How much will it cost to make a DKW NZ-500 motorcycle work again? (nothing works on it)?

Question

I'm not even sure if it's a NZ-500, but looks like it...anyway, i know it's a pretty old motorcycle, from 1940s or something.
Nothing on it seems to work, maybe the km counter works, besides from that, nothing. everything is in its right place...it looks so beautiful, and i just wan tto know how much will it cost to make the engine work again and everything...

thnx

Answer 1

hey,

ok, i see that the first two answers dont at all answer your question. its like this mate, you cant simply look at a vintage bike and say it costs so and so much to fully restore/repair etc. even the most experienced mechanic can not do that. the nice thing about a vintage bike is that you can work on it for life. as soon as you conquour obe problem, you will encounter another. but sooner or later your old lady will run, and that day my friend will be one of the nicest days you will ever experience.

i say you start by signing up on various forums and checking out many websites all on that topic. then you slowly start work. part-by-part you will get closer to your goal.

i own a couple of vintage beauties myself and i started the same way. many people told me to sell the pieces, use it for foundation or anchors and all that rubbish...but those people are the ones who just give up. they dont make it far in life.

i would love to help you out on that project. at the moment i'm in malaysia buying bike parts, but i'll be back home after the 2nd of february. just send me an email to [e-mail] and i will surely reply.

in the mean time here are two websites you should have a look at... www.vintagebike.co.uk and www.britbike.com both are about british bikes in general, but there you meet the masters of vintage bikes, who can help you out with anything.

take care and safe riding!

sascha aka BigBear

Answer 2

Starting from the ground and working your way up i would say around $1800 NZ so long as you can get the parts cause they haven't made DKW since just after the 2nd world war they were situated in east Berlin and that was closed down by the Russians, i used to have one, a Hercules 2000 which had a Wankel rotary in it.

Answer 3

Keep in mind the resale market is pretty slim.
If you got the bike for free, consider parting it out.
Check the web and you will see what parts are going for.
Once you sell most of the parts, consider using the left over pieces for a boat anchor.