Hi all, I am thinking of selling my 851 (1990 model). Low mileage (approx 11000), upgraded suspension (Maxton) front and rear. Great condition. Had it for 4 years now. Lovely to ride but too focused for my style of riding, I am more of cruiser and taking it easy From people who tried to sell similar machinery what's the current market like? Thinking around the £9k mark. Paid £11k back in 2022 but market is very different now. Fully serviced with new belts done earlier this winter. Would welcome any thoughts whether to sell now or wait in case market picks up? I don't expect to get my money back but I am not sure if I also want to keep a (lovely) bike I don't really use to its potential. Have two other bikes which I prefer riding (older monster and a bmw airhead). Cheers.
I keep saying the same to myself but 3 bikes makes no sense unless they are getting used. The 851 is wonderful to look at and ride but I don't really use it much and the speeds it becomes alive are not really my thing. Question is, is there much demand for these at the moment out there? How are people finding selling old school sports bikes?
There is a small number of 851 on sale on autotrader, they haven't shifted for a while some of them...
Clearly a completely out of fashion old relic that is quickly becoming worthless, causing you much heartache and grief. I'll take it off your hands for £1,000 and save you the anguish if you'd like...
the market is all over the place, but going by something that sold recently, (for me) that is worth 9k with that mileage, if no skeletons in the closet.
Thanks, good to know, will go out for a last ride when the weather is better and the salt is gone, enjoy once again, and put it out for sale. See what demand I get.
I recently sold a couple of bikes -both oldies- one of which was a Honda VFR400NC30. It was a mostly finished project so not a direct comparison to your 851. Happily the bike sold quickly, though it was priced to sell. In your shoes I'd keep a close eye on eBay etc and see what these bikes are actually selling for. I usually save all listed ones in a watchlist, and so I see what people pay for similar bikes. Then I decide if the market price is acceptable, and if so list it for that price. Or swear loudly and keep it! If you aren't using it, you may as well move it along imo. GLWS, its a pretty looking bike.
The 851-888 are not so easy to sell. Every body says they want one and like them. But when one comes up for sale it does not sell fast. Henk!!!
Do you mean there are other models more desirable, i.e. 916 or some of the older bevels? I also had a Pantah 500 in the past and that was also a very niche bike, extremely hard to shift.
Even the SP-versions (4 & 5) don't sell fast here in Europe. They're too much overrated regarding the asking prices in my opinion. The generation who wants one, have it already and the current generation are not in the market for these bikes.
Interesting, you are probably very right. What is the new generation of bikers into you think when it comes to something, a bit more classic?
I understand and agree with you on this. But interestingly enough, I personally think the perceived value of those 851/888 bikes is immensely undervalued. The 851/888 SP series were the most expensive bikes of their era. 159.000 Francs, in 1990 for the SP2! That’s the price of a brand new 1.6 Audi A4 a few years later. In comparison, the 851 Strada was 90.000 Francs, and in 1996, the 916 SP was « only » 129.000 Francs… The fact that they are difficult to sell today is, in my opinion, because the buyers do not agree anymore with their original value. Unlike the 916 series whose aesthetics have aged incredibly well in the eye of the younger audience, the aesthetics of the 851/888 does not compensate the (much) lower performance level offered compared to modern bikes. And that’s a real shame…
Yes the 916-996-998 is the model that everybody/wants/knows and sells alot beter. Even with the some what younger guys The 8-series is really a bike for a smaller group of people. Bevels do sell also better i think altough they are more expensive and i think sold to investors. Henk!!!
