RoadWearier

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/5967274010062762/?mibextid=dXMIcH

The ad says it's 21 inches. But that isn't even 54cm. At 5'10 I'm assuming that's probably too small, right? Seller says her husband is 6 ft and it fits him. Is it worth checking out?

​​​​​​Also what is a fair price. They are asking $500 but that seems high to me. Thought I would ask the experts

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bargainguy

Frame looks more like 22.5" than 21". Stem looks raised too high, possibly beyond the minimum insertion line. Maybe hubby took a 22.5" frame and jacked up the stem to make it fit.

bikemig 

Agreed that this looks like a 22.5 so likely a good size for the OP. Hard to guess on value since this is a non drive side pic. Looks to be a 531 frame (or at least main triangle). This is a touring bike so that will push up the value. $500 is on the high side though. Trek did make a 600 series touring bike in the 80s; you can go to vintage Trek site to get a better idea of the bike. And ask the Seller for better pics.

RoadWearier

Thanks all! Good catch on the stem. Apparently it has been completely regreased, new cables, brakes, etc at a local cycle shop, so there's that. I offered $250 but they are looking for $450. Vintage bikes don't sell real well here. In fact neither do road bikes. Only mountain bikes and cheap bikes seem to move. So maybe they will reconsider.

Sedgemop 

Those 600's are nice all rounders. Not worth $500, though. For me, that's a sub-$300 bike. Not sure what the market is like where you are. What I'm seeing is that resale value for mid to upper level sport tourers is on the low side right now. You could possibly make a much lower offer after it sits for awhile.

RoadWearier

Yah it looks like it might fit me. If they'd take $250 I would be very interested

TugaDude

I agree $500 is too much. I'd be thinking under $300.00 in a hot market. I don't know about prices in Chattanooga. It is a quality frame. I always liked the proprietary lugs and the fastback seat collar. Condition is hard to say from that photo. Check it out thoroughly of course.

Jeff Neese

1985 Trek 620 in what looks like a 22.5 inch frame. That's a full 531CS frame, and worth every bit of $500 if it's in good shape. Obviously try to get it for less, but $500 is not too high for a bike of that quality, assuming that it's all there and usable.

Realize that it's a full-blown touring bike, and if that's what you're looking for there aren't too many that are better. Here's the catalog with all the specs.

https://www.vintage-trek.com/images/t...rekTouring.pdf

nesteel 

In a half decent market, a full 531cs framed, cantilever equipped vintage Trek tourer should bring between 350-400. Offer me 250 and I'd laugh.

RoadWearier

Very cool that you have those! Thanks!

bikemig 

Agreed that this looks to be an '85 Trek 620. I dunno if it's worth $500 but this is an awfully nice bike and you certainly aren't overpaying at $500 (or $450). These bikes are rare and good quality. I had an '84 Trek 610 also made of Reynolds 531 CS (Reynolds 531 main frame and chrome moly fork and stays). It's nice tubing and the bike will ride nicely. The original rack is a nice touch as well.

Mad Honk 

At $450 it will be a good purchase. It has had am $80 tune and check up and is a better touring model, probably second only to the 720 which is highly sought by touring folks. It will be a nice ride with a lower bottom bracket that is a bit lower so no harsh bumps etc. while riding. If you can afford the $450 it should be a sound purchase. Smiles, MH

Clang

It's been on the market for a day and they dropped the price $50 to $450. Let it sit on the market for a while. If it sells to someone else, fine- it wasn't meant to be. If it lingers and drops lower, then bite. Your issue was quoting them a much lower price right after they listed it.

Jeff Neese

The only problem with that philosophy is that it can end up being "the one that got away". While you're hemming and hawing and trying to get a better deal, someone else is headed to the guy's house with cash in hand.

I never remember exactly how much I pay for any bike, but I sure remember the ones where I hesitated and lost out on a great bike.

SoCaled 

I sort of agree with All the posts above, even though they give slightly conflicting answers
$450 is fair
I would want to get it for $350-$250, but then might miss out. In LA, if I miss out there will another available in a day or at least in a week. In a smaller market it could be a while before something similar, in the right size, pops up. Go see/ride the bike, confirm it fits, buy it if you love it. If you do like it and you want to make a lower offer (not $250, maybe $400-375) do it in person, cash in hand.

RoadWearier

All good advice, one and all. I guess I was trying to figure out whether it was truly a "great bike" and might be "the one that got away", hence my post. Seems like the consensus is that it is a good one, so I should at least go see it. How does a bike like this ride compared to a lower end aluminum road bike from say Giant or Specialized? Are the components going to be better working and longer lasting than say Claris or Sora or even 105? I'm not challenging I just don't know anything about bikes of this age so I'm trying to gauge the pros and cons. I'm very intrigued about older bikes because it seems like they were less disposable than the bikes of today.

Clang

The hemming and hawing isn't a problem with this philosophy since I stated you have to be OK with the bike selling out from under you for more than you were willing to pay. If the bike sells today for $450, you have to be happy for the seller who gets their husband's dad's bike out of their garage for good money. But I don't think Tennessee is that strong of a market. I don't think the bike is presented that well in the ad. The seller doesn't know it's a 620. They don't include drive-side photos, don't know how to measure the frame, the bike is dingy despite being a through wash away from great condition. If they had taken their photos in the sun, they could have highlighted that Imron paint's sparkle (it looks better in person than it does in photos anyways). The meh saddle, the nasty plastic pedals, the cheap no-label blackwall tires, no hoods- all of that holds the value lower than the initial $500 listing. Bookmark the link and check on it every couple of days. It's already $450, so it's likely to drop further.



Personally I'd rather go after a bike I'm happy to pay full list for. Saves a lot of time and heartache for both parties.

Sedgemop 

Sorry, didn't notice this is a 620 at first. They are legit tourers and worth a it more than the 600. I'd be comfortable in the $350-450 range on this one if everything is as it should be. If I gotta replace consumables, the offer will be the low end of that range, or a little lower.

RB1-luvr

that's a solid, reliable bike. You won't regret buying it. I hope you get it for a price you like.

bikemig 

The parts are just different. They are very good and they last well. No they won't shift as well as more modern Shimano click shifting, but the parts are very good. This is a quality frame with quality parts.

soyabean

Ask yourself this: if the whole world told you this bike was worth $50, and the seller was firm on $500, will you walk away righteous, or feel regret from not getting something affordable that can bring so much joy to your life?

Unless you're in the bike flipping/reselling business, the bike is worth as much as it can make you happy.

RoadWearier

Um...choice "C"? I don't know that I'll like it so I want to be able to sell it and not lose money should I decide I want something else. I don't have the rooms or funds to have 40 million bikes. So I'll walk away non-righteously if I can't get it for the price that I want. Hope that helps.

soyabean

People really ought to stop buying stuff they might not like.

Cash is easier to store than crap that clutters a garage that could have been turned into an otherwise bike shop.

Lots of laffs

shelbyfv

Be nice now. OP is having extraordinary difficulty in finding a bike he can ride.

RoadWearier

Yes I like to buy and sell different bikes. Is that a crime, ******bag?

And what kind of lame piece of crap has nothing to do all day but stalk other people on a bike forum. What a dickbag you are