Can you sell a bike that is part of your history? ("BigJim")

[LukeTheJoker]

Had my local scrap metal guy who I buy quite a few bikes off come around a couple of weeks back to pick up some scrap steel I had, showed him the Swingbike and showed him "BigJim" still disassembled in the trailer, he is a cool guy who loves weird and wonderful things so he liked them...

Went down to his scrap yard today to try pick up a new headlight for the wife's Camry (hit a kangaroo) and of course see what bikes have come in, struck out on the headlight and no new bikes but got talking and he brings up the subject of "BigJim" and just casually mentions that if I ever want to sell it he would be interested, even showing me some of his other normally hidden away collectables to show he is serious... He has a 70's styled 750/4 Honda chopper, rigid rear, raked out super long twisted chrome forks, green metal flake paint on the coffin shaped tank, you get the idea, some original Australian muscle bikes... Some other interesting things which I will post about later too...

I mentioned that I would not be just giving it away for a cheap price due to the cost of the wheels and tires etc, and he said he didn't expect me to, he knows it would have been an expensive build, but come up with a price if I want to sell it and we will go from there, probably a part cash/part credit at the yard deal.

Not real sure what I am thinking now, I love the bike, but it is so big to store that I have never even taken it out of the trailer after the trip, he has a big shed with all his stuff in it, so has plenty of room, at least it would be together and enjoyed but I am just not sure I am willing to let it go just yet...

Some extra $$$'s would be handy for the next couple of builds, and I am always buying stuff from him for cheap prices so will no doubt get good value out of any yard credit that is included, it would also free up some space for more bikes...

I guess the time has come to face the question that has been troubling me for a while, how do you build more bikes when you run out of room to store them? I guess the answer is to sell them...

The only other bike that I have sold before ("50 Years of Muscle Bikes") I sometimes wish I hadn't, it was a cool bike, the first of my fatwheel builds and my first build from scratch, how will I feel if I sell "BigJim"?

Anyone else had the same dilemma? What did you do?

Luke.

 

[mikeeebikey]

Yes, yes I have. I was and still have an extreme desire for old schwinns, old ones. Last one I had sat for years, finally I had to move, it had to go.
So I called a friend, who had mentioned, custodial care taker, and buying it.... He also bought my schwinn mx, converted back to stingray.
Jeff never has ridden either one, the stingray got hung over a pool table, and the Phantom is parked in the corner.
I call occasionally, we talk about the old bmx days, half pipe riding, women, and my old phantom...

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Yes, yes I have. I was and still have an extreme desire for old schwinns, old ones. Last one I had sat for years, finally I had to move, it had to go.
So I called a friend, who had mentioned, custodial care taker, and buying it.... He also bought my schwinn mx, converted back to stingray.
Jeff never has ridden either one, the stingray got hung over a pool table, and the Phantom is parked in the corner.
I call occasionally, we talk about the old bmx days, half pipe riding, women, and my old phantom...

Shame he has never ridden either one...

Luke.

 

[slowriderz]

I have struggled with this dilema as well. For some reason I always start a project with selling in mind but end up becoming attached for one reason or another. Over the past year I have forced myself to take lots of pictures and put them in a "past" builds folder in my shop and just let the bikes go.
I enjoy the ride, I enjoy the history of course but I really like being out in my shop wrenching on something after a long day at work. I regret selling some (most) but I just cannot see keeping as many as I build up.

I will say that i feel for you on facing the choice of selling "Big Jim". That is rolling art and bleeds of your creativity. Take a picture and hang it on the wall. Start building the next monster. Best of luck to you on the choice

( by the way... as common as it may seem to you, I couldnt help but chuckle at the thought of accidently hiitting a kangaroo with a car. Hope the wife was Ok after the mishap)

 

[The Renaissance Man]

I'm in exactly the same boat that you are in. This pat weekend while I was in Cleveland TN with Southern Flyer, a distant relative by marriage was pressing me to price it to him. He's a street rodder guy and wants it to haul it in the back of his '56 Ford truck and ride it at shows. I told him it would be expensive. I'll probably let it go for the right price.

 

[Pookie42]

I too get attached to my bikes and because I ride them daily I constantly get asked to sell them. My son and I are working on an old muscle car for him to drive and my advise to him was fix it to your liking,enjoy it,and when someone comes along and offers you good cash let it go and move on to the next one. That's how I did it with my cars. Then he says "why do you have so many bikes you can only ride one at a time."


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[ifitsfreeitsforme]

My old boss taught me not to be attached to bikes. He said "they're just metal". But then he didn't go to the lengths in fabricating them like you guys.


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[dragnusa]

I haven't had a offer on one of my build off bikes yet but I have had a few I wish I hadn't sold but when I sell one I liked. I always tell the person I want first chance to get it back if they ever decide to get rid of it.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

I will say that i feel for you on facing the choice of selling "Big Jim". That is rolling art and bleeds of your creativity. Take a picture and hang it on the wall. Start building the next monster. Best of luck to you on the choice

( by the way... as common as it may seem to you, I couldnt help but chuckle at the thought of accidently hiitting a kangaroo with a car. Hope the wife was Ok after the mishap)

Nicely said Slowriderz, I think that is possibly the way I will go if we can agree on a price.
Hitting a Kangaroo is probably more common than most people overseas would think, thankfully I was only going about 50mph because of roadwork, but came around a long sweeping corner over a bridge and he hopped off the side of the road right in front of us, was able to wash off some speed and turn behind him so it was only a glancing hit but just glad we were in the old Camry, it would have written off my little green Daihatsu with its thinner metal, crumple zones and airbags... On the Camry it broke the plastic mounts behind the headlight and bent the mounting points back about an inch, fixed it all up and it looks like nothing happened, had to glue, plate and screw the light housing back together but it should be ok for at least a little while till I find a replacement. We are both ok, can't say the same for the Kangaroo though...

I'm in exactly the same boat that you are in. This pat weekend while I was in Cleveland TN with Southern Flyer, a distant relative by marriage was pressing me to price it to him. He's a street rodder guy and wants it to haul it in the back of his '56 Ford truck and ride it at shows. I told him it would be expensive. I'll probably let it go for the right price.

I am not sure I could let go of Southern Flyer if it were mine, beautiful bike and far more practical than BigJim, as you say though, at the right price...

Thanks for all your comments Guys, I think all of you are mirroring my thoughts for the most part, as much as I love that bike and am probably never going to build something so extreme again, there is also something cool about someone else wanting something you created, to both ride and display, and if I don't sell my bikes I will eventually run out of room, money and the inclination to build more...

Going to think on it for a day or two before I decide though.

Luke.

 

[heartlandcruisers]

i feel ya luke
i regret selling a few builds.
i have sold all but 2 of my bikes because of my motorcycle project.
in my honest opinion if he is willing to trade that Honda for big jim i might consider it,but it is hard to put a price on something you built with you're own 2 hands.
i am running into this problem with my Higgins im building. i have been offered 75 bucks as it sits,i just cannot find it in my heart to accept it.
i guess my best advice would be to really think about how much you love the bike, and the consequences (or benefits if any) forms selling it.
these builds become a part of you're family but sometimes you gotta let them go they have grown up and need to move on. especially if it is someone who will appreciate it as much as you and see its true beauty.
you could also ask him for the opportunity to buy it back if you decide you want it back as well.
that's my 2 cents hope it helps
Sean

 

[Rat Rod]

The thrill of the hunt or the build is probably the most enjoyable part for me.

I try to make it a point to not get attached to any of them. If I sell one and make some money then I look forward to what's next!

I've never had hoarding tendencies though. I actually love throwing crap away.

 

[The Black Monark]

IMO it's good to let things go. Ultimately what can be held onto?
Let someone else have the experience for a while.

 

[deven_science]

I get attached to my bikes, but I also build more bikes than a lot of folks on this site, so they stack up pretty fast.

I've found that once I'm done with a build, and I'm in the honeymoon phase with it, THAT'S the time to sell the last one. The romance with the latest one helps me to sell the other, and not be too worried about price, and that money pays for the NEXT build, and the cycle continues.

So far, there is only one bike that I regret selling, which isn't too bad, when you count how many I have sold.

 

[Bob Gray]

I guess the time has come to face the question that has been troubling me for a while, how do you build more bikes when you run out of room to store them? I guess the answer is to sell them...

I was in the "out of space" dilemma about a month ago. What I did was buy about 40 large screw in hooks and everywhere in my garage that I could find a place I screwed a couple of them to the rafters. I found that I could hang about 5 bikes over my various work benches and still have space to work.

What really cleared up the space though was a sliding bike rack that I made. I suspended three pipes from my ceiling and then attached 6 2x2x8's to them on screw eyes. Then I put a couple of hooks into each 2x2. The 2x2's can slide back and forth along the pipes for around 9' or so. What this enables me to do is to hang 6 bikes on the 2x2's and then slide them all out of the way. By facing some bikes forward, some backward and some upside down, I'm able to cram about 3 times as many bikes into the same space and still get them back out undamaged in less than a minute. It all works a bit like the coat rack in a closet. I'll try to post some pictures later.

One thing about hanging bikes from the ceiling though is it only really works well with bikes that are 40 lbs or less. 20 pound road bikes can be hung up and taken down almost effortlessly. A 65 lb ebike on the other hand is a PITA.

 

[GuitarlCarl]

I make stuff. Wall art, folk art pieces, musical instruments, and furniture too. The other day I hacked an upright piano into a computer desk... I've built many guitars and people tell me to sell them but it's hard to let go of something I put so much of my creativity into. When I stumbled onto this site I lucked out finding many like minded people that I can relate to. The few bikes I've built are the same, I can't just let them go. BUT money does talk and sometimes creations can be bought. I usually tell anyone interested, my stupid high price and if they bite... well... good-bye creation. I'm actually gaining a reputation as an artist in some circles...

Carl.

 

[GuitarlCarl]

Luke, put Big Jim back together and take it for a spin...
Afterwards ask yourself, Is it a keeper?

Carl.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

One thing about hanging bikes from the ceiling though is it only really works well with bikes that are 40 lbs or less. 20 pound road bikes can be hung up and taken down almost effortlessly. A 65 lb ebike on the other hand is a PITA.

BigJim weighs about 180lbs, might need to brace the rafters up a bit!

Luke, put Big Jim back together and take it for a spin...
Afterwards ask yourself, Is it a keeper?

Carl.

That is the plan now Carl, had a good sleep on it and now it is time to ride!

Luke.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Well, dug BigJim out, reassembled it and went for a ride, first off, I forgot just how big this thing is! I left the back end in the trailer while I assembled the front end and then started wheeling it out, it just kept coming! Once it was out on the ground it really sinks in how long, wide and low it is, I have to admit it is impressive!

Had some trouble finding the seat and seatpost, they were packed in the car not the trailer for the trip home so when the car got emptied out 6 months ago it went into the house somewhere and took me about an hour to find, then I couldn't find the pedals until I realised they went on the Swingbike during it's build... Anyway got it together and went for a ride, forgot you start turning by leaning and counter steering so took a minute to remember that, but was great fun and had a ball once I got the hang of it again.

It is very cool to ride and a very impressive bike that consistently draws comments whenever it goes out, so part of me does not want to sell it...

Brought it back home and lined it up with my latest build the 120tooth Minivelo just to demonstrate the size:

The funny thing is, both these bikes have 20" tires and wheels...

So as much as I enjoyed the ride and was reminded how cool it is, I was still leaning toward selling it, but not by much, then came the time to bring it inside... It took me and my wife to get it inside, and due to the low clearance and long wheelbase it had to be carried up the stairs, then once inside and moving all the other bikes around to get it to fit, I realised that it takes up most of the room and getting any of the other bikes out requires lifting them over BigJim, here is the view from the living room where I am on the computer:

Normally all the bikes can fit into half of that space. So I guess that makes the decision for me, time for it to go to a new home and maybe I will build a "MiniJim" to replace it at some point?

I have a price in mind that I wont go below, if the guy is not willing to part with that much for it then he misses out... I will update if it goes ahead.

Luke.

 

[Gold Street Customs]

I sell things,just have a hard time giving them away. My area is great for buying ,not so much for selling . I have only sold one build off bike, the rest I play Tetris...

 

[Bob Gray]

BigJim weighs about 180lbs, might need to brace the rafters up a bit!

Yep, better not to even try with the heavy weights. You won't want to either hoist them up or wrestle them back down again, but once you get a half dozen or so of your lighter bikes out of the way you'll have more floor space for the big boys.