Isn't vintage as much a spirit of the bike as year of manufacture? I hope so.
How old does a vintage bike have to be??
So far I haven't seen my '83 Nighthawk cb550sc referred to as being in the vintage conversations. It's 25 years old now and getting parts is pretty difficult if I'm looking for OEM or NOS.
The bike is, of course, called the "One year wonder". Since it was only built and sold in the U.S. for that year, is that of any particular significance as to the value of the bike?
If not now...When???
CD
The bike is, of course, called the "One year wonder". Since it was only built and sold in the U.S. for that year, is that of any particular significance as to the value of the bike?
If not now...When???
CD
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vintage in the automotive world is anything over 25 yrs. antique is over 30. since we don't have an antique forum I feel like 25yrs old should fit
G
In The Ballpark
Very cool....
, my 81' Shovelhead is 27 years old now so I guess qualifies for 'Vintage' status, 3 more years and it will be a Antique?! However my 78' Ranchero is already 30 years old and though might be a "Antique" at this point is only junk yard fodder I'm afraid. Ah well.....
LRG
Very cool....
, my 81' Shovelhead is 27 years old now so I guess qualifies for 'Vintage' status, 3 more years and it will be a Antique?! However my 78' Ranchero is already 30 years old and though might be a "Antique" at this point is only junk yard fodder I'm afraid. Ah well.....LRG
vintage in the automotive world is anything over 25 yrs. antique is over 30. since we don't have an antique forum I feel like 25yrs old should fit
Well, my thoughts are with 307T, it is the spirit of the rider and bike. But briantoo points to 25 years.
CD - I would love to see your bike. Post some pictures and tell us more about it. If you are asking for an invitation... here it is! Welcome to Vintage, what's a year or 2 among friends!
I like to say anything 20+ yrs that fits the bill. I never really thought of my 88NT650 Hawk as vintage, at 21yrs now. But an 83 CB is a classic and therefore I feel should be considered.
Jeff
CD - I would love to see your bike. Post some pictures and tell us more about it. If you are asking for an invitation... here it is! Welcome to Vintage, what's a year or 2 among friends!
I like to say anything 20+ yrs that fits the bill. I never really thought of my 88NT650 Hawk as vintage, at 21yrs now. But an 83 CB is a classic and therefore I feel should be considered.
Jeff
Not only is my bike vintage but it's also six years older than me. XJ650s must be pretty popular old bikes because I saw three others while just riding around town the other day.
I really sound like a motorcyclist now. Before I started I couldn't identify any bikes to save my life. Now I can pick them out quite quickly.
XJ650s must be pretty popular old bikes because I saw three others while just riding around town the other day.I really sound like a motorcyclist now. Before I started I couldn't identify any bikes to save my life. Now I can pick them out quite quickly.
If you are saying a vintage bike then it would be older than 30 years,the perfect match you can say.
I have wondered the same thing when searching for info. I also have an 83 cb550sc. When looking for parts I have been through every book I can get my hands on. The way I see it, if it fits, and functions properly, use it. I think my bike is a classic, but just did not know if it was vintage. I would like to think so.
ALL ARE WELCOME in the vintage forum.
as far as I can tell, there is no distinction between vintage and classic. In cars, it is 20 years for classic and 25 years for vintage. I am going back to spirit of the rider and the bike.
ALL ARE WELCOME in the vintage forum.
so, bring your bike, your ideas and stop worrying about exactly what makes it vintage... buy a vintage bell and hang that on it, ok!
as far as I can tell, there is no distinction between vintage and classic. In cars, it is 20 years for classic and 25 years for vintage. I am going back to spirit of the rider and the bike.
ALL ARE WELCOME in the vintage forum.
so, bring your bike, your ideas and stop worrying about exactly what makes it vintage... buy a vintage bell and hang that on it, ok!
I ride a 1968 Honda CD175 Touring... so my has long past "vintage" and is well into "antique". But that's okay, I wouldn't have it any other way!
According to our local motocycle shops here in Hawaii anything over 10 years pld is considered VINTAGE just try buying parts.
I have an '81 Honda CM400 Custom and in Ohio it qualifies for historical tags...so I guess 30 years makes them "Historical"...lol
1968 flh electra glide
well, having a rare bike has its good and bad points. good because it makes it worth more of course parts are the bad part. hard to find for the other question. vintage is anything over 20 years, classic 25 years antique is 30 years historic now this is questionable maybe 35 years plus so i could get a historic plate wasn't ask at the S O S but don't want to you can only ride to and from parades and so many miles.
well, having a rare bike has its good and bad points. good because it makes it worth more of course parts are the bad part. hard to find for the other question. vintage is anything over 20 years, classic 25 years antique is 30 years historic now this is questionable maybe 35 years plus so i could get a historic plate wasn't ask at the S O S but don't want to you can only ride to and from parades and so many miles.
I want to see that 550! I never heard of it. Does that kind of raity make it more valuable- or more of a PITA to maintain?
Anyhoo- as I recall from other vintage bike forums, a bike has to be 35 years old to be "vintage", and 50 years old for antique.
IMO, "Classic" is wide open. I think it has to do with more than age. A classic also has to be desireable. A Honda GB500 is a classic. The 70's era SOHC Fours are classics (and finally vintage, as well), BMW R75/5 and the R90S are classics- and so on.
I would say the Nighthawk 700S is a classic. I hate to say it, but I have a feeling the 550 may be too obscure to be more than a "Well- I'll be darned!" that will skip classic and just become vintage. It would be very educational / fun to take it to some rallys and shows to see what the reaction is from other old bike owners.
Anyhoo- as I recall from other vintage bike forums, a bike has to be 35 years old to be "vintage", and 50 years old for antique.
IMO, "Classic" is wide open. I think it has to do with more than age. A classic also has to be desireable. A Honda GB500 is a classic. The 70's era SOHC Fours are classics (and finally vintage, as well), BMW R75/5 and the R90S are classics- and so on.
I would say the Nighthawk 700S is a classic. I hate to say it, but I have a feeling the 550 may be too obscure to be more than a "Well- I'll be darned!" that will skip classic and just become vintage. It would be very educational / fun to take it to some rallys and shows to see what the reaction is from other old bike owners.
Roughly 20-25 years would be vintage status I think
I don't know if or when it will be referred to in vintage talk. Very few of the 80s Japanese customs are referred to in vintage circles to my knowledge. They're nice classics, but just don't have the demand of some of their rarer or more standard looking models.So far I haven't seen my '83 Nighthawk cb550sc referred to as being in the vintage conversations. It's 25 years old now and getting parts is pretty difficult if I'm looking for OEM or NOS.
The bike is, of course, called the "One year wonder". Since it was only built and sold in the U.S. for that year, is that of any particular significance as to the value of the bike?
If not now...When???
CD
For comparison sake, look at the cars when it comes to classics and pricing. The same is true in motorcycles to some extents. A 1955 Chevy has far higher demand than the same year Ford or Dodge/Plymouth/DeSoto. It's about the look and what the buyers want. At the moment I'm thinking the 83 1100F is probably the highest demand bike from that year for Honda, with the 650 Turbo in there too. They probably have the highest dollar value. The Kawasaki KZ1000R Eddie Lawson Replica is probably the highest dollar model of them all from 1983, they're hitting five figures.
All you can really do is just hang on to it and see what happens. Maybe the market may swing into the 80s Japanese custom designs being more desirable.
By age the bike will usually hit "historical" or "vintage" for license plates at between 25 and 30 years - 30 years here in Ohio.
One last note on the CB550SC. It shared a lot of engine parts with the CB650SC which was a big seller. The hardest things to find on most all vintage bikes is body work. Mechanical parts frequently are available depending on how often they were replaced. Body parts are far harder to find due to the constant changing of models through the 80s. Longest many models ran was 3 years before wholesale change.
It is hard to think of my 1982 Yamaha XT200 as vintage. It was manufactured 1982-1987 I guess. It looks modern. The 196cc engine it has is also still manufactured for the Yamaha TW200.
In the motorcycle community when it comes to judgeing there are two general classifications Vintage and Antique. This applies to Japanese bikes in general. Vintage is anything 15 years or older. Antique is 35 years or older. These definitions are defined by the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club and the Antique Motorcycle Club of America. Now most states have a rule if a bike is X amount of years you can register it as an antique. There are certain restrictions and rules that go along with that along with some benefits as well.
if thats so how can i call my 43 yr old?would it fall under historic category?????
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