What's Your Custom eBike Really Worth? Let's Talk Valuation

I've been thinking a lot about this lately as I work on my builds, and I'm curious what the community thinks: How do you calculate the worth of a custom eBike?

It seems straightforward at first—add up the parts, factor in finishing costs like paint, powder coating, chroming, engraving, custom decals, and you've got your number, right? But the more I think about it, the more complicated it gets.

The Big Questions

Here's what keeps me up at night:

Do you include your time? If so, how do you value it? Do you use an hourly rate like a professional bike mechanic would charge ($75-150/hour)? Or do you calculate based on total project completion time, even if that includes learning new skills, waiting for parts, or redoing mistakes?

What about expertise? A frame built by someone with twenty years of welding experience is objectively different from a first-time builder's work, even if they use identical materials. Should that expertise command a premium? If so, how much?

Does history matter? If your build wins awards at shows, gets featured in magazines or YouTube channels, or has a documented build thread with thousands of views, does that add value? What if it's a replica of a famous bike or incorporates vintage components with their own story?

Emotional value vs. market value: We all know the bike you spent six months building in your garage is worth more to you than to a buyer. But how do you separate personal attachment from actual market worth when someone asks, "What would you sell it for?"

My Current Thinking

Right now, I'm leaning toward a formula something like this:

Base Value = Parts Cost + Materials + Finishing Costs

Then multiply by a factor based on:

• Build quality and craftsmanship (1.0x to 2.0x)
• Uniqueness and design innovation (add 10-30%)
• Builder reputation and documented expertise (add 10-50%)
• Awards, features, or social proof (add 5-25%)
• Historical significance or provenance (varies wildly)

But honestly, I'm not sure this captures it. The market for custom eBikes is still pretty new compared to traditional custom motorcycles or bicycles, and I haven't seen much discussion about valuation standards in our community.

Real-World Examples

I've seen custom eBike builds sell for anywhere from $2,500 (barely above parts cost) to $15,000+ for high-end, award-winning builds with custom fabrication. The variance is huge, and it's not always clear what drives the price.

For comparison, the custom motorcycle world has more established valuation methods. A custom Harley might sell for 60-80% of build cost if it's a quality build from a known builder, but only 40-50% if it's an unknown builder or has questionable workmanship. Do those same ratios apply to custom eBikes?

What I'm Curious About

I'd love to hear from the community:

1. If you've built a custom eBike, how did you determine its value? Did you track costs meticulously, or just ballpark it?

2. Have you sold a custom build? What did you ask for it, and what did it actually sell for? Were you happy with the outcome?

3. If you've bought a custom eBike, what factors influenced what you were willing to pay? Was it the components, the aesthetics, the builder's reputation, or something else?

4. Do you think custom eBikes will appreciate over time like vintage motorcycles or classic cars can? Or are they more like custom computers—worth less the moment they're built because technology moves so fast?

5. Should we even try to standardize valuation? Maybe the whole point of custom builds is that they're worth whatever someone is willing to pay, and trying to create formulas ruins the art of it.

My Take

Personally, I don't include my time in the "worth" of my builds because I build for the love of it, not as a business. The hours I spend in the garage are therapy, not labor. But if I were a professional builder trying to make a living, I'd absolutely need to factor in my time at a rate that makes the business sustainable—probably $100-150/hour for skilled fabrication work.

I do think expertise matters, though. A clean weld, a perfectly aligned frame, thoughtful cable routing, and attention to detail are worth paying for. If I'm buying someone else's build, I want to know they knew what they were doing.

And history? Yeah, I think that adds value, but it's hard to quantify. A bike that won "Best Custom eBike" at a major show is objectively more valuable than an identical build without that recognition, even if the components are the same.

Let's Discuss

What do you all think? How do you value your custom builds? Are there any builders here who've sold multiple customs and can share what they've learned about pricing?

I'm especially curious to hear from people who've been in the custom motorcycle or bicycle world and can compare how valuation works in those communities versus eBikes.

Looking forward to the discussion!