Buying and selling in 3/4 time

[brentville]

So, I have been admiring all the custom bikes that have been built here on this site for some time. Some are total wack job customs bikes that could never be duplicated and others are more of a "restomod" rebuild that keeps much of the original style of the bike with upgraded parts and paint. I've even dabbled in doing some of these builds myself.

So what does everyone do with these customized finished bikes? I can't ride them all of them all time. And if I don't sell them I'll never be able to buy more to customize and restore! I know most of the folks on here don't restore and customize bikes solely to sell them later. It's the work itself that is a lot of fun. But is there a market for these bikes?

I've found something of a market for the restored cruiser bikes I've found and fixed up (though it's dead now) but I'm going to end up with a fair number of these restomod customs that I don't have room for. What can I do? I'm not going to stop buying and customizing bikes am I? So, can these customized bikes be readily sold?

Operators are standing by.

 

[CCR]

most of mine have been "gifted" to people so i could justify building more, sold a couple "mod" bikes but only broke even (i may have felt guilty making $ on them anyway :lol: ), now i just mess with schwinns because they are fairly desirable and i try not to exceed spending what i know i can get out of them. just a hobby for me.

 

[hutch73]

these bikes you speak of mostly just take up space in my garage and basement! it seems like it's really hard to sell a custom bike and get the time and $ that you put into it back. i've had the best luck with flipping bikes. buy it for $15 or $20. clean it up and put new tubes and tires, (while listening to some good music and enjoying yourself) and make $30-$40. but you never know, you might be out riding one of your customs and someone offers you $500. if that were to happen i would gladly walk home with cash in my pocket!

 

[thatismytruck]

these bikes you speak of mostly just take up space in my garage and basement! it seems like it's really hard to sell a custom bike and get the time and $ that you put into it back. i've had the best luck with flipping bikes. buy it for $15 or $20. clean it up and put new tubes and tires, (while listening to some good music and enjoying yourself) and make $30-$40. but you never know, you might be out riding one of your customs and someone offers you $500. if that were to happen i would gladly walk home with cash in my pocket!

This is the answer. End of thread. 8)

 

[brentville]

I did hear about a guy who makes the chrome low riders with the twisty forks, velvet banana seats and more chrome than should be legal who does just that. He rides through certain neighborhoods that he would otherise avoid at all costs on his chrome low rider and more often than not someone will offer him $200-$300 cash and he walks back to where he parked his truck and drives back home.

 

[blink]

I did hear about a guy who makes the chrome low riders with the twisty forks, velvet banana seats and more chrome than should be legal who does just that. He rides through certain neighborhoods that he would otherise avoid at all costs on his chrome low rider and more often than not someone will offer him $200-$300 cash and he walks back to where he parked his truck and drives back home.

its funny, cuz i live in one of "those" neighborhoods.

i was riding my BFK around at the top of my street.
couple of sketch thugs on the corner.

"yo whiteboy, how much you want for that Schwinn?"

i said, "how much ya got?"

he said, "how bout $50 and an ounce of herb?"

i said, "no thanks man."

 

[Hooch]

you buy storage sheds, kick kids out of the house and use their bedrooms, rent storage units, find friends with barns clean out the basement and fill it
sorry there is no cure for the bicycle addiction.
this is your future

 

[Rat Rod]

If you know what to look for and have the time and patience, flipping bikes can be a great secondary source of income.

As stated above...spending too much time and effort on a bike kills the profit margin for sure. At the very least I try to break even on bikes that I really "fix up" or customize.

I've had several great finds that have turned into some serious cash over the past couple of years. It's spoiled me in a way. Now I hardly even consider a flip unless I can make at least $100 off the deal. I've found it's not worth the time and energy if it's less than that.

 

[Hooch]

I flip a fair amount of bikes 100 plus a year
but they are almost always cleaned up stock bikes to sell a custom is a rare deal usually if I sell a custom its one that was built specifically for the person wanting it.
and I make a ton more on a schwinn varsity that i put tires on and clean than a custom bike I have many many hours work in.
my market is college kids if i was in a sunny beach climate I am sure the market would be different.

 

[xddorox]

you buy storage sheds, kick kids out of the house and use their bedrooms, rent storage units, find friends with barns clean out the basement and fill it
sorry there is no cure for the bicycle addiction.
this is your future

It's funny because it's true :mrgreen: Great one Hooch.

 

[brentville]

Well I think that Hooch is right. You sell the cool looking stock cruiser bikes and the like that you just put a new chain or tires on. Another guy I know concentrates on the kids bikes. Garage sales, freebies that kids have out grown etc. Parents come by point and say "I'll take that blue one." They spend $30 and never come back to complain.

Occassionally a pre war Colson falls into your lap for $5 and you sell on the Cabe for $225. But you can't count on that happening every week.

I just know I'd feel better about having more of my own "keeper" bikes, if I was selling more of the ones I've gathered up in the late fall.

 

[aka_locojoe]

I have given some away and sold some for probably less than what I had in them but most bikes I build I keep.
Like Hooch said, their stored all over the place. I like having a variety of bikes to ride.

 

[BrigmasterA]

I, too, have a plethora of bikes. My wife has a small handful as well. But hers might actually be sell-able. She likes the Schwinn Hollywoods. I prefer the older Murrays, which aren't exactly worth a whole lot. But I like them. I could ride a different bike every day of the week, and still not have ridden all of them. I did sell one of my spaceliners to a college girl who wanted a different bike than anyone else on campus, and she was happy with it. So I just collect them.

 

[Rat Rod]

Find an 84 GT Pro Performer with all high end parts for $9.99 and part it out for $1000 on Ebay.

That'll make your month. :wink:

 

[Gold Street Customs]

you buy storage sheds, kick kids out of the house and use their bedrooms, rent storage units, find friends with barns clean out the basement and fill it
sorry there is no cure for the bicycle addiction.
this is your future

It's funny because it's true :mrgreen: Great one Hooch.

How much for that red stingray in the corner with the white seat in the right rear corner... :lol: :lol: