Got more $ into your bike than its worth?

[Anonymous]

Yes Im guilty.I build them for ME not to flip for a profit.

I have too many and they're all probably worth more in parts than whole.

I do it for the love...

 

[maddogrider]

Yea got the same problem. I do get some bikes to flip just so i can support my bike addiction the money i get for flipping just goes back to feed the addiction :mrgreen:

 

[Gold Street Customs]

I keep telling my wife that I am fixing them up to sell, I have giving more away than sold but life goes on. This year I told her I am going legit, I am going to get a business licence and keep books and write everything off as a loss at the end of the year...and maybe get some tax money back :roll:

 

[Uncle Stretch]

Its funny to look at one and think ...man that fork is worth $125 and the frame is worth $100 not counting a $40 skiptooth chain .....and the rims are worth $100 and if I sold it complete I might get $225 for the whole bike....Thats why bolts untighten just as easy as they tighten....and E-bay. :wink: :lol:

 

[thatismytruck]

Every single one.

Especially the ones I give away to kids who don't have one. But that's worth every penny extra.

 

[Rat Rod]

I'm all for the honorable position of never wanting to make money off of a hobby, but unfortunately, I'm not independently wealthy so I do buy bikes many times for the sake of the flip. I have come across some finds in the past couple of years that have helped us make repairs to our home, pay medical bills, and even do some fun things with the family.

I try not to get too attached to any of them...it'll all burn one day anyway. :wink:

 

[CCR]

restorations are the same way, by the time you do a nice paint job, replace decals, replace the wear items, and if your chroming your definately gonna empty a pocket or two. a majority of the time its cheaper to find a nice original, not only that but then you have all the character of a nice original old bike that looks great and honestly is more desirable than a restored bike. but there is something to the "i made it look like this" that i like just cant make your money back when its over and you want something else to work on. :mrgreen:

nothing wrong with a flip though either

 

[necessaryevil]

I'm content with pouring money into a bike that I'll keep, or at least intend to keep :roll: I think the biggest money pit is new BMX stuff, you can drop $2000.00 in a bike and the second you ride it, it's worth half of what you spent to build it, kind of like a new car I guess. The only advise I can give is never ride a bike that you intend to flip, you'll fall in love with it, and end up keeping it.

 

[user 135]

I am guilty of spending too much on some bikes. But some of the better bikes I have done have been on the cheap. I have a $50 dollar rule for most bike purchases and this helps keep the cost down.

 

[Riverbend Bicycles]

For me it's one step forward, five or six steps back. I'll take a step forward by flipping some bikes, but always spend more than I make buying components and complete bikes that I actually want. Oh well, a year and a half ago I didn't have much of a collection. Now I'm going to have to put a new roof on one of our farm building just to store my prizes. But just like farming, it's not how much spendable cash you have, it's your assets. A nice collection of bikes that you enjoy is worth a great deal.

 

[bigj]

Yes. I just rebuilt my wife's bike last year. I think it cost about $250 in '93 when I bought it new. The rebuild was close to $900. But, it has a lot of sentimental value. Same with my Schwinn Montague. I have rebuilt it three times, and I guess it probably has had at least $2500 into it. But I wouldn't sell it unless I was starving(or at least really hungry ) The other bikes I have done I don't plan on selling, but I could probably get back most of my money on them.

 

[skoda]

I think we all do, even if you strive for "low buck" sometimes there is no way around needing a certain part. I never expect to make money, just try to not lose a bunch.

 

[texasbigjon]

guilty as charged on all my bikes! whats scary to me is,what i used to call extra parts,is now called "inventory"! :shock: last night i snagged a set of rebuilt pre-war wheels w/ nd hub,skip tooth gear,etc. tonight i scored another clean black persons saddle. for "inventory" purposes! :lol: toys are toys! nobody wants just one! :roll:

 

[spinman]

I was thinking of keeping an itemized list on what my Higgy was costing me to build, but then decided not to. What's the point? You can't put a budget on an obsession. I fugure i have over a grand into it, but wouldn't sell it for 3 times that. Fact is, most of what we build are one-of-a-kind IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

That says somethin'.


Spin

 

[xddorox]

My bikes usually come from the garbage, so I guess the minute I put tires on it, they are worth more than the bike. If I enjoy a bike for many years, then I figure it's paid for and any money I get if I decide to sell it is a bonus. I spend almost no money on flips since I use mostly recycled parts when I can.