EMS wrote:cbxmel wrote:Mike,
Figures in the 'Blue book' may be higher for Pro-links but I can assure you 1000Z's fetch far more here in the UK when an actual sale is completed.
regards Mel 1876
The U.K. is not part of the Continent. As far as CBX prices are concerned, the U.K. market is very similar to that of the U.S. where early CBXes have a more "desirable" image, fueled in addition by those who claim they are the "fastest", thus making them more expensive.
The relative rarity of CBX-Bs and Cs in Germany, France and Italy and the more practical design for daily use, pushes their prices up.
Mike, when you refer to Prolinks in Europe, you may be thinking Germany more specifically. I attended CBX rallyes in France a few years back and it is correct to say that fewer pro links were sold in Europe compared to early models, however most owners specifically favored the 78-79 Z models There was little interest for the prolinks. This was echoed by other Europeans owners I got a chance to meet and talk to from Holland, Switzerland, Spain, UK, Denmark etc... At the time, I had a very nice 82 , which I shipped on the same plane as I was to Frankfurt in 1999 to have a nice sabbatical year, then I left it there at my folks for several years and rode it once per year while on vacation, until it became unpractical and decided to sell it. Even with all my networking within the club, and good advice from friends, I had a hard time selling it, mainly because it was a late model... I heard that over and over, until finally a CBX friend found me a buyer for 5000 euros ...2 years later, which I gladly took!
I did notice that at these rallyes, the German visitors were split between prolinks and earlies, but not anywhere else. I remember back then communicating with Mel in UK , who told me the same thing about UK CBX preferences.
I also think like Dave that your value guide is optimistic on the prolinks , we know that very few sell at the prices they claim.... As for the 79 and 80's , it is all over the map... and depends on too many variables.
In the long run, I do believe that our bikes have not reached their fair market value yet, the earlies will always be worth more, but it is likely that in several years the gap between nice prolinks and earlies will be very narrow. After all, the prolinks are a better overall package, classy looking, handle better and brake better, and they are more comfy for longer rides, but the 79 will always have that raw power attraction !