Upon reflection, I now concur with Ace and others that
that bike is a little too "optimistically priced" at $3995, which is only $500 less than its original sticker price of $4,495 nearly 20 years ago. After all, we're not talking about a Brough Superior, Vincent or even a '60s Triumph or Norton true classic here, just an older bike that might charitably be described as a "faux-classic". Sure, it has some desirable farkles, but such improvements are usually baked into the mix with little effect on end sale price. Folks get deeply invested in their vehicles, especially those they've lavished sweat and resources on. I doubt I'd sell mine for any "reasonable price," but then I'm not flogging it on craigslist either.
Sure, I'd
like to feel that something so similar to my own ride, purchased for just $1,200 during a November 2017 blizzard with evident "Real Leap of Faith Issues," notably sploodging whale bukkake amounts of motor oil forming a pond of multigrade below the crankcase when she started during my initial pre-purchase inspection (now long since sorted out [cause: breather catch can cloggery]), might be worth anything like 4 Grand. But really...
Casting feelings aside, I wanted to find some quantifiable citeable source as to these Iron Barrel "Military" models' real value. Oddly enough, the
Online NADA Guide only offers its full retail sticker price when new. This contrasts with
its full conditional listings for my far rarer '67 Norton N15CS "Desert Sled", which I am gratified to learn that even in "Fair" condition is now said to be worth a tad more than 3000% of the hundred bucks I paid for it--delivered to my doorstep--back in the early '90s in Texas. If only all my investments went so swimmingly!
Still, even if
NADA fails us,
Kelley Blue Book offers us a straightforward figure of $2,495 for a "2000 Royal Enfield Military 500" in whatever condition. So, at least you now have something authoritative-looking that you can print out and wave at the guy while haggling him down out of orbit. Remember, unless a 24 carat golden ingot is bolted onto the pillion seat and easily removeable, "improvements" hardly ever factor dollar-for-dollar into a used vehicle's sale price. Once they're part of the vehicle, they're just part of the vehicle. So, don't let the seller try to take you down that "but it's got improved transduction grommets on the competition foonbinnacles!" path.
If you want it, I'd now suggest offering him not a nickel more than that published $2,495
Blue Book value, and just let that stew. If he's hoping under the well-known
"Bigger Idiot Theory" to do much better than an acknowledged standard published resource of vehicle values, then remind him that the doofus he seeks might well get lost or slip on his drool, and never make his way there or maybe get peckish and eat his wallet on the way. Be friendly yet firm and remind him...
"Your old shit is not yet golden to me.
If you think it is, you should definitely keep it.
Please let me know before Saturday,
'cause I've got another Enfield I'm looking at."
Topic: Alternate tank ? (Read 5921 times)