arex

I found a 1990 (give or take) Bianchi Grizzly at a local thrift store for $150, which struck me as kind of high for the condition it's in (neglected, but cleanable and quite rebuildable). However, I'm noticing that a lot of these bikes are going for a minimum of $300 on various websites, often twice that.

Is this a bike worth messing with for that price, or do I have some room to dicker with them? I have no real idea of the value of it, but it's my size and solid, and will require some work to get it roadworthy.

3speedslow

Those were nice bikes but what works in your favor is the fact that it IS going to take QUITE a bit of work to get it road ridable. If it has been sitting for awhile, that would help too.

Don't know what a good price would be in your market, so can't say price wise.

strock 

Grizzlies (or is it Grizzlys?) are nice. I'd say it depends three things: (1) condition, (2) how badly you want this type of bike (or a Grizzly in particular), and (3) how much time you want to spend looking. If the bike's in good shape and just needs some TLC, you really want a Grizzly or similar, and you don't want to spend hours/days/weeks scouring garage sales and Craigslist, $150 is well worth it. If it's gonna cost you a lot in parts, you're not just dying to have it, and you've got time to kill looking, then I'd pass. If only the frame is salvageable, it's not worth it. Framesets can be had on ebay these days for $70-$100 or so. No harm in trying to talk them down.

arex

It really just needs a thorough cleaning and lube. The cables are bound up, but that's easy and cheap to remedy. I doubt I'd have to get more than cables and maybe tires...the big investment would be lots of elbow grease. It's got a Deore groupset, but I don't remember which subset it is.

I'm not dying for it, by any means...I already have a project I need to finish. It seems like it'd make a nice and straighforward future project, though, and decent older bikes are few and far between around here, cultural and genetic backwater that this town is. Basically, I'd hate to pass it up if it's worthwhile for the price, because there's no telling when something similar might come around again. Most thrift-store bikes around here are Walmart trash.

CbadRider

Moved from C&V to Appraisals.

zukahn1 

Based on what you have said the price is justy OK if you like the bike. Don't deal soft just becauses it is in a thift store it has not moved in a while and most readily have half price sales on most anything offer a $100 cash to start go from there you should be fine even at $150.

oddjob2

I paid less for a flip candidate, but the Grizzly always seems to command a premium, particularly if it is the factory color.

Thumpic

Get it.....it's a versatile candidate....good flip to a street cruiser.....good keeper if it turns out great.....is it your size?

arex

Yeah, it's my size...good, especially because I'm both tall and fat. I wouldn't get it to flip.

strock 

Plain Deore (or DX) is very good stuff. Not as light as LX or XT (or XTR), but very functional. If cables, tires, and elbow grease are all it needs, I'd say $150 is reasonable for a rider. If it's Celeste and it fits, grab it. But I'd see if they'll let it go for less.

arex

Cool...thank you, all. I'm gonna have to wait until my next payday, and hope they haven't sold it in the meantime.

rjhammett

I paid $150 for my wife's '91 Grizzly. It is in very nice shape and has Suntour XC Pro components. These are nice and light bikes. I would pay $150 if one showed up in good condition without much thought.

digger531

I would go with the $100 offer. If it has been neglected, cables bound up, it will need a full tune and lube. If it is celeste I would eventually give the $150 but I would be kicking and screaming the whole way.

arex

What is "Celeste"?

oddjob2

Celeste = Bianchi factory toothpaste green color.