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NS 400R Investment

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2016 4:13 pm
by Barrienunn
I was looking to buy a NS400R as a investment ... are they a worthwhile investment and whats the best colour to buy also where is there a decent one for sale

Cheers in Advance

Re: NS 400R Investment

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2016 4:39 pm
by podman
Any 2 stroke is a good investment at the moment from what I can see, the return of your investment will be largely dictated by the original purchase price and how long you keep it for, an NS will be no different but of course, isnt going to fetch the headline prices RD/RG500s are fetching BUT they(the 500s) cost a lot more to purchase in the first place.

Id always buy on condition over a colour scheme, simple.

Whilst not as exciting to collect, IMHO what will be better long term investment at the moment is buying bikes or parts for future classics, original FireBlades, R1s,SP1s,916s etc are still relatively affordable, looking at the way many 70s/80s classic bike parts have risen in the last few years, buying some stock end cans and undertrays in un-tampered condition for bikes like the above will be a smart move.

Re: NS 400R Investment

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2016 5:31 pm
by silverstrom
If you can get a top quality bike for a good price you won't lose money. Just make sure you aren't over-paying to start with and since you are in the UK buy a UK/Euro model for the best chance at future gains. Research the UK market to determine values. The UK mags Practical Sportbikes and Classic Motorcycle Mechanics will be helpful. My experience has been that serious collectors prefer the domestic model over a Japanese import, where possible, and that model was available in your market.

If you want the best return on investment get yourself the complete set of RD500, RG500 and NS400R. Sell as a complete set. That is indeed a rare thing. My opinion is, of course, biased.

HRC models are faster :mrgreen:

If parts are a good investment I'm sitting on a goldmine. Time to raise prices :smt005

Re: NS 400R Investment

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2016 6:03 pm
by Speed Freak
Maybe worth to buy new original R1 RN01 cylinder blocks as long as they are available... They always have cracks in the cylinder coating :mrgreen:

I don`t think bikes like this will go up in price as the big 2-strokes do.
Simply compare the numbers of sold RD/RG500/NS400R to the numbers of "modern" bikes like the R1
And then compare what is/was on the market with the same technology... There is nothing really "special" on the market now.

Before the 400/500`s came up there was nothing compareable, at least it wasn`t that modern (water cooled, exhaust valves...) and after 2 years they stopped the production because they didn`t sell enough of them.
I think the situation can`t be better for this bikes to get expensive.

But on the other hand - if you keep it too long the generation who was young when the bikes came out is too old to buy the bikes. I think then the prices will fall again.


Anyway, I buy the bikes to have fun with them :smt004
Regarding NS400R it seems that the crankshaft is quite a bad design (60000km on mine = totally worn shafts in the center main bearing area... never seen something before) and parts seem to be rare compared to the RD500.
I would try to get a bike with low km`s.

By the way, Honda has no "matching numbers" :smt002

Re: NS 400R Investment

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 4:18 pm
by podman
Speed Freak wrote:
I don`t think bikes like this will go up in price as the big 2-strokes do.
Simply compare the numbers of sold RD/RG500/NS400R to the numbers of "modern" bikes like the R1.
I don't think it has much to do with the numbers sold in all honestly, its more based on how much of a benchmark / ground breaker the bike was when it was launched and how many numbers are left remaining at any given time dictates the future value, for those of us in the UK who owned humdrum cars of the 70s and 80s like Ford Escorts Mk1/2 and 3 , Mk1 Golf GTIs etc made in their millions and available when I was growing up for a couple of hundred quid , now with few original nice examples left, are now fetching serious money..350LCs and bikes like the GSXR750 where plentiful when I was growing up and as we know, A1 examples change hands for strong money nowadays, with parts prices even more eye watering.

The first Gen R1 is 20 years old in a couple of years , so not modern to most people except us who live in the slightly more distant past.!
Speed Freak wrote: But on the other hand - if you keep it too long the generation who was young when the bikes came out is too old to buy the bikes. I think then the prices will fall again.

I do agree with that, the nostalgia driven 40/50 year old somethings who are paying the serious money for 70s/80s bikes will come to pass that is for sure.

Re: NS 400R Investment

Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2016 4:01 am
by RC45
podman wrote:
Speed Freak wrote:
I don`t think bikes like this will go up in price as the big 2-strokes do.
Simply compare the numbers of sold RD/RG500/NS400R to the numbers of "modern" bikes like the R1.
I don't think it has much to do with the numbers sold in all honestly, its more based on how much of a benchmark / ground breaker the bike was when it was launched and how many numbers are left remaining at any given time dictates the future value, for those of us in the UK who owned humdrum cars of the 70s and 80s like Ford Escorts Mk1/2 and 3 , Mk1 Golf GTIs etc made in their millions and available when I was growing up for a couple of hundred quid , now with few original nice examples left, are now fetching serious money..350LCs and bikes like the GSXR750 where plentiful when I was growing up and as we know, A1 examples change hands for strong money nowadays, with parts prices even more eye watering.

The first Gen R1 is 20 years old in a couple of years , so not modern to most people except us who live in the slightly more distant past.!
Speed Freak wrote: But on the other hand - if you keep it too long the generation who was young when the bikes came out is too old to buy the bikes. I think then the prices will fall again.

I do agree with that, the nostalgia driven 40/50 year old somethings who are paying the serious money for 70s/80s bikes will come to pass that is for sure.
I think this is key.

The 'next collectibles' will come of age when the youths that lusted after those bikes get to the large disposable income age.

So keeping an eye on the generation 1 R1's, Hayabusas and similar mass produced desirables that many could not afford new is a good idea, but picking the right bike is the challenge.

:Look how many other great mid 80's bikes that where also desirable back in the day just never garnered the collectors eye.

About as much risk as stock picking, but far more fun to play with as you wait out the vesting period :) LOL

Re: NS 400R Investment

Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2017 7:45 am
by trix
Thats a great point about the prices starting to go down again when those of us who were young when the bikes were first sold become too old to be interested anymore. I bought my NS400 about 8 yrs ago for £2500 and at the time was wondering if I was paying too much! Should have bought 5 of them!

I think RG's have probably peaked or near peaked. I was also interested in a Bimota VDue but that ship has sailed too.

However some bikes will keep going up in value, Brough Superior, 7R AJS etc The guys that would be nostalgic for them are mostly long gone!

Re: NS 400R Investment

Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2017 1:09 pm
by begbie
Speed Freak wrote:Maybe worth to buy new original R1 RN01 cylinder blocks as long as they are available... They always have cracks in the cylinder coating :mrgreen:



But on the other hand - if you keep it too long the generation who was young when the bikes came out is too old to buy the bikes. I think then the prices will fall again.

This is a crazy statement.
Can you give one example of this happening in the past ? where a generation has got to old to ride/buy the bikes, so they devalue or become worthless because no one remembers them :shock:
Who here remembers looking in the local shop window at the new 1924 Brough Superior SS100...... anyone ? one sold last year for £300,000
Or in the US a 1903 Harley Davidson ? who remembers them when they were new ? 15 million dollars to you my friend.
the market may fluctuate depending on the number of bikes available at the time you're ready to purchase but historically prices just go up.

Re: NS 400R Investment

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2017 6:43 am
by RC45
begbie wrote:
Speed Freak wrote:Maybe worth to buy new original R1 RN01 cylinder blocks as long as they are available... They always have cracks in the cylinder coating :mrgreen:



But on the other hand - if you keep it too long the generation who was young when the bikes came out is too old to buy the bikes. I think then the prices will fall again.

This is a crazy statement.
Can you give one example of this happening in the past ? where a generation has got to old to ride/buy the bikes, so they devalue or become worthless because no one remembers them :shock:
Who here remembers looking in the local shop window at the new 1924 Brough Superior SS100...... anyone ? one sold last year for £300,000
Or in the US a 1903 Harley Davidson ? who remembers them when they were new ? 15 million dollars to you my friend.
the market may fluctuate depending on the number of bikes available at the time you're ready to purchase but historically prices just go up.
These are unique single units. There are many old bikes continually changing hands for fractions of those prices.

Such selling prices need the right buyers. And those prices took 100 years the evolve. :)

Re: NS 400R Investment

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2017 6:31 pm
by trix
I think the v due would need to have won a few world championships (or similar) to be worth that kind of money in 80 yrs time

Re: NS 400R Investment

Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 8:03 pm
by vma500
A 2 stroke investment .....omg!
in the EU they plan to ban all fosile fuel cars in 2030
and 2 stroke cycles already prohibited in some cities......Amsterdam to be the first?then soon all countries will folow :sad:
they started with the diesel cars already

Re: NS 400R Investment

Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 10:03 pm
by RC45
vma500 wrote:A 2 stroke investment .....omg!
in the EU they plan to ban all fosile fuel cars in 2030
and 2 stroke cycles already prohibited in some cities......Amsterdam to be the first?then soon all countries will folow :sad:
they started with the diesel cars already
Then it is a good thing the UK left the EU :) I am planning on exporting my TZ250 and RS250 to the UK when I decide to sell them LOL

Re: NS 400R Investment

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 1:23 pm
by podman
Never mind the investment, just get out and enjoy them, dont overlook the fact they are simply great fun to ride, I had a great day out with my NS400 riding mate today.

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Re: NS 400R Investment

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 2:02 pm
by RC45
podman wrote:Never mind the investment, just get out and enjoy them, dont overlook the fact they are simply great fun to ride, I had a great day out with my NS400 riding mate today.
Image

This is an iconic 80's photo :)
Image

Re: NS 400R Investment

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 5:34 pm
by vma500
Apologies for my negative post ,please enjoy ur bikes!
Maybe want to go there also :???: Who likes the EU in this form anyway