Old Fat Guy

My buyer (Mrs OFG), came across a very nice Motobecane Grand Jubilee while I was off riding in AZ with a good friend. It turns out to be a very nice bike, Reynolds 531, Prugnat lugs (I think, not a collector), Brooks Pro saddle with a nice patina, and just one small nick in it, Campagnolo Record seatpost, 2 bolt, Huret Jubilee derailleurs, rear is long cage, which I've never seen, Rigida Alu rims, Atom pedals, Normandy hubs, Stronglight Comp HS, you get the idea...

Anyhoo, I was going to flip it, but then saw that the parts are worth more than the whole. I hate to break it up, but I am a flipper, at least for the time being, and it doesn't fit anyone in the family.

This should give you experts a start

What does the wisdom (?) of the forum say?

USAZorro

Idea -

Offer it for what you think the individual parts would bring. If you don't get the price, part it out.

Very nice bike. Like the RD especially.

lbear

I am not a C&V guy but I would hate to see something that nice parted out. Maybe just sell off the Brooks to make up some $$. IMHO

bornhere

What they both said, try for the component worth first. If that does not work, take the saddle, lower the price, and try again. If that fails, then part it.

dbakl

I like to see bikes stay together... move it on to someone who likes it whole... make a little if you can, if not, break even and share the wealth!

Chombi

Agree, you can replace it with a "properly French" Ideale leather saddle that will cost a fraction of the Brooks anyway.
Parting a "Grand Jubilee" from it's Huret "Jubilee" components would be a very sad thing to do, IMO.
A fine classic French bike like that deserves better treatment.

Chombi
84 Peugeot PSV

red_hook

I'm not that hardcore about the whole original equipment thing but it'd really be a shame to part that out. It's too nice a bike in too good shape.

I'm assuming your buyer picked it up for less than you can sell it for…

I'd take the more modest profit and try to find it a nice home.

Ashen

If you can't get component value, part it out. You know the next guy will if you don't.

Old Fat Guy

From what I can gather the saddle and seat post together are worth more than $200, the RD alone is worth ??? I've never seen a long cage, and a short cage went for considerably more than $200 recently on eBay.

I'd guess I have close to $500 in a few components on a bike that is worth $550 on a good day.

I hate seeing stuff broken up. We got this from the original owner who bought it new in 1976. The seat had a Spenco cover on it, and the bars and hoods were wrapped with the same. There are a few nicks in it, but no dents/dings.

All I've done is clean it. It's on a back hook for now.

I'm just a sucker for nice, old stuff.

red_hook

The next guy is the next guy. Can't be responsible for his decisions.

Seems to me most flippers would make better money faster dismantling. Quicker, easier, not much of a learning curve. Just saw an auction where some guy was selling a set of cranks and then the dust caps separately. Eventually the bikes will be gone and we'll all just chase around a pile of parts.

You're in it for the love or for the money and either way is fair play. Either way, not much of a dilemma.

JunkYardBike

Then keep it.

miamijim

+1. Offer it on Ebay with a 'buy now' option or as a fixed price auction for what you think it'd bring parted out. If it doesnt sell then part it out.

Keep in mind that a parted out bike when shipped amounts to ~13 separate boxes that need shipping. If I can get within 10-15% of the parted out price for a bike I'll sell it complete due to the time/reward relationship.

miamijim

OFG lets see if we can get a quick parted out guesstimate:

Frame and fork: $200
Seatpost: $50
Seat: $75
FD: $55
RD: $125
Shifters: $20
Wheels: $50
Pedals: $30
Crankset:
Brakeset:
Bars: $10
Stem: $10

jtgotsjets

Do you need the money?

If yes, then part it out.
If no, then don't part it out.

I don't think it has anything to do with morals, but rather whether your motivation is to make money or populate the community with nice riders.

auchencrow

Hi OFG !
That's a stunning bike and they're not making them like that anymore...
Set the price at a level where you KNOW the buyer will appreciate it, and keep it whole for another generation -( even if that's less than you can get for the parts.)

Besides, if you do otherwise, it will bring very bad luck so you will deal only in rusted out gas pipe for the rest of your bike flipping career.

bigbossman 

^^ THIS.

Or, sell it to me so I can strip it and flip it.

Seriously - if it were mine, I'd keep it whole for only two situations - 1)it was my size and I was going to keep it, and 2) I could get close to as much money for it as I would if I went though the time and aggravation of stripping and shipping every part.

Alternate plan - see if one of the CR folks will trade you a vintage De Rosa for it .....

PS - don't do anything till I get there in October. I wanna see it.

mparker326

+1, that is a really nice loaner bike for friends & family.

kpug505

My favorite production bike ever....EVER! Stunning.

P.S. The FD will likely bring $50-$80 plus shipping if it's in fantastic shape...Maybe a bit more. What's weird is they usually pull a bit more then the RD by a couple bucks but the market is somewhat more all over the map with the RD. Sometimes as low as $40 and sometimes pushing $200. I'm guessing it depends on whether it's one meant for a Simplex or Campy dropout and whether or not it has it's special washer thingy for the Campy dropout. There is probably a bit of market fluctuation for the front too based on whether it's for metric tubing or not...

Blue Order

Mine too.

I'd be tempted by a BIN price myself.

RatedZeroHero

I like all things old and original...

if you stripped it to sell it wouldn't be the best thing...

to find something like that in as good as condition as it is is awesome...

to strip it for profit is just greedy...

BTW you asked...

bigbossman 

Nice.

I was sort of with you, right up until the self-righteous, judgemental, personal insult.

Blue Order

Some people would feel that stripping this bike for profit is an insult.

bibliobob

Offer it up for the lowest price you'd be happy with getting (both here and on CL). If it doesn't sell, part it out. Nobody can complain, cuz you gave them an opportunity to buy it. Bear in mind MiamiJim's point about the extra hassle of parting out. Price it for 20% less than you could get by parting out?

Oh, don't forget to take your wife out for a nice dinner Good on her!

fender1

Strip it & flip it. Next!!!!!

Old Fat Guy

BBM, It's in MI, not AZ, so you won't see it.

I would trade it for a 54.5 De Rosa f/f in a heartbeat

The folks here are as cheap or cheaper than I am, so doubtful the alternate plan will work out.

Someone already offered me less than the RD alone would bring at a popular auction site.

If I offended easily I might be at RatedZeroHero's comment, but I've never seen a post from him before.

MiamiJim's estimates are way low. I wonder how many Huret Jubilee long cage RD's he's seen. A quick check of completed auctions tells a different story on almost all the bits.

As for all the 'keep it complete' folks, all I have to say is pony up if it's so dang special, and you want to preserve it.

I'd be nuts to sell it to someone else who would just strip and flip. I know how to disassemble a bike, take pictures and sell on eBay.

I don't need to sell, and don't *need* the money, any more than anyone *needs* money.

I can't ride it, my wife can't ride it, and my kids can't ride it. None of my friends can ride it.

It will be gone from the garage one way or another, sooner or later.

Selling at the low point in an economic downturn is not the best move, unless there is a buyer who appreciates the product.