are considered an upgrade. I would say this is a very very small percentage. That doesn't stop sellers from believing theirs bikes are worth more than stock bikes. These are likely the same sellers who whine and cry about lowballers.
 
ItIsWhatItIs said:
Maybe some mods are considered an upgrade. I would say this is a very very small percentage. That doesn't stop sellers from believing theirs bikes are worth more than stock bikes. These are likely the same sellers who whine and cry about lowballers.
Click to expand...

You're just going on and on and on, give it up troll...
 
ItIsWhatItIs said:
I am going on and on? Have you looked in the mirror? Tell us what bike you are selling and where you have it listed.
Click to expand...

It's a 2006 GSX-R 750, 12,000 KLMs
Akrapovic slip-on, power commander V
ASV shorties to be installed
Driven rearsets on the way
LSL frame sliders

Price: 1 million dollars... because my bike is the ****!





OBO...absolutely NO lowballers
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Forgot to mention, bike comes with all original parts as well... shoot me a pm if interested. Troll!
 
Personally for street use...i'd stick with original with the exception of anything that will improve street usage...such as HID lights (if you do night riding) or say heated grips etc. if you're cold weather rider etc.

those mods are "sensible".

If you're planning to take the bike on the track well then it might be worthwhile to get aftermarket stuff like race fairings etc.
 
ItIsWhatItIs said:
Maybe some mods are considered an upgrade. I would say this is a very very small percentage. That doesn't stop sellers from believing theirs bikes are worth more than stock bikes. These are likely the same sellers who whine and cry about lowballers.
Click to expand...

Ok so what mods would you consider an upgade? You've stated what you think is a waste of money.
 
Can't really blame the guy for being clueless about the sportbike aftermarket, seeing as he's never owned a sportbike.


ItIsWhatItIs said:
I currently own a cbr125. My target is 50 000 problem free Km, After which I will be looking at perhaps the kawasaki 400 or 250 (If they upgrade to FI). This is my third motorcycle. I have also owned at one time an 83 Yamaha 650, and an 83 Honda Sabre 750. I may consider the cbr250r, but I am still evaluating its merit.
Click to expand...
 
dricked said:
Ok so what mods would you consider an upgade? You've stated what you think is a waste of money.
Click to expand...

Any quality exhaust, wheel, brake or suspension upgrade is a guaranteed win for a used bike. What kind of fool would pass on a (example) ZX10R with Marchesini wheels, Ohlins forks and shock, and some Brembo monoblocs just because "its modded". :lol: dumb A bike like my example there would probably catch a $2000-4000 premium over a stock one.
 
mmmnaked said:
Any quality exhaust, wheel, brake or suspension upgrade is a guaranteed win for a used bike. What kind of fool would pass on a (example) ZX10R with Marchesini wheels, Ohlins forks and shock, and some Brembo monoblocs just because "its modded". :lol: dumb A bike like my example there would probably catch a $2000-4000 premium over a stock one.
Click to expand...

For the street? I'm afraid that you're likely wrong there. The owner would likely be asking for that much more, and it might even almost be worth it, but wouldn't likely get it. He'd be better off stripping the mods, putting the bike back to stock, and selling the mods separately.
 
Absolutely for the street. Tons of guys love those mods just for the bling factor, let alone the dramatic improvement in performance.

A bike like that would absolutely undeniably 100% fetch a higher price than a stock bike. No questions about it. The seller would lose quite a bit of money and the buyer would get a smoking deal on $10,000 worth of upgrades for only a few grand more than a stock bike.

I do agree that it would be in the seller's best interest to revert to stock and sell the parts separately, but that's not the point. The bike would easily still sell for more than a stock one. Like I said before, it narrows the market a bit but that doesn't mean it won't sell. I'd buy it, and I know there are others out there who see the value in these mods.
 
Last edited:
I think that you're grossly over-estimating the value of such parts, on a used bike. Maybe $1K, for the lot, at the outside. And that's only if in near perfect condition. Bling adds to the value of a bike in North and South Carolina, but only if you've got a stretched and chromed swingarm on a sportbike. It's just the way that the market is.
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom