pinch1967

I have the opportunity to buy a 1980,s Eddy Merckx in great condition or a Schwinn Paramount , or a Colnago all in my size and in great condition and all about the same time frame . which would be the best invest if i chose to sell at a later date ? thanks for any input .

cb400bill

Way too little info to give you a usable answer. Each vendor made so many models, with a varied level of the components, that any answer is just a shot in the dark.

I suggest that you buy the bike that you like and not really worry about any potential future return.

pinch1967

I probably take the Eddy merckx its full super record but the other two are both high end . and ya i would always go with the best ride for me thanks !!

pinch1967

picture of the Eddy Merckx what would your evaluation be ??

Bandera

"which one is the better investment ?"

None, old bicycles are not investments.
Old bikes, toasters or paperweights are expenses.
A stock or bond index fund is an investment.

If you enjoy riding old bicycles buy the one that fits you best, or in a color that you like and have at it.

-Bandera

randyjawa 

Not the way | see it. Vintage bicycles can be, given the correct circumstances, an excellent "have your cake and eat it too", investments.

pinch1967

Thanks Randy I was thinking the same .a nice high end bike is a great ride at the same time its a good investment for the right bike . the bike i want to buy is a Eddy Merckx Professional with all campagnolo but the price is quite high . so i thought this forum would be able to give me a good guideline on what to pay for this bike . no one wants to overpay ...thanks agian !

72Paramount

800 to me would be an I want it price. Anything less than that would be a bargain. Getting into the 1200 range I think you reach the point of no return. If it were a fully pantographed group the numbers would go up a few hundred.

italianbiker

I purchased a bike for 400.00, sold it for 1200.00 and rode it for 3 years and lost 18 pounds. Now that was a good investment.

Bikes are an investment in your health and if purchased properly, most of the money can be recouped. Thats why this forum is here, if it were not for the guys and gals that frequent the forum. I certainly would have overpaid for most of my bikes. Now if he said, which bike can I buy and send my daughter to college in 4 years, well.....

Pinch1967, also take into account component upgrades and mismatched parts. A lot of times I want to get a bike back to being period correct and if its had too many upgrades I avoid it. Look for original paint and original parts to help you decide. Post more pictures of the other bikes.

0.2HP

Buying low and selling high. This can apply a couple of different ways to C&V bicycles.

You can find decent bike at a yard sell or dump for nothing or next to nothing, fix/clean it up and market it correctly to sell it for fair market value. This takes time and work, not to mention driving around.

You can buy a well made, well know bike that is not being made any more (I.e. a Paramont.) Since supply is limited and may be decreasing, prices should go up as long as demand stays the same or increases. It takes a fairly long time for prices to go up this way, and you have to keep the bike in at least the condition you brought it in to see a return.

A third way is ride the whims of the collector market. A few years ago PX-10s were hot, but now this forum reports prices are falling. For some reason anything that says Nuvo Record on it is selling for pretty much what ever the seller is asking. Not sure why but some people are willing to pay 3 time more for a seat post made in Italy then one made any place else, that does exactly the same thing.

KonAaron Snake 

Best investment depends on your age, savings, risk tolerance and income - for some it's a ROTH IRA, for others it's CDs.

Paramounts, Colnago and Merckx are big names...all will have some value. It depends on the age, parts and models. 80s paramounts are likely the low man of the three.

PS - bikes aren't investments.

daf1009

+1

Bikes are not investments...yes, you may very well be able to recoup your money...or sell it for more than you purchased it...but...I would never "invest" in a bike or bikes...if you need your money to appreciate (which is what investing does!), then this is not the route.

Now...that being said...buy the bike that fits you best and rides the best for you. Any of the three that you mention will, most likely, stay pretty flat on value (i.e. not depreciate)...thus...at some point, you could, probably, get your money back. But...the "investment" is in the riding of said bike...and working on your health...now, on that front, a bike is great! But...the RIDING is the investment...the bike is just the vehicle.

Flog00

Bikes can be a great investment.
An investment in your health and happiness.
Monetary, not so much.

jet sanchEz

It depends on the price, of course, but Colnagos hold their value better than any other bike, in my experience.

KonAaron Snake 

Probably enhanced by them still having significant market precense.

Spaghetti Legs 

For the Eddy Merckx Pro, based on that one pic, a ballpark FMV would be $1100 or so. Looks to be in good condition with a Super Record group. If you're "investing" , you would need to pay less than that as IMO, many bikes will, if maintained, hold their value, maybe keep pace with inflation. Investment is a loose term and I think, from the standpoint of resale value down the road, you will do better spending $1K on a vintage Eddy Merckx, Colnago, etc than on a modern Fuji carbon fiber with Tiagra or some such.

pinch1967

Thanks everyone for the great advice on this post !

AlexanderOgden

I would choose Eddy Merckx

SJX426 

I like the EM. Already have a Colnago. A paramount would need to be a really good buy. Others are higher on my list.

gkamiran

How did you manage to sell it at the triple price?

tkamd73 

Both those bikes will hold their value, at least until all us CVers die off. Not much investment value money wise, most bikes aren’t unless you steal them. As a previous post mentioned though, great investment in health and well being. As for me, I’ve found that purchasing some object with an eye towards future value, really destroys enjoyment of such.
Tim

sloar 

For me bikes are like a bank account that I can enjoy. More than a few times we have been short of cash for vacations or some important bill. I can sell a bike or two and problem solved. We took our kids to Disneyland a few years ago all paid by bike sales.

Miele Man

After FIVE YEARS the buyer most likely has made their choice. LOL

Love these resurrected Zombie threads.

Cheers

xiaoman1 

Me too...wonder how the portfolio is doing?
Ben

Drillium Dude 

Probably pretty good if he went with the Colnago

(Just doing my part to get this thread to 2 pages)

DD