Hitchcocks Forum

Hey guys. Some of you might know that I've recently made a bit of a green laner. I'm wondering whether to spend more and make it even more suitable as an off road bike and whether it would be money well spent. What would the resale value be like? Are they desirable? It's a 1993 350cc in great mechanical condition but the tank needs a re-paint and the mud guards as well. The chrome rims are also a bit pitted. So far the bike owes me £450 in purchase cost, parts, knobbly tyres and a full set of spare bulbs, plugs, cables and ignition bits. I'm thinking about fitting braced bars, new mud guards, a raised exhaust pipe, skid plate and fork gaiters. So not the complete trails conversion kit but some good parts to fit the look and add some more function. Keeping the existing 14.5litre tank to allow some long distance green lane camping trips rather than technical ridding all the time. It's possible to get unpolished guards which I guess are great for painting so I'd re-spray the guards and tank all the same colour (maybe green) and it'd look pretty smart. In short the parts I've listed will cost about £370 meaning the bike will then owe me £820 and should look and function pretty good. What do you all think? Money well spent or a waste? The alternative is to just ride it as it is down the lanes and live with it. Current pics ------ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/ ... 300005.jpg ------ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/ ... 300003.jpg

Hi MATT---------- have just taken a look at your photos again and so purely from a practical point of view all you really need is the braced, high bars ( I have a set on my classic 500. They go straight on with no mods. required.)---- the sump guard----and I recommend the Doherty-type ribbed, rubber handlebar grips for better control and "feel". That will give your bike the "Look" as well as controllability on those green lanes. Rusty rims can be cleaned-up with Hammerite smooth silver. You might want to consider a high-level exhaust system as well but NOT the trials silencer( def. NOT road legal !!). Finally a headlamp protective grill ?? and maybe a peak---just for looks. That would give you a practical, green laner with a smaller cost than before. GOOD FUN, isn't it ???

Hi Matt. I don't think Indian Enfields will ever make big money on the second hand market. But then again I don't think we should look at them that way. I reckon it's what they're worth TO US that matters. Like you, I've spent a few hundred quid on mine (but in different ways on mine), and to me it's just been fun all the way. Making these old plodders into OUR VERY OWN bikes is what it's all about. I'd just spend what you want (or what you can afford) on it and simply look upon it as your hobby. And at the end of it all, after you've had endless hours of fun and enjoyment, if you can get a few quid back on e.bay to wave the old girl goodbye then I'd say 'job well done'! Enjoy! Riggers.

Thanks Alan. The reason I was thinking about doing the mud guards is to achieve a raised rear exhaust silencer using the exhaust angled bracket that's in the catalogue (either 10 or 20 degrees.) This would save me having to spend the cash on a whole new exhaust system. I think it would look great as well and keep the silencer safe away from the ruts and banks of the green lanes. At the moment the strong triangle braced mud guard and pillion support frame would be a bit in the way I think to get a nicely flush upsweep a bit like what our hosts have done with the "Fury" kit in the Accessory Catalogue. Additionally the front mud guard is dented here and there and a bit battered (which does suit the bikes style I must say) and the rear mud guard has scratches and knocks. The tank is badly faded with chronic petrol marks dripping all down it. I have got quiet far resolving this with a rubbing compound and then a good polish, but it still looks a bit nasty. So, If I'm going to invest time and money respraying the tank and the mud guards anyway I was thinking that I might as well use decent dent free guards and allow for raising my existing exhaust system all at the same time. To be honest though, you're right, this is fun and I guess I'll always find justification to spend money on an otherwise almost perfectly suitable bike for the job HAHA! This is why I am hesitant. What I have to weigh up is how much these modifications will improve my enjoyment of the bike and how it will effect resale value... Whether or not the spends become dead money or whether the spends become cash that is somewhat tied up in the bike. Like I said £820 total she would owe me... Do you think she'd be worth that if I do a nice and tidy job of the green paint and modifications? Anyone?

maybe your looking at this from the wrong angle ,spending loads of money rarely returns re sale value ,bikes need handlebars fuel tank etc whether trials or not ,convert the bike keep it for ten years then sell when youve had your moneys worth,or keep it for the rest of time ,forget about what it costs just enjoy it

Thanks guys, I appreciate all that is said and agree that these bikes are not investments. I'm just interested in this case because the base bike was so cheap it might change things a bit for me. The basis of my question I guess is a valuation. I understand that valuation is hard on custom bikes because it's all about taste. But I would have though that a well equipped and rugged 1993 Bullet for green lane use MOT'd and taxed in good mechanical order (with boxes of the original parts) would fetch easily £800. I'm wondering what you think about that? With the total cost to me being £820 I don't see that as A LOT of money for a bike (although it is of course a lot of money in general.) I do intend to keep the bike for a long time to come so I'm just curious. (And like I said, trying to find as much justification as I can to tinker and play with my toy! HAHA) (Plus I love talking about bikes and my girlfriend gets sick of hearing about it! HaHa.)

Hi Matt,
Been Following Your story off And On, Well done at getting it for that price (Keep it).
RE: What an Enfield's Worth (Indian) I have bought & sold a Few Cheaply And Kept One For ever!.
In The Real World, A Nice looking T&T Enfield That Run's is Worth a Grand & if it apeals to Certain Folk a Grand & a Half....A Tatty Runner or misfiring Good looker under a grand...Over TWO G, Strictly for The almost New & Super specials (BUT You Must Find some One Who Wants a Special)...................BUT IMHO: Yours Could Be Worth a Grand But Over & your In Funny territory ;0)............................."Your Not selling it all ready are You??..Put It On E-Bay Then At £2500.....Ya Never Know...

There are no more iron barrels from the factory. I reckon the price wil go up. But I have one because I like it and I ride it, not as an investment. Just look at the price of Bantams now. They were rubbish new now they're old rubbish and cost a fortune!! (Tongue in cheek to prove a point.)

Just think though guys - all those 1960s and 1970s bikes we sold for bugger all and look at what they're worth now! Old 500 Beeza A7 twins could be got for 50 quid at one time - more like 5 grand now. So ya never know Matt - keep it long enough and I reckon it'll be worth around £6,000 in 2060 (ish!). )

I think you've got a point. My 350 and 500 are both iron barrel drum brake models, none of those being made anymore. I think they're quiet iconic in the long run. The last motorcycle in the world to be made like that. It's quiet a cool feeling that on my bikes are there no microchips at all... Weird hu? By 2060 my 350 will be 80years old and my 500 56years old. That's some serious age! If they (or I, or we) make it that long I should hope I'll get more than £820 for her!