alecjamesjones8

Hello I am new to this forum but believe I have one of the most original pristine and rideable 1984 stumpjumper sports out there! Original ground control tires hold air and have lots of life, no rust, rides like a dream, just trying to determine the value of it, don't know how to upload pics but here it is.

Siu Blue Wind

Hey welcome to BF, alec!

I'll post a couple of pics here so that people can look at it and give you an idea of how much it's worth.

One thing: Please re read the forum guidelines that you agreed to when you signed up here. It would be very helpful for you as a guest here. Thank you.


Here are a couple of pics of your bike:

cs1

The front derailleur is not original. Did an 84 Sport have QRs or bolt on axels? My 84 standard has bolt on specialized branded hubs.

alecjamesjones8

Oh thank you so much that is very helpful of you, I really appreciate it, I have been reading this forum and love it so I decided to register, it's very insightful, everyone is very friendly, I do not have a cpu just an older cell phone so it makes navigating and reading things very difficult but I will be sure to reread. Thanks much and God bless

alecjamesjones8

The fd says mountain lx I was told the bike is all original just how it was purchased but I do not know much about mtbs, I just saw this in a garage during a yard sale and thought it was unique, I had to beg him to part with it and he asked $140 but all I had was $120

alecjamesjones8

Would you mind maybe putting a few more of the pictures up since I don't know how and my link isn't allowed

triathloner

It's worth about $400 on Ebay. That's what I got for an identical bike a year ago.

alecjamesjones8

Would I be better off parting it out and selling it that way? I've seen a lot of these components go for almost half that. The original ground control tires recently sold for $200 alone

gomango

These are neat bikes.

My wife gets offers for hers constantly.

Sell it to someone that wants the whole enchilada.

bikemig 

I think you'd be extremely lucky to find a buyer who is willing to pay $200 for old tires likes these. There are collectors and then there are extreme collectors I guess.

It would be a shame to bust up the bike esp. given that there is a market for older mountain bikes.

gomango

Agreed.

I have two or three sets of these in the garage.

Bring your checkbook folks.

alecjamesjones8

Alright you guys I appreciate the input, I was not insinuating that I had any intention of selling the tires separately, I find the charm of it to be its cohesiveness and originality, I'm just asking is $400 a reasonable asking price? Too high? Too low? I'd hate to short change myself, we have a regional bike swap coming up here, what would be a fair starting price for me to list it at as a "best case scenario" price point? The avocet gel seat is flawless, seat post is qr and original, front hub is specialized I believe rear suntour, sugino at cranks I think, suntour mountech derailuers obviously, araya wheels shiny and true, everything is mechanically sound, no rust, foam grips are without signs of wear, this is one sweet ride in a size that is conducive to the average to slightly above average male frame. What should I ask for it? Would I be better off finding and replacing the fd and rd with deore? The shifters and cranks with the higher end originals? Or keep as is? Thoughts? Not trying to be profit centric but I am more into vintage road bikes than mtb, although I must say the bi plane fork, lug work, and curved (ever so subtly) chainstays are truly a gorgeous master stroke of detail and craftsmanship I have not previously observed on a type of bike that usually throws form to the wind in the face of function. Definitely an eye opener and in owning it I have begun to seek out older mtbs in the like such as rockhopper comps, alpina unos, high sieras, some gts etc!

alecjamesjones8

Just got back from a little trip on her in the crisp morning air and she's an absolute treat to putt around on, so smooth and effortless! Covered a surprising amount of ground with very little effort!

alecjamesjones8

was your bike set up similarly, and about as clean triathloner? If not would upgrading certain aspects of the bike help or hinder its desirability? Thanks

bikemig 

The thing you have to realize is that there are vintage MTBs (late 80s, early 90s) that are at least as good if not "better" in terms of frame and parts but will not command $400. I tend to think that this puts a ceiling on the price.

The reason this bike can command a premium is its age and condition. I'd ask for $400 at the swap meet and be willing to accept less. Maybe you can get more on eBay but then you have to deal with eBay.

Location matters a lot. In a large city, it will be much easier to sell the bike at a premium price. If in a smaller city, you'd probably have to eBay it to get a premium price. I see high end vintage mbs locally going for a lot, lot less than you are asking but they are not quite as old as this is either.

howsteepisit

Given this comment, what do you think its worth?

mparker326

Why not just keep it and ride it? To get $400 you would need to put it on eBay which means that they get a 15% cut. Also you have to be able to have good skills in disassembling and packing bikes if you go this route.

The value is not in the components, but the entire package together. Mountain LX was only around for a few years in the late 80's. Mountech rear derailleurs had a tendency to break and ruin your spokes when they went.

triathloner

Min was very clean and set up the same. All original except for the tires.