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Is this a good deal?

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Is this a good deal?

Old 04-29-09, 07:58 PM
  #1  
Belgian Cobbles
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Is this a good deal?

I am sure these questions come up all the time ...

I have been racing the couple road races I do each year on a crappy cross bike. I have fun but would like to step up a bit. Happily someone is willing to sell me their used bike.

The bike I am asking for help on is a 2005 Giant TCR (composite 1). It is in excellent shape (well maintained, never crashed, no blemishes etc.) and has several upgrades. It is full Dura Ace instead of Ultegra. It has new Bontrager Race Lites instead of 2005 Ksyrium Elites. And it has a Selle Italia Carbon/ti saddle as well as a carbon post. Seller is asking for $1400. Considering the wheels and gruppo alone it seems like a good deal. I am not a rich person so this seems like a good way to get onto a nice (albeit older) bike at about the upper end of what I am willing to shell out.

Thoughts? Thanks!
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Old 04-30-09, 02:15 AM
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Bontrager Race Lites are not an upgrade over Ksyrium Elites. They are both about the same, in my opinion. I, myself, would prefer the Mavic wheelset over the Bontragers. You might want to consider your source when determining what is an "upgrade" and what is not. I certainly would be reluctant to take an eager seller's estimations of value at face value.YMMV.
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Old 04-30-09, 07:13 AM
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n00bL35
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If he's asking $1400, I would offer 1050 and bargain from there. If it fits, that's a pretty neat deal.
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Old 04-30-09, 04:28 PM
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As long as it fits correctly, sounds like a fair price. As a comparison, I bought a 2005 Giant TCR C3, Shimano 105, ridden about 2500-3000 miles(can't remember what I was told) last summer for $600.00/ mint condition.

Good luck!
Chris
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Old 04-30-09, 06:23 PM
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Okay, well I am glad to hear that this seems like a fair deal. The seller is actually a bike fit specialist with a local shop and a good guys so I am pretty sure that I will get a good fit. In fact I suppose that could be added to the value of the bike. In my book, a good fit consult has a lot of value.

Funny about the wheels. Oringinally it had Ksyriums on it and that was part of the appeal, because I had just bought some Ksyriums for 'cross racing and I figured I could sell them as I would be getting a pair with this bike. Well the wheels got loaned out and wrecked. So now he has switched to the Bontragers.
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Old 05-03-09, 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Belgian Cobbles
Okay, well I am glad to hear that this seems like a fair deal. The seller is actually a bike fit specialist with a local shop and a good guys so I am pretty sure that I will get a good fit. In fact I suppose that could be added to the value of the bike. In my book, a good fit consult has a lot of value.
Well???? Is there a new ride int he garage yet?

Chris
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