I think I agree with that....Build up from a bare frame is quite a job and every part will come at current premium prices...If you can find all of them...
A few years back I sold a lot of parts to a chap who built one up starting with a headlamp and a primary chain case he bought at a jumble!!! However, many of the multiple parts were much more common in those days...I'd keep your eyes open and look for a project bike that at least has the majority of the main parts present...They do still turn up....
I saw a complete one for sale last year for £5000 and that would be quite a lot less than you would build one up for at todays prices, when many parts are individually VERY expensive....Ian
Here is one ready to roll on eBay. Probably about top dollar at £8k, but I guess there will be a bit of wiggle room in that, although its a dealer. Now I am no way an M20 expert but if that bike is all its cracked up to be and passes muster with those on this site who do know their M20s, then it seems to me that paying around £7.5k for a complete and A1 bike is going to be a much better bargain than trying to assemble a machine from expensive bits - although if you want that challenge, then thats fine of course. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265107588684?hash=item3db9a4c64c:g:4cgAAOSwi-dgZKqQ
I think they've moved into the realms of fantasy....It's all that film work the bike has supposedly done..It's got a REME rebuild plate from Ashleford and it's had a replacement frame, something you wouldn't really have expected on a bike with a 'genuine' 200 or so miles on the clock...It's also a mixture of M20 parts from different wartime years and has post war handle bar levers..I haven't really examined the photos for anything else.....In other words a typical not very well finished M20..Nothing wrong with that at a sensible price, which is probably the price they paid for it...Ian:laughing:
I know that's a joke but I wouldn't want Lee to take it literally and get the wrong idea about building up from nothing......Keep looking for a bike or most of one Lee!...Ian:smile:
Ian's right: it's simple madness to build any bike up from parts. It costs more than the finished article's worth and is a painstaking process. For me, once I decided thst I wanted a WM20, it was a choice between a big piggy bank or a long term project. Covid made the decision for me: the path of madness.
If I'd had the money, I'd have bought a more or less complete bike. That way, I'd have got many of the pricey, fiddly bits, despite the need to dissemble and check it all. But looking back, it's kept me more or less sane to have a 'project'. I don't recommend it, but at least I'll know every damn nut and bolt. And if it goes bang, it'll be all my fault...
Good Morning Lee,
Is a motorcycle from abroad also an option for you?
I have been toying for a year with the idea of selling my motorcycle + sidecar, top condition and with 12 volt alternator convertion, home made (looks far better then it sounds, can send you some pics).
The bike was completeley disassembled and renovated back to excellent condition. From the sidecar I left only the chassis, all sides, etc. are completely new.
I'm located in Israel.
I have not yet published it here in Israel.
The reply from Iain says it all really [I think they've moved into the realms of fantasy....It's all that film work the bike has supposedly done..It's got a REME rebuild plate from Ashleford and it's had a replacement frame, something you wouldn't really have expected on a bike with a 'genuine' 200 or so miles on the clock...It's also a mixture of M20 parts from different wartime years and has post war handle bar levers..I haven't really examined the photos for anything else.....In other words a typical not very well finished M20..Nothing wrong with that at a sensible price, which is probably the price they paid for it.] In other words, if you built a bike from separate parts, it would - realistically - end up something like this one, only it probably would have cost you more than what is being asked for here - which is not extortionate in the open market.
I Got my wm20 in several boxes and mist of the stuff wasn't m20 stuff when I sorted it out properly. And I payed silly money for it .
All the small parts like spacers ,nuts , bolts and other stuff really mount up in costs , and thats before even starting on, mags, dynamos, carb and all the other parts and tinware. And then putting the jigsaw together .
I think I have 10k in my bike at the moment and still not close to riding, but had non stop help from this forum . But one thing it looks brand new like its out of a factory and not like alot off the dogs you see for sale .