Paid £600 for my tatty first one, it got written off and I claimed £1500 plus the bike back, all it needed was £5 handlebars.

So I still have a tatty 350 and £895 in credit ........and two smashed legs, a smashed face and smashed shoulder.

Well there you go Mark, its all wear and tear of a kind.
As for "how do we manage to spend so much on them?"
Its easy, I don't run anything else, no other bike and no car, so the 640 accumulates my whole annual mileage. And I reckon even with what I've spent on it (whatever that is) its less than what servicing and depreciation would cost on other cars or bikes, if I had them.
It being my mainstay of transport means I often replace stuff before it breaks.
There are certain outlays that will not be necessary if you are content to keep your bike in stock order. And some mods don't come cheap.
Eg: Stainless exhaust. Powdercoat frame, electric start engine for an Armstrong, bigger engine for either 500 or 350. These will always add significantly to the cost. But its not only these things.
As your mileage adds up, you will need replacement engine parts, and they are not cheap. Anybody who thinks that because the bikes are inexpensive, the spares should be as well, is in for a shock. Add up what it would cost to replace everything that needs replacing in a well worn engine unit, with new parts and the cost of a new 500e engine becomes less outrageous.

I can only spend what i can afford to, and i think my MT is worth working bloody hard for.

[quote][/quote]I stopped counting after restoring my Land Rover, these days the receipts are filled incase I wish to sell one of the vehicles. At a guess £2k on the MT500 in only three months new mirrors, indicators, tyres, pump, tool box, repaint, brake shoes, service et cetera. I bet the pump and tool box cost £1900 if they were bought of flea bay !!!

I sold my original boxed MTourer project last year in favour of a Super Tenere. The project was 90% brand new components, powder coated everything and 560 lump. I sold it boxed for £1100. After Uttoxeter I was left drooling by some of the amazing bikes you lot bought up (Trecces was inspirational) so thats when I decided I had to go back to plan 1. So I sold the S10 (for £1000) which bought the MTatty donor and a few other project lots. I am just about there now having bought and sold enough to make up a collection of mostly new parts. Out of interest, the guy that bought the original project spent a further £700 on new bits from STeve on god knows what as there wasnt much missing. he has put it together and fallen terminally ill. Having spent £1800 on it, a 99% new bike, now he cant finish it off to sell it. Hopefully Ill be able to help him when Im better.

Seems to be a thing with the bikes you sell... The Dog was for Chris and he's done the same re health but he will be on oddball soon

Pete

Oooooh Peter

I know it was a low cut but Chris would laugh at it.... Or is the face at my comment to Simon.... it's not my fault he keeps a load of ex MOD stuff that was prob on a shelf next to the shelf with depleted uranium tips when the MOD had it


Pete

I bought Persy for £475 plus vat and used £50 worth of petrol to collect.

Engine was incomplete so bought a 500 engine from Alex for £200 and Simon kindly chucked
some bits my way, nice chap. Alex kindly changed my tyres as had to do a wheel swap too.
Plus about £25 petrol for journeys.

Then over the 2 years or so I've spent roughly £500 on parts either from forum members
or Steve at KL. Have also been gifted some parts, Thanks to you guys!

I just need to sort bits prior to the mot then it's the other legal stuff.

I should be done for a while.

K