Quality Vintage road bikes on Ebay going for peanuts?
#1
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Quality Vintage road bikes on Ebay going for peanuts?
Seen a nice 1990s Columbus genius tubed road bike with Ultegra 6500 9 group on FBMP for £150 so thought I would do some research on prices on ebay and was shocked to see how little vintage quality road bikes (531 colunbus etc) were going for things like mercian holdsworths bikes etc seem to go for around £30-90!
A few years ago I'm sure these bikes were making several £100s?
Has the market collapsed, Is it a sign of the times with money tight?
A few years ago I'm sure these bikes were making several £100s?
Has the market collapsed, Is it a sign of the times with money tight?
#2
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Sounds like maybe the market is getting over the idea that all old bikes are worth something. For too long many old bikes were listed with ridiculously high prices just because they were old bikes and had similar styling to bikes that were actually great bikes of their time.
Though you are in a different market area. So I don't know what the market history has been where you are at.
Though you are in a different market area. So I don't know what the market history has been where you are at.
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People want to be able to eat their cheese stuffed crusts with one hand while steering their fat-tired e-bike with the other.
That is, until they're forced to buy another e-bike in two years after their current one fails without ability to be serviced.
That is, until they're forced to buy another e-bike in two years after their current one fails without ability to be serviced.
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Seen a nice 1990s Columbus genius tubed road bike with Ultegra 6500 9 group on FBMP for £150 so thought I would do some research on prices on ebay and was shocked to see how little vintage quality road bikes (531 colunbus etc) were going for things like mercian holdsworths bikes etc seem to go for around £30-90!
A few years ago I'm sure these bikes were making several £100s?
Has the market collapsed, Is it a sign of the times with money tight?
A few years ago I'm sure these bikes were making several £100s?
Has the market collapsed, Is it a sign of the times with money tight?
Quite possibly we're looking on different continents.
I bought a Holdsworth Cyclone frame+forks in march for £127 on UK Ebay.
A really good feature of Ebay is looking at completed deals, but I think it only goes back about 3 months.
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We should ask the C&V folks what is up .....
#10
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Used bikes have categories, and ranges of condition, and knowledge of buyers:
old and broken, cheap components.
old and working - sentimental?
maybe "collectible"
"Collectible"
Market size shrinks as prices increase. Desirability and market size are the determinants of price. A genuine buyer (not low-******/flipper) is probably always right.
and 'Yes' to the point that the definition of BICYCLE has expanded [by many] to include e-bikes. A big new market opportunity, driven by demand. Lots of used e-stuff coming on the 2&3rd hand market.
*** Maybe this qualifies - Made in Taiwan with splined and triple butted chromoly frame; Yesterday, purchased a used Miyata 300 Elevation = $85, needed a quick screwdriver tune-up on fr der - Yellow [with black splatter on rear triangle] hardtail cyclocross, with above top tube cable routing, in average kinda condition bike. Pedals and bottle with cage included. Small market Grand Junction & neighboring towns.
cheaper to buy than ship one way a bike from home.
old and broken, cheap components.
old and working - sentimental?
maybe "collectible"
"Collectible"
Market size shrinks as prices increase. Desirability and market size are the determinants of price. A genuine buyer (not low-******/flipper) is probably always right.
and 'Yes' to the point that the definition of BICYCLE has expanded [by many] to include e-bikes. A big new market opportunity, driven by demand. Lots of used e-stuff coming on the 2&3rd hand market.
*** Maybe this qualifies - Made in Taiwan with splined and triple butted chromoly frame; Yesterday, purchased a used Miyata 300 Elevation = $85, needed a quick screwdriver tune-up on fr der - Yellow [with black splatter on rear triangle] hardtail cyclocross, with above top tube cable routing, in average kinda condition bike. Pedals and bottle with cage included. Small market Grand Junction & neighboring towns.
cheaper to buy than ship one way a bike from home.
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Last edited by Wildwood; 11-02-23 at 02:02 PM.
#11
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The values of C&V parts and bikes have definitely come down this last half year or so. In fact, the entire bicycle (ie. non-e-bike) market has basically crashed. Even Shimano reported 25% lower sales this year.
Not a good time for people who make a living from this industry. But it is a great and wonderful time to be buying old bikes and parts.
Not a good time for people who make a living from this industry. But it is a great and wonderful time to be buying old bikes and parts.
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I don’t know; the components I like have gone up in cost. I bought a pair of DA 7700 25th Anniversary brake calipers for $135 last year; they’re double now; same for a rear derailleur. A titanium rear axle I got a couple years ago for less than $100 is $120 today.
#13
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If you have followed car auctions over the years like Barrett Jackson, you no doubt have seen prices on standard classic cars plummet while the true ‘collector car’ and exotics have increased. Part of the reason is that there aren’t as many buyers (could be because they are dying off and young people are interested in cars they knew and lusted for as teens). Tastes change especially with the advent of e-bikes, carbon go-fast bikes and the popularity of gravel and mountain biking.
Sure there will always be collectors out there looking for the hens-teeth and good investments, but the older “classic” stuff, just like with cars, will just be seen as obsolete stuff that grandpa had. Just my opinion.
Sure there will always be collectors out there looking for the hens-teeth and good investments, but the older “classic” stuff, just like with cars, will just be seen as obsolete stuff that grandpa had. Just my opinion.
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There is tons of old bikes that are fine bikes but maybe don't have the provenance to them. I won't spend $500 on a Bugorulo but maybe Pinarello because I remember Big Mig riding one. Even if let's say the Bugorulo has the same tubing and similar components, that Pinarello has more provenance and the Bugorulo is a totally fake name I made up and you probably thought maybe I should look them up. It was founded by Vincenzo Bugorulo in Florence in 1956 because his son wanted to compete in the Giro and couldn't afford some of the pricier frames but Vincenzo was a welder by trade and had a friend who worked for Campagnolo...
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Seen a nice 1990s Columbus genius tubed road bike with Ultegra 6500 9 group on FBMP for £150 so thought I would do some research on prices on ebay and was shocked to see how little vintage quality road bikes (531 colunbus etc) were going for things like mercian holdsworths bikes etc seem to go for around £30-90!
A few years ago I'm sure these bikes were making several £100s?
Has the market collapsed, Is it a sign of the times with money tight?
A few years ago I'm sure these bikes were making several £100s?
Has the market collapsed, Is it a sign of the times with money tight?
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#16
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I don't get 'the hard to find parts' idea. It may be hard and/or expensive to find exact replacements for failed parts, and the choice of 27" tires and rims is restricted, but I haven't had any problem finding parts for my 50 year old MKM.
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#17
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It would be nice if you linked some of these cheap bikes, I window shop a bit when I'm bored but haven't seen these really cheap bikes.
Quite possibly we're looking on different continents.
I bought a Holdsworth Cyclone frame+forks in march for £127 on UK Ebay.
A really good feature of Ebay is looking at completed deals, but I think it only goes back about 3 months.
Quite possibly we're looking on different continents.
I bought a Holdsworth Cyclone frame+forks in march for £127 on UK Ebay.
A really good feature of Ebay is looking at completed deals, but I think it only goes back about 3 months.
531 beeza £26
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355063158...Bk9SR6DEitvyYg
Holdsworth £80
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266428437...Bk9SR5zEitvyYg
Raliegh ritmo 531 £80
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/196019950...Bk9SR7C00dryYg
Raliegh pro race 501 £25
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186111309...Bk9SR6aHrtryYg
74 Carlton cafe racer £57
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235208629...Bk9SR4z4spTyYg
Youngs 80s 531 racer £52
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175976611...Bk9SR4z4spTyYg
Don Farrell Racer early £18
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285470779...Bk9SR-DYx4zyYg
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Well, the UK did suffer a big inflation shock and stalled economic growth after the Ukraine War. So I am not too surprised that discretionary spending on classic bikes crashed.
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#19
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for the american version of ebay... the vintage bikes look reasonable and for a good price until you check out the shipping...
most do only local pickup and if there is a shipping option, it doubles the price.
most do only local pickup and if there is a shipping option, it doubles the price.
#20
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Picked up a Colnago Elegant for slightly under $350 just the Monday before last.
Just finished stripping it, will flog the Athena group set clean it and build it up with Record 10S to see if I like it.
If not it's out the door and on to another
Just finished stripping it, will flog the Athena group set clean it and build it up with Record 10S to see if I like it.
If not it's out the door and on to another
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531 BSA £26 - looks like Campy large flange hubs + other bits
Don Farrell Racer early £18 - Shimano 600 RD and possibly other bits.
Not that I'm suggesting buying them for the bits.
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So I was looking at a C&V bike on CL. Asking price was (still is) substantially in excess of any reasonable price for the thing. Seller contends that it has great sentimental value. I attempted to explain to him that the sentimental value was only for him, not potential buyers. He was oblivious. That was a year or so ago. It's still for sale.
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#25
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Here is italian columbus/campagnolo road bike that went for £90 seems a bit of a bargain?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225802384...Bk9SR-DYx4zyYg
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225802384...Bk9SR-DYx4zyYg