Buying advice · restoration
Buying a basket case: a motorcycle in boxes
A classic motorcycle in pieces can be a great project, or a money pit. How to tell the difference, and how to start if you buy one.
A basket case is a motorcycle in pieces, often in boxes and crates. Someone started restoring it and stopped, or the bike was once taken apart and never put back together. It sounds like a bargain, and sometimes it is. But it can also become the most expensive motorcycle you ever buy.
Why a basket case?
- Cheaper way in. You pay less than for a running bike of the same type.
- You see everything. There is no fresh paint over rust and cracks: you can inspect every part.
- You will know your bike inside out. After the rebuild you know exactly what has been done.
The big risk: what is missing
With a basket case you mainly buy what is not in the boxes. For many classic Italians it is precisely the small parts that are expensive or almost impossible to find: badges, cables, switches, trim, an original exhaust or a particular carburettor. Together they can cost more than the whole purchase.
So always calculate like this: asking price + everything missing + everything worn out. Is that more than a running bike of the same type? Then it is not a bargain.
Check this
- Papers first. Is there a registration document, and does the frame number on the frame match the papers? Without valid papers registration becomes difficult and expensive. See also Buying a motorcycle in Italy.
- Engine number. Find the number on the engine. Does this engine belong to this frame and this type?
- Make a list. Unpack everything and lay it out. Compare with a parts book or another, complete bike of the same type. Ask the make club for help.
- The right parts? Sometimes the boxes contain parts from another model or year. They often just don’t fit.
- The engine. Has the engine been opened? Are all the gears, bearings and the crankshaft there, or is it still closed and does it turn over?
- Frame. Is it straight? Cracks or welding around the steering head and engine mounts?
- Small parts. Bolts, nuts and washers in a bucket are no problem. Missing special bolts and brackets are.
Questions for the seller
- Why was the bike taken apart, and when?
- Did it still run before it was dismantled? Why did it stop?
- Are there photos of the bike before it was taken apart?
- Have any parts already been bought new or refurbished? Are there receipts?
Bought it? How to start
- Photos, photos, photos. Photograph everything as you receive it, and during every step of the rebuild.
- Bags and labels. Put small parts in a bag per group and write on it what they are.
- First make it run, then make it pretty. First make sure the mechanics are right: engine, ignition, carburettor and brakes. Paint and chrome come after that.
- Tools and guides. See Workshop tools with our free degree wheel, and the workshop guide for your make.
Not sure between a bike in pieces or a running one? Also read Buying a classic motorcycle: what to look for?
SourcesRDW: registration check