The man who sat next to the BMW R90S squatted with a horrified face. He pricked his finger at the owner of the BMW, who was looking contentedly from his headlight.
Originality. What people worry about
"Did you do that? Did you ruin that engine? ”The owner looked glassy. “Man, that thing is completely crazy! The numbers are wrong! ”
So it was about a violation of a noble BMW tradition. Frame, block and gearbox 'must be' 'Nummergleich'. And the offending R90S apparently once had another gearbox.
The critic's reaction may have been somewhat exaggerated. But nowadays in classic country, reliance is placed heavily on factory originality.
Better - and more expensive parts
Classic enthusiasts with a long duration have noticed that the parts supply for classics has become increasingly better (and more expensive). The time when you could buy anything for a few tens of guilders at trade fairs - such as the Vehikel in Demka in Utrecht and the parrot at the till? Three brand new exhausts for a CB 750 for 25 guilders each? That time is really over.
Originality and valuation
And because classics are worth serious money nowadays, it makes sense to have them valued. Because the 'current value of - let's just take a CB750 from 1971 - is just a few hundred euros for insurance.
With an appraisal report on hand, this can go up to a mille or 7-8. Because that appraisal value is not a sales value, but "The value for which the same engine can be purchased in a comparable condition in the SHORT term."
And in that valuation and the comparable?
There is a field of tension there. A good appraiser should pay attention to many things. Shall we go over some of those - important - trifles?
*The numbers
Are the frame and block numbers correct? And do they belong together? A BMW R90S block fits seamlessly into an R50 / 5. Does the registration certificate belong to the engine?
* Bolt heads
Of course, Allen screws are better than the original Japanese crossheads with their possible deviating dimensions of the 'cross'. For BMW (R69S!) And Suzuki, among others, bolts are used with the logo or other specific license plate in the head. Stainless steel bolts are also not original.
* The cables, the handle rubbers and footrest rubbers
Early Japanese motorcycles often had gray outer cables. Any lettering in the handles and footrests must be correct.
* Spokes
Were galvanized or chromed from the factory. They will not have been made of stainless steel. No matter how beautiful that is. And an original CB750 K2 had no O-ring chain.
* The shiny stuff
Is the exhaust system original and correct for the year of manufacture? Is the handlebar original? And the mirror (s). The fenders are original (and not shortened as often happened).
* The preconditions
Are the original booklets available? And the original tool set? Are there original dealer stickers?
And then of course there is the paint on the frame (The question: powder coating? Is that allowed?) Is the paint original (with patina) or painted over in the original colors? For a tank in original paint of the very first series CB750 (with the 'folding ribs' in the bottom $ 3.000 was recently paid.
The condition of the technical components is also important. Has the block ever been overhauled? And is that a bill?
An appraiser must take all these things into account when it comes to the value of a classic motorcycle.
But if you are just as happy with your soul and proud of your experienced old warrior? Then you are a pure enthusiast. But despite the 'flaws' of your classic, it may still be wise to have it appraised.
Because the difference between € 400 and € 4.000? That is still a big step. Even if you receive that € 400 'while retaining the airframe'. And if the license plate is not taken.
