| If you though that collecting classic motorcycles was a | | | | When you start buying classic motorcycles for your |
| bad investment think again! You can buy four or even | | | | collection, look for bikes that started off as expensive, |
| five of such bikes for the price of a car. They even | | | | such as limited edition, hand-built ones like Crocker, |
| take up far less garage space. | | | | Brough, Vincent and Mondial. |
| Since 2000, the sales of classic motorcycles have | | | | The rarest examples of American made classic |
| doubled. Among the higher end bikes, the Brough | | | | motorcycles are those made before the year 1920. |
| Superior SS100, a British bike, which was used in the | | | | There are only 200 known classic motorcycles that |
| film, "Lawrence of Arabia", now commands a six | | | | were made in that era and were produced by brands |
| figure price in dollars. Don't panic - the prices of such | | | | like Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, Cyclone and |
| bikes are not as high and are close to $10,000. For | | | | Flying Merkel. Most of these models have either been |
| $5000, you can get an Italian 1950s Vespa scooter | | | | sold as scrap or traded privately. In the 1980s, an |
| and for about $20,000 you can land up with a British | | | | original paint 1907 Harley-Davidson came up for auction |
| classic motorcycle like Triumph. You can choose from | | | | at a farm in Nebraska and sold for the rice of |
| a whole range of British, Italian, American, German and | | | | $175,000. |
| Japanese classic motorcycles. | | | | One of the rarest models that one can find is the |
| What you need to look out for while buying them is | | | | Grand Prix race bikes in original condition. The |
| paying the correct value. If you are inexperienced you | | | | Japanese made ones are among the most difficult to |
| might just end up spending on a bike which does not | | | | find because their engineering was supposed to kept a |
| have original parts. Experts can tell you if the serial | | | | secret. So after a race, the bikes were compacted so |
| number of the bike is original or has been forged. | | | | that competitors could not study their inner parts. |
| If plan to get into collecting classic motorcycles, make it | | | | Japanese examples of such bikes are particularly |
| a point to visit rallies, meets and other events. | | | | scarce; since their engineering was considered |
| Subscribe to publications like Vintage Motorcycle and | | | | top-secret. |
| Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader. Look up any local | | | | The values of classic motorcycles are that much |
| clubs in your area and become a member. This way | | | | higher when their parts and finish are original. If you are |
| you will get to meet other collectors and exchange | | | | not sure if a bike is original, call in an expert. |
| information. | | | | |