Buying classic motorcycle from France using interwebz

[Dick Cheeseburger]

After witnessing the crew of Ken Fox's Wall of Death team at RCS a couple of years ago, I've had a huge amount of respect for old Indian motorcycles. One of the bikes they race is an Indian Scout, which are worth silly money even in scruffy condition. This sort of thing:

 

As time's gone on, I've been scouring the pervenet for other similarly styled bikes, from a similar era, but for a fraction of the price. My attention keeps on coming back to 1920s/30's classic French bikes. I guess there are others out there, and that the style of the time was copied by many of the big names. The key thing seems to be that certain UK manufacturers bikes are also highly collectable and not within my price range.

The names I've narrowed it down to include Monet Goyon and Terrot.

I like the look of the '31 Terrot and this '29 Monet Goyon below. However, a slightly bigger engine bike would probably be better - it needs to sit right in the frame, and have enough power to actually pull up hills. The idea of sourcing one in France myself greatly appeals.

 

I've had a butchers at Leboncoin, but the site seems to be a PITA for me, returning to the welcome page every 30 seconds.

Any thoughts on other sites, or the best way of tracking down a sound bike from a vaguely trustworthy source? Thought I'd put it out there on here first, as I know some of you are regular visitors/buyers en France.

Ta muchly.

[Tamworthbay]

Have you thought of a fifties two stroke? Something like a James J5 cadet would give a similar look and are worth peanuts.

[hairnet]

panhard65 to the batphone plezzzzze

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Have you thought of a fifties two stroke? Something like a James J5 cadet would give a similar look and are worth peanuts.

Cheers for the heads up. I prefer the more primitive looks/setup of the '20's and '30's bikes to be honest, although I did spot an early '30's James on eBay UK in my trawling which looks tidy, but needs full resto. Ideally I'm after something which is up and running - older restoration or the like. Shirley there must be a shed-load of them hanging around in France, gagging to hit the salty UK roads?!

[Junkman]

I know a thing or two about 101 Scouts. I bet that doesn't help.

[Tamworthbay]

Cheers for the heads up. I prefer the more primitive looks/setup of the '20's and '30's bikes to be honest, although I did spot an early '30's James on eBay UK in my trawling which looks tidy, but needs full resto. Ideally I'm after something which is up and running - older restoration or the like. Shirley there must be a shed-load of them hanging around in France, gagging to hit the salty UK roads?!

if you like primitive then a fifties James will be ideal! I will get a pic!

[panhard65]

The is a bloke in Clermont Ferrand who has plenty of old bikes and will ship to the UK. He advertises on Leboncoin and is a good place to start. Prices are firming up though for pre 1940. The 100 and 125cc bikes are the cheapest as 250 monet's make serious coin

[Tamworthbay]

Here you go

That's a smart one, but if you think of it a bit scruffy..... I sold my last one a couple of years back for £200 and I hardly had to fight off buyers with a shitty stick. Even mint ones can be had for less than a grand. Some jokers put them up at silly money but they never sell.

[Tamworthbay]

This is my personal fave, an earlier Francis Barnett, but these are bit more pricey.

[panhard65]

I had one of these and they sell well I got 1100 for mine

http://www.leboncoin.fr/motos/929634856.htm?ca=4_s

[Dick Cheeseburger]

The is a bloke in Clermont Ferrand who has plenty of old bikes and will ship to the UK. He advertises on Leboncoin and is a good place to start. Prices are firming up though for pre 1940. The 100 and 125cc bikes are the cheapest as 250 monet's make serious coin

Any links to him?

[Dick Cheeseburger]

I had one of these and they sell well I got 1100 for mine

http://www.leboncoin.fr/motos/929634856.htm?ca=4_s

f105aa7c0da65f3b45d3c121887a4712c40ca66e.jpg

Interesting, although looks newer than 20s/30s? Any more heads up, and how do you search 'Toute France' on Leboncoin without it returning to the home screen every time (like it does for me?!)

[panhard65]

The guy who sells them uses a few different accounts on Leboncoin this is one of them.

http://www.leboncoin.fr/motos/928787302.htm?ca=4_s

 They have been messing with the site updating it but it is working for me. I always start with the home page and pick an area. The on the search page pick motos then a max age usually 1960. If you change it to toute France you should get everything. At the moment it is working for me but it did play up earlier. A few years ago it locked out anyone from outside France so I had to re-route through a French ip address. Good luck

[garbaldy]

I used to use a French postcode finder and after sticking the number in it would show me on a map exactly where the item for sale is.

I can not find it again so how do you guys search where vehicles are.

[panhard65]

To find the location once you have found something click on the little symbol after the ville name and post code. It will bring up a map that you can enlarge. If you want to pick one area then go to the home page and click on an area.

You have got me looking for bikes again now even though I still have 2 to sell. I love these pullmans and wouldn't mind a shot at this one if it was nearer.

http://www.leboncoin.fr/motos/924122799.htm?ca=4_s

[Fabergé Greggs]

Do those James's have the gears on the wrong side?

[djimbob]

now this is a very interesting thread, some lovely old bikes it seems for the correct shiter money, keep all the info coming please

[Tamworthbay]

Do those James's have the gears on the wrong side?

Nope, they are on the right side, I.e the right side. I used to ride one regularly as a daily work ride whilst having a gsxr1100r for the weekends. Never had a problem with gears apart from trying to find extra gears on the James all the time. I also had a later L15 which was a hoot, it had springs front and rear but no damping!

[Jerzy Woking]

I purchased my Monet Goyon from JPR on leboncoin when Panhard gave me a link. Nicest two blokes you can find when it comes to Frence bikes. Mines running now but not going to restore it, just use as is. Will get the seat properly patched up so it looks like a 40 year old repair and sort the lights out. Then I'll look for a Starlet. ....

 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

I purchased my Monet Goyon from JPR on leboncoin when Panhard gave me a link. Nicest two blokes you can find when it comes to Frence bikes. Mines running now but not going to restore it, just use as is. Will get the seat properly patched up so it looks like a 40 year old repair and sort the lights out. Then I'll look for a Starlet. ....

IMG-20151025-WA0006.jpeg

That's lovely. What year is it, and is it the same seller that Panhard linked to above? Intrigued about costs as well, but obviously pm them if needed (or not at all if I'm being too nosey )

[panhard65]

There are a couple of Starlette's around the 400 euro mark one in Manche and one in Nord so not too far for collection but both a bit rough bodywise. That Monet is mid 50's they are lovely little bikes and JPR ships for around 150 euro to the UK. I am not sure what he has in stock at the moment as he didn't reply when I last emailed him looking for more bikes. I bought my Peugeot off him and turned a decent profit.

[Jerzy Woking]

Panhard and I bought from the same seller. This how mine was packed for transportation-€83 was what I paid for it to be delivered to my front door. But it is tiny though so wouldn't have taken up much room in the van.

 

 

My CBR600 looks gigantic parked next to it.

[Dave_Q]

Interesting, although looks newer than 20s/30s? Any more heads up, and how do you search 'Toute France' on Leboncoin without it returning to the home screen every time (like it does for me?!)

It doesn't seem to like google translate, try turning that off if you have it on.