Can-Am Motorcycle Valuations (1999)

CanAm Value Survey
Updated 4/6/99

People send us a great deal of email asking the value of their CanAm. The truth is, a value guide is meaningless if the bike can't be sold for the price shown. I usually tell CanAm owners that the bike is only worth what the buyer will pay for it. That's the bottom line! If a guide places a value of $800 on a motorcycle, and the best offer you can get is $400, what is that motorcycle really worth? But in response to viewer requests, here is a very rough estimate of CanAm values. It should only be used for "bench racing" purposes.

Method: We surveyed 6 CanAm collectors located in various parts of the United States who we believe to posses superior knowledge of CanAm motorcycles. The first column reports the "mean" of all respondent's estimates for each model. The second column shows the lowest value estimate reported. The third column shows the highest estimate reported. The fourth column shows standard deviation. The last column reports the range of estimates for each model. Respondents were instructed to estimate values of a motorcycle in "good" condition (i.e., complete, aesthetically sound, and in satisfactory running order). These estimates do NOT apply to a fully restored or "mint condition" motorcycle, nor do they apply to a machine in poor condition or one that is not running.

Results: This survey was compiled in April 1999. Six people (of 7) responded to the survey from various regions of the U.S.. Represented regions included Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, and East Coast. The average value of a CanAm motorcycle in the United States was estimated at $874, with a mean SD of 196 and mean range of $434 (range of discrepancy). The highest mean value observed for a particular model was $1540 for a 1975 GP 250. Lowest values reported were on the East coast with highest values in Central United States (average value of a CanAm motorcycle by U.S. region is shown on map at bottom of table).

Important: We are merely sharing the results of a survey directed at experienced CanAm owners or collectors. We do not profess to be an authority on the value of these motorcycles, nor are we trying to "set" prices. Your personal experience regarding the values of these motorcycles may be different. These value estimates are the result of an opinion poll and may vary a great deal depending on the geographic location, condition of the machine, current availability, cost of parts, attitude of buyer or seller, and a countless number of other variables. See bottom of page for other things to consider.

Mean = mathematical average of all estimates for that model
Lowest = lowest estimate reported for that model
Highest = highest estimate reported for that model
Range = range of discrepency (highest minus lowest estimate for that model)
St. Dev. = standard deviation of all estimates for that model
All values are in U.S. dollars

Year

Model

Mean

Low

High

St. Dev.

Range

1987

ASE 200

1010

700

1399

228.59

699

ASE 250

1130

750

1499

248.68

749

ASE 400

1220

900

1599

239.79

699

ASE 500

1340

900

1899

338.76

999

TRIALS

980

600

1299

286.08

699

1986

MX L/C 250

840

600

1299

240.46

699

MX 500

1080

700

1299

213.50

599

SONIC 560

1230

750

1500

275.10

750

ASE 200

895

575

1199

205.70

624

ASE 250

940

500

1299

263.67

799

ASE 350

1020

525

1399

300.85

874

ASE 500

1080

600

1499

294.10

899

TRIALS 240

740

500

1000

184.22

500

TRIALS 350

765

500

1000

185.07

500

1985

MX L/C 125

705

475

999

168.04

524

MX L/C 250

775

575

1199

217.79

624

MX 500

1060

700

1200

206.40

500

SONIC 560

1180

750

1500

260.65

750

ASE 200

815

575

1099

181.61

524

ASE 250

885

500

1199

250.60

699

ASE L/C 250

910

575

1499

342.65

924

ASE 500

1040

600

1299

248.10

699

TRIALS 240

690

500

1000

187.58

500

TRIALS 350

720

500

1000

182.35

500

1984

MX L/C 125

710

475

899

145.20

424

MX L/C 250

755

475

999

175.59

524

MX 500

980

700

1200

206.40

500

SONIC 560

1150

750

1500

279.95

750

ASE 175

745

475

899

170.39

424

ASE 250

799

500

999

189.25

499

TRIALS

720

500

1000

192.25

500

1983

MX L/C 125

655

475

750

96.61

275

MX L/C 250

725

475

899

151.20

424

MX 400

795

675

999

139.08

324

SONIC 500

1135

675

1500

344.13

825

TRIALS

740

500

1000

191.70

500

1982

QUALIFIER IV 125

780

600

850

150.55

250

QUALIFIER IV 175

810

600

999

200.80

399

QUALIFIER IV 250

940

700

1099

206.54

399

QUALIFIER IV 400

960

700

1199

216.52

499

SABRE 500

1120

700

1400

288.06

700

1981

MX6B 250

970

800

1200

229.67

400

MX6B 400

1010

850

1200

217.75

350

1980

MX6 125

730

600

850

124.16

250

MX6 250

860

700

1000

162.42

300

MX6 400

885

750

1000

163.11

250

QUALIFIER III 175

705

575

800

120.85

225

QUALIFIER III 250

785

600

900

141.79

300

QUALIFIER III 350

845

625

950

166.15

325

QUALIFIER III 400

835

725

900

132.99

175

1979

MX5 250

790

700

1000

162.53

300

MX5 370

850

750

1100

178.19

350

QUALIFIER II 175

670

600

750

91.74

150

QUALIFIER II 250

705

650

800

98.00

150

QUALIFIER II 370

770

700

900

112.55

200

1978

FUN MACHINE 125

920

800

1100

197.48

300

MX4 125

1020

700

1300

343.03

600

MX4 250

860

750

1000

185.52

250

MX4 370

890

800

1100

208.97

300

1977

MX3 175

910

750

1100

242.38

350

MX3 250

1240

1200

1300

326.22

100

QUALIFIER 125

655

500

750

132.99

250

QUALIFIER 175

680

500

800

150.55

300

QUALIFIER 250

740

600

900

156.26

300

1975-76

MX2 125

550

500

650

88.03

150

MX2 175

580

500

700

100.00

200

MX2 250

680

600

800

115.83

200

GP 250

1540

1500

1700

89.44

200

TNT 125

690

500

800

168.57

300

TNT 175

690

500

800

168.57

300

TNT 175 O/R

790

700

850

169.56

150

TNT 250

890

700

1000

216.02

300

1973-74

MX1 125

720

700

800

117.26

100

MX1 175

730

700

750

116.90

50

MX1 250

1160

1100

1200

293.97

100

TNT 125

700

550

800

146.34

250

TNT 175

700

550

800

146.34

250

TNT 250

900

700

1000

223.05

300

Average of Estimates

874

652

1086

196

434

Average CanAm Values by Region

Other things to consider

2) Missing parts may not be a "little thing." A CanAm kickstart lever runs between $75 and $150 if you can find one. Replacement CanAm plastic items have all but disappeared.

3) Each fully restored motorcycle has a unique value. The quality of the restoration is dependent on the time, detail, and expense involved in the process. You may be looking at a motorcycle that was estimated here at $700, but in reality worth well over $2000.

4) The intended purpose is a big factor. Only a few CanAm's are currently legal for vintage competition (see model identification by frame number section on this website). 1974 MX-1's and TNT's might be worth more than a 1976 model to someone interested in using it for this purpose. Values may change as the EVO classes become more popular. However, someone who is only inteerested in buying a cheap motorcycle for weekend play riding may not be interested in these applications.