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Where have all of the 'Iron Barrels' gone?
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 6:34 pm
by Barry_Q
Just a thought for you. I like to buy old run down bikes and do them up (I've been doing this for years). I have thought about buying a run down 500 iron barrel Bullet. However. They seem to be few and far between. Once they were plentiful. Where have they all gone?
Where have all of the 'Iron Barrels' gone?
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:38 pm
by RoSy
Bought by dealers, then they double the price which then creates a void in private market.
Where have all of the 'Iron Barrels' gone?
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:44 pm
by Mark M
I was talking to Allan Hitchcock the other day, he was saying they have really shot up in price recently. I wish I'd bought a 65 when they were cheap!
REgards, Mark
Where have all of the 'Iron Barrels' gone?
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 9:07 pm
by Barry_Q
Most of the 500's that I've seen for sale have been UCE's. There is the odd 65 and Electra X, but the iron barrel 500 seems to be as rare has Hen's teeth. There's heaps of them out there, but where are they? I suspect that they're tucked up in garages with a blanket thrown over them.
Where have all of the 'Iron Barrels' gone?
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 10:30 pm
by Alan R
Hi Guys-------Hi Barry_Q,....well that's where my '65 is at this very moment !!......I've a new rear sprocket/Drum to fit plus new shoes, chain and front sprocket... then it's an MoT at the end of April, ride it for the rest of the season and offer it for sale sometime in October....A bit of a "watershed" moment in a way as this then will mark the end of 55 years motorcycling....I first managed clutch / throttle balance at age 13 on an old Ariel Red Hunter my neighbour and I dragged out of the local "Swamp" where it had lain for a few years.....With the exuberance of youth we "Cut our teeth" on that bike and with the aid of the then Motorcycle Mechanics magazine managed to overhaul the mag/dyno AND eventually got a spark !!....Clutch, chain maintenance, tyre fitting, Head and barrel, carb. cleaning, piston and rings ..... all the basics that you keep with you forever.....It was only when it backfired and set fire to the oily seat stuffing that "Der Management" said it had to go !!...........I'd forgotten all about it, Happy Days !!..............Thanks Barry for re-kindling that one..
Where have all of the 'Iron Barrels' gone?
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 11:20 pm
by Adrian
Gumtree has one listed in St Austell for £1250, doesn't look too bad. Maybe not run down enough?
A.
Where have all of the 'Iron Barrels' gone?
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 11:50 pm
by Barry N
We're all hanging on to them 'cos we know how good they are!
Where have all of the 'Iron Barrels' gone?
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:22 am
by Bullet Whisperer
Most of them seem to have been made into bobbers, perhaps that is why good, original ones are hard to find and going up in value.
Where have all of the 'Iron Barrels' gone?
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 10:23 am
by ric
Perhaps its gotten to the point where owners think they're just too 'valuable' to ride unless its a very dry sunny day
Where have all of the 'Iron Barrels' gone?
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 10:24 am
by John L
Sold my 500ES four years ago for more money than I'd paid for it 9 years previously.......No regrets.