Interesting increase in value

[Texer]

I find the bidding interest in this former barn find puzzlingly strong. The mods reduce the value in my opinion (let alone the craigslist style misspellings and attitude). But guess what, I must be wrong cause the money is talking.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/201644207227

[khittner1]

The spirit of P.T. Barnum lives on in Vegas . . .

[sprints@pldi.net]

That trend has been going on for awhile and it's puzzling. If your bike is complete or nearly complete and worth X amount of money, just strip a bunch of parts and cover off of it (sell them on ebay and make money) and then advertise it as a cafe bike and all of a sudden it's worth another grand or two.
If we didn't value our originals so much it is a lesson on how to get rid of something you don't want to fix up and make more than you paid for it

[ME 109]

It's the brown seat. Everyone wants a custom airhead with a brown seat.

[barryh]

It's the brown seat.

Curiously they must have thought the same in 1979 when a few BMW's came with brown seats from the factory.

Someone should have told me it was a desirable feature before I replaced the hideous thing with a black seat.

[Bamboo812]

It's got the "look" that all the Cafe racers want, but few have the time/energy/mechanical skills to achieve...

[Texer]

I can't leave this one alone. I actually perused the pics and just registered the low grade of work on it; firstly the amputated front signals that leave the stalks hanging in the breeze.

Oh well...

[Chuey]

In my estimation, that is not a cafe racer. It has stock handlebars and peg position. Cafe racers have clip-ons and rearsets. Sorry. I don't make the rules.

I agree with Texer that the turn signal stalks sticking out like they do is super indicative of a hurried or speculation build.

But, it says "Oil and Blood" on the tank. Nobody can deny that that is edgy. It's such a refreshing and creative departure from "Widow Maker"!

Oil and Blood, mofos!

Chuey

[Duane Ausherman]

It was always easier to make a good profit by parting out a bike compared to selling it as a complete bike. This "fake" cafe bike thing is just a partial move in that direction.

I suspect that bad taste is here to stay. I am still surprised that people are so willing to show it off.

[Steve in Golden]

Depends on your definition of taste. A "power ranger" type might find that bike just to their liking.