I don't want to take up too much time or space with this, but would appreciate any views on what's happening on the classic bike scene. I'm talking about insight into the past year, and expectations for this year, and prices, and the general vibe.

It's a tricky question, and I'm trying not to be too specific for fear of leading the responses. But if anyone wants to contribute a line or two from anywhere around the world, I'd be interested to hear it.

Also, would be interested to hear about military bike prices. Up? Down? Slow sales? Quick sales? Etc.

email (option): dannydefazio@sumpmagazine.com

Hi Danny,I have just read somewhere that the VMCC has cancelled the "Festival of
1000 Bikes",whats going on there then?
cheers Rick

email (option): richardholt@rocketmail.com

Hi Rick, I've got a report on Sump here:

http://www.sumpmagazine.com/classicbikenews/index.htm

The VMCC say that they haven't enough time to stage the Festival following the problems at Mallory Park. But clearly there's more going on behind the scene. I'd be interested in hearing some more on that from any VMCC members that can enlighten us.

email (option): dannydefazio@sumpmagazine.com

I think the scene generally is going from strength to strength...

Manufacturers are continuing to invest heavily in new products and they wouldn't do that if they didn't perceive a profit on their investment...

Prices, in my opinion, have 'softened' slightly for complete machines in the last year, particularly in certain parts of the market. However, that is to be expected as the recession has to have some effect...

I think the market is made up of distinct sectors in terms of who is involved.....The old 'motorcycle enthusiast' and 'VMCC' types continue to be involved, churning out the restorations as they always have.

The 'investment' bandwagon still seems to be rolling as bank interest rates remain low, albeit qualified a little by a slight shortage of funds for some parts of the market...including the 'exotica' end surprisingly...

I have noticed though that as prices of some models falter at high levels (pre unit Triumphs and Goldies for example) some other 'cheaper' models have done rather well as people seek cheaper alternatives and drive demand in different directions...

There is also, refreshingly, some 'new blood' coming in at under the usual 35-45 classic bike entry bracket...This is being driven by the current café racer, special and bobber trends...You may not always like the end product but there are some much younger participants here...I think that's a good thing overall...

As far as spares are concerned prices seem to be ever upwards and there are an increasing number of replica parts coming along as the original stuff becomes either very rare, completely unavailable or too expensive...

My personal belief is that replica parts will ultimately secure the future of this pastime....

I also think we may see the gradual demise of really poor quality parts...The average purchasers reluctance to buy Indian parts is becoming apparent I feel...

Whether they will take on board the increased cost of better components in preference to cheap, poor quality parts remains to be seen...

I've been in this game for over 40 years now and during that time the demise of the classic bike scene has consistently been a topic of conversation in some quarters...I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now...

Probably if there is a real threat in the longer term it will be from restrictive legislation...not a collapse of interest...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

The people I associate with are as enthusiastic as ever. I'm really looking forward to Normandy...

I do notice that many (most ?) of the visitors to jumbles are looking seriously old and decrepit. It's a case of dodging the mobility scooters at times.

I hope that a thriving scene will continue to support good quality replacement parts (if they're properly made and specific to the machine, I hardly regard them as 'pattern')

The price of modern motorcycles means that old bikes of the ordinary WD type still constitute a cheap hobby, especially when the lack of depreciation is taken into account.

Prices do seem a bit more sensible, but bearing in mind that most of the bikes sold are pretty crappy, I still think that the majority are over-priced.

When people start at 40-45 then quite a lot at the jumbles will be older than that...It's always been that way...

30 years ago people said it's all over because everyone you see is getting old...Well most of them have gone to the happy hunting ground now...

This is a new lot of old men... ...though maybe I shouldn't laugh as I'm on the verge of that category myself now.. ...

I also think the scene is gradually changing with the generations...Many of the people involved today didn't start on British bikes..it is a taste which, if they have it, they have acquired later on...Many aren't even involved with British bikes, restoring Japanese, Italian et al....

There are also a growing group who don't put 'standard' bikes up on a plinth and worship them as sacred cows...They are prepared to build bikes that would be guaranteed to give a traditional classic bike 'purist' high blood pressure.....

I think the 'special' market, or whatever else you want to call it, is a vibrant and growing sector, as is the restoration scene for all sorts of 'non British' bikes....Taken as part of the whole the British 'sector' is gradually losing some of its importance........Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

AS far as I,m concerned the classic bike scene remains as popular as ever.Once or twice a month Kent Shaun and me attend various vmcc and bsa club runs of about 100mls.
we use various machines from our stables, even modern bikes.
Crowds at jumbles Kempton and Ardingly are always at capacity, prices are creeping up especialy on military bikes, although when we are dead and gone..who knows
P.S money is the reason vmcc have cancelled festival of thousand bikes,still when they were paying there chairman £70.000 pa I cant wonder at it!

email (option): barryrapley@sky.com

Thanks Rik, Ian and Baza, Useful intelligence and opinion. I share Rik's view about the ageing men at classic bike jumbles. When I was last at Kempton (just a few weeks back), people certainly did look long past their best. But it's hard to be objective because you always superimpose your own mood and outlook on things, and these are pretty difficult times for most of us.

Any more views?

email (option): dannydefazio@sumpmagazine.com

I would agree with what everyone else has said thus far. Here in California, and especially in the San
Francisco Bay Area, vintage and veteran motorcycles continue to be a fairly vibrant preoccupation for many. The classic British bike contingent has stayed very stable in terms of numbers, and the remaining service shops are always busy and booked up months in advance. Likewise rescue and restoration of Italian, Japanese, Spanish and German bikes is very active.

The recent auctions by Bonhams and MidAmerica in Las Vegas were very interesting with many low and mid level bikes going for slightly less than expected, while the high end rare machines, as well as those with racing or celebrity histories, went for more than expected. Overall, nearly everything sold.

The British bike clubs, whether Norton Owners, BSA Owners, Velocette, Matchless or Vincent Owners Clubs all have fairly stable membership rosters. Most of the clubs also continue to receive a slow trickle of new members, some of which are in their 20's and 30's. The larger vintage rides here, such as the BSAOCNC All British Ride in November, the San Francisco 49 Mile Ride in October, and the Quail Lodge Ride in May all continue to draw very large attendance.

Seems also that the younger guys coming onto old bikes tend to go for the bobber, chopper, grungy oily rag hot rod bikes more than the classic stock motorbikes. There's three or four guys right around the corner that fit that bill with an A65 chopper, a TR6 bobber cafe bike, and a hulking chopped Harley sportster, all completely covered in oil parked at the curb!

I would stay overall that the classic bike world is stable, and hasn't changed that much in the last 15-20 years.

email (option): wingco40@hotmail.com

I think the "age" thing will always be a factor...........although in balance there are always younger people coming into the "scene" on a regular if "drip-feed" basis, encouraged by elder peers, a genuine independent interest or other influences...........increased media in recent years, war films, programmes, documentaries, PS and X-box games all add to the "military" interest........

Prices too of complete machines, seem to have somewhat stalled from an ever-increasing rise over the last ten years or so..........but as stated, spares prices have risen dramatically fuelled by increased demand versus an ever dwindling supply of original parts as the years pass...........but access to those spares via worldwide internet auctions and web has increased demand and prices from the "old days" of Exchange and Mart and Old Bike Mart, etc.....

When I was in my teens back in the 70s, I couldn't afford a Jap bike, so had to rebuild a knackered old cheap British 2-stroke for my transport........no one wanted them but to me it was wheels.............in the early 80s my interest in military stuff plus an income enabled me to buy an Ex-WD machine still cheaply (an M20 !!)....back then, my M20 was less than 40 years old.......the same machine now would be around 73 years old.........

And back then I was 17 or 18............now I am 50, still love my WD bikes, but the youngest of them is now 71 years old and the eldest 74...........and those friends that I had back then are also now 30-odd years older...........

The interest never stops, but neither does time...........and many things change........:o)

Danny lad, I,m well past my best, started riding in 1963...now claiming OAP and still working and riding, and restoring bikes, and wont stop till they measure me for my box!

email (option): barryrapley@sky.com

I dont think the classic bike scene could be much better. Plenty of interesting bikes about at decent prices so long as your not after anything to exotic, spares dont seem to be a problem, a cottage industry of services, a vibrant social side with plenty to ride to, plenty of information on the net and the bikes are cheap to keep on the road. Through my classic bikes Iv been to lots of interesting places and met nice people with a good skills, ingenuity and stories.

Compared to modern bikes with massive depreciation, expensive main dealer servicing, I find very few modern bikes interesting. The riders want to look like either a pirate (Harleys), Ewan McGregor (adventure bikes) or Valentino Rossie (sports bikes). Their conversation mainly revolves around such rubbish as getting their knee down, wheelies, or what electronic miracle controls their power mode, suspension, or brakes.

I was a teenager in the 70s, but its the pre 60s stuff I find interesting.

Maybe I should sell my Harley then......Ian ..

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Ian, you are the exception that proves the rule.
I was of course making a bit of a generalization

Ian, the way you were hobbling last time that I saw you, you'd only have needed a parrot on the shoulder to look like old Long John himself !

email (option): barryrapley@sky.com

Can Am Bombardier or Armstrong MT500 - which one would you go for?

email (option): sacombsashtrees@hotmail.com

A no brainer...The Armstrong...The 504 Rotax engine is well engineered and will stand a lot of thrashing...Buy a good one though..some parts can be expensive...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

And the Arrmstrong/MT350 is a very nice bike to ride, although modest power. Not good if you have short legs! The MT gets you an electric leg and some find starting an Armstrong awkward. The Canadians had an electric leg Armstrong but they are rare and pricey.

Yes, The 504 engine can be a finicky starter and I also found it would sometimes cut out unexpectedly when ticking over...I spent some time fiddling with carburation to improve these characteristics...
Remember as well, it's a 'modern' single, so that means they left the flywheels on the bench somewhere and it won't 'plod' like a heavyweight British single...

The Forestry Commission had a small batch with electric start and a modification that involved fitting an additional weight (behind the alternator I think) to increase the flywheel effect...

It is a modification I would look into if I had another bike with that engine....It would probably improve starting and tickover if the crank had a little more inertia...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com