i think the issue may be that the guys decide they want a "project" but they dont really have the skill to take the parts and fix and rejuvenate them so they end up doing a mechano approach where they just buy new bits and bolt them on, then either the money becomes to much or the problems became more serious than just bolting on new bits (ie you are forced to fix things) at this point they bail and decide to sell.

All of that said I bought my bike in March (first road bike) and have completely stripped and rebuilt it (with the exception of the motor), lots of elbow grease, but it was missing a lot of standard bits (tank rubbers, proper radiator rubbers and collars, bar grips etc etc) I did manage to source quite a bit second hand but others I needed to buy new and even my approach has added up to quite a bit. Besides the fact that I decided not to add it all up (dont really want to know the number) I am okay with it because I plan on having the bike for a long time (I have owned my 1970 Alfa for 15 years now, and I have a 20 year old mountain bike )

So I think you need to make a properly researched decision before you set out otherwise you are bound to lose interest or money

This all sounds familiar, I still have my 3tj with a blown engine sitting in the shed gathering dust. I have probably spent £1500 on it when I restored it about 7 years ago, and another £450 on a knackered second hand engine.
I will have to get another engine and get the old heap back on the road shortly. I thought my new job would give me more time to work on my bikes, but still working 60 hours weeks and in the middle of waterjet cutting training which will probably mean more hours when I can operate the flowjet. I am hoping that some of my present dutuies will get passed down when I move up the ladder so the hours stay the same.

I bought my NC30 for very little, but in the knowledge it needed a lot of parts & work, and I guarantee I could have bought a fairly nice one by the time I've finished mine.

I don't mind though, I am a pretty experienced at working on cars, but a newbie to bikes, and it has taught me loads about bike mechanics, plus I know it will be all my work when done. I have no intention of selling it either.

To put it in context, my father in law has a late 50s BSA Shooting Star, he has restored it twice since he bought it in the early 80s, the second time with a professional doing the paint and engine build. For a long time it owed him more than it was worth, but not any more.

Exzachary, and the more love you put into it, the more you love it