There are many times I question myself on things I buy pertaining to my moto addiction. I consider myself somewhat of a cheap ass when it comes to buying anything.... If it's not a good deal, I will pass regardless how much I want it, or how long I have been looking. And many times, I think I will keep looking when I do find those rare parts, if too much, as they could go down in price at some point.
Which very rarely happens...
And those occasions when I do bite the bullet on parts, paying more than I want....I'm amazed at what those same parts cost as the years continue to go by.
One case in point, a complete dry clutch set up for a 88-94 RGV, or a 94-04 RS250 was $600 about 8 years ago. About 5 years ago I bought a complete engine with the dry clutch for $1500.... Today, a complete, although sold separately piece by piece, dry clutch set up sold for close the $3000 after $-¥ conversion.
My hobby is getting out of reach, basically the same way the muscle car hobby got out of reach for me in the 90's
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can relate. same reason i basically got out of cars, and why my TZR is a 'lowly' 1Kt.
That's the main reason I use all Banshee based parts. Readily available and decently priced.
Ive passed on buying bikes Id love to own just because I know they would be money pits.
Yep, the muscle car story is sad, I have owned a bunch of them, but could(or would not)pay the prices they want now. Just by luck, I did not sell my favorite one which is in the garage next to a few 2 strokes. I still have my factory Hemi Super Bee. I am teaching myself to paint right now, as I got bids from 2 shops for just paint on a rd400 tank, 600 and 800, I will do it myself.
Quote from: mixedbikes on August 09, 2024, 10:44:04 PMYep, the muscle car story is sad, I have owned a bunch of them, but could(or would not)pay the prices they want now. Just by luck, I did not sell my favorite one which is in the garage next to a few 2 strokes. I still have my factory Hemi Super Bee. I am teaching myself to paint right now, as I got bids from 2 shops for just paint on a rd400 tank, 600 and 800, I will do it myself.
That's nuts! Prices in Hawaii are high but still I'm getting my H2 bodywork painted for around $600. Paint and decals extra. My 50+ year old parts are not cherry, either. Every part requires bodywork.
I think it is crazy also, sadly my cousin may he rest in peace passed away. He was a custom bike painter and most of my stuff was always buy the beer and paint and its done. He passed away last year and local shops think anything other than insurance work they want to make a killing off of. I did take Marks lead and just got a pair of those cheap carbs to play with for a 350 I am building just to play with.They actually look pretty decent.
I went to work at a machine shop right out of high school in the 70's and muscle cars were in full swing. I remember a disassembled V-8 would come in for full rebuild, bore job, 3 angle valve job, crank grind, resurface heads, all new pistons, bearings, and a gasket kit. I think most of the invoices were $500-$600. I made $5.75 an hour. I loved seeing the customers coming by and showing off with their crazy build cars.
Edit: Opps, I just checked, I made $2.50 per hour
I'm in the middle of a Porsche 356 total restoration for a customer. We couldn't get the body in a shop for less than $20k. Even at that they required it be dipped and structural repairs be completed beforehand. None of the shops wanted to spend a month on it, they'd rather get the insurance work.
Quote from: mixedbikes on August 09, 2024, 11:15:40 PMI think it is crazy also, sadly my cousin may he rest in peace passed away. He was a custom bike painter and most of my stuff was always buy the beer and paint and its done. He passed away last year and local shops think anything other than insurance work they want to make a killing off of. I did take Marks lead and just got a pair of those cheap carbs to play with for a 350 I am building just to play with.They actually look pretty decent.
Quote from: sav0r on August 10, 2024, 10:43:35 AMI'm in the middle of a Porsche 356 total restoration for a customer. We couldn't get the body in a shop for less than $20k. Even at that they required it be dipped and structural repairs be completed beforehand. None of the shops wanted to spend a month on it, they'd rather get the insurance work.
356 is a handbuilt chassis, and thus a special breed. All body parts are custom fitted, and no two are alike.
Replacement panels are available, but they all have to be modified to fit.
There are shops that will do the work, but they are $$$$$$$$$$$.
My 65 Alfa Spider Veloce is the same. Entirely welded unit body with leaded seams. Each one was hand built at Pininfarina. It was the last year of coach-built cars. Mostly why it's still in storage. No rust but needs about $25K in cosmetic restoration. Body, paint, interior, and top.
The reproduction pieces aren't great but they're better than hand fabricating panels.
IR8D8R
We sent the interior to Unviersity of Madison for restoration. The gage restorations were $2500. The body is back and not that bad, but we have the steel repairs and will do a dry build before paint.