Used parts prices going through the roof!

[jjwithers]

Excuse me while i vent for a minute.
After owning airheads for the past 12 years i am completely baffled at the recent asking prices for used parts.
Completely beat up gas tanks are selling for $150+
A local guy is asking $700 for a used 5speed transmission with little history on it.
Where are people getting these figures from and who is paying these kinds of prices that is driving everything up so high?
I thought Airhead owners were smarter then that...

ok. i feel better now.

[Garnet]

You just have to be patient. All the deals are on stuff you don't need right now. Murphy's Law.

[She'llbe]

Don't even look at new if you don't like the used prices.I have to agree with Garnet as well.

[jjwithers]

Yeah. Just frustrated i guess. I need a center stand and remember buying one about 5 years ago for $30. Now, even beat up center stands are going for $80.
On the plus side, i seem to remember the headlight chrome ring going for $80 new from BMW and it is around $50 now. odd... but that is worth snatching up now before they go back up.

[dougie]

A couple of years ago I took Duane's advice and started buying spares -
Gearbox, final drive, bean can, coil, diode board, bits and pieces, etc. They're on the shelf waiting.
It's a good feeling, like having beer in the fridge.

[BoxerTwin]

this puzzles me too. There are old Triumph parts that don't go for the prices that we have. Same for old Harley parts, Suzuki parts, etc...

One local guy offered to sell me a used 90s seat pan...no foam or hinges, for $90.
Another local guy sold me a used, poor condition seat, with pan and 90s cowling for $50. Now the seat needed recovering, the pan needed some sanding, painting and JB weld and the cowling...I didn't need the cowling. It was worth $50 to me.

I don't get it. Is it just because it says BMW that things cost so much?

[mattcfish]

I don't get it. Is it just because it says BMW that things cost so much?

Yes. It goes for BMW 2002's as well. Funny thing I've noticed....parts are starting to fetch a lot less on eBay and Craig's list lately, especially when I'm selling.

[Ken in Oklahoma]

The thing is, there are "for sale" prices and "sold" prices. When I was paying more attention to eBay for airhead parts I noticed a lot of buy it now prices that hardly ever sold. I bet the ratio was over 10:1. I call it trolling.

You regularly see the same thing on the IBMR want ads.

It seems to me that there are a whole lot of people who would rather not sell a part than sell it for too little.

I also believe that if you don't need a certain part (say, like a transmission) right away, but want to have one in stock, just hang in there. Watch eBay, check the IBMWR want ads at least twice a day, and one of what you want will show up at a reasonable price. You'll also discover certain airhead related items that you didn't know you needed.

Ken

[mattcfish]

It seems to me that there are a whole lot of people who would rather not sell a part than sell it for too little.

I have a friend who uses eBay to find out what parts are worth. Just set a unreasonably high reserve price and see how high people are willing to bid. If the bids aren't where you want them, you hang on to the part until the market improves.

[mattcfish]

It seems to me that there are a whole lot of people who would rather not sell a part than sell it for too little.

I have a friend who uses eBay to find out what parts are worth. Just set a unreasonably high reserve price and see how high people are willing to bid. If the bids aren't where you want them, you hang on to the part until the market improves.
Personally, I look for parts with cosmetic or minor damage that I know I can repair.