What happened to all the 1000cc bikes?

[Boriqua]

I thought I might be imagining it and I didn't gather statistics but .. I have been watching my local craigslist and a few other sources for about a year and a half looking for a new project.

I am looking for another 80's late 70's bike and it seems that all the manufacturers are represented really well in the 700-750cc bikes but the larger bikes are pretty scarce.

Did people just keep those, did they just get beat to death or did they just not produce them in the same numbers? Just a curious observation.

 

[trevor]

I thought I might be imagining it and I didn't gather statistics but .. I have been watching my local craigslist and a few other sources for about a year and a half looking for a new project.

I am looking for another 80's late 70's bike and it seems that all the manufacturers are represented really well in the 700-750cc bikes but the larger bikes are pretty scarce.

Did people just keep those, did they just get beat to death or did they just not produce them in the same numbers? Just a curious observation.

Lots here....

 

[Boriqua]

Lots here....

Maybe its just my search parameters then? I have it set for 650cc> and a cap at $3000. Maybe the larger CC bikes even the older ones are breaking that ceiling?

Honda nighthawks, GS's and Yamahas a plenty but like I said mainly in the 750cc range. I still may just try to land another 750 just to redo from the ground up after being inspired by one of the threads here.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Liter bikes cost more, so smaller cc bikes sell much better. Same now, same as back in the day.

 

[Burque73]

They're being shipped back to Japan. I heard bikes over 700cc back in the 70's and 80cs were illegal in Japan. Not sure if that's true or not but I see a transport trailer a few times a year at my neighbors house with at least 20 vintage bikes on it headed for the coast, to be shipped over there.

 

[Boriqua]

They're being shipped back to Japan. I heard bikes over 700cc back in the 70's and 80cs were illegal in Japan. Not sure if that's true or not but I see a transport trailer a few times a year at my neighbors house with at least 20 vintage bikes on it headed for the coast, to be shipped over there.

That is really interesting!

 

[trevor]

They're being shipped back to Japan. I heard bikes over 700cc back in the 70's and 80cs were illegal in Japan. Not sure if that's true or not but I see a transport trailer a few times a year at my neighbors house with at least 20 vintage bikes on it headed for the coast, to be shipped over there.

Yes...it's true. Ironic as it is...The Japanese were not allowed to own the bikes they sold to the rest of the world. Now the rules have changed and they can....they are now buying shipping containers of these bikes in any condition from all over the world....for big bucks too!

 

[Burque73]

Here's one of those trailer loads.

 

[Guest]

Oh man, I have such mixed feelings about that. It sucks for those of us who actually want to keep riding them, and continue to have access to affordable donor parts. But at least they're going home, where they'll probably have a better "second life" than they would have being hacked up into cafe racers or bobbers or whatever ends up being the next American fad.

Personally, I ended up with a G because the shafties (both from Suzuki and Kawasaki) were the only liter bikes that I'd occasionally find at a bargain price (in addition to the "customs", of course). I suspect they're not on the "hot" list for repatriation.

 

[Guest]

A few years ago I sold a tatty Suzuki GT550 to someone on that side of the planet. Shipping cost more than the bike. But to him it was a good deal.

 

[mhobryan]

Maybe its just my search parameters then? I have it set for 650cc> and a cap at $3000. Maybe the larger CC bikes even the older ones are breaking that ceiling?

Take off the >650cc cap...not everyone puts in the cc's, and if they don't put anything in that field you won't see it. I think $3k is realistic.

 

[Downs]

Dont forget about the 700+cc motorcycle tariff. That somewhat choked off supply of big bore bikes that weren't Harleys

 

[Guest]

Here's one of those trailer loads.

I think I may have seen that guy in FL a year ago.

 

[trevor]

To become this....lol

 

[Guest]

Worse yet, to become this:

 

[Downs]

 

[1980GS1000E]

Where does the guy who has the trailer find the bikes?

 

[Burque73]

Where does the guy who has the trailer find the bikes?

That trailer just belongs to the transport company. I'm not sure about the logistics.

 

[Jedz123]

I found a couple in the $500 range here in the NE.

 

[Admiral Beez]

They're being shipped back to Japan. I heard bikes over 700cc back in the 70's and 80cs were illegal in Japan. Not sure if that's true or not but I see a transport trailer a few times a year at my neighbors house with at least 20 vintage bikes on it headed for the coast, to be shipped over there.

Same goes for vintage British bikes. A 1960s Triumph sells for a lot more in the UK than in North America.