The Harley Hummer Club

Charlie in Maple Valley, WA

My wife ran across this 1951 125S while cleaning out a storage unit. It is mostly complete and original. Missing chain guard but just about everything else is on it. Paint looks like original Calypso Red.
She has to value the machine. I wanted to put this out there to this community to get as accurate an evaluation as possible. Engine kicks over, has compression.

Can you post a pic of the one next to it with the buddy seat?

Charlie,

There are two things that have a major impact on the value:

(1) Do you have a clear title for the bike?

Some states make it nearly impossible to get a title for a vehicle that doesn't have one. Fortunately for you, Washington makes it easy to get one - see https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/resou ... my-vehicle - click the "How else can I get title". There's also Vermont.

(2) Does it run?

"Kicks over and has compression" doesn't tell much. Maybe it got stored because it stopped running and needs an expensive engine/transmission rebuild. Spend a weekend fiddling with it and see if you can get it to start.


The best way to to determine "fair market value" is to look at eBay. You will have to put the bikes you find there in your "watch list", and see what they actually sell for. You'll notice that the "no title, doesn't run" bikes sell for a lot less.

Dave

Keith Hummer wrote:Can you post a pic of the one next to it with the buddy seat?

That one was a '59 165 Teleglide. It has since sold.

hennesse wrote:Charlie,

There are two things that have a major impact on the value:

(1) Do you have a clear title for the bike?

Some states make it nearly impossible to get a title for a vehicle that doesn't have one. Fortunately for you, Washington makes it easy to get one - see https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/resou ... my-vehicle - click the "How else can I get title". There's also Vermont.

(2) Does it run?

"Kicks over and has compression" doesn't tell much. Maybe it got stored because it stopped running and needs an expensive engine/transmission rebuild. Spend a weekend fiddling with it and see if you can get it to start.


The best way to to determine "fair market value" is to look at eBay. You will have to put the bikes you find there in your "watch list", and see what they actually sell for. You'll notice that the "no title, doesn't run" bikes sell for a lot less.

Dave

This 125 and the 165 next to it (sold) were both in an estate that my wife is liquidating. The were both last tabbed in '65. They appear to have been used for leisure by husband and wife. License plates were senquential. They both turned over and felt good... no wrist pin clicking, compression. The batteries had been removed from both too - most likely to keep from damaging the bike during long term storage. The Titles may exist in the boxes of paperwork the wife submitted to the executor but this person does not move fast or follow up on our requests which is very frustrating.

Hopefully, the executor will get a move on.

Out of curiosity, I download the DIY legal forms from the Washington Law Help website I mentioned. Like almost all DIY legal forms, they are a good starting point, but you sure don't want to use them as is.

The first form is Complaint to Quiet Title to Vehicle. Paragraphs 2 and 3 say "Plaintiff is the vehicle’s registered owner" and "[Defendant] is the vehicle’s legal owner". That would be true if you financed the vehicle, and the finance company went out of business, or for some other reason, refuses to file a Lien Release with the DMV. But it's certainly NOT true for the case where you buy a vehicle without a title. Paragraphs 7,8,9, and 11 need to be modified or removed. Interestingly, Paragraph 14 says "Plaintiff maintains this suit to quiet her title." This must be changed if you are not a her. I gave up at that point.

BTW, I think the 1951 Model 125 is the prettiest of all the "Hummers". The 1952 runs a close second - but its speedometer is not quite as nice.

I'll give you $100 for it tomorrow!
Just Kidding! Nice find, you're at the right place for information.
Lets Just hope that it ends up in a loving home!

If you're willing to hold onto it for three years, an in-bond title is easy to obtain in Washington. State Patrol inspects the bike and provides the form to submit with the in-bond title app. Then hold your breath and pray it doesn't show up as stolen for three years. End of three years, transfer it into a clear title. I've done a number of them over the years without any problems.

Can anyone provide any information on what this '51 could be worth? It would likely be Bill of Sale and condition as is (not running).