A Barn bike

2924 Views 24 Replies 12 Participants Last post by borzwazie, Dec 17, 2006

jbranson

Discussion Starter · Nov 26, 2006

While talking bikes with a couple of new local customers the subject of vintage bikes comes up, then racing, then Ducati...then I hear. Jeez, I've got this old Ducati 350 single that's been in my barn for years. I just want to get rid of it. He tells me how dirty and old it is...mentions the alloy rims are still nice. I say, hey, I'm used to that, I've dug lots of old messed up bikes out of barns...maybe I'll take off your hands...here's my phone number. Give me a call if you want to get rid of it.
On the way out he mentions again, I'll probably give you a call about the bike. I'm like no problem, I've got no projects this winter.
Wonder what it is. He's a relative of an employee so I can get in touch if I have to. Don't want to seem too eager though.
JohnnyB

Save

1 - 4 of 25 Posts

Geeto67

· #3 · Nov 26, 2006

quote:
While talking bikes with a couple of new local customers the subject of vintage bikes comes up, then racing, then Ducati...then I hear. Jeez, I've got this old Ducati 350 single that's been in my barn for years. I just want to get rid of it. He tells me how dirty and old it is...mentions the alloy rims are still nice. I say, hey, I'm used to that, I've dug lots of old messed up bikes out of barns...maybe I'll take off your hands...here's my phone number. Give me a call if you want to get rid of it.
On the way out he mentions again, I'll probably give you a call about the bike. I'm like no problem, I've got no projects this winter.
Wonder what it is. He's a relative of an employee so I can get in touch if I have to. Don't want to seem too eager though.
JohnnyB

Had this happen to me twice and both times I didn't end up with the bike.

I told a friend that I was looking to replace my norton (which I had just sold) and wanted another 70's bike. He told me his father had an old bike that hadn't run in years. I told him I wasn't looking for a project but I would give a call anyway. I spoke to the father the next day and told him that I wasn't ready to pay more than $500 for any project bike and he was ok with it. So far neither could tell me what kind of bike it was, the father and son were clearly not riders. Anyway so I get to the house and he rolls the bike out of the shed - a 1970 Ducati 750 GT!!!!!!. I tell him I'll take it but he needs to come up with a title (this was back in 1995, didn't know about title services). The bike turned out to be his brother's who dumped it in his lap before trundling off to vietnam. Anyway he called his brother to get the title and his brother came over with it. When his brother saw the bike out in the driveway the deal was instantly off. I offered them $2000 for it but they wouldn't budge. When I left they were still stairing at it in the driveway.

The second time one of my brother's friends saw my cb750 and told me his father had one just like it stored at their grand parents house. I went and looked an it was a 1969 diecast cb750 in candy red. Once again I told him $500 and he agreed. The trouble was it was in the back of the garage and I had to wait till they moved all the furniture out of the way. Two weeks go by and I call them and it turns out that they moved all the furniture and rather than call me they pushed it to the local bike shop where they were offered $300 and took it. I called them idiots right on the phone and hung up. Never spoke to them again and the kid avoids me when he sees me now.

the moral - don't wait fo sentimentality to kick in. Show up with cash in hand and move the bike that day. If you have to wait for a title take the bike anyway.

See less See more

Save

Geeto67

· #7 · Nov 27, 2006

quote:
Yeah I figure at the latest....sometime after the new year if he hasn't called me I'll get his cousin to give me his number...I'll call and ask if I can come over and look at the bike, I'll bring some cash.
At this point I give it about a 25% chance of happening if I don't call him at some point.
The guy knows bikes a bit...he's restored a triumph...but I think he feels the Duc is worthless because of it's condition. But he's a youngun...early 20's, so he's not really into old bikes that much. The Trumpet was his fathers.

I'm hoping for about a 1968 350 Mark D.
JohnnyB

I don;t know If I would wait that long. If the mentioned it to you chances are he is looking to get rid of it soon. A month can seem like a really long time to someone in their early 20's and if he has to wait for a month he might just decide to take her to the scrapper to make the room.

Save

Geeto67

· #17 · Dec 3, 2006

quote: What is the difference between a NY road and a ME road??

Emissions. There are some states that will let you still register dirt bikes for street use and some states like NY that don't do that anymore since dirtbikes don't meet emissions.

There is a number you can call to check if a vehicle is stolen. I can't remember it now but I think you can do it anonamously. I think it is the national insurance crime bureau or something like that. They keep stolen vehicle records longer than any state so if you are worried a bike you are buying may be stolen give them a call.

Save

Geeto67

· #22 · Dec 4, 2006

quote:
If you're having trouble registering a bike... "sell" it to me, let me register it in NH, and I'll "sell" it back to you. I did that for John Phlog's Honda GT650 and another guys Suzuki GT750 so they could register the bikes in their states.

what is the cutoff for registering without a title in NH? I have a 1977 GS750 that needs to be registered but I don't have a title and locally a mechanics lein will cost too much ($300).

Save

1 - 4 of 25 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month