I think much worse than making someone a fortune on eBay would be passing bikes to someone who would let them rust in the rain. The main thing is to have these bike appreciated and preserved. At least if someone pays top dollar on eBay, they might be expected to protect their investment. There is currently noone in the younger generations of my family who has any interest in classic bikes. Perhaps that will change, but if not I'll either sell or give the bikes to those who I think will appreciate them. I really don't much believe in large inheritances anyway. A person's financial position should be a result of his/her own efforts, not a gift from prior generations. Or at least that's my opinion.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big spring, West Texas
John Betmanis <johnb@oxford.net> wrote:
At 05:07 PM 11/11/06 -0500, Angel Garcia wrote:
>So, how are these bikes being saved for future generations? I BELIEVE that
>the majority of CR members are older (I'm one). So, what's the big picture?
>Do you plan to pass these bikes along to a family member, are they going to
>be sold for a profit, passed on/sold to a like minded younger person?
That is a very good question and it's good that you bring it up. The general public has no idea of the value of vintage bikes and parts to those that have an appreciation for them. Very often I read in Bike Forums of people picking up nice old bikes at thrift stores and yard sales for next to nothing and then I see similar bikes going for big money on eBay. It seems that the general public is aware of the value of antique furniture, cars and musical instruments, but not bikes. (This, of course, benefits those of us who are not millionaires, in that we can still find stuff at reasonable cost.) However, if we own vintage bike collections, it would behoove us to inform our heirs of their potential value. It would be a shame for someone to go for the big ride in the sky and have their valuable collection get sold off for peanuts in an estate auction and eventually make an eBay speculator rich.
John Betmanis
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada