SCOOPER MAN!
The sunny side of the classic world, with the VJMC’S Steve Cooper
What constitutes a true classic motorcycle? It’s probably one of the most contentious questions in our admittedly insular world. Some would argue it’s really only iconic machinery such as Kettles, Z1s, MV Agustas, Guzzi Le Mans, etc. that are genuinely worthy of such status. Yet all of the above and more, with the possible exception of the MV, are nothing more than commercially produced, series production, motorcycles. How can anything made in huge volumes such as the CB750 be truly collectable? Surely it is stuff like bespoke handmade Munch Mammoths and the like that should be highly prized not something made in vast quantities? But rarity alone cannot confer classic status or indeed value. If that was the case Marusho Lilacs, Mitsubishi Silver Pigeons and Honda Jumos would be worth a king’s ransom… which they’re not! And as can be seen at auctions both real and virtual/online, monetary value alone does not tell you a motorcycle’s real worth. Get two or more bidders coincidentally interested in the same bike and the bidding goes crazy. Has a Fizzy ever really been worth six grand? Decent Kettles have gone for substantially less when sold privately. Insurance companies are regularly seeing clients looking for high, agreed value, figures when they take out a policy or add a new bike. Just because they’ve restored a bike from New Old Stock parts that have cost three times the market value of the bike doesn’t mean it’s worth what the owner values the bike at. Reality checks don’t come much harder than this in the classic world. So does popular opinion count for much in terms of identifying a classic? Probably not if bike shows are anything to go by. Run a ‘visitors’ favourite’ category and the chances are it’ll be a blinged-out Goldwing or heavily modified custom that’ll win. Guaranteed to offend everyone who’s restored a bike back to original condition! So a classic is what exactly? How about the VJMC’S take on the subject? Anything over 15 years old that’s Japanese. Now how inclusive is that? Simply own or aspire to own a Japanese motorcycle made before 2002 and it’s a classic as far as the club is concerned. Even better, our partners in the insurance world tend to hold similar views, which is handy. And if that doesn’t work try this one. The old bike that does it for you will inevitably be a classic in your own mind. And after all, who is it you’re looking to please at the end of the day?