Should I Buy to Restore or...?

By Ken Freund

One of the big decisions in shopping for a vintage motorcycle is the question: Should I buy one to restore, or buy one that's already finished? If you take great pride in restoring motorcycles yourself, and get your enjoyment from the process, that's the way to go. For folks who lack experience, tools and equipment or are anxious to ride their new acquisition, the answer may be different.

Sometimes, the answer becomes easy, because you find a completed bike at a great price, right near home. Or, the model you are looking for is so rare that one only comes up for sale in a great while, so you have to jump on it. Most of the time, however, reality is somewhere between these two extremes.

Often, what starts out as the cheapest bike turns out to be the most expensive in the long run. Motorcycles that have been left outside in the weather, severely neglected, crashed, rusted, corroded, highly modified, or stripped of certain parts can be a real challenge to restore. Therefore, unless you really enjoy scrounging for parts and/or struggling with rusty fasteners, buy the best one you can afford, whether it is in need of restoration, or already restored. I've actually had a lot of fun traveling around looking for parts and have met some interesting new friends that way, so don't fear it too much. Sometimes the process can be as much fun as the finished result.

One of Murphy's laws: "Things always take longer than you think they will" is especially true with restorations. If you do it yourself, your restoration work time has to come after other priorities such as job or family obligations. Other delays can be caused by parts that aren't always readily available, and repair, upholstery, plating and paint shops that tend to put your job in line behind the more urgent daily ridden bikes.

Unless you are thoroughly familiar with the parts supply of a certain brand and model, a bit of research prior to purchase can save you a lot of hassles later. If a bike you are considering to buy needs some components replaced, check around for cost and availability.

Supply and demand certainly affects motorcycle restoration parts pricing. Many of the more popular brands and models that restorers and collectors favor have a good supply of original and reproduction spares available, often at fairly reasonable prices. On the other hand, rare models that don't share components with other series may require fabrication of certain parts, or shipping from other countries, both of which can be quite costly. Therefore, familiarize yourself with the parts supply and availability before committing to the purchase of a collector motorcycle.

If you are new to the restoration process, you will need to consider your skill levels, workshop facility and tools. You'll need a shop with motorcycle access which is secure, dry, well ventilated and comfortable to work in. There should be a strong workbench with a vise, a motorcycle hoist, and the area should have good lighting and plenty of electrical outlets.

If you are a neophyte, but still want to try your hand at restoration, you should consider buying a fairly recent vintage machine which is rather simple and plentiful. These will be easier to get parts for, at moderate prices, and more people will have experience and knowledge of them. This makes restoration easier, especially if you decide to have some of the work done professionally.

Keep in mind that most shops don't like working on a "basket case" of parts from a motorcycle that has already been dismantled by someone else. Unless they encounter that make and model frequently, basket cases are difficult to work on. Even then, it's almost impossible to accurately estimate the cost to bring a basket case back to showroom condition, unless a lot of time is spent examining each and every component. Often, some of the important parts and fasteners are missing or incorrect, and it is a lot more time consuming to assemble a machine that you did not take apart originally. Extra time equates to extra costs, so consider this carefully when shopping for a bike.

Therefore, if you decide to "farm out" some of the work on your restoration project, you'll probably have to act as the "general contractor" and assemble it yourself from all the components. Certain types of repairs, such as engine machine work, plating, wheel lacing, upholstery and painting are commonly done by shops for customers simply bringing in the parts that need work. It's more difficult to find someone to do the wiring, final assembly and the myriad of minor but important details such as correct decal placement, cable routing, etc. which can make your bike a winner. Hence, you need to decide if you have the skills to do these tasks, or find a shop, friend or family member who can do the work.

Some of the pre-purchase "homework" you can do is to determine what price range the bikes you are interested in are worth, both in completely restored in mint condition, and in varying lesser conditions. Then you can make a more informed decision when you see a bike for sale, whether it is a good value or not.

Since availability of replacement parts is a big factor in the cost of restoration, it's a good idea to find some sources. Obviously, Walneck's is a great resource for finding parts. Additionally, if you are restoring a brand of motorcycle that is still in business, it's worth checking with dealers for needed replacement parts. Sometimes, older dealerships may have some new old stock parts stashed away in the loft or warehouse, so check around. The part you need might be on some dusty shelf where it sat since new.

Harley-Davidson dealers usually don't have a lot of vintage parts available, but this marque has a huge aftermarket which offers almost anything you could need. The popular collectible BMW and British bikes also have a vast aftermarket, which makes getting most parts fairly easy. Honda has a good reputation for supplying new replacement parts for older models. Suzuki and Kawasaki seem to have fewer parts available, and Yamaha usually has the fewest items available among the Japanese manufacturers. Italian bike parts are a little rarer. However, it also depends on the part, so give it a try.

There are online auctions and an additional source that you shouldn't overlook is motorcycle salvage yards. Many valuable parts are sitting in scrap yards, and often these can be obtained for pennies on the dollar.

Whatever you decide to do, take your time, research and plan carefully, keep thorough records and take plenty of photographs.