As I pointed out in another thread, the time, money, love that you put in does not usually equal an exponential profit when reselling. NOS parts are no longer NOS once installed. And unless you plan to keep it parked, 5500 miles won't be it's mileage for long. There is also no guarantee that's the original speedometer nor that the mileage isn't 105,500.evilratwing wrote:... but if I found one with 5,500 miles on it... I'd be obliged to return it to as-new condition.
If you want to make it a rider, you have to be able to legally put it on the road. While titling the original frame may be possible through title agencies, the process is, IMHO, expensive. I don't have the money for that and really suspect any 'value' to be gained, will not be seen due to the cost. Besides, it's not like your frame is a low serial number or has any specific significance or value.wog wrote:My plans for this bike is to make it a rider. I want to keep it with the stock look, with probably the current engine guards and maybe the rear rack as those are what the original owner had mounted, I guessing when new....
I've never wanted a "museum piece" kind of a bike but if you guys feel I shouldn't change out the frame with another, I'd definitely consider keeping it untitled with the current everything...
As for the personalizing of bikes, one of my '79's came to me with a single carb conversion. I haven't started on it yet, but my plans are to make it my "wild child".
I figured out long after I got my '76 (and after a frame swap and joining NGW,) that it has a '77 engine. I don't have the original frame, but in reflection suspect it was was also a '77 due to the steering neck diameter difference compared to my current '76 frame. Mixing and matching of parts is, a lot of the time, undetectable to the untrained eye. Still makes a nice looking vintage bike without breaking the bank.
Bottom line, IMO, an untitled bike is a parts bike, at least in Florida.