1992 888 Corsa Value?

Brilloman

I am not sure if this is the right place to ask this but there has been a 1992 888 Corse for sale on eBay US for about a month now. It appears to be for sale by Tri City Auto Gallery in Colorado and they are asking $54,700 for it. I am sure many of you have probably seen this bike or sale and was wondering about what you all feel about the value of this bike or this model in general? There isn't much of a description of the bike so I don't know any of the history but it appears to be in decent shape from the pictures.

nine16

Doesn't seem absurd, but the fact that it has been available so long pretty much tells you the price is optimistic. It's a very cool machine, but i think it's a narrow market--to bring big money, people will always prefer the bikes that were actually raced and have a provenance.

MarkT

This Corse was bought new from the factory by a collector who took it to the track only once- just for a few laps.

A friend of mine bought it and had it gone through by another friend of mine who has been wrenching on Ducati's and all types of Italian bikes in his shop for many decades. It is a very original Customer Racing. You could put it on the track.

My friend put up a few of the bikes in his collection up for sale and this Corse was obtained by the current seller.

It has no race history but it is very original.

I agree with nine16 about how narrow the 888 Corse market is. I own six -- four with well-known race history and two bitsa's used for track days. It has been my passion since the mid '90's. I doubt if I could sell any of them no matter how low a price I set on them --- there is just no market for them in the US. What is heating up is the buying and selling of the later Corse's, SPs, and R versions.

Brilloman

nine16 wroteDoesn't seem absurd, but the fact that it has been available so long pretty much tells you the price is optimistic. It's a very cool machine, but i think it's a narrow market--to bring big money, people will always prefer the bikes that were actually raced and have a provenance.

That's a great point. At the Mecum auction last week the bikes that had history or were attached to a famous rider brought 30-40% more than similar bikes that did not.

Brilloman

MarkT wroteThis Corse was bought new from the factory by a collector who took it to the track only once- just for a few laps. A friend of mine bought it and had it gone through by another friend of mine who has been wrenching on Ducati's and all types of Italian bikes in his shop for many decades. It is a very original Customer Racing. You could put it on the track. My friend put up a few of the bikes in his collection up for sale and this Corse was obtained by the current seller. It has no race history but it is very original. I agree with nine16 about how narrow the 888 Corse market is. I own six -- four with well-known race history and two bitsa's used for track days. It has been my passion since the mid '90's. I doubt if I could sell any of them no matter how low a price I set on them --- there is just no market for them in the US. What is heating up is the buying and selling of the later Corse's, SPs, and R versions.

I guess I'm one of the people in that narrow market who would like to own that bike. I worked with Steven Mathews when he got his Corse back in 92-93 and I liked that bike so much I bought a 94 888 LTD a few years later which I still own today. I do appreciate the bike for what it is and would like to have it but I couldn't justify that kind of money for it. I'm not a road racer in fact I'm not much of a road rider at all. I am much more of an avid off road rider but I love motorcycles in general. At $35k I would be all over it to have it sitting in the man cave.

MarkT

Brilloman-

" At $35k I would be all over it to have it sitting in the man cave."

Now that I have a big garage-- my wife no longer allows any bikes in the house.

I was able to pass on the SP2 to a new caretaker this past summer----after many years of putting it up for sale. Will take much longer to sell each of my Corse's.

What model Corse do you picture in your man cave?

henk

You have bikes enough to start your own team.😉

Henk!!!

MarkT

henk wroteYou have bikes enough to start your own team.😉 Henk!!!

Henk----

Well --three of the bikes were on Ferracci's '90, '91,'93 AMA teams and one was on one of his Customer's '94 AMA team.😁

The two Bitsa Corse's I built were on my-----"go to the track and do not crash team"

Brilloman

Every time I look at that picture I have to wipe the drool off of my shirt! Outstanding collection of Factory built racers Sir!

MarkT

Brilloman wroteEvery time I look at that picture I have to wipe the drool off of my shirt! Outstanding collection of Factory built racers Sir!

Thank you-- Getting to that time where I need to pass them on. if you ever want to buy a Corse for your man cave PM me.

Nux

MarkT wroteThank you-- Getting to that time where I need to pass them on. if you ever want to buy a Corse for your man cave PM me.

Not interested to share more pictures with us?
With some information?

Because that is a really nice collection you have.

Is it that difficult to sell the SP2 over there?

MarkT

Nux wroteNot interested to share more pictures with us? With some information? Because that is a really nice collection you have. Is it that difficult to sell the SP2 over there?

Nux-

There is a very small market for Corse's in the US. It took me three years to sell my SP2- most prospected buyers wanted a very low mileage version- they were worried about "investment". I rode my SP2 since '97 so I had about 23K Km on the clock which killed every deal even when I offered it at $12K. Plus most really wanted to find an SP3 and were looking at the SP2 only if it was cheaper and fewer miles.

Finally found a great new caretaker who was actually looking for an SP2 and bought it without haggling about price-- very old school in the fact he was just happy to have found one he could buy.

Here are a few pictures-- Which span many years. #18 was the number I used on the track and I had it on my white frame '94 which I built from parts and on my 955 Corse raced by Tim McCartney in '94

The black Corse I rode on the street for years-- but last year I converted it back to full track trim since no one was interested in buying it.

Brilloman

What year is the first one pictured. Is that bike still in that configuration?

MarkT

Brilloman wroteWhat year is the first one pictured. Is that bike still in that configuration?

Yes- this is Doug's #2 1993 AMA championship bike.

Here is a youtube video I took after I just finished rebuilding the 955 motor--first startup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o2ObplO5Hw

Brilloman

MarkT wroteYes- this is Doug's #2 1993 AMA championship bike. Here is a youtube video I took after I just finished rebuilding the 955 motor--first startup. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o2ObplO5Hw

Nice work on the preservation of a special bike!

MarkT

Brilloman wroteNice work on the preservation of a special bike!

Thank you-- I like to keep the original patina as much as I can. On my '89 Works and my '91 Customer Racing I had to repaint the frames because past owners made a mess painting over the original paint on the '89 and I had to cut and straighten the frame on the '91. Lucky I have a spray booth so I do not farm out any of my restoration work.