The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a big UK event where people show off cars and bikes. The host says they were there and that’s where they got the Rocket 3 raffle ticket.
The BSA Rocket 3 is a classic British motorcycle with a big 750 cc engine and three cylinders. The host highlights it because it’s tied to George Lazenby, which makes it especially desirable to collectors.
A three-cylinder engine is an engine with three pistons working together. The host mentions it because it helps explain what makes this bike special compared with other bikes.
George Lazenby is the actor who played James Bond in one of the Bond movies. The host mentions him because he owned and rode the BSA Rocket 3, which helps explain why the bike is so collectible.
Provenance is the “paper trail” and proof of where something came from. In collectibles, that history can make the item worth more because it’s easier to trust it’s the real one.
Car
BSA Rocket 3
The BSA Rocket 3 is a famous old British motorcycle. It was known for having a strong engine for riding long distances, and the story here is about how it was sold right up until BSA ran into serious financial trouble.
“Concourse condition” means the bike is in show-level condition, like it could win at a concours (a serious judging event). It usually implies it looks extremely correct and well kept.
“Show-winning” means the bike has won awards at motorcycle shows. Collectors often pay more when a bike has proof it performs well in judging, not just looks good to the owner.
The “classic market” is the world of collectible older bikes and cars. Prices there depend a lot on how good the example is and what similar bikes have sold for recently.
An “index file” here means a big paperwork folder with receipts and records of work done. Buyers like it because it helps prove the bike’s history and maintenance, not just what the seller says.
Car
CFMoto 675SRR
CFMoto 675SRR is a modern CFMoto sport motorcycle model, discussed here as a standout buy at roughly 11,000 Australian dollars. The host contrasts it with Japanese manufacturers, implying it’s competitive on value and performance in the current market.
Wet weight means the bike’s weight with its normal fluids in it. It’s a more realistic number than “dry weight” when you’re comparing two bikes.
Term
on the road charges
On-the-road charges are the extra fees you pay to get the bike registered and ready to ride. It’s the difference between the sticker price and what you actually end up paying.
Facebook Marketplace is an online classifieds platform where individuals buy and sell used vehicles and parts. The host references it as a place where they bought a Suzuki Jimny and suggests it can be a better value channel than buying new.
The Suzuki Jimny is a small SUV made for off-road driving. People like it because it’s compact and can handle rough roads better than many regular cars. It’s also commonly found on used marketplaces, so it comes up a lot in buying stories.
Car
Triumph Daytona 4
Triumph Daytona is a performance motorcycle model from the brand Triumph. Here, the host is deciding whether to buy one by checking its history so they know what they’re getting.
Car
Daytona 675
The Triumph Daytona 675 is a sport motorcycle model from Triumph with a 675cc engine. The host checks its history to make sure it wasn’t stolen or written off and that there’s no money still owed on it.
A vehicle history checker is a tool that looks up records about a vehicle’s past. It helps you spot red flags like theft, major damage, or money still owed before you buy.
“Written off” means an insurer or authority has declared the vehicle a total loss due to damage or cost to repair. It’s a major risk indicator because it often affects safety, repair quality, and resale value.
Outstanding finance means the bike still has money owed on it through a loan or payment plan. The seller may not be able to fully transfer it cleanly until that balance is cleared.
A potential mileage issue indicates the reported odometer reading may not match records, suggesting possible tampering, recording errors, or inconsistencies in the vehicle’s history. Even if everything else checks out, mileage concerns can affect trust and value.
Honda is a major motorcycle and automotive manufacturer with a reputation for broad model coverage and strong dealer support. The host mentions Honda as a brand that will “fix” mistakes, framing it as a trust factor when comparing brands.
The Dodge Hornet is a small SUV/crossover. The podcast mentions it because some owners have reported problems with the engine using oil. If you’re shopping for one, it’s important to check how much oil it burns and whether it’s been properly maintained.
The Fiat 600 is an older, small car. The podcast mentions it because there’s an engine problem being worked on, related to oil burning. That usually means the engine isn’t sealing properly, so it may need inspection or repair.
Piston rings are parts inside the engine that help keep oil from getting into places it shouldn’t. Here, the claim is that Honda fixed the oil-burning problem by updating the piston rings.
The cylinder wall is the inside surface of the engine cylinder. They’re saying the CBR 600RR problem is tied to that surface, and Honda adjusted it and sometimes replaced the engine.
The Ford F-150 Lightning is an electric pickup truck. It uses electricity instead of gasoline, but it’s still meant to do the same kind of work and hauling you’d expect from a truck. The podcast mentions it because people talk about how desirable it is and how that affects pricing.
ACU is a UK organization that oversees motorcycle racing rules. A race licence is basically permission to compete in official races, and the speaker is saying the requirements got stricter over time.
A “nut and bolt restoration” means taking the whole thing apart completely and rebuilding it piece by piece. It’s the most detailed kind of restoration, not just a quick refresh.
A four-stroke engine is a common type of motorcycle engine. It works in four steps to make power, and it can feel smoother and more predictable than some other engine types.
Car
Thruxton
The Thruxton is a motorcycle model from Triumph with a classic cafe-racer style. The host is focusing on finding the best one they can and talking about what they cost.
Spoke wheels are the classic kind of motorcycle wheels with metal spokes connecting the rim to the center hub. They’re part of the bike’s traditional look and can feel a bit different than modern wheel designs.
“Dry miles” means the motorcycle’s mileage accumulated under dry conditions, implying less exposure to rain and road grime. Enthusiasts often treat dry-mileage bikes as having less wear and corrosion risk than bikes that were ridden in wet weather.
finance damage and theft all fine. So this is looking really good. Now that mileage issue is fine.
No issue there at all. No finance, outstanding, no damage. See, this is as clean as you like here.
Yeah, this is perfect. Six potential, oh, we need to check this. Six potential owners found,
but only four listed here. What's going on with owner three and four? I would ideally like to check
that and manufactured October 2010, but everything else on that looks spot on. Okay, that's about as
clean as you can imagine. If you want to check out car vertical, if you're looking to buy a car
or motorbike, go and check them out. I would say it's essential if you're looking to buy a vehicle.
You can use code DOBS to get 20% discount on a single report or up to 50% off for multiple reports.
And it just means you know the kind of vehicle you're buying. There won't be any horror stories
hidden away because you're going to know exactly what you're getting. Totally invaluable. So knowing
what we know, new CF Moto or old Triumph Daytona. I have to make a decision here. I have to jump off
the fence. £7,250 for a new bike with four year warranty or £4,650. Let's say £4,400 to get a
discount. I think I'd go Daytona. I think that's what I would go for. If you make me make a call
right now, I'll go Daytona, especially in that red. They suit the garish colours so well,
but that CF Moto, that looks like a superb, superb bike. Highly tempting. Next up, Honda.
Honda will put it right. If there's one brand you can rely on, if they make a mistake, they will fix
it. It's Honda. Everyone makes mistakes. It's not about whether you make mistakes or not. It's about
how you deal with those mistakes and Honda deal with it brilliantly. Have a listen to this. This
is with regards to the oil burning issues on the 1,000 cc and I think maybe also 600 cc Honda engines.
This is a big problem for Honda, both from a PR point of view and a monetary point of view as well,
having to sort all of this out. Huge, huge problem. Rob says this,
Freddie, regarding the oil burning issues on the Honda Hornet 1000. I bought one last Mayan,
have covered 4,500 miles on it, hasn't burnt a drop of oil. Obviously, I've been checking the
level every time I use it. I've heard that Honda are to recall the bikes and send them to a dedicated
centre based at the old Swindon car factory, where if required, they will change the pistons.
But they're going to start with the 600s first as the oil burning issue with these bikes may be
more urgent. I wasn't informed of this by the Honda dealer, so there is going to be a lot going on
in the background. Does Honda want to put this right? But as you suggested, it just hasn't been
communicated very well. Rob, and then the Spectre 223 says this, regarding the Honda Hornet oil
burning issues, Honda have now resolved it with updated pistons and piston rings and the GTNF
models have started arriving at dealerships now. They have the green light while the affected
Hondas, the Hornets, have been or will be fixed under warranty. Similar story to this CBR 600RR,
although in these models, it's actually an issue with the cylinder wall, which has now been adjusted
and recalled bikes are getting engine swaps. The point is, Honda have taken responsibility
and sorted the issues, which is good to see. And hopefully that lineup will be reliable going
forward. Yeah, excellent points. I would have complete trust that Honda will do the right
thing. And I think this is absolute proof on that. Someone else said, sorry, I didn't save your name.
Someone said to me, Freddie, check out a few of the recent auction results as an indicator of
what's going on and what there is available right now on the classic market. Just take a look at
this. First up, this is an auction that was from Bonham's, I think back in June, so only about a
month ago. I mean, look at this. A 1959 Norton Dominator 500cc sold for £1,725. You've then got
a Norton 500 Dominator, another one that looks like it may not have sold. And then you've got a Norton
Commando 750cc. This is important. Remember this, because I'm going to get to this later.
Norton Commando Interstate sold for £4,150. This is one of the most desirable
classics that you can get, the original Norton Commando. And it sold for £4,140.
I'll just do a couple more here. A Triumph T140 Bonneville 1973 to 1980 model sold for £2,300,
Triumph Daytona sold for £4,600 and a 1967 BSA Lightning sold for £2,070. But it's all about
desirability. Something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. So the next thing I show you
makes no logical sense at all. But something is only worth the price if someone's actually
willing to put the money where their mouth isn't by it. And this is a perfect example.
The lowly Honda Dax, 1987 or sorry, 1991 model, I should say, 49cc Honda Dax. This would have cost
peanuts when it was new. Yet it sold for £2,070. It sold for the same price as a 1967 650cc BSA
Lightning. It sold for basically the same price as a 1980 Triumph Bonneville. Yet it's a 49cc bike.
Even a MZ 50cc bike, the most utilitarian transport you could ever imagine, sold for the same price
basically as that Bonneville and that BSA. It's just crazy, isn't it? It's so funny how the market
works. These 60s and 70s bikes, values are just plummeting. It's all now about the 80s and 90s
bikes. But wow, stuff is going on at the moment. Now on to some more on British biking.
Finally, this comes in from Ollie, Freddy, thought I'd pen your email whilst travelling
from Cornwall to Dorking by train. I'm 56 years old now and I've been knocking around on bikes
since I was 10 or 11 years old. Old crosses, Honda C90 field bikes, etc. Although my dad
rode, he never wanted me to get my licence due to safety fears. In all honesty, I didn't have
much enthusiasm for riding on the road and was much more into racing or into the racing side of
things with this being the best of that two-stroke Grand Prix era. In my late 20s, I took the plunge
and bought a race ready TRZ 250 racing in the Yamaha Past Masters series. Things escalated quickly
and after about 12 months, I'd bought my first GP 250, a 1998 Honda RS 250, a class that I never
left. I absolutely loved the racing, generally a weekend affair plus a Friday practice with one
of the track day companies. In the early days, they were okay with you booking on with an ACU
race licence but presumably as lawyers got involved, this changed to full licence because you never
needed a full motorcycle licence to race which is incredible. So things changed when the lawyers
got involved so I somewhat or I was forced into a weeks direct access training as I moved into my
40s and now running a business the risks of the inevitable crashes were a bit too much.
So the race bikes were sold. I bought an Onibe a Spanish series two-lambretta pictured what a
stunner Oli and I did or I spent the next few years doing a full nut and bolt restoration.
This finally hit the road in 2023 and at 53 years old, this was my first experience of riding on the
road since I did my test. I've still struggled to have any real enthusiasm for road bikes though.
I guess with the love of racing, I've always looked at the super sport bikes as something to
consider but could never quite understand why you would want one for anything but track use.
It's a very interesting point there but then via the beauty of YouTube recommended for you
up-pop-streaded ops and admittedly nothing grabs me enough to think it could be a potential purchase
for a road motorbike until up pops, Triumph, Thruxton, RS. I'd never seen one of these on the road.
I didn't even know it existed but I was instantly hooked. Fast forward two months later lots of
Facebook marketplace searching. I'm now on the way as I write this to Dawking to look at slash
probably buy I love the attitude you just go to buy don't you no one goes to look or do they
do some of you just go if you're looking to buy a bike just go to look and think oh yeah
thank you for showing me that that's nice goodbye I can't do it I can only go to view bikes to buy
to buy like it's so ingrained in me I'm really curious do any of you actually think you know
what I'm going to go and see my five favorite versions of this model of bike and then I make a
decision I just can't do it I can't spend my time traveling around to view different models I just
want to see the only bike that I want to buy curious on your thoughts on that carrying on
there apologies for that tangent a silver Thruxton R so thank you Freddie for opening my eyes to
something other than race bikes I'm super excited very nervous as to whether I'll be able to manage
a bike that's twice the weight I'm used to and whether I'll even like a four stroke fingers crossed
all the best Ali well Ali you will be able to handle that with no issue at all
I really like this because this happens to a lot of people where you think God
maybe biking isn't for me you know maybe maybe it's not for me but I truly believe that's not
the case it's just many of us never find the genre of bike and the bike that's made for us
there are so many different kinds of bike I honestly think that we all have a specific bike
that's suited for us for some it's the huge tech fest adventure bikes for some it's the cruisers
some it's purely the off-roaders for me for example the Bonneville's the first one the first bike I've
had of out of my five motorbikes where finally that's it the second I jumped on it I was like
that's what I imagine motorbiking to be that is the bike for me the first time I ever had that
none of my previous bikes had that I loved my previous bikes because I enjoy riding and I love
motorbiking but the Bonneville is the first one where everything clicked and I realized
that's me it's a bit of a eureka moment so Ali I really hope that you like the Thruxton
let's take a look at this what can I find here Thruxton wise first off I'm going to show you
one forget about money to hell with budget I want to find the ultimate Thruxton for me
and I found on Facebook marketplace I think the Thruxton's were discontinued two years ago now
2024 but I think they may be bringing it back in a 400 cc outfit although for the big big beasts
the 1200 that is now a thing of the past and as such values are pretty strong on these
but for me if if you want the ultimate one take a look at this ludicrously ludicrously
good looking bike 2023 Tram Thruxton RS same as Ali but this has a chrome tank and I think that is
a sensational looking bike it's just perfect it's a mirror I mean look at that tank it is so unique
with the gold forks that incredible stance of the spoke wheels knowing it's got a 1200 cc engine
this is chrome limited edition 1147 miles so it's it's basically new perfection if your budget's
a bit tighter you could also get this 2007 Tram Thruxton exactly the same engine as my Bonneville
I think basically the same frame as my Bonneville it would have been in showrooms right next to that
and you can get this now for £4,000 again that's a really really good looking bike
Ali let me know if you actually bought it oh actually I have to show you this before I carry on
I like this with the Thruxton at £4,000 2007 model the best advert ever I I've had this bike
oh my god I didn't see that I've had this bike from new but it's only done 6400 dry miles I mean
if you're looking for one of these buy this spent more time polishing it than riding it
it's always been gated in an extremely good condition oh this is perfect and just been
serviced and has a recent MOT best line here I'll be very sad to see it go dot dot dot
but wife forces sail wink that's it that's the one to buy okay on to bike of the week now
this is coming over from the USA from Steve norton commando question mark I hope you mean
a 1970s model I just acquired one in northwest USA a 1973 norton commando 750 to all newbies out
there please talk to us older riders about bikes etc us old farts know so much and we love a chat
with new and younger riders Steve great to hear from you okay these norton commando 750s often
regarded as the last of the truly great british bikes before the japanese took over and these are
some of my favorite classic british bikes do you remember the one at auction we saw that sold
for £4,160 and auctions are the best indicator as to a bike's true worth and we know the market
for classic bikes is at the moment imploding slightly so I'm going to see what I can find
in the market of this legendary motorbike take a look at this quite a bit of choice here
I tell you what there is quite a bit of choice I'm going to go for this one 1974 norton commando
listed three months ago this is bike of the week here listed three months ago
£5,950 reduced nearly £1,000 all the way down to £5,000 this is imagine this this is an ex
pembrikshire police bike nice strong runner excellent tires was ridden regularly throughout
to 2025 yeah this is a good and really nice and can you imagine the the british police riding
around on those I mean I love the the big BMW RTs and things like that but of course they don't
have anywhere near the style of this imagine seeing the police riding around on that okay so that's
£5,000 the really interesting thing is I'm sure these were all going for £8,000 plus just a few
years ago and there are a lot of these bikes now the original norton commando 750s that
have been advertised at higher prices 18000 pounds and prices have been reduced
by a thousand pounds they've been up for sale for three months prices coming down now down to that
5000 pound mark I'm seeing bikes at six and a half thousand pounds reduced by a thousand
pounds one and a half thousand pounds to get closer to that 5000 pound mark and now
that we know at auction these are selling for £4,100 the new entry point into the market
for the norton commando 750 the legend is somewhere between four to 5000 pounds you take a
look at this five grand you're going to be able to get a few hundred pounds off that this is a new
benchmark for the entry point into the commandos and that is hugely hugely exciting what do you
think about that I'll wrap it up there on that stunning bike that's now 52 years old thank you
so much everyone for watching really hope you enjoyed it let me know your thoughts very interested
what do you think's going on right now in the classic market have you managed to pick up a bargain
how much money have you managed to save off some hardcore haggling and negotiating for buying your
dream classic bike thanks all for watching have a fantastic week I'll see you in the next one I've
got to go and get ready because in about 10 hours time I'm heading off on a plane to Iceland for bike
launch
About this episode
After returning from Goodwood, the hosts kick off with the BSA Rocket 3—complete with George Lazenby provenance—and use it to frame how documentation and desirability shape classic prices. They then pivot to buying decisions in the modern market, comparing a CFMoto 675SRR with a Triumph Daytona 675, including vehicle-history checks and whether to buy new or used. Honda recall talk and a run of auction results follow, ending with Norton Commando 750 pricing shifts and a look at Triumph Thruxton searches.
