The inner sanctum

[greg brillus]

The main problem is that people think things are worth more than they really are. The cost to totally restore a Comet is not really much less than a twin, and this is easy to forget. It is not hard to spend 20k plus to restore a twin.......Get where I'm coming from. But as Alyn said, if you can pick it up for 12 to 15k max, you wont be disappointed. Looks like you are doing a great job, and great photos to boot. Cheers for now.......Greg.

 

[Bill Thomas]

Hello Brian, I think Albervin is about right, The trouble is the selling price of a RFM and an UFM + Forks, Petrol tank etc as they are now is so high. But we all know it will cost loads to rebuild. I think what ever you pay it will upset someone. Good luck, Bill.

 

[vibrac]

15k ! thats out of touch with the cost of parts I would say 10K max. Hells teeth its a good clean sorted Comet to get for 15K despite all the tries in adverts for 20K or more. Ask yourself this: How many other immaculate 500cc singles from the 50's cost 15K! whatever you read here ( and I race two) the Comet aint the best card in the 500 one lung pack.

 

[A_HRD]

Over 15 years ago, I bought a Comet in that condition- except that it was stored in a leaky shed that doubled as a chicken coop. It took me 3 steam cleans to get all the sh*t and feathers off - and some more cleaning work after that. I then removed a couple of covers and found it pristine inside. So I purged all fluids, changed perished rubber items, renewed some cables, swapped the mag for a restored one - and attended to a few other items I have long since forgotten; then pressed it in to service as my year-round commuting/shopping bike. The only problem was it smoked when leaving the traffic lights - so I ignored it (the smoke that is, not the light). It is still in use to this day and has NEVER let me down - and it still smokes, it leaks, its rusty, its dented, its devoid of paint in many places and I love it to bits.

Restore it or cannibalise it? Why? Besides, it's still capable of carrying 4 people

Start at $8 - you might get a bargain. Consider buying both of them; the pain of the hole in the bank account will soon diminish...

Peter B
Bristol, UK.

 

[Albervin]

Start at $8! That would be a steal even for Vibrac The problem here in Australia is lack of choice and cost of shipping parts in. As I said, $10-12K is the going rate but maybe $15-16K for both. Lovely photo Peter. As our dollar drops it will increase the price of local stuff as people factor in exchange rates and shipping. Two years ago a £10,000 bike was less than $15,000, now it is over $18,000.

 

[chankly bore]

Peter, I take strong exception to your figures! On a slightly inebriated Saturday night in Bairnsdale, my eldest brother (of loving memory) ferried six people down the main street after the cinema ended. He was riding a Comet. It was 1959.

 

[greg brillus]

Geeeeez Chankly, what were they all hanging on to......The Spokes..?!?

 

[nkt267]

I got my comet in a very similar condition in '69 for nowt.
About 12 years ago I spent about £4000 to get it into a nice condition. My wages have risen about 60% since then so if the spares have risen in relation a rebuild for parts only could cost you close to £7000...John

 

[Graham Smith]

It's still capable of carrying 4 people

Peter - you mis-counted. It's three people and a bear!

A bear doesn't count.

 

[Graham Smith]

…it still smokes, it leaks, its rusty, its dented, its devoid of paint in many places and I love it to bits.

It sounds like my Series 'B' Meteor. It's the worst looking out of all my bikes, but it's also my favourite!