How to make money building a motorcycle

This is a run down of how I go about picking a motorcycle project.
Finding the bike, picking out and buying parts, keeping a budget and finally how to sell it when you're finished.
As always let me know if you have any questions and I will definitely help where I can.
All videos posted to the Classic Octane KZbin Channel are for informational and entertainment purposes only. Classic Octane, LLC highly recommends that you engage with a professional mechanic when conducting repairs on your motorcycle. Classic Octane, LLC assumes no liability for anything you choose to do to your motorcycle before or after watching one of the videos or utilizing the content from this KZbin. All repairs or modifications you perform to your motorcycle are made at your own risk. All content is on the Classic Octane KZbin Channel is exclusively owned and copyrighted by Classic Octane. Any illegal reproduction of this content is a violation of the law.

[@MatthewJFitzpatrick]

I know this is a much older video however I just came across it and I have to say, this is very well done and very detailed! Thanks so much for putting this together as it is very helpful! I've been really enjoying all of your content for awhile now - keep up the great work and beautiful bikes!

[@oscarlemus4430]

thank you for this video! I want to and soon hope to get into this industry. i truly have a passion for motorcycles.

[@isaacnemes4554]

Great video! Been wanting to get a bike for a first project so this was really helpful!

[@gingerbard2607]

Great channel that I've only just found. Here in UK my best judgement would be that it'd be difficult to really make money doing renovations, and nearly impossible to make a living. Even as a backyard hobby I think that the skills and know-how are slowly dying out as they increasingly belong to an earlier generation. Motorcycle riding is very 'niche' and the large majority of riders prefer to throw money at new machines.

[@mman8008]

Very useful for starters like me. THANKS!

[@garya3056]

Great video and real good info. Thanks...

[@PorkSlapChop]

Really useful video man. I've been building and wrenching on bikes for a few years, but I never considered using my hobby as a mini business. Thanks for taking the time to make and upload this, you might've sparked something with me that could be pretty damn cool.

[@ClassicOctane]

Thanks! It's always easier to justify a hobby that makes you money. Good luck with your projects!

[@Ironandflannel]

Wish I found your page years ago. Great video! Thanks

i love this projects, nice work mate!

[@daveco1270]

I bought a nice CB750 on eBay last year. The photos the owner posted weren’t great, but I was able to see past that. The bike looked way better in person. So if you’re selling a bike make sure to take lots of good pics. I think this guy would’ve gotten more money with better photos. Worked out ok for me though. Got a great bike for cheap. : )

[@leahmmiller6967]

i almost thought that was barn to brat for a second right in the middle

[@p.graham7519]

good vid. as a avid buyer and seller of clist and ebay,I learned at least one new thing. But there are no guarantees buying on eBay. I have bought several items that ended up being chinese knock offs. eBay and their resolution area has never came through. always weigh that purchase as a chance for a good deal.

[@ratrodcourier8576]

Great video, I just started my first flip bike cl175 brat bike! We will see how it goes.

[@ClassicOctane]

Thanks and good lick on your project!

[@mryan2222]

how did it go

[@manueldesmarais387]

hey, great video! I plan to build an eco friendly big ass 1100 cafe racer. Anyway, you should use Microsoft Powerpoint to build your first presentation page. it 16:9 picture Ratio so it perfect for youtube video. Keep grinding mate ! :)

[@absolutetuber]

1100?? as in yamaha xs1100??

[@brendendel4742]

Thank you for all your videos! I was curious why you like to build the late 70's SOHC model Hondas and not the later DOHC models? Do the later DOHC models tend to be more difficult to restore or build into a cafe racer?

[@ClassicOctane]

I prefer the looks of the earlier bikes especially when they changed to non spoke wheels. The late 70's and early 80s bikes look dated to me where the early 70s look very classic and timeless.

[@dowers44]

I love your videos, because I like the same style and you give building tips. but as for formal instructional, who the hell showed to you to build and itinerary

[@clidelivingston]

Hey classic octagon, I remember in one of your videos you talking about the battery you buy off Amazon I think, you said it was a smaller one but that it worked and was like 30 bucks or so. What was the name of the battery? I have nighthawk 750 I am working on and need a smaller battery

[@ClassicOctane]

amzn.to/2iAVndp That is the battery I have used on my last two bikes. I haven't had any issues with it. That being said it might be too small for a 750 though.

[@clidelivingston]

alright thanks

[@iandouglas451]

buying and selling, it must be a minefield. i've never made any money out of bikes, great advice though.

[@gummitarzan8545]

25:06 haha i hate when ppl do that lol

[@daveco1270]

It's crazy how bad some of the motorcycle photos are on Ebay and craigslist. I hate when they don't have a solid profile shot of the entire bike, just a couple close ups of different parts (and maybe one pic from the front of the bike). There's no excuse for that. The profile is the money shot. I saw one post recently where the photos were taken in a driveway at night moments after a rain storm. The bike was covered in rain and barely lit. The guy couldn't even dry the bike off before snapping some pics. That'll tell you something about the owner. I guess it could be a guy who's wife is making him sell his motorcycle but he doesn't want to so he's taking horrible photos. I've run into a couple of those guys when trying to buy a bike. They have the price jacked way up and refuse to negotiate because they don't really wanna sell it. They want to be able to tell there wife, "I'm trying, honey. It's on craigs list."

[@nsuess09]

What are the red flags that you look out for when buying a bike? I'm always weary of high mileage bikes and ones that don't run because I'm afraid I'll have to sink too much money into them or the resale value will be too low. Can you give me an idea of what criteria you look for when you're scoping out a new project (other than make and model)?

[@ClassicOctane]

The motor is the most important part for me. As long as it turns over easily but and doesn't have any cracks or obvious damage the odds are pretty good that you can get it going. Never a bad idea to bring a compression tester with you as well. That can make any internal damage apparent very quickly.

[@nsuess09]

So mileage isn't something that you worry about much? Your videos are awesome BTW. I've burned through almost all of them in the last week and I'm going to pick up a new project as soon as I have space to work on it.

[@ClassicOctane]

Not really. It's more about the overall condition. You could have a bike with half the millage but it's been sitting for 15 years. That's much worse for a bike than it being ridden.

[@nsuess09]

Good to know. I'll keep that in mind when hunting for my next project.

[@z3r3pmoto]

Ah, dude, didn't realize you live in Austin, I do too. We should ride sometime! edit: typo

[@ClassicOctane]

Yeah that would be awesome. I hope to get my registration and everything in the next week or two.

[@themightydash1714]

Ah Crap... so buying a BMW R1100RS to Cafe as a first project is a stupid idea... oh well... it's bought now XD

[@zookster4701]

I'm not knocking what you do ,but your losing money turning the 4 cyl. hondas into cafe racers .Put them back original cause a lot of guys that had these bikes are getting nostalgic and they want one like it was when they went to the dealer and got it new. The 750s are getting harder to find for that reason, and one in pristine condition will bring $3000.00 and sometimes better, especially a 1969 cause it will be a sandcast model. Even the parts off of a sandcast are more valuable when someone is rebuilding one . Just remember that. Good luck

[@clidelivingston]

Haha octane, stupid spell correct

[@willhoggard645]

You make money when you buy not when you sell