lightning60

I tried posting this in my local classifieds and, unsurprisingly, didn't get any responses. Photos and description are at the link below:

https://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218...863988&cat=409

1. What is the best site to advertise something like this?

2. Am I out of my mind to ask $500? I think this is a unique bike, but it is only worth what someone will pay me. I would really like to replace this bike with a dedicated hardtail MTB.

Doohickie

Yeah, $500 is way too much. I bet you won't get $200 for it. I would think that for a Herc to have any collectible value at all, it would need to be a Birmingham produced one. Plus, it would be worth more if it were a 3-speed. The headbadge looks like it has zero connection with the old Hercules company. Frankly it looks like a cheap knock-off.

Mos6502

Rideable Replicas sells these new for $200 or so. So you're asking around $300 too much.

The other thing is that a new one of these costs like what? About $70-$80 tops in India?

Poguemahone

+2.

Mos6502

I think it'd be worth more than $75. It is basically new, and it is pretty unique. But I don't think it's worth any more than any run of the mill vintage 3 speed. If they could get $100-$125 for it I think they'd have gotten a pretty fair deal. If a new one costs $200, and that's what you want, you're not going to find many used ones in the U.S.

zukahn1 

I'm with the other guys here about $200 is tops for this bike. Its remake made in India while rare in the US not a rare bike cheap copies of English style single and 3 speeds have been sold in India since the late 50's with few changes. This is a bike with iffy 50's 60's tech made in India fairly recently while interesting it is basically a cheap single speed cruiser. For the $500 price tag this guy is asking you could buy a couple really nice true vintage English bikes. I went to look at near perfect late 50's Superbe Raliegh with everything orginall full extras pump, good Brooks saddle, working lights, dyno hub, rack and tool kit with bag at a estate sale and it was only going for $325.

Mr S Middlemore

Not just a cheap copy, it's a legitimate bike. TI owned most of the UK bike industry and their Indian branch carried on making Hercules and BSA. I did check out the rupee/pound equivalent a few years back on one of their bikes and it was around £29 new. Any big money you get would be the shipping cost factor.

Mos6502

It was legitimately part of TI, but I haven't seen anybody who'd agree that the Indian produced bikes were of equal quality to the British made ones. Even just looking at the photos I can see blobs of brazing material around the lugs which doesn't seem to reflect well on the quality of construction. The bike really isn't comparable to a Raleigh DL-1 for example. I'm sure it's a perfectly serviceable bike, but it is cheap.

Mr S Middlemore

Yes, build quality's another matter!!

tmac100

Made in India "old Raleigh style roadsters sell there for less than $100. Don't kid yourself - they are strong to handle 3rd world roads. On poor Indian (aka potholed dirt) roads they will outlast your carbon-fiber job with Campy gear, but then..

For about $110 US I can get a brand new one here in the Arabian Gulf region where I work. It will weigh about 40 lbs and will carry a goat or a bag of cement powder with no trouble at all - ALL DAY to some remote town/village on a sandy road. Try that with your carbon-fiber bike with Shimano/Campy gear.

FWIW: my Timex gives better time than my Rolex.

0.2HP

I have a made in India Atlas rod brake bike I got off of Craig's list for I think $120. I watched the bike sit there for months with the price falling, before going to see it and offering 2/3 of the lowest asking price. As said many times on this site, rare does not always mean valuable.

The bike means something to me because I rode one for 2 years in the Peace Corps, so I was happy to pay above FMV. If you want to sell yours for more than FMV you are going to have to find a buyer like me.

Also, as far as being rugged enough for 3rd world roads, These bike break all the time. In the countries where they are popular there is a repair shop in every village and almost every city street corner. Since parts are rare or non existent in the US, I ride mine very gently.