An exercise in free market economy

[skreidle]

Amount my bike was worth pre-accident: $500

Amount it would cost just to buy a new swing arm, before labor: $200-$300
Amount each of a large handful of other parts would cost: $10-$50
Surety that my bike would be safe to ride after repairs: Low

Amount I could easily get from a salvage shop: $25-$50
Amount I could get from a salvage shop with a little wheedling: $100

and..

Amount a fuel tank similar to mine is going for on eBay: $100
Amount bikes like mine being sold for parts are going for on eBay: $150+
Amount it would cost to buy a full seat like mine new: $100-$200
Amount it would cost to buy a new cover like my bike's seat cover: $30
Amount I could probably get for my engine/trans on eBay: $100-$200
Amount a guy at work would buy my engine for, just to mess with it: $200

Best course of action looks pretty clear to me.

Comments

[jestf14.livejournal.com]

Shame, but maybe with the money you could get yourself another bike, if you can find another for $500 that is.

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

Heh.. I have no delusions of getting another bike that cheap, but a few hundred extra dollars toward a new few-thousand-dollar bike wouldn't hurt. :)

:)

[typhanie.livejournal.com]

Selling parts of your poor old wrecked bike on ebay, and buying a new one with change to spare... priceless.

Re: :)

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

Hehe!

Seriously, though, I don't expect to get -that- much for parts.

Re: :)

[typhanie.livejournal.com]

Too bad. Wouldn't that be an interesting venture though. Buy a bike, break it down, sell the parts, make enough to buy a new one with a small profit. Increase that about two hundred thousand fold and you've basically got the result of every business class I've ever been to. (One)

:)

Funny how some things end up applying in real life.

Re: :)

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

That's basically what cycle and auto salvage yards do--pay a pittance for a broken vehicle, and sell its parts over time for a hundredfold over the outlay.

Re: :)

[typhanie.livejournal.com]

True. What a raquet!

Re: :)

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

Ah, but it works for the other consumers as well--they get the used parts for much less than new-part prices.

Also, I think "racquets" are only used in sports, while "rackets" are both sports equipment and what we're describing. ;)

Re: :)

[typhanie.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I thought it was the other way around. I'll have to look that up. I wrote "racket" and then said, no, that's the wrong one. I do that with certain words. :) That's the English language for you.

[cheshirrrecat.livejournal.com]

agreed--the best course of action does seem clear, albeit unfortunate! but you'll have a new kick-ass bike in no time if you do this and save your pennies (i know, it wont be the same..... but it will still be Cool!!)

*HUG!*

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

Well, aside from it being my first bike, I'm not particularly tied to it--I'd been planning to get a second (or replacement) bike anyway.

(Also, given the current state of bike financing, i could afford to pick up a new one, which an older biker at work is trying to convince me might be a good course of action. :D)


*HUG!*
Where you been, lady? We need to hang out!

[cheshirrrecat.livejournal.com]

ive been over here, under this rock ;} been a bit holed up, in and out of a lot of stupid emotional shit. :p yes, we do need to hang out. want to go down to nation this thursday? i should be going...

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Sounds good to me, as long as I can get a ride--I've still never been there. :)

[cheshirrrecat.livejournal.com]

absolutely. we'll talk more about it closer to thursday!