On a BSA with two bald tyres...

[Greybeard]

Tidy job, Greybeard! Did ya restove or paint cycle parts?

I had cycle parts sandblasted and powder coated. Tinware was professionally sprayed with two-pack and then matted off and polished. Bright bits were replated by a company that specialise in classic vehicle work. The fuel tank had a dent that I worked on to reduce to a ripple. The tank was chromed all over. I got the sprayer to fill the dimpled area before spraying. Luckily the damage was in the painted area of the tank. You would not have known there had been any damage.

[Rex]

Graybloke you will probably find that the costs of rechroming vs replacing means that rechroming is a non-starter, especially for cheap items like bars, levers, wheel rims, headlamp rim etc.

[Swarfcut]

   Interesting to see what may be not ONE but TWO Longstroke bikes emerge from slumber.  While the majority of frame and cycle parts intechange with later Plunger bikes, the major engine castings are unique so finding some parts will be not as easy as anticipated.

   Having said that, some ebay sellers think the rarity commands a high price, but watching Longstroke bits on a regular basis shows some stuff has been repeatedly listed for over a year, price unchanged, no takers.

 The cosmetics certainly soak up the cash, and while restoring back to original is all very well, I'd prefer producing a rough looking but reliable, useable machine that would be back in use quicker and cheaper.

 Cue for a timely warning from GB, concerning that 'lil old oilway........

 Swarfy.

[groily]

[quote author=Swarfcut

 The cosmetics certainly soak up the cash, and while restoring back to original is all very well, I'd prefer producing a rough looking but reliable, useable machine that would be back in use quicker and cheaper.

[/quote]

Ain't that the truth.
All depends what we want to do with thing afterwards I guess.
If you want a daily rider, then the cosmetic investment isn't a good plan as the deterioration in daily use will cause you pain every time it rains. Need to be obsessive compulsive about spit and polish to keep a daily rider looking good. I'm not the least bothered: one of mine is about to get its 4th oil change since last November.
If a beast is for occasional use, or a show pony, then yup, go for it - while the money lasts! Bearing in mind the value of the finished result will probably be only half the investment (if that matters) and that the difference in values between machines with patina and a track record of reliable regular use as compared to little-used and shiny isn't what it was. (More because 'shiny' prices are down rather than scruffy ones being up, although 'original' in decent working order has its own premium.)
We're a broad church luckily. Sometimes I see a friend who says 'Bill, you do actually have a couple of shinies, so why do you insist on using scruffy ones and why don't you smarten them up?' To which I say 'Because I like them' and, more to the point, 'How often do you see them break down?'

[Rex]

Up to maybe two years ago, if you were sensible with rebuild costs and handy with tools it was usually possible to break even at sale time when moving on a resto; those days are sadly gone and there's good but patina'd bikes for sale relatively cheaply now.
I've seen a mid-50's Red Hunter go for £1650 and an A10 (still with shiny tank)  unsold at £2500 recently, and a brace of pre-unit Triumphs needing fettling through non-use go for £2000 apiece.
Personally I rather like old and patina'd, so the new values suit me, but it does bring a wry smile when someone advertises a pile of assorted parts for 2/3K and hope they'll find a mug buyer, when an uptogether bike goes for similar money.

[Greybeard]

I spent £4.5k restoring my Plungie. That was in 2012. When I sold it in 2023 I got that much for the bike. I would have liked more but not too bothered - I got a lot of pleasure from the machine.

[muskrat]

G'day GB.
I got the old plunger A7 for a carton of beer and a tank of fuel in 1982. Spent about $3K to refurb and about $2K on rebuilds of motor since. I like patina and as long as she goes I don't bother too much on looks. Recon I'd break even if I sold her (now washing my mouth out !!). Deb knows my ashes will be poured into the hole in the frame under the seat. If I can't take the bike with me I'm staying with the bike!
Cheers

[groily]

I've seen a mid-50's Red Hunter go for £1650 and an A10 (still with shiny tank)  unsold at £2500 recently, and a brace of pre-unit Triumphs needing fettling through non-use go for £2000 apiece.

I posted this already recently with sadness Rex as it was a '57 machine I owned in my youth. Bought for £80, sold for £90 which was ill-invested in a bitza café-racer A10 that wasn't very good to put it mildly.
Alloy barrel comp motor (not same year, but so what, rare as hen's teeth), all the correct other bits, barely used in 50 years - and it went for a measly £1200 at Cheffins. I was one day late spotting it out there or I'd have had it in a heartbeat (and would have happily paid more).

[Rex]

As some berk on TV says, "cheap as chips".
I guess those wise old sages who've been complaining for years that it's too expensive to "get into" classic bikes are now keeping schtum.
For an ever-lasting practical plodder it would be hard to beat that Ariel.

[Greybeard]

Deb knows my ashes will be poured into the hole in the frame under the seat. If I can't take the bike with me I'm staying with the bike!
Cheers

Are you planning to haunt the bike? The engine suddenly goes full throttle for no reason! 😳