We're talking about when the replacement tanks run out. Yes, I agree with your point about the bikes being worth market minus the tank itself. What if you'd gone beyond the replacement timeframe, and there are no viable tanks to obtain (metal, plastic etc)? Then you have a bike that's kind of unusable. That's my point.
We shouldn't have had to resort to coating our tanks, but that's an option for sure. But just for entertainment's sake, check out the depreciation of the affected Ducati bikes. Enlightening at the very least. I'm looking forward to what iz comes up with.
It isn't unusable. It just needs someone not afraid to either take the knife or pay someone else to take the knife to their bike. If you spend less than the price of good suspension, you can have a pretty aluminum tank. If you spend the price of some budget suspension, you can have a less pretty tank that won't leak... both options are still cheaper than a new bike.
I like depreciating Ducatis. It means a) I'll have a ready supply of spare parts and b) when I want another it will be cheap. If you bought your motorcycle for its "investment" values...
I've got a Titan Gecko that I want to sell for 15k.
Around here, beat to death 81 Goldwings are still listing for 1-1.5k. I'm pretty sure that I can get more than that for my bike even if I don't wash it... which puts my miles to smiles ratio way up, and I bought mine new.
My bike was never intended to remain stock. I don't whine when I have to replace fenders that crack, or chain guards that only last 15k miles... why in the name of all that is unholy would I complain because I can justify adding range to my tank?