I can totally understand leaving common low end 'crusty' bikes 'as - is'....but if something is complete...
but toasted and restorable and Deluxe or Rare/ exotic..... Restore it.
Do it right! Make the bike glow like it rolled off the showroom floor!
Personally the whole rusty bike thing is getting old to me. Laziness... I don't want bikes sitting around here that
look like junk. Fact of the matter is ...due to expense and time and effort involved in doing thorough restorations...
the new breed of collector for the most part would rather live with a rusty roached out bike than than take the
time to restore it....or learn the process of restoration
Although..I do agree .....not worth the expense restoring low value plain jane or common bikes..... Unless you can do the work
yourself and have access to reasonable plating etc and other restoration services and its affordable.
NICE condition unrestored bikes are always top of the game.... but I have way more respect for the collector
who owns a rare bike, that was junk, rusted and rough, and took the time to do a competent job restoring
it ...than I do the collector who just bought something with the big wallet unrestored and bitchin'
even tho the unrestored bike is a better commodity or investment typically
my 2 cents