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Post by Dennismenace on Mar 20, 2020 12:30:15 GMT
I acquired a 1982 CB400NC last September and began a restoration. The bike was complete but had been standing for over ten years in a lock up.
My wife suggested that I should record what I spent on the restoration (!) just to give me some idea of what it cost.
Well so far the restoration has cost me £2.5K and the bike, although nearly complete is no 'show pony'. I paid £400 for the bike and I am pleasantly surprised how reasonable the cost of parts is compared to a Harley or the several Ducati's that I have restored previously.
Given that I have not had the tank painted (yet) and no engine work (the engine is sound but the paintwork shows wear and tear) I was surprised at how the costs add up.
The largest expenses were tyres (£133), second hand seat, mine was rotten and ripped (£95), battery (£50) swing arm bushes (£48) front brake caliper pistons x4 (£80), second-hand grab rails (£95), second-hand fuel tank, the original was badly dented (£68) and lots of sundries such as a petrol tap, oil seals, gaskets, cables, bearings, cush drive rubbers, sprockets, drive chain, etc.
I know from past experience that you will never make money restoring bikes and I love the whole restoration process but it is amazing how costs add up, and all this excluding our time of course.
Dennis
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Post by na44superdream on Mar 20, 2020 12:41:03 GMT
It does add up, I am compiling another exhaust system currently , NOS but with pattern silencers, I think it will be >900 GBP once all there!
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Post by buster on Mar 20, 2020 14:22:36 GMT
I'm a coward, I stopped counting what its costing me when the numbers got too big  |
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Post by Dennismenace on Mar 20, 2020 15:33:21 GMT
I know what you mean.😂
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2020 18:35:12 GMT
I also dread to think what I have spent over the years and continue to do so.
Partly why they will never be sold off cheap.....I've done that too many times now.
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Post by duffer on Mar 20, 2020 19:45:21 GMT
Probably an old one, but I heard an old guy explaining that his worst nightmare was to die suddenly and be a silent ghost watching his wife sell off all his stuff,,, for the prices he told her that he paid for it.
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Post by bodie on Mar 20, 2020 20:11:22 GMT
Probably an old one, but I heard an old guy explaining that his worst nightmare was to die suddenly and be a silent ghost watching his wife sell off all his stuff,,, for the prices he told her that he paid for it. buster my mate paul with the 400/4,s you have seen on here has it on a t shirt which I think is very brave as the wife does the washing  |
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Post by duffer on Mar 20, 2020 20:23:02 GMT
They don't understand that most of the important bits are made from unobtainium, which is expensive stuff!!
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tonyb
Full Member
Posts: 100
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Post by tonyb on Mar 20, 2020 20:48:32 GMT
hi all - when i run out of funds for my bike obsession i use something from around the house garden garage to "make do" so i can ride her - often getting accustomed to the "monstrosity" i create and keep some of the mods long term - i have used pondliners for fairings bbq grills for headlight protector/brackets nackered plastic bucket for mudguard repairs etc
have you seen one of my inventions its posted here in photos somewhere
love livin
tony
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carlthebandit
Moderator 
Midlands Meets Organiser
You can never have too many bikes :)
Posts: 2,403 
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Post by carlthebandit on Mar 20, 2020 23:06:21 GMT
It’s a hobby and or obsession, DO NOT keep accounts life’s too short 💪🏿
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Post by BritPete on Mar 21, 2020 8:18:28 GMT
I always keep full accounts I think its called
Lies, Dam Lies & Constructive Accounting
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Post by bluedreamer on Mar 29, 2020 13:41:34 GMT
You can't put a price on enjoyment though, don't worry too much about all the pennies!!!
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Post by Dennismenace on Mar 29, 2020 16:06:39 GMT
Yes, my mate plays golf at £75 a round and has nothing to show for it but enjoyment (or frustration!). Makes restoring bikes seem like a cheap hobby.
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Post by mansell on Apr 1, 2020 13:51:32 GMT
I believe that NNR cost £6k to complete, this was done over 10 years and tbh I don’t think I overpaid for most parts but a couple of items were brutal. The NOS fuel tank and the NOS. Rear wheel were the worst items from an expense point of view. Obviously it was not about profit as that was never going to happen but just the desire to rebuild her to factory spec. The way I looked at it was that I’d recently given up smoking (at the time) and in the end I’d have spent that amount on fags over the same period. I’ve flirted with the idea of selling her occasionally but obviously the value I place on her differs from what the market values her at. (By some considerable amount!) and I guess one day I might take a hit and sell her on but I’ve no appetite for that currently so an occasional bimble down Devons glorious country lanes on a lovely day makes every penny I spent seem like a bargain....
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Post by duffer on Apr 1, 2020 15:00:04 GMT
"The quality will remain after the price is forgotten" Henry Royce.
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