WhereArePeople

Hello everyone, I am looking to purchase a 1994 specialized M2 Pro off craigslist. It is in fairly good condition with some scuffs and scrapes. I have him down to 400$. What does anyone here think? Thanks in advance!!!
boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/d/somerville-specialized-m2-pro-60cm-m2x/7625593107.html

SoCaled 

I would say that $400 is high for that bike even if it had been cleaned and tuned. As it sits I would say $150 would be closer to a fair price. That said if you are buying it to ride, and you like it, and it fits, and do your own work/maintenance, and you are not worried about resale value . . . Boston has a big bike market, I am sure you can find a nice ready to ride/clean bike in the $400 range.

WhereArePeople

Thanks for your response! I do like the bike, I do my own work, but it's way over priced. It's bike season right now and I'm afraid I'm paying a premium. I'm going to think about it.

Anyone else's opinions I would appreciate!

cb400bill

Pic Assist

plonz 

90s aluminum not very sought after on these pages. For someone looking for a mid-level race bike with STI shifting sub $500, this bike is worth a lot more than the $150 mentioned above. Sure it’s got gunk but probably rides well as it sits. The advertised $600 is too high. The $400 you’ve offered is maybe $50 high but not unreasonable IMO.

georges1

I testrode one many many years ago, harsh ride, ideal if you are a sprinter or appreciate stiff frames. The frame was made in the US alongwith a kinesis fork.

georges1

This one is not a mid level but was the top of the range specialized offerings made of M2 Metal Matrix and handbuilt in the USA. It was the same tubing used on the sworks, fsr and the epic MTBs in the late1990's

WhereArePeople

Thank you all for your response!!

I decided to wait for something a little more comfortable, and a better deal.

plonz 

Good to know! I wrote it off as mid level because of the tricolor groupset and no sworks badging. The more I get educated about this bike the more legit it becomes in my eyes. Cool ride.

curbtender

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bi...625593107.html
I see they are a reseller. For comparison, here is a decent deal...
https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bi...626163945.html

DMC707

agree - I wouldn’t sweat $400 if it fit and was well maintained and ready to go. Heavens sake I just bought a bottle of champagne for a “one and done” graduation party gift that was darn near that much $$ and it will last 30 minutes, not 30 years

plonz 

So true. Sure hope it was good bubbly. I am certainly guilty of imbibing expensive spirits and then fretting over whether I can get that Tange Prestige-tubed DX-5000 for $100 instead of $150. It’s my own sort of C&V hypocrisy.

DMC707

Dom Perignon 2013. Since before that, I probably hadn’t had a bottle of champagne over $30 or so, I don’t have much to compare it to , but I concede it was a delightful extravagance.

now I do enjoy a nice tequila and Don Julio dark is my current favorite, served half and half with ice and seltzer water - it’s smooth sippin’ and straight trippin’ (as the kids might say) At $50 for a bottle that might last me 6 months, it’s a bargain compared to a champagne party. Oh well, every woman out there should have an opportunity to feel like a princess on their special nights , and sometimes “just because”, - whether that’s a special grad party, or just making a surprise dinner sometime
‘

wrk101

If the bike is being sold by a good reseller, one who does thorough and quality work, then the bike is worth that amount, particularly for someone who doesn't have the time/tools/aptitude/interest to do the work themselves. I bet if you got a bike for "FREE" from a neighbor, that needed a full rebuild, and took it to a nearby bike shop, you could easily spend $400 for that work.

People mistake bike tune ups with rebuilds. LBS tune ups around here are basically simple cable adjustments. Fine for a once a season refresh but not nearly enough for a bike that has been sitting a long time.

One challenge is finding a good reseller. A lot of resellers in my area do the bare minimum or less. So called DKO flippers may misrepresent their bikes as ready to ride, fully serviced. My basic rule is if I can see items clearly NOT serviced, then I assume what I cannot see likely didn't get serviced either. I see a lot of bikes I think are misrepresented.

Based on the one picture above, I would not say this bike has been fully serviced, so I would pass.

I am more than happy to buy bikes that need service. But the prices need to be low, very low.

bikemig 

When I sell a bike, I overhaul it, replace cables and cable housing, replace parts as needed, and I either install new tires or make sure that the tires are in good shape. I do the work because I enjoy it. That said, I don't think there is much if any financial return on doing all that work. People on CL and FB by and large just want cheap bikes.

wrk101

Yes, this is the main reason I have stopped doing it. Can't compete with the as is crowd that often state their bikes are ride ready when they are not. I now do it for family/friends, or to donate. Or sometimes just for parts.