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Vintage Kent Tandem Price Check

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Vintage Kent Tandem Price Check

Old 10-20-19, 05:48 PM
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NewTandem
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Vintage Kent Tandem Price Check

Hi All,
I'm looking for my first tandem and there's a Vintage Kent 5 speed tandem on the market that seems like a good starter. Any insight as to the market price would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance.







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Old 10-20-19, 05:50 PM
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It looks like it should ride.

Maybe $100 to $150.
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Old 10-20-19, 06:55 PM
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The bikes I've seen with the "Kent" name have all been fairly late-model Walmart-quality crap. That bike looks to be a notch or two above that.
Typcially, the older one-size-fits-all cruiser-style tandems will go for $100-$200.
That one seems to be in uncommonly good condition, so maybe a bit more.
That's assuming brakes and shifting are working okay.
If they "need adjusting", that may be all they need, or they may need "throwing out and replacing with something better that's not necessarily available".
It looks like the rear brake is a drum brake, which is okay, provided it's in good working order- but I have no idea if replacement parts are available for those.
You both need to be medium-height (and not tall) and need to live some place where you don't have a lot of steep hills.
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Old 10-21-19, 07:37 AM
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If your ultimate tandem riding aspirations are for VERY casual, low speed riding on a dedicated, flat bike path/boardwalk; maybe take it as a gift.
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Old 10-28-19, 01:07 PM
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If its going to do what you expect it to do, for what you want to pay... then get it. Like they said its a cruiser for low speed flat stuff. It will probably do that very well for you. the fact that it has multiple speeds makes it better than most of the older cruiser stuff with the single cog. I agree with Clifford and Stephen on the 150 range if you're looking for a market value. Maybe $200 if you're really digging this particular one, like its super local or the color/condition is right. These do suck for going up hills, it can be done tho...

This tandem subforum tends to be high end tandemers, there are not many of us low end folks posting up in here. Not complaining at all, just stating a fact. I have one or two cheap 5 speed tandems and they can be great fun. I have $100 into one, and probably $250 into the mtb rim/fork swap one. This red one actually looks like it has a decently stiff fork, I'd budget in for alloys myself, at least the front one. That way you can stop.

Here is this link I keep posting: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/opctandem.html Meant for older ones, but most of the info still applies.
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Old 10-28-19, 02:11 PM
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Keep in mind when looking at budget Tandem bikes, you can buy brand new cheap tandem bikes on Amazon for $200 to $300.

https://www.amazon.com/Northwoods-Dr.../dp/B00FQT43JE

https://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Duali.../dp/B0183SF38O

I'm not suggesting you necessarily should run out and buy a brand new $279 Tandem, but it gives an idea of where these bikes began.
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Old 10-28-19, 02:46 PM
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Good point. Another thing.. if you like vintage things and you're not in a sooper rush.. You could wait for a 10 or 20 yr older one with more character to pop up for sale.. How much are they asking for the Kent? What area are you in?
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Old 10-29-19, 09:40 AM
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??? In 2005 we bought a brand new Kent tandem as a starter for $200 off the floor, ready to roll, at a local Wal-Mart. Four years later we GAVE it away when we moved cross country and bought a new one (drop shipped unassembled) in our new city $225. I'm not sure why anyone would consider a 'vintage' Kent that will not be able to be serviced with Allen wrenches like modern bikes. No, just no. A vintage Schwinn is one thing. There is no such thing as a vintage Kent. That bike is just old. Period. Not worth the headache of keeping it running. Unless the price is in line with its value. I bought a vintage Schwinn World Tourist (ca. 1984) for exactly $30. I don't think that Kent above is in the same league, but $30 for that bike would be about right. $150 - $200 is simply insane.
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Old 11-04-19, 05:43 PM
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I'm not specifically familiar with Kents, but low end used tandems tend to go for around $150 in my local area. The last Kent Tandem sold on ebay was listed at $225 and went for best offer. Which was probably 150 or 175. I'm not saying that my local market isn't insane. Or ebay either.

Current price on Kent Northwoods is $300 at Walmart, just checked.

My most recent tandem buy was less than $30, but that doesn't mean its market price. OP was asking for market price.
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