Old Bikes, ID and value?
Discussion
Hi all, a neighbour has recently passed away and has left these on his drive. His only family is a daughter that lives the other end of the country so getting down here to sort things out is difficult.
I'm aware that over the years many people had enquired about the bikes but the chap was a bit of a hoarder and told them it was his daughters inheritance. (not too sure what a lady in her 50's would do with them).
So, what are they and do they have any worth in their current, rather neglected state?
A BMW
A Triumph
Now it gets a bit tougher!
and swallowed by nature...
Any ideas? I can probably get to the number plate but do not really want to disturb tarps.
For what it's worth I do have permission to be on property as have parked a vehicle on drive so removal of the bikes is not possible.
I'm aware that over the years many people had enquired about the bikes but the chap was a bit of a hoarder and told them it was his daughters inheritance. (not too sure what a lady in her 50's would do with them).
So, what are they and do they have any worth in their current, rather neglected state?
A BMW
A Triumph
Now it gets a bit tougher!
and swallowed by nature...
Any ideas? I can probably get to the number plate but do not really want to disturb tarps.
For what it's worth I do have permission to be on property as have parked a vehicle on drive so removal of the bikes is not possible.
Where abouts in the country are you?
The top one is a BMW R series, which has some value. How much value is difficult to see but even resto projects go for a bit on ebay. I'd be interested myself.
As for the rest of it, you'd be amazed at what will sell if it's rare and there's enthusiasm for it. I'd say that old Triumph would sell without any difficulty.
The Honda under the tarp looks like a CB and there's a big following for those too.
The top one is a BMW R series, which has some value. How much value is difficult to see but even resto projects go for a bit on ebay. I'd be interested myself.
As for the rest of it, you'd be amazed at what will sell if it's rare and there's enthusiasm for it. I'd say that old Triumph would sell without any difficulty.
The Honda under the tarp looks like a CB and there's a big following for those too.
Edited by Cocknose on Sunday 26th July 19:00
Everything is worth something. Mostly "it depends". Do the engines turn over? Also, where are they/you? I'd be happy to come over and help drag them out. The Honda could be anything from a CB250/400 Super Dream to a CB900 with that tank shape (I'll stand corrected by any Honda nerds on that) The Triumph I'm not enough of a buff to tell, but the engine number will reveal more. The BMW would be minimum £500 if the engine turns over and the frame is not rusted out as they're popular with the cafe racer hipster crowd.
Put that Triumph under lock and key immediately. 
That's a "generator engine", or at least the head and barrel of one. Not the earliest version, because it doesn't have the blank lugs for the fan cooling shroud, but still rare and desirable.
EDIT
Can I have dibs?
That's a "generator engine", or at least the head and barrel of one. Not the earliest version, because it doesn't have the blank lugs for the fan cooling shroud, but still rare and desirable.
EDIT
Can I have dibs?
Edited by gareth_r on Sunday 26th July 18:40
Agree with both.Cheers for the replies, just trying to get an idea of worth as hate seeing people get ripped off and am led to believe they were all once desirable.
Should be getting permission to clear a bit later tonight so can get better pics when I have the time.
What kind of years were these bikes from? The chap that passed away was 89 and do think he still rode one when I moved here 20yrs back.
The one under the tarp with racing number on has the same back mudguard strap as the Triumph but is flat where the tank is?
All will be for sale I'd imagine, it's up to the daughter.
Am intrigued as to what's in the garage, have heard a couple of rumours.
Should be getting permission to clear a bit later tonight so can get better pics when I have the time.
What kind of years were these bikes from? The chap that passed away was 89 and do think he still rode one when I moved here 20yrs back.
The one under the tarp with racing number on has the same back mudguard strap as the Triumph but is flat where the tank is?
All will be for sale I'd imagine, it's up to the daughter.
Am intrigued as to what's in the garage, have heard a couple of rumours.
The Triumph Trophy is 1949 to 1950, I think. They designed a proper motorcycle head and barrel after that. The Vintage Motor Cycle Club (VMCC) hold all the original Triumph records, I believe, so they should be able to tell you if the frame and engine left Meriden together, and even which dealer received it.
BMW is about 1984.
I think the Honda was introduced in 1979 and sold for 5 or 6 years.
BMW is about 1984.
I think the Honda was introduced in 1979 and sold for 5 or 6 years.
)gareth_r said:
Put that Triumph under lock and key immediately.
That's a "generator engine", or at least the head and barrel of one. Not the earliest version, because it doesn't have the blank lugs for the fan cooling shroud, but still rare and desirable.
Speed twin maybe? Either way, that will have a lot of value, even in that state.
EDIT
Can I have dibs?
That's a "generator engine", or at least the head and barrel of one. Not the earliest version, because it doesn't have the blank lugs for the fan cooling shroud, but still rare and desirable.
Speed twin maybe? Either way, that will have a lot of value, even in that state.
EDIT
Can I have dibs?
Edited by gareth_r on Sunday 26th July 18:40
crofty1984 said:
gareth_r said:
Speed twin maybe? Either way, that will have a lot of value, even in that state.Pre-war Triumphs had iron top ends, except for some Tiger 100 bronze heads.
Triumph made auxiliary power units for RAF bombers during the war. Obviously, the APU needed to be as light and compact as possible, so an alloy top end was designed, with parallel, rather than splayed, exhaust ports to save space. The engine had to be fan-cooled and the sheet metal shroud bolted to threaded bosses cast into the barrels. You can see them on the restored Trophy.
When the war ended, Triumph had a load of generator parts lying about that were no longer required. They decided to develop the Grand Prix road racer, needed lighter components, and the obvious solution was to use the surplus generator barrels and heads. The competition (trials and scrambles) TR5 Trophy was given the same parts for the same reason. When all the original generator barrels were used up, a batch of barrels were cast from a new pattern that didn't have the bosses for the fan shroud (as on the OP's bike), then after a couple of years Triumph designed a proper motorcycle alloy top end for the Trophy and the Tiger 100. The Speed Twin retained the cast iron parts.
Edited by gareth_r on Monday 27th July 10:27
Jediworrier said:
Cheers for the replies, just trying to get an idea of worth as hate seeing people get ripped off and am led to believe they were all once desirable.
Should be getting permission to clear a bit later tonight so can get better pics when I have the time.
What kind of years were these bikes from? The chap that passed away was 89 and do think he still rode one when I moved here 20yrs back.
The one under the tarp with racing number on has the same back mudguard strap as the Triumph but is flat where the tank is?
All will be for sale I'd imagine, it's up to the daughter.
Am intrigued as to what's in the garage, have heard a couple of rumours.
The one under the tarp looks most interesting to me. Any more pictures at all? If it has a flat petrol tank (ie a frame tube runs over the tank top) it'll date it to roughly pre-1930.Should be getting permission to clear a bit later tonight so can get better pics when I have the time.
What kind of years were these bikes from? The chap that passed away was 89 and do think he still rode one when I moved here 20yrs back.
The one under the tarp with racing number on has the same back mudguard strap as the Triumph but is flat where the tank is?
All will be for sale I'd imagine, it's up to the daughter.
Am intrigued as to what's in the garage, have heard a couple of rumours.
The easy option is to simply stick them all (individually) on ebay and let the market decide - and let whoever does that / handles the sale take a percentage of the sale.
My Dad deals in Classic cars and regularly buys from deceased estates, no doubt there are bike dealers who do the same but the least hassle approach is also the least profitable
My Dad deals in Classic cars and regularly buys from deceased estates, no doubt there are bike dealers who do the same but the least hassle approach is also the least profitable
NITO said:
The one under the tarp has racing numbers, most interesting!
Nice little hoard, shame she's lost her Dad, nice of you to help.
Very interesting, spoke to his daughter today and she has a pic of him racing at Silverstone! Things you never knew about neighbours but would love to have chatted about!Nice little hoard, shame she's lost her Dad, nice of you to help.
As for helping I'd like to think others would do a similar thing in the same situation, maybe I'm naive.
Jediworrier said:
As for helping I'd like to think others would do a similar thing in the same situation, maybe I'm naive.
I always do but I think we're the unusual ones 
I stopped to help a biker after seeing a smashed up bike to the side of the road, I discovered he'd been picked up by an ambulance but they'd left his bike in situ, I picked it up and moved it to safety on a nearby drive - almost everyone asked - why did you bother - because I'd like to think that someone would do it for me.
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