Grey Ghost, real or Not?

[nick tures]

I bet Indycycling would have an answer on value. I don't sell any Krate series bikes and I no longer have a Grey Ghost.

i agree Rob !

 

[indycycling]

I bet Indycycling would have an answer on value. I don't sell any Krate series bikes and I no longer have a Grey Ghost.

Morning guys
It looks to be an original LG November '71 coaster Ghost. The guard screen looks excellent, all the crimps on the ends of the springer and sissy bar are original, seat looks great too.

Overall, you see many more 5 speed Krates out there, not as many coasters, this being a limited Ghost run, it's a fairly uncommon bike. That being said, the coaster bikes don't command the same prices as 5 speeds. In this unrestored but original condition a 5 speed Ghost could sell for $3-$4K. I have many 5 speed Krates in my collection including 2 Ghosts and 2 Cottons, but I've never had a coaster krate, just hasn't been my thing with all the early coaster Stingrays I've collected. I would think this bike is valued at $1K easy especially with some of the better repro coaster Krates selling for half that amount or more.

As the others have said, go easy on cleaning it and if you don't know how to, I'd just leave it alone and let the new owner have the awesome experience of detailing it back to it's former glory. You are safe with some dawn dish soap and a sponge, go very easy on the guard screen. The chrome will take some work, much more than hand polish so honestly, I'd leave that alone for now. This bike should be disassembled, frame cleaned and polished, and all the chrome treated to Evaporust, brash brush, and a good treatment with Quick Glo polish. Lot of work, but it'll look great when done.

Keep us posted on this one - very cool!

 

[okozzy]

Morning guys
It looks to be an original LG November '71 coaster Ghost. The guard screen looks excellent, all the crimps on the ends of the springer and sissy bar are original, seat looks great too.

Overall, you see many more 5 speed Krates out there, not as many coasters, this being a limited Ghost run, it's a fairly uncommon bike. That being said, the coaster bikes don't command the same prices as 5 speeds. In this unrestored but original condition a 5 speed Ghost could sell for $3-$4K. I have many 5 speed Krates in my collection including 2 Ghosts and 2 Cottons, but I've never had a coaster krate, just hasn't been my thing with all the early coaster Stingrays I've collected. I would think this bike is valued at $1K easy especially with some of the better repro coaster Krates selling for half that amount or more.

As the others have said, go easy on cleaning it and if you don't know how to, I'd just leave it alone and let the new owner have the awesome experience of detailing it back to it's former glory. You are safe with some dawn dish soap and a sponge, go very easy on the guard screen. The chrome will take some work, much more than hand polish so honestly, I'd leave that alone for now. This bike should be disassembled, frame cleaned and polished, and all the chrome treated to Evaporust, brash brush, and a good treatment with Quick Glo polish. Lot of work, but it'll look great when done.

Keep us posted on this one - very cool!

Thank you for chiming in and for giving us some pearls of wisdom!
Your recommendations on the cleaning from my own experience is exactly the plan I was going to follow & will get started as soon as life permits.
Will keep you all posted as I go along....

 

[okozzy]

And... So it Begins!

 

[GTs58]

You're starting off with a nice specimen so that should look awesome cleaned and all polished up. Wax it up real good, chrome and all when finished.

 

[okozzy]

Making slow, but steady progress...

 

[okozzy]

Clean hardware.

 

[okozzy]

The shiny bits.

 

[vincev]

Most Krates came with the shifting mechanism. The Gray Ghost is hard to find out of the Krate series. To be a plain jane model would make it more desireable in my opinion.Its cleaning up nicely.I would say it is definitely worth north of $1000.Its really an uncommon Krate.

 

[okozzy]

Most Krates came with the shifting mechanism. The Gray Ghost is hard to find out of the Krate series. To be a plain jane model would make it more desireable in my opinion.Its cleaning up nicely.I would say it is definitely worth north of $1000.Its really an uncommon Krate.

Vince, that's what I'm thinking on the value.