Is this bike worth $3600?

double trouble

New Member
Please post the pictures.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/clt/3343137140.html

ANTIQUE VINTAGE RACE MOTORBIKE - $3600 (SE WI)
Date: 2012-10-16, 12:37PM CDT
[email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]
Please read the below UPDATED INFORMATION on the Differences Between a Motorbike (like this) and Motorcycle... Check out my other Vintage Era Antique eBay Posted Bikes Including my 1915 Flying Merkel and 1923 Harley Racer.

Rare 1916 Two Stroke Indian BT Racer Recreation Motor Bike w/Racing Number

- Less Than 1 Mile On It, and it Does Run (100+ MPG!)
- Custom Metal Fabrication
- Built in A Private Shop & Made in USA (Except 48cc Engine)
- Not Sold in Stores/Mass Produced
- 48cc Asian Engine (Anyone Can Fix It)
- Speeds up to 29mph
- Ready to Ride, or Keep As A Quality Show Piece
- No Gas In Tank For Immediate Indoor Viewing/Storage
- Pedal Start
- WI Street Legal
- Bicycle Laws Apply

If you are a Business and would like a custom paint color, or your Business Name/Logo?Address on this, we can hand custom it to your needs. Put it in your Front Window; Hang on a Wall; Behind a Bar, or Put it in a Plastic/Glass Frame to Sit on your Floor, or Ride in Downtown for Free Advertisement for your Business... This Bike Fits in Anywhere and Surely Get People Talking About Motorcycles

Asking $3600. Cash and Carry. Message me with any questions or if you would like to see it...


UPDATED - BACKGROUND INFO:

This Historic Recreation Motorbike (aka Motorbicycle) was made to comply and straddle the Bicycle Law; Not the Department Of Transportation (DOT) Motorcycle Law. Their is a Huge Difference between them, so let me explain them to you so you understand...

1 - Remember these Era Motorbikes were the Very First Motorbikes Ever Invented/Made! Anyone that only "Thinks" and "Compares" these to today's Huge Power Motorcycles are Not Honestly Appreciating their Historic Value they Represent from the Motorcycle's Birth; nor Caring of the Historic Grass Roots they represent. Motorbikes/Motorcycles have not always had 1200cc+ engine power as they do today...

2 - This is Not a Motorcycle; But a Motorbicycle (aka Motorbike). Their were Bicycle Laws Before the Motorcycle Laws. In 1900, Joe Merkel from West Allis was the first WI company to put a Engine onto a Bicycle frame; hence, the Motorbike (aka Motorcycle) was born. The first Motorbicycles like this started going 10+ mph, and increased over the years.

3 - A Bicycle with Foot Pedal Power, and have a Small Low Powered Engine attached (like this) IS A MOTORBIKE! Legally, they are Considered a Bicycle, so Bicycle Laws apply if they DO NOT go over 29mph. Any Motor Powered Vehicle that can go 30+mph are Considered a Motor Vehicle, so ALL DOT Laws Apply. Mopeds and Scooters Fall into the Motorcycle Laws Realm.

4 - Any Motor Vehicle 30+mph is required to comply with all State & Federal DOT Laws - Period. Vehicles needs to be DOT Registered, License Plated, & Tagged; Rider must have a Valid MC Drivers License; Insurance; and the Vehicle needs to Comply with all DOT Motor Vehicle Laws. The DOT requires ton's of Road Safety Features on any Motor Vehicle it passes. Their are many DOT Safety Conditions on an Actual Motor Vehicle that it is Impracticable for most people to custom make one yourself.

So this "Motorbike" is 100% Compliant with all WI Bicycle Laws; which anyone can ride. You DO NOT need a MC License, Registered, Plates, Tags, etc, to ride on the Street. Any Motorbike that breaks any Motorbike Law gets heavily fined for all the Motor Vehicle Laws broken.

This Motorbike was Recreated to follow all the earliest Era Period Look and Bicycle Laws OF THE ORIGINAL DAYS, so it Passes Under all the Motor Vehicle Laws. Anyone that Truly appreciates the Historic Value and Significance of the Creation and Birth of today's MC, will Truly find this a Gem, and something you do not see everyday.

Anyone that still has an opinion that this is "Cheap", well then, feel free to create and build your own MC. This Motorbike was created for people who Cherish and Appreciate the Invention Period for today's Motorcycle. Motorbikes/Motorcycles were not invented to immediately be as powerful, fast, and reliable like today. Anyone thinking they were built to today's standards, truly does not have a actual sense of the time period. To those, feel free to build your own High Powered Custom Motorcycle, but keep in mind, you will need to follow the 100's of DOT Safety Features on your bike, and go and get it certified.

In short, I hope you see and understand the Huge Difference between a Motorbicycle (aka Motorbike) like this, and today's Motorcycle. For riding around town, this is perfect, and a great alternative to always having to drive a car. The engine is small and basic, so anyone can repair them themselves, so no worries about always having to bring it into a MC shop to get repaired. It also gets 100+ MPG so great on gas.

Just like any new invention, all to often people lose their reality touch by removing themselves from that time period when a technology was created. Anyone remember the days before the cell phone? How about the Motor Car, color TV, computers, internet, etc... They all did not start off like we have them today, but over time, they got better and better. This Recreation Motorbike is just like those, and 100 years before today's High Powered Motorcycles. So just because it is not all powerful, does not mean this is "Cheap" or "Bogus." It was made as a tribute to the days of the birth of today's MC, and tries to bring back the feel and look of those first Motor Bicycles. It is a shame that some closed minded people feel that this has no value. Collector's love to find early and hard to find items they collect, so this Recreation Vintage Antique Motor Bicycle is gear for the Die Hard MC Collector; who will appreciate all the Craftsmanship and Look it represents.

Message me with any questions.


custom motorbike bike motorcycle cycle harley collectible bicycle motor indian HQ High quality HD yamaha honda davidson antique vintage new museum car vehicle collector west allis milwaukee 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 parts
 
NO,it has a nice tank and frame and that is it! No drum breaks no custom engine parts...just a china girl or asian motor as seller like to say.
 
I would not pay that much for it!
But as they say... a sucker is born every minute.
It is worth what someone is willing to pay.
It has a nice custom frame and tank and the paint job looks nice too.
Stuffing a cheap Chinese engine into it does not make it worth that much. I am surprised that the seller did not even bother to replace that stock exhaust with at least a poopoo pipe. The poopoo pipe would look much better. And no front brake? He really is cheaping out...
 
Not sure how long these will stay up:

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My opinion, not worth the asking price or anywhere near it. Nice frame, seat, and tank. That's about it.
 
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It's worth it if you think it is.

Me? No. For $3600 I could call up Sportman Flyer and have one heck of a bike specced out. Plus, I'd get to build it myself. That HT inside the frame is a huge dealbreaker for me.
 
www.BigBoyCycles.com will set you up with a real motorized bicycle
for a few bucks more.

Heavy duty with custom everything and you could ride it across the
country.

Come on out to the race this Saturday Oct 20th to check them out and
maybe get a test ride.

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Not much of a comparison for what you get for your money.

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If you go to his website, he is asking $4,999 for his other models, lol.

From looking at the bike, I betcha the wheels, front fork, flipped beach bars and gooseneck, seat, and rear triangle are off a Cranbrook. Those crappy seat springs look just like the ones off my Cranny... I bet he just took the cover and foam off a Cranny's seat and threw on some leather or leatherette.

I think it is a fine effort, and like that he at least welded the chain tensioner in, but that markup... WOW.

And he mounts his fuel filters backwards.
 
In my experience, folks who post items on CL for more than they are worth dont need or maybe even want to really sell them. They will let them sit for years before they take less than what they are asking, because they dont care what anyone else thinks they are worth. They want a certain price, and they will either get it or they won't. I have even offered some people their asking price on certain items on craigslist, and they still didnt sell it. And it wasnt even anything special, just small electronics really. I finally have my bike built the way I want, and its not anything super fancy, though it is a good deal more customized than a stock bike, its nothing special to look at, its just built the way I want it, and I have about $1000 to maybe 1200 in it so far. I wouldn't pay more than a grand for a fake Indian bike.
 
Chit I have a hard time selling my bike... The Morini boxer I had sold for less then 2K... Can someone find me a market like this guy.... I can offer a better bike for 3000.00
 
I love the little china girl engines and both my builds have used them, but if you are going to build a $3600 motorized bicycle to sell...the very first thing you would plan on NOT having on that build is a $150 china girl kit. It is a nice looking build though and It looks like whoever built it has put some time and love into it, but I just can't see nothing close to $3600 sitting there. Maybe a third of that?
 
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