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.

[plantluvver]

I had thought that frames were designed to fit components built by other manufacturers, so that within reason, brakes, gearing, deraillers could be swapped out interchangably. You mean that I might need a brake that I couldn't find on any other bike but that model for that year?

Aren't bikes more or less modular? I had thought all pedals have the same thread, etc. That certainly makes life difficult.

Mary

[bike4ever]

plantluvver - I think what bcipam meant to say was that it can get hard to find an equivalent replacement part for a bike that is 15 years old. If the shifter breaks and originally was an XT level part, since it was maybe 7 speed you are looking at a lower quality replacement part today. This is going to happen on all of the components - derailleur, shifters, and even brakes. It can get quite expensive on a $65 dollar bike to add new shifters and derailleurs if they need to be replaced. Also keep in mind replacing the tires/tubes - age can do a number on those parts.

[ridebikeme]

Depending on what you are looking for, I think used bikes can be a great deal... providing of course they have been tuned up by a bike shop... not simply a weekend warrior. As for buying parts for the bike, "yes" you still can buy parts and upgrade the bike as needed. The Rockhopper has always been a great bike, and probably worth looking at. The generally have 3-4 diferent models of the Rockhopper.... even the base model would be probably around $350 new. The '91 model more than likely would have a steel fork(as someone else said) but a great bike nonetheless. If the Rockhoppers were not a great selling bike, they simply would have changed the model by now... that in itself should say something.

From year to year, technology becomes that much more aggressive and over time that gets past done to less expensive bikes... the high end bikes have always are the starting point for a lot of this. To give you an example, if you had a bike that was three years old and you paid $500 for it, today you could buy that same bike with the same technology for $300-$350... obviously it's that way with everything.. from cameras and computers, tv's .. you get the picture.

As for looking on Ebay, I know that many people have had good luck there... I on the other hand have seen some terrible cases... from cracked frames, stolen bikes, and even manufacturers that have bikes that didn't pass stress tests and they sold them on Ebay under a fictiousious name.... So my word of advice is be careful... if it seems to be too good to be true.. it generally is!

Lastly, probably the one of the most expensive things that can go wrong with the bike are the wheels... so I would definitely do some research on that.(Rockhopper)

Have fun, and hope that you find just the right bike!

[plantluvver]

I figure that with a $65 bike, I can afford to junk it, or look for a parts bike, we have a couple of shops that sell used parts. Since I will have a garage (after I clean it.) I can afford the space for project bikes. My concern is is just avoiding running around wasting time on junk bikes. And there are so many listings, I need to weed through them quickly. Price isn't a good criteria. one guy was asking $250 for a bike that currently costs $299. I live on a slow bus route, in a strange little corner of town. It takes me about an hour to get downtown, and sometimes another hour to get to to my destination.

I've been doing some looking on Ebay, but I wouldn't buy anything there unless I get to see it in person. I just want to make sure it fits.

BTW, the Rockhopper went to the fguy before me. The seller was a nice person, and didn't sell it "first come, first served."

I am doing my own work at a bike coop at Portland State University. They have all the tools, and more importantly, staff to supervise me.

The hunt is on. (But maybe, I should start shopping in two months, when competition slacks off.)

Mary