I watch this show from time to time and I know they build quite a few bikes besides the specialty ones you see on the show. I have to wonder if their “regular” choppers will hold their value through the years. I’ve heard prices ranging from $70-200K. This seems to be an insane price even for a custom job.
Anybody want to venture a guess?
I watch the show when I can as well, even if it is just to see Senior and Pauli fight. But my guess would be that the custom bikes they are building would hold some of their value. I doubt a 200k bike would hold it’s value unless it was not ridden and had a theme. I saw an OCC chopper in Florida last time I was in south beach, and it was impressive, but not gaudy, however, it had OCC blazoned on every part from the oil tank to the exhaust to the fuel tank.
The tankwas very cool though, it had an American flag in glitter, with matching exhaust and kicker.
As for your question, I think it would hold some value to the right buyer, but on the open market, the OCC bikes should go for the same as other specialized choppers…Unless it had a theme thats my guess.
Right now, they would be the worst investment you could possibly make. Their particular bikes will probably never be more expensive than they are now, owing to the show’s popularity.
Are you talking about those bickering guys on TV that assemble parts they buy from everywhere else except for the occasional bit of sheet metal?
Maybe of of the odd theme bikes will sell someday for a lot of money if a really famous person owned it. Think of a Elvis’ pink Caddy.
You need to approach the hyper-custom and theme bikes as works of art. The intrinsic value isn’t going to be more than around $20,000 for the engine, frame, tires, etc. Likewise, a Rembrandt painting may only have $100 in it for canvas and paint.
Will they hold value as a collectable item? Probably, but I won’t bet on that.
Some of them also have components that have close to zero intrinsic value, they have a huge emotional or sentimental value. Here, I’m thinking specifically of the Statue of Liberty bike that had parts plated with copper that was originally part of the SoL, or the Fire Bike that incorporated some structural elements (bolts?) from the World Trade Center.
These two will behave differently in value as they contain items of historical significance. I’d expect them to maintain value also. Keep in mind, that AFAIK, they have not been offered for sale to anyone and remain in the Teutul’s private collection.
Their more standard bikes? You’d have to think of them more as vehicles that will depreciate. They’ll probably depreciate somewhat slower on the collectors’ market, at least.
You would probably be better off buying an Indian Larry original, God rest his soul.
Short term, yeah, probably. Long term, no. I don’t think there will be a 200k motorcycle that will be worth 200k in five years, theme or no theme. Now 25 or 30 years from now, it may be worth something for amusement value, that is, if you can still buy fuel for it.