Scrap Value of Motorcycle

**takenbyvultures** · 12-01-2011, 11:48 PM

I searched but didn't really find any threads discussing motorcycle value. I was wondering what the average road bike will pull in scrap value. I've owned multiple motorcycles and know they have lots of different metals and materials. Should I only accept bikes for free, or if I pay $100-$200 on a bike, is it profitable? Not taking into account retailing choice parts.
I'd like to hear any opinions on this, thanks.

**IdahoScrapper** · 12-02-2011, 12:13 AM

Seeing as how I get 175 to 300 on a car, I don't think paying 200 for a bike will get you very far.

**Mechanic688** · 12-02-2011, 12:24 AM

Was that KZ that posted something about cycles?? Something to do with selling for parts.

**takenbyvultures** · 12-02-2011, 12:54 AM

I think the KZ thread was mostly about rebuilding or selling motorcycle engines. I'm talking the scrap value of a whole bike. Say I pulled all of the plastic parts, bodywork, mirrors, headlights and sold them on ebay since plastic isn't worth much. Then separated aluminum head, valves, chains, main drive gears, brake rotors, shocks, pistons, trans case, clutch basket, swingarm, wheels, triple tree, drained/punctured tank, cut down frame, pulled copper from stator and recycled it all.
Thanks.

**Mechanic688** · 12-02-2011, 02:33 AM

I tried to buy some plastic to replace what was broken on a 250 quad, darn it's expensive. If you have a popular type of bike I bet you could sell the parts on ebay.

**takenbyvultures** · 12-02-2011, 02:54 AM

Yeah, I've bought a few fairing pieces for newer bikes such a CBR929RR and CBR600, they get pretty spendy for OEM replacements if you dont want to go the route of a full rep kit from china which is about $500. I'm just trying to figure a rough value of a bike in scrap materials to run some numbers and decide if it's worth pursuing.

**KzScrapper** · 12-02-2011, 05:50 AM

Really depends on the bike...old frames are steel and about 100# newer are aluminum not sure of weight as I've only worked on old stuff. Aluminum parts in motors old and new but weight depends on size. Tough to pay anything for bikes and make money if you are just scrapping them. I have sold parts on Ebay and even a whole bike to a guy that drove about 1600 miles to pick it up, '78 KZ1000...Old school muscle bike. This is the time of year to be looking for bikes that have been sitting around for years and people just want them gone.

**EcoSafe** · 12-02-2011, 10:24 AM

I have an 86 yamaha 750. I rode all my life, but when I got sick I had to park it cant ride any more. been sitten for a couple of years now, so I imagin it needs new cables, tank and carb cleaning. I would never think of scrapping it.

after thought: back in 74 I rode a honda 350 from L.A. to Omaha neb. My butt and other various parts were numb for 2 months. In 75 I maried my brothers high school prom queen, me thinks my brain stayed numb a little longer.

**takenbyvultures** · 12-02-2011, 11:53 AM

The thing I've found is there are a lot of bikes that no longer have titles or they've passed owners a few times and the title was never transferred from years ago. They are basically a pain/impossible to register, or they are good for track bikes. I found a GS1100 for $200 recently, but after thinking about it, I don't think it's worth the time since it usually takes awhile to resell parts, and the remaining metal is minimal compared to a car which can be found for $200 or free.

**Resourceful** · 01-16-2012, 02:14 PM

You could research the demand for parts for any make, model and year of bike on eBay "completed items" search.
Let that information determine if it's worth buying and for how much, if you can't get it free for the hauling.
My wife bought a Honda Monkey Bike on a hunch for $50. She was concerned at first if I would approve or not.
Turns out that they are highly collectable and I sold every single part on eBay for a total of $1,500. Some bikes that I have picked up don't have any value in parts, just scrap copper and aluminium alloys and steel. I don't pay anything for those.