Triumphrat

HerronScott · 09-07-2009, 02:52 PM

All,

I'm looking to sell a 1971 BSA Lightning frame (April 1971) with swingarm and forks and 1971 BSA Thunderbolt engine (May 1971) but have no idea what a reasonable amount would be. I picked these up with a box of parts about 18 years ago as it came with a few parts that were usable on my 1972 Triumph Tiger but it's time to free up space in the garage.

Engine condition is unknown other than it's left a a little oil puddle on the garage floor over the last 19 years.

It did come with a title but it's for the engine and not the frame. Considering how long I've had it, I might be able to get a title for the frame through the abandoned vehicle process in Virginia.

Any advice would be appreciated and this does somewhat pertain here since the funds will be used to get my Tiger back on the road!

Thanks!

Scott

GrandPaulZ · 09-07-2009, 04:56 PM

Swap meet value would be at least several hundred bucks.

If you had a set of wheels and a tank, you could sell it as a rolling project for a bit better money...

Heck, you may as well dump a grand ito it, get it running, and sell it as a runner!

KADUTZ · 09-07-2009, 08:15 PM

We were at the AMCA Swap Meet in Davenport Iowa on Saturday.
There was a stock 71 BSA 650 Orange tank/grey frame. Nice (but with wear) original the owmer was asking $5000. Another one was in the Swap area repainted Black ifin I rember right that one was $3500. When we left both bikes were unsold think that says enough about the askin price.
Do you have any more parts for the bike such as airboxes, tank ,sidecovers etc?

GrandPaulZ · 09-07-2009, 11:14 PM

"Asking price" sometimes means nothing, sometimes is realistic, and other times can be negotiated.

SELLING price is the only thing worth researching in an attempt to set an asking price. just like property; the appraisers only consider recent comparable sales that CLOSED.

HerronScott · 09-07-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrandPaulZ

Swap meet value would be at least several hundred bucks.

If you had a set of wheels and a tank, you could sell it as a rolling project for a bit better money...

Heck, you may as well dump a grand ito it, get it running, and sell it as a runner!

GrandPaulZ,

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate as I had no idea what would be reasonable ($50 or $500). I tried searching craigslist and eBay but hard to find similar examples (oif) much less ones that completed. I even asked in a certain BSA forum but didn't get any replies.

Unfortunately, I have little free time and what time I have, I'd like to work on getting the Tiger running!

Scott

HerronScott · 09-07-2009, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KADUTZ

We were at the AMCA Swap Meet in Davenport Iowa on Saturday.
There was a stock 71 BSA 650 Orange tank/grey frame. Nice (but with wear) original the owmer was asking $5000. Another one was in the Swap area repainted Black ifin I rember right that one was $3500. When we left both bikes were unsold think that says enough about the askin price.
Do you have any more parts for the bike such as airboxes, tank ,sidecovers etc?

KADUTZ,

I do have the Lightning airboxes (should be the same as the 1971-1972 Bonneville except the outer cover is aluminum instead of plastic) and a pair of seats. One seat is all original and the other has the original cover but they replaced the foam with half-height foam and cut the cover down to match. Really good pans in both cases from what I can tell.

Scott

UnmarkedBill · 09-08-2009, 02:08 AM

Assuming it all needs rebuilt,

I paid around 550 for a '67 Lightning engine. TBolt might get a little less, 71 might get a little less.

I see frames around 100 to 150 and forks around the same when they come up on Craigslist.

That said, what usually happens is you offer the whole pile to your buddies at 300. They screw you around until you eventually put the whole thing on Ebay and get a grand. Then they curse you because they were JUST ABOUT to get the money together for you.

GrandPaulZ · 09-08-2009, 11:24 AM

bill - TOO TRUE!!!!!!

it's happened to me more than once.

HerronScott · 09-08-2009, 07:26 PM

Bill,

Thanks for the additional info. I was thinking somewhere along the lines of $250-$300 since the engine is a big unknown.

Scott

UnmarkedBill · 09-09-2009, 02:31 AM

That's cheap enough to be considered "wholesale" by someone who's crazy enough to think there's a buck to be made flipping old Brit bikes. Should go fast.