Nice Bike Jeff. Today I was running dogs and went back to the pile, found a couple fenders and also two more bike frames but they are in there deep, both old. Also found a few handle bars but water has gotten into them and froze, bursting a small hole in them. I get time I'm going to resurrect as much as I can find in there. Probably not worth anything but who knows, maybe somebody will want them, or I can trade them for parts.
Sound like you've got a little silver dolor mine there, lol.. and trade bait is usually a real good idea because, novice restoration of a bike is not profitable nor cheap.. In most cases; assembling a whole bike will cost ya more than buying one that's fully equipped. having a frame is a start but the other parts can be just as costly, with a tank or factory fender light getting into your pocket, nice rims aint cheap too. So, the more ya find, trade bait, or patience through hunting friends neighbors Craig's list you name it, with patience you may be able to gather the parts, without,, me hopes ya got the budget, and better half who's tolerant to it. [grin]
as example, yeah that hornet is nice, $150 bucks it cost me, but the rims are crap, might clean up though, while the tank is more than the whole bike and the fender light spencive too. if lucky can get them cheap otherwise the pair will get me for 300+ bucks. then there's the original tires to consider, seat recover or replace? blah, blah, blah, yatta, yatta, could easily toss another 500 bucks at it and end up with $500-800 bike or with patience buy a whole one for $500 less. . it's the little decorative stuff included with standard that'll bite ya. etc. etc. etc.. 1st I'll very carefully clean, carefully try and get the rust out without harming the paint or chrome, then reassemble to see how she'll look, with odds, that's as far as me goes.. because otherwise, I ain't tossing another 500 bucks at a friggen bike, while a good correct cleaning might pretty it up and I double me monies the hard way, earn it. [grin]
In some cases, going rat is a keen route others, 'for the love of it'? bye, bye savings account.
So, it's also good to understand what you're getting into.
I used to completely restore Schwinn's in the 60's, free penny saver ads, friends, neighbors, junk piles could make a nice profit, but parts were a nickel, dime, quarter 50 cents then. AND that was only single solid colored bikes too. Collector's who are interested in restored bikes, can't stand the slightest slop on the paint job.. slightest hint off color, tiny-est line with shaky hand, etc.
Oh yeah there's this too. once ya get a bike nice,, for profit or 'love', it can be just as tough to let it go..
