Used Bike Values?

[plantluvver]

Is there anywhere that I can get some idea of used bike values? I am shopping for used bikes on Craig's list, and I just want to see if the seller has a reasonable price on the bike.

Also, can I tell the quality of a bike by the model name, or do models change their position in quality from year to year? Will an inexpensive model be moved up to a higher place in a manufacturer's product line and vice versa? Or is this something that varies by manufacturer.

To give you an idea of how I would use this:

One bike says it was hardly ridden. The list price new is $299, seller is asking $240 firm. If I wanted this bike, I'd just spend the $60 and deal with a shop, so I pass.

Another bike is a Specialized Rockhopper from 90 or 91 for $65. The current list is $500 new. Seller is 5'6" I am 5'7" so this sounds like a decent qality of bike. Definitely something to jump on. Seller does not specify frame materials, componentry, etc. however, so without knowing Specialized's product line, this may have been a $300 bike 15 years ago. I am not sure it is a good deal.

I'l bet somemone out there publishes a "bluebook" of bike values. I know that there is one for sewing machines, why not bikes?

Mary

[DebW]

Afraid I can't really help answer your questions, unless you are looking at bikes 30 years old. But the following reminded me...

Also, can I tell the quality of a bike by the model name, or do models change their position in quality from year to year? Will an inexpensive model be moved up to a higher place in a manufacturer's product line and vice versa? Or is this something that varies by manufacturer.

In about 1975, Raleigh put out a Team Professional, their Pro model with a special color scheme for their pro team. It was all the best racing material of the time, Reynolds 531 frame and Campy Nuovo Record components with a red and white "Team Raleigh" color scheme and logo. The very next year they put that exact same paint job on the Raleigh Record, their CHEAPEST 10-speed bike. It made the Team Pro look SO CHEAP! I don't know if they sold more Records with the new paint jobs, but I bet they sold far fewer Team Pros. If I'd bought a Team Pro in 1975, I would have been really upset in 1976.

[Grog]

Used bikes are expensive. Even beaters.

Unless you buy bikes from unknowing sellers in a yard sale, or someone who needs money FAST (in which case I'd be worried about buying a stolen bike), they're usually expensive. I was until yesterday in the market for a pair of beater bikes just to go around Montreal (I now live in Vancouver and don't have a used bike here), commuting, going out for ice cream, etc. I was shopping with my boyfriend, who sports an expensive full-carbon bike in normal times, and he was SHOCKED by the sticker price. We went to bike shops and to bike-recycling stores so the bikes were in full working order (derailleur and brakes repaired and fully functional). I ended up bargainning pretty hard to get a pair for $150, and they're really old (yet not antique) and not in very good shape (although by the time I pick them up later today they should run fine). But they'll take us places. That's all I want right now.

Generally, I think bikes keep most of their value with time. I'm okay with that, I think they are great objects and if they can be repaired to work perfectly... why would they become so much cheaper with time?

[mimitabby]

check ebay, completed auctions. you can see the prices people actually pay for bikes, together with the ages, models, and conditions of the bikes.

[plantluvver]

I don't think $75 is bad for a bike that has been tuned up. I think there are some people who have a mentality of one bike per person. Like the Rockhopper seller specifically states she is getting a road bike. I would rather ride a quality 70's bike than a low level brand new bike. I belong to a bike coop now, and so I have someone with expertise who can supervise my repairs.

I paid $50 for my 1980's Schwinn, and while fixing it, the mechanic said that to replace it with something new that rides as well, I'd be spending $300. I originally paid $50 for it, at Goodwill. It has a Cro-mo frame. I honestly would rather ride a bike with a little wear on it, because I live in a city, and will be parking it while shopping etc. I consider scratched paint to be a deterrent to theft.

I just like to fit my bike to suit my purpose. For commuting I need a rack and fenders, If I am going on a long ride on a sunny day, I don't need the fenders. There is a gravel road through a park in my vicinity, I rode it once on my 1970's LeTour. It was doable, but I wouldn't say it was pleasant. In fact my hands were red and raw by the end of the ride.

Mary

[bcipam]

Something to consider - that rockhopper listed for $65 but made in 91 is way different than any Rockhopper being sold today. Those old Rocks were I think fully rigid, steel framed bikes. Not a bad buy for $65 but the bike is not ungradeable. What you see is what you get and what condition are the wheels, brakes and shifters. Can components be purchased to replace those parts if repairs are needed? If you just want a kick around, computer bike, this is probably a good buy provided its in good working order.

It's hard to judge the price of a bike, especially used as wear is a big part of the value. If the bike ws bought new, never or hardly ridden, kept tuned and clean and never just sat out in the garage, then value is still going to be at least 75% less than the original price. And the less expensive the bike was in the first place, the more it depreciates.

A good quality bike depreciates less. For instance - take a 2004 Litespeed Solano. The bike sold new for $3000. Note this is a Ti bike with full Ultegra. The next year, new 2004 were selling for about $2100 and some for even $1900. If used, the bike was be worth around $1400 - 1500 even in good shape. I would say this year the bike's price will drop significantly - if new down to $1600 and if used around $1200.

There is nothing wrong with buying a used bike and I have friends that have gotten some absolute steals by checking out garage sales. A good friend purchased a Colnago C40 with full Campy Record and ZIPP 404 wheels for $2,000. The bike was just sitting in some guys garage collecting dust. The wheels alone are worth almost that much. Just keep looking. SOme treasure will turn up.