Dose of Reality II: Examples of Bikes Not Moving at LOW PRICES!
12-24-19, 05:02 PM
#1
Thrifty Bill
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,523
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
Dose of Reality II: Examples of Bikes Not Moving at LOW PRICES!
As a followup for the other Dose of Reality Thread: Some Pretty Nice Bikes that Are Not Moving in your Area:
Edit:
"I am just trying to post examples of reality: nice, desirable vintage bikes at attractive prices, that are NOT selling.
None of the bikes below are mine. And as pointed out below, I would hope I could do a much better job preparing, cleaning, and taking pictures!"
I singled out Centurion/Diamondback as my examples as they are well thought of and I happened to find a lot of them for sale at low prices.
Exhibit #1 : Centurion Ironman
The Ironman used to be an easy $350 bike, and would sell lightning fast around here for $300.
This one has been on the market for OVER 2 months, for $175. Very clean. Love the Rolls saddle!!
Edit:
"I am just trying to post examples of reality: nice, desirable vintage bikes at attractive prices, that are NOT selling.
None of the bikes below are mine. And as pointed out below, I would hope I could do a much better job preparing, cleaning, and taking pictures!"
I singled out Centurion/Diamondback as my examples as they are well thought of and I happened to find a lot of them for sale at low prices.
Exhibit #1 : Centurion Ironman
The Ironman used to be an easy $350 bike, and would sell lightning fast around here for $300.
This one has been on the market for OVER 2 months, for $175. Very clean. Love the Rolls saddle!!
Centurion Expert Ironman Dave Scott Bicycle - $175 (Lenior City, TN)
image 1 of 14
Last edited by wrk101; 12-25-19 at 08:19 AM.
12-24-19, 05:05 PM
#2
Thrifty Bill
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,523
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
OK, $175 too high? How about $100 for a Centurion Ironman. Yes, it needs drop bars, but overall its in nice condition. Its been for sale for five days.
1989 Dave Scott centurion - $100 (Vidalia)
image 2 of 2
12-24-19, 05:19 PM
#3
Thrifty Bill
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,523
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
For sale for 10 days, Diamondback Interval (replacement for the Ironman), $125
1990 Vintage Diamond Back Centurion Interval - $125 (O'Fallon)
image 1 of 11
12-24-19, 05:20 PM
#4
Thrifty Bill
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,523
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
Diamondback Expert TG: $125. Atlanta. Been for sale for 12 days.
DIAMONDBACK ROAD BIKE - $125 (ALPHARETTA)
image 1 of 4
12-24-19, 05:37 PM
#5
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26382 Post(s)
Liked 10,362 Times
in
7,196 Posts
couldn't resist this one...
1972 Masi grand criterium 62cm mint - $3400 (Monterey)
1972 Masi grand criterium 62cm mint - $3400 (Monterey)
Museum.quality restoration by Cyclart ..have receipts...paint and rechrome $2200.00
All vintage parts period correct and NOS. Never ridden....is a show bike only.
No trades.
All vintage parts period correct and NOS. Never ridden....is a show bike only.
No trades.
Likes For 3alarmer:
12-24-19, 07:29 PM
#6
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,601
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3869 Post(s)
Liked 6,455 Times
in
3,192 Posts
Assume that one's not yours or the pics would be far better. Without drill-down pics, interest drops.
Also assume the pink/yellow one isn't yours, or you'd mount appropriate pedals and a solid color bar tape.
Also assume the pink/yellow one isn't yours, or you'd mount appropriate pedals and a solid color bar tape.
12-24-19, 07:55 PM
#7
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,601
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3869 Post(s)
Liked 6,455 Times
in
3,192 Posts
Here's one I overbuilt and couldn't sell for what I wanted as listed on Seattle CL most of the spring and summer. It's an '87 circuit and a repaint.
I had it listed for well over my only offer of $400, which I rejected. Then I removed the ad.
I just overbuilt it with a dura ace brakeset, a bunch of Campy Triomphe, and a NOS Sprint rear derailleur. I was trying to reap a price I thought all that stuff was worth. So, recently, I found a donor bike with Shimano 600/105 to replace all the nicer componentry. I wish I had a cheaper set of wheels than these Triomphe ones. It's still a great bike, but now I don't mind selling it for $340 or whatever, and maybe putting in the ad that I will sell the bike without the wheelset, too.
I had it listed for well over my only offer of $400, which I rejected. Then I removed the ad.
I just overbuilt it with a dura ace brakeset, a bunch of Campy Triomphe, and a NOS Sprint rear derailleur. I was trying to reap a price I thought all that stuff was worth. So, recently, I found a donor bike with Shimano 600/105 to replace all the nicer componentry. I wish I had a cheaper set of wheels than these Triomphe ones. It's still a great bike, but now I don't mind selling it for $340 or whatever, and maybe putting in the ad that I will sell the bike without the wheelset, too.
12-24-19, 08:39 PM
#8
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,630
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista
Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3085 Post(s)
Liked 6,566 Times
in
3,764 Posts
^^^Front wheel quick release is on the incorrect side.^^^
12-25-19, 01:53 AM
#9
Senior Member
12-25-19, 08:13 AM
#10
Thrifty Bill
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,523
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
Secondly, the preparation and pictures would have been A LOT better! I would have put drops on that $100 bike, I would have replaced the rusty cables on the $175 bike, bar tape, etc...
I'll edit my OP.
I'd probably be a buyer of #2 if it were local. I have a pile of aero brake levers, drop bars, and saddles, along with the typical consumables. So I could sort it out without spending any additional cash money. Figure with a $100 ask, it might be yours for $75.
Last edited by wrk101; 12-25-19 at 08:22 AM.
Likes For wrk101:
12-25-19, 08:22 AM
#11
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,845
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 192 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2925 Post(s)
Liked 2,921 Times
in
1,489 Posts
I never sold a bike for what I thought it was worth and I am pretty sure I lost money on every bike, frame or part I ever sold.
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Likes For Bianchigirll:
12-25-19, 11:32 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: City of Angels
Posts: 4,870
Bikes: A few too many
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1363 Post(s)
Liked 2,178 Times
in
1,182 Posts
12-25-19, 01:10 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,799
Bikes: Lots of English 3-speeds, a couple of old road bikes, 3 mountain bikes, 1 hybrid, and a couple of mash-ups
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 335 Times
in
225 Posts
I have given on trying to sell bikes on CL. I don't want to deal with Ebay and shipping, and I don't use facebook. I am not a flipper, but I used to sell 6 or 8 bikes a year to support my habit. I have not sold a single bike in 2 years on CL. Most of the local big flippers have bikes that have been listed for 8 to 12 months (even with price drops) and still persist.
The only bikes that have moved through my garage are the ones that I have donated. It is a very different market than 3 or 4 years ago.
The only bikes that have moved through my garage are the ones that I have donated. It is a very different market than 3 or 4 years ago.
12-25-19, 02:49 PM
#14
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,601
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3869 Post(s)
Liked 6,455 Times
in
3,192 Posts
"incorrect"?
I admit if I had the front derailleur flipped around to the other side it would be "incorrect."
For many, having suntour, campagnolo, and dura ace on the same bike is "incorrect."
And those gold decals on an '87 Circuit is very "incorrect"!
But, as always, "ymmv."
I admit if I had the front derailleur flipped around to the other side it would be "incorrect."
For many, having suntour, campagnolo, and dura ace on the same bike is "incorrect."
And those gold decals on an '87 Circuit is very "incorrect"!
But, as always, "ymmv."
12-25-19, 02:54 PM
#15
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,601
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3869 Post(s)
Liked 6,455 Times
in
3,192 Posts
Of course not. That thought never entered my mind because you're not a newb. And when I offered my one experience above, I simply wanted to share what I learned about overbuilding a mid-level bike. It was a new experience for me.
I don't worry about a bike not selling. I've come to terms with the low market and changed my buying habits accordingly. The huge drawback is I don't get to wrench as much as I used to, but I need to ride more anyway.
I think the "are you looking for one of these..." c&v thread does this one's job fairly well.
Cheers.
I don't worry about a bike not selling. I've come to terms with the low market and changed my buying habits accordingly. The huge drawback is I don't get to wrench as much as I used to, but I need to ride more anyway.
I think the "are you looking for one of these..." c&v thread does this one's job fairly well.
Cheers.
12-25-19, 03:15 PM
#16
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,630
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista
Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3085 Post(s)
Liked 6,566 Times
in
3,764 Posts
12-25-19, 03:15 PM
#17
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,630
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista
Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3085 Post(s)
Liked 6,566 Times
in
3,764 Posts
12-25-19, 03:17 PM
#18
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,601
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3869 Post(s)
Liked 6,455 Times
in
3,192 Posts
12-26-19, 11:01 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Fairplay Co
Posts: 9,512
Bikes: Current 79 Nishiki Custum Sport, Jeunet 620, notable previous bikes P.K. Ripper loop tail, Kawahara Laser Lite, Paramount Track full chrome, Raliegh Internatioanl, Motobecan Super Mirage. 59 Crown royak 3 speed
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 789 Post(s)
Liked 1,739 Times
in
630 Posts
I know its the winter off season but in Denver there are nice 80's Trek road bikes like this one being llisted under $50 and not moving.
https://denver.craigslist.org/bik/d/...041550250.html
https://denver.craigslist.org/bik/d/...041550250.html
12-26-19, 12:13 PM
#20
Thrifty Bill
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,523
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
Diamondback Master TG, no front wheel, $30.... Been for sale for several weeks.
12-26-19, 12:33 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Posts: 5,395
Bikes: Too many to list
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1765 Post(s)
Liked 1,124 Times
in
746 Posts
Picked one of those up complete a year or two ago for $75
Was jazzed with the "Smoke on the water" color scheme - even came with the stock 105sc quill pedals - Was really happy with that detail
12-26-19, 02:08 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,694
Bikes: A few BSO's.
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 164 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
27 Posts
12-26-19, 09:20 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Fairplay Co
Posts: 9,512
Bikes: Current 79 Nishiki Custum Sport, Jeunet 620, notable previous bikes P.K. Ripper loop tail, Kawahara Laser Lite, Paramount Track full chrome, Raliegh Internatioanl, Motobecan Super Mirage. 59 Crown royak 3 speed
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 789 Post(s)
Liked 1,739 Times
in
630 Posts
12-26-19, 09:45 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Bloomington, IN
Posts: 2,940
Bikes: Paramount, Faggin, Ochsner, Ciocc, Basso
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1300 Post(s)
Liked 1,900 Times
in
1,136 Posts
Next year we will need a bigger truck. Smiles, MH
12-27-19, 07:04 AM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,305
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3464 Post(s)
Liked 2,827 Times
in
1,995 Posts
I have given on trying to sell bikes on CL. I don't want to deal with Ebay and shipping, and I don't use facebook. I am not a flipper, but I used to sell 6 or 8 bikes a year to support my habit. I have not sold a single bike in 2 years on CL. Most of the local big flippers have bikes that have been listed for 8 to 12 months (even with price drops) and still persist.
The only bikes that have moved through my garage are the ones that I have donated. It is a very different market than 3 or 4 years ago.
The only bikes that have moved through my garage are the ones that I have donated. It is a very different market than 3 or 4 years ago.