restoration costs

I just figured out for my 84/250 & 82/430 the restoration cost for a fully rebuilt bikes will be around $1,300 in New parts. New pistols, crank bearings, tranny bearings, seals/gaskets, wheel bearings, barnett clutches, air filter/manifolds, chains/sprockets,
Cables, handle bars, bark busters, grips, decals, paint, seat cover, tires/tubes, brakes and new plastics.
Did I miss anything?

Ok why do we do this? Because it's so much fun to built it, make it look like new and then get her down right dirty, right?

They should outlast my lifetime.

To me it's extremely satisfying bringing a bike back from the dead. Will they be as a good as a brand new 2015 model no way. But fun per mile way more. Nothing like seeing a old warrior at the track!

I make them mechanically perfect, but I dont waste any time or money making them look new.

'82 250XC



'82 250CR



'82 430WR

You missed suspention stuff, swingarm bearings and hard parts they ride on, shock rebuild, Hemi joints or whatever the shocks pivot on, sealing parts there, top out washers, seals, wipers on the forks maybe more depending. The 85-86 linkage has a lot of parts.

Suspension is what I was thinking he was missing too. That's where most of the money goes.

that 3rd pic is awesome . should be part of the banner or something

Mate, if you can do a full resto for that - you can restore every bike I own !

Andy.

Bill, take the figure you thought of above, double it and then factor in a slush fund. Trust me, I've just done it (again) and I know. I don't care if I have spent more than it's worth. The enjoyment is the finding, the building and the riding. I got to ride mine briefly today. Mucho big smile !

You should keep a running total of all parts, materials, supplier, brand and cost. Post it periodically with your build thread. Would be fun to see how it turns out cost wise. As said above, this is really a form of entertainment, but at least you have a nice toy when the build is over!

here's another factor
"overhead"
take your bike to a shop, they list the labor, parts, shop supplies and in there is overhead, it takes money to provide for everything you own
a puller, how many bikes to spread the cost to comfort, brake cleaner, what did you pay for the last can of anything
get a part,,, either order it or drive out to buy it, pay for fuel or shipping
was in business for over 30 years, there are many costs beyond hard costs
but i do it for fun and find the cost quite acceptable, as it brings me joy

i dont know about you guys, but i really dont want to know what it costs....its probably not good

i have never added it up either
at least not on mine, my brother asked one time
kinda the thing you leave alone, if money is all important this is a bad sport
and worse to collect if you think about the bottom line

When I bought my 500 CR, I felt it was a bargain (still think so). It was running and could be ridden when purchased. I rebuilt the forks and ITC shocks (added new heavier springs to the shocks), disassembled and resealed the engine, (didn't need a rebuild and clutch was good), new plastic fenders, new Dunlop tires, misc. small parts (air filter, handlebar grips, spark plug, fluids, rubber bushings, etc). This was just a refurbishing of a complete machine that didn't need much, not a restoration. A quick tally of the parts receipts comes out over 1200.00. A complete restoration would be much more. But then, this thing puts a 10,000 dollar grin on my face!

Good luck Bill, hope you succeed, you need to be out throwing up some roost.

i have a few dollars in the 360, suspension rework and lectron is over 1000 easy. both of those purchases work very well though. heck, winter tires were 500! but you are going to pay a few dollars for reliability and performance, one way or the other i suppose.

amen on the
"but you are going to pay a few dollars for reliability and performance, one way or the other i suppose"

at least i dont have a bike payment i guess.

The other half is always led to believe the cost is 50% of the real cost

50% your an honest bloke! My woman believes the lectron i bought was £70 an she was like you waste your money.... Havent the heart to tell her that was just the duty for import... Lol

Don't even bother , just start some where... and keep going when you get the funds just don't get side tracked or you will end up putting your project on the back shelf . I have a little over 800 just in the twin shocks including buying them , don't forget about the machinist labor and all the dam shipping cost too. Hell just tires and tubes will be 3 to 4 , 5 in the motor, 1 in the chain n sprockets. Forks could be up there too?
You will have at least half the cost of a new bike or dam close to it, depends how nice you want it and what you have when you get started.
Just get the ball rolling and don't stop till its finished. Try to do at least one thing to it per day or order something.
Hope this helps ...