BikeWonder

I know I'm not the only one noticing this, but it's interesting that C&V parts are becoming more valuable than full build bikes.
Maybe not worth as much, yet, but I've noticed certain prices for C&V parts increasing a lot lately. I remember Suntour Barcons would go for $30-40 and now they're selling for $70-$80;\ on whatever website they're posted on or when you look at vintage Dura-Ace 7700 Rdparts going for almost the price of a brand new, modern RD.
Even the Accushift stuff is increasing in price when it has very limited compatibility with many other parts unless it's part of the Accushift lineup.
I know it's usually supply vs demand and all, but it's also a bit frustrating if I want to make a certain build. It's either modern aesthetic or pay the same amount for a 30-40 year old part with who knows what mileage. I expected parts to decrease in price as well as people giving up the C&V hobbies for retirement or other hobbies.

Not sure where I want to go with this, just feel like sharing my thoughts.

Any similar experiences?

MrK.

I've seen this recently. There was a Centurion Ironman with full 600 groupset on my local Craigslist for $75. I'm a large and it was a small. I've been busy but if it wasn't an hour drive, I would have picked it up and parted it.

mstateglfr 

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-bar-cons.html
These just sold for $35.
Over the last few years, I've sold 3 sets of barcons for $35-50.

On ebay, there are a half dozen or more that are $25-50. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw....TRS0&_sacat=0

There are probably 20 duraace 7700rds on ebay for under $59 which is way less than a current gen r8000 rd. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...arcon&_sacat=0



Vintage drivetrain components may be up a bunch, but what you mentioned doesnt seem to be bad.


as for components being worth more separate than part of a bike, that's common on shimano 600 level components or higher. Parting a bike out at the higher level can often not you more $.

scarlson 

I have had this experience. Couldn't give away a Columbia Sports, so then cut the 3-speed hub out of the wheel and sold that for $20. Same for a steel-rimmed Motobecane. Couldn't give it away, so sold the French freewheel and Huret shifter screws (M5x1, rareish thread) for $30 total. Could probably sell the French BB too. Still don't know what to do with the frames.

My ex girlfriend the economist told me this is called a market failure, when the unregulated market doesn't maximize utility. To my reckoning, it appears to be failing more than it's succeeding these days.

mstateglfr 

Most goods cost more if pieced together. My vehicles would cost probably 6x more if each component were purchased individually. Same with dishwashers, HVAC, etc etc.

wrk101

The biggest discrepancy I am seeing right now is on vintage rigid frame MTBs. I’ve seen (and bought) complete bikes for $40+/-, where the pedals might be worth $75, thumb shifters $40, cranksets $75, wheels $100+, dérailleur sets $50. Depends on the model, brand, etc.

sure early Stumpjumpers bring good money but that second tier bike goes for less. Just sold a set of wheels alone for $150.... I’ve got ten more of the same wheels so hopefully I can clear them out in 2020.

Meanwhile, desirable vintage road bike parts need to be towards the higher end quality wise. So mid grade or lower vintage road bikes tend to not be a good source of parts. Now sometimes you will find Cyclone GT RDs and bar end shifters.

Ive sold a lot of Suntour barcons on eBay and I never gotten anywhere close to $80 except a single set I had that was new in original package.

SurferRosa

I'm looking for a 700c wheelset for a flip, but I'm not about to spring for a set listed in the bike parts section of craigs. It's almost always a better option to search for a donor bike in the bicycles section and sell off the remainder.

Slightspeed

As a bike lover and sometimes builder, I cringe when I think of original, functional bikes broken up just for a few more $$$, but when I find the parts I need for sale it's a happy day. 😃 Sort of like eating a cheese burger, but not wanting to think about the slaughter house. Both the bikes I've built were from stripped and left for dead, Super Course frames, a '73 and a '78.

"Free" frame found in scrap metal pile.

$20 local CL frame.

Finished build #1.

Finished build #2.

cinco

Seems like a lot of people are more interested in money than vintage bikes.

crank_addict

Disagree with the OP. The market for vintage road bikes is way down, complete bikes and parts.

With diligent fingering a keyboard with eBay, and some patience I find parts are far lower priced than only a few years ago. Same with bike swap meets.

Even the rare items, CLB Pro brakes to Campy Cambio Corsa and early Simplex are now circulating for lower prices. Just last month watched a full and nice condition Cambio Corsa setup including hubs sell for $360. Mint CLB Pro brakeset for $39. Today I just scored a Super Record bb for $12 shipped.

Suntour barcons? Patience pays and $25 is not uncommon. Premium tubulars? Two recent and seperate transactions ~~~ FMB n.o.s. $75 pair shipped. Dugast n.o.s. $80 pair shipped. That's for pair's!

Of course there's the crazy asking and items that are listed on Craigslist and eBay, often for YEAR's, but who cares? That's not dictating the market. Only what sells is the true telltale.

Lastly, for those who think certain and prominent vintage bike parts / eBay sellers whom specifically had long offered at absurd high prices, its now the time to re-consider them. Recently acquired excellent Campy S.Record parts at WAY under any others. I put my offer in, we went two rounds of countering and it was done. Pleased.

The buy it now is screwy too for sellers. One seller that I've purchased a fair amount from will list as auction, buy it now and or best offer with a very low and miniscule start price. So, in the past, I've put in a best offer far HIGHER than his listed opening. Seller declines. OK then, I follow the auction and have been top bidder for way BELOW my first offer to the seller. And... consider the other bidders were below me??? Lol.

madpogue 

The other two components (pun slightly intended) of the parts vs. whole value equation are space and shipping. Buying a whole (or nearly whole) bike for a few parts may be cheaper than buying those parts, but the shipping cost can flip that equation. Also, I'm sure a lot of people have to consider whether they can store so many old bikes just as parts mules, or commit the time to removing the parts, compared to buying parts removed and (usually) cleaned up and nicely boxed.

Slightspeed

On the two Raleighs, above, except for nearly new Brooks saddles (Ebay) tires, and wheels, one wheel set gifted by a friend, and the other, spares that I already had, I think I have less than $100 in actual hardware parts purchases for each bike.

Last ride 76 

Hey Bill, speaking of which, after your PM, I picked up that $150 Aegis listed in "are you looking" (which unfortunately may just be very pretty carbon toast), and went on CL and found a Voodoo Hoodoo nearby for $50, while I was there the owner asked me if I wanted a Trek Elante for another $25... 531 DB, how bad can it be?

crank_addict

In response to shipping whole bike's or wheels, currently Ship Bikes is the answer.



Though if the seller is having difficulty coordinating or making it happen with that shipper, you might have to re-consider. Its just the way it is.

madpogue 

^^^^^ Sign of the times. When the bike co-op / kitchen movement started 15-ish years ago (well, that's when it started HERE, anyway....), a '90s Trek 820 (for example) was 10-ish years old. Now, it's pushing 30. So as time has passed, the co-ops have had to move their "window", of what they're able/willing to work on, forward. As their staff/volunteers turn over, fewer will be familiar with the bikes we like so much. This leaves an ever-increasing number of ever-aging bikes out for scrap. What may emerge from this, if we think of the co-op world as a "secondary" market, what may emerge from this trend will be a sort of "tertiary" market, most likely not one with any organization, just made of people like us trying to keep alive the remaining stock of what we consider great old bikes, feeding off what even the co-ops and thrifts don't want. Will that self-organize into yet another movement, another layer in the market? Stay tuned.....

BTW, making one good old MTB out of two otherwise neglected/rejeected bikes is a LOT more "logical" than kicking them to the curb. Discarding them might be the "popular" next step, but by no means "logical".

ramzilla

It's hard to break even on refurbished bikes. Everybody is looking for something super low priced. Bikes that I do absolutely no work on are the easiest to sell.