1987 Lotus Esprit
05-21-19, 05:34 AM
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1987 Lotus Esprit
Hi All, I recently came across this Lotus Esprit at a thrift store & was attracted to the Shimano 600 bits. After I got it home it appears all original with little wear. Is there still a market for these? It's to small for me to ride, so my question is: should I sell it whole or part it out? These photos are pretty much as bought. Thanks!
05-21-19, 06:02 AM
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Is there a market? You bet. It has softened up a lot in the last four or five years. Very clean for a thrift store find.
The 600 parts on that bike likely exceed the value of the whole. I have a similarly equipped bike to this, in similar condition (different brand). I am struggling with that myself. Do I maximize return? If so, in my market, the crankset and derailleurs will bring more on ebay than the complete bike. Then I have the wheels, headset and brakes all have value.
Cincy market is probably similar to mine (soft). I guess I might try to sell it locally for $200 (in my market, I might find a buyer, I might only get $125 for it), see if you get a buyer. If not, part it out for $300 to $350.... You would be taking $100 less for the convenience. But it you have to discount it more, then the part out option gets more and more enticing. While the market for complete bikes has cratered, the market for parts is still very good. In my case, the $125 price is most likely locally, so a part out is a strong likelihood.
I hate doing the part out route, but imagine a local buys it for $125, and then HE parts it out, and pockets a $200 profit...... Realize buyers have the right to do whatever they want with the bike, regardless of the story they tell you.
The 600 parts on that bike likely exceed the value of the whole. I have a similarly equipped bike to this, in similar condition (different brand). I am struggling with that myself. Do I maximize return? If so, in my market, the crankset and derailleurs will bring more on ebay than the complete bike. Then I have the wheels, headset and brakes all have value.
Cincy market is probably similar to mine (soft). I guess I might try to sell it locally for $200 (in my market, I might find a buyer, I might only get $125 for it), see if you get a buyer. If not, part it out for $300 to $350.... You would be taking $100 less for the convenience. But it you have to discount it more, then the part out option gets more and more enticing. While the market for complete bikes has cratered, the market for parts is still very good. In my case, the $125 price is most likely locally, so a part out is a strong likelihood.
I hate doing the part out route, but imagine a local buys it for $125, and then HE parts it out, and pockets a $200 profit...... Realize buyers have the right to do whatever they want with the bike, regardless of the story they tell you.
05-21-19, 11:16 AM
#3
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That's a very interesting looking bike. A Lotus with what appears to be a butt-welded aluminum frame. Nice looking dropouts & 600 series components. Good size for a small rider. If it weighs less than 21lbs. you should sell it complete. There's probably a young woman out there somewhere that would like an inexpensive bike for a Triathalon or Century competition. Right now the market is very soft where I'm at. Nothing seems to sell until it gets down below $200.
05-21-19, 12:45 PM
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It is a real nice bike as whole actually nice enough for a Small rider to use as a beginners competition bike or as a trainer. I would say list locally and in close by markets for $300 to start and you can probably get $250.
