Tail Chop vs Resale Value

[The Mad King Pepe']

If you're in doubt about the tail chop, there's smaller carbon fiber "beer trays" that can take the ugly out of the thing.

But if it's only resail value you're worried about, the go ahead and chop! I bought both of my monsters pre-chopped, and at no point was that an issue. And even if, I could only reasonably haggle a houndred or two off the price for that...

Only real life issue with a tail chop is riding in the rain: expect everything the wheel flings up to end on your back! That's why my daily commuter has a fender off a 748.

[RBX QB]

Beer tray came off 5 years ago... still in the garage. I built a custom tail to move the taillights to the back of the frame, giving me room for a duffel bag on trips.

Duffel bags hold more beer, anyway.

[metallimonster]

I guess I can see why someone would want that thing hanging back there but I just couldn't wait to get mine cut the make the beast with two backs off.  I hadn't even rode it before I chopped the tail. 

Funny when I bought the bike, I had a party and all my friends were kind of on the fence on how they liked the look of the bike, when I chopped the tail all I got was, that is how that bike should look.

In my opinion, Monsters just don't look bad enough with the tail on.  Completely changes the attitude of it when they're chopped.

Just my 2 cents.

[Desmo Demon]

Without trying to convince you youre "wrong" (to each his own and all that), I would ask you why you feel the need to exert such extreme stipulations.
<snip>
Personally I love buying bikes modded in the direction I would go in[/i]

This is a simple one. I'm a purist with my vehicles - I don't "mod" them. I also come from a classic Corvette background where modifications and non-original parts detract rapidly from a car's value....except in the wildly custom cars where they spend a LOT more than the car will ever be worth (like sinking well over $100k in a tubbed out ride with a 500+ cid engine and 6-71 blower....and selling it for $20k-$40k).

I've never really cared for (buying) anything that is modified.......bikes, cars, guitars, guns......women with fake titties.  


Now, in all fairness, I did go through a modification stage in my 20's. I only did the engine route though. I've never been into custom paint and the cosmetics. I did modify the engine of my Harley with different carb, cam, valves, valve springs, pistons, ignition, and a few other goodies. 18 years later, though, I wish I'd left it alone and kept the cash in my pocket (I still own the bike, and it still has the original, faded, chipped, and thinly worn 26 year old paint). I also once built up an engine for my old '84 Chevy truck. I stuffed a 383 cid in it with Corvette aluminum heads and 12:1 compression running pump gas I was getting nearly 500 ft. lbs of torque and was kicking the thing sideways at 60 mph and breaking the tires loose at 95 mph when I hit third gear. Had over $4000 in that engine in the early 90's. When I sold the truck, I rebuilt and stuffed the original 305 back in it. I still have that 383 in my basement.

[xplodee]

I did modify the engine of my Harley with different carb, cam, valves, valve springs, pistons, ignition, and a few other goodies.

  'nuff said!

[That Motorcycle Show]

I do not believe it will limit resale value...it will limit which type of resale BUYER you attract

Maybe 30 or so years from now I would want to restore the bike to as-built spec and would curse at a tail chop....

but 30 years from now I'll either be dead or in diapers babbling and hallucinating so who gives a damn

That said...I chopped my latest 2002 900ie acquisition last year without a second thought.  I used a pipe cutting tool to make as clean an edge as possible

I saved the cut piece and the tail plastic...

If someone wanted to, they could reinstall the cut section with inside-the-tube cylindrical sleeves or slugs and braise the mating joints/cuts together and grind them down and repaint...

It is what I would do if I was aiming at a 90+ point restoration job when the bike becomes a vintage antique, but then I would only target an early-mid 1990's Cagiva era M900 to restore anyway

IIRC that whole rear appendage was more of a DOT/MOT/whatever Gov't Agency mandate appeasement than it was an original Galluzzi design piece on the bike

lord knows it looks like an afterthought

and to give you an idea of what I have done with 46 year old pieces of shit see latest project below, trust me a lot of cursing into the air at the prior owners has been going into this rebuild/restoration to factory spec


BEFORE:





AFTER:





That is NICE! Can't wait to see it finished!

[Ontario_Monster]

Resale value shouldn't be affected ... what will be is the number of prospective buyers.  As someone before indicated there are a number of changes to a bike that would cause me to move past it looking for a better option, a tail chop isn't one.  Now start changing geometry, modifying the frame, swaping a DSS to a SSS those might cause me concern but a tail chop won't.

Then again I'm sort of a sleeper look guy, if its cars, trucks or bikes I prefer my modification to require a keen eye to spot but only a moderately experience rider to notice.  My S2R 800 for the most part looks stock, but the front end is from and S4Rt as is the rear shock, and the wheels.  The Power Commander will be hidden from prying eyes so, only a couple of people notice that it isn't quite right and usually it is the calipers that give it away once they realize it is a wet clutch.

All of this to say do what you want to your bike there will always be someone out there who is willing to take it off your hands for fair market price, you never make money selling a personal bike.

 

[ducatiz]

I always look at structural mods with a more critical eye.  I want to know how it was done, etc, but most of those questions can be resolved with a good inspection.  If they don't want you to inspect it closely, then just take your business elsewhere and post here on the DMF to let us all know the seller is a douche.

The main things I look for on a potential bike purchase are:

1.  Chickenstrips -- this means he was a nonaggressive or novice rider.  Look for any drop damage and if none found, the bike probably has low mileage.
2.  Service records.  Most people dont have this, but it doesn't hurt to ask.  If they say they do it all themselves, then ask them the brand of oil, filter and BRAND of belt they used.  If they can't answer quickly, they are LYING.  The belt brand question is a gotcha, some people don't know the belts are not AutoZone purchases.  I had a guy tell me he got the belts at AutoZone --wait, what??  Really.  (I took the cover off -- original factory belts.  He never changed anything)
3.  Color of brake fluid.
4.  If there are any changes, then I want to see if they were installed professionally or correctly.
5.  Battery.  If its been replaced, ask why.  Neglected bikes usually get a dead battery after a while.

The rest is gravy.

[Desmo Demon]

'nuff said!

Yeah...and one reason why I stated I regret having done it. I could have gotten more performance by spending the money on a used 600 sportbike. Back then I lived in flatland areas and it was 10 years prior to me getting into sportbikes - which I never saw a purpose of offering to the general public until I moved near the mountains. Now, I think they need to ban cruisers from the mountain twisties.  [moto]

[bevel]

I've been having the same internal back and forth with my ride. My final consensus came down to "only mods that can be returned to stock", with the exception of a slip-on (SV's have welded exhausts that have to be chopped to install a slip-on).

My reason for the exception: "No one's ever going to break my balls over putting a slip-on on the bike that looks cleaner than stock".

However, I'd probably be in the same position if I had a Monster and was considering a tail chop 

[uglyducky]

every duc i have ever owned (about 6 now) has had a tail chop.  in fact, it bothers me if it's not done already.  just more effort that i have to expend.  like others said if it's rusty or janky it'll be obvious.  i sold a very heavily modded m900 for about 1500 over book as the new owner shared my feeling that the bike was worth more with all the effort and mods.  i do what i want with every bike i buy and i've NEVER had a problem selling them, ever.  good luck (do it). 

[herm]

didn't cause me any trouble when i sold my first monster... however, it definitely depends on the buyer and/or how big a hurry you are to sell.