Slightspeed

A lady in my bike club is trying to sell this Faggin, ladies model, and I am trying to help her get an idea of value on this bike. It looks in good shape, was serviced fairly recently, and has original paint and decals. The drive train is Shimano Deore with a Sugino triple crank. I don't know much about Faggin, or the model hierarchy, but it looks like a pretty nice bike, in nice condition. I would say it was mid 80s manufacture. She didn't tell me the frame size, but she said she is 5'4" (I'm thinking maybe 54 cm). Anybody have an idea of what she should be asking? The bike is in California. Thanks so much for any insights you can offer.

3alarmer 

...the regular diamond frame Faggin bikes from that era show up here on the local CL infrequently, and for what they are, usually sell for less than other, better known Italian marques.

They are kind of famous for their flashy paint schemes, and the ones I have had here in NorCal are excellent riders, constructed of either full Columbus SX or three main tubes Columbus. Depending on the model level, they show up equipped with either Campagnolo components, or Shimano 600 indexed stuff. Those seem to be priced, in good cosmetic condition, but needing the usual tyres and new rubber, along with new grease in the bearings, in the $400-500 range. But like I said, wonderful handling on these bikes.

I have never seen a step through like hers. I would guess in the $300-350 neighborhood, but I am so unfamiliar with the marketplace for step through bikes that I could be way off. I rarely see top of the line frame tubing used in the construction of a step through or mixte, so for someone specifically looking for that style of bike, it has a certain rarity and wow factor. OTOH, it obviously needs some work.

3alarmer 

...I just realized that with the chrome visible on the top tube, that's a full chrome frame.
Faggin chrome is relatively decent chroming, IME, and cosmetically that looks pretty good.

That's a plus, but it's a special buyer you're looking for.

rjhammett

Nothing real high-end from a parts standpoint. With the mish mash of parts the value is in the frame which looks pretty nice. I would guess about $300 or so. I have purchased a number of high-end frames/fork/bits in the $200 - $300 range that had more value than this one.

zukahn1 

As is I would be in the $300 range also. Really nice frame about as nice as it gets for a step though. All fixed up with matching components and crank sorted out I could see $500 to the right buyer.

Mad Honk 

Even with the need for a few items to be repaired this is at least a $500 bike as is. The $300 values are way off for those who deal in the vintage market. JMHO, Smiles, MH

Trakhak

Yes to $500 plus. People begging for leads on better-quality mixte frames post here regularly, and I can't imagine what would be of better quality than that Faggin. I'd value this above a '70s Paramount step-through.

jdawginsc 

Frame by itself is $350-400. I’d say $500 is not unreasonable.

...just have to find the right set of buyers.

AD Vent Noir mixtes go for significantly more.

Mr. 66

If that was in my local I would think about buying for Mrs. 66

Then I could get matching clothes and helmets and, and...

I think $300 would be a fairly brisk sell, I think it would sit for a while at the $500.

curbtender

And there is your buyer right there. Someone looking to match up a pair. I've owned a couple and really liked the paint schemes all though they seemed to flake easy. I'd go with a taller cassette to take advantage of that derailleur, nicer saddle and bar tape then ask $500. $300 as it sits would be fair.

himespau 

Judging by the folks who post here (probably a poor approximation of the total population), most of the folks interested in vintage bikes are probably guys. That might hurt the value of a step-through Faggin relative to a diamond frame unless you can find someone trying to find a vintage bike for his wife. Scarcity might change that (nice step throughs being hard to find), but this is a case where to maximize value, you're really going to need as wide an audience as possible (eBay).

3alarmer 

...yeah. I've been thinking about listing a range of pricing, if I continue to give opinions here.
An the local CL, with that saddle pad mounted, and sold directly by the neighbor who wants help selling it, it's gonna sit for a while on CL, without some luck.

Certainly there are people here who are more knowledgeable about the classic market, and who are willing to list on e-bay, pack ship, etc, etc.
For that extra effort, you can ask more money for it, because it gets more exposure. But even if your buyer pays shipping, and an extra fee for packing, e-bay gets their cut, and there are additional headaches that can arise.

So saying, "I think it's a $300 bike", or "I see a $500 bike for sure", makes some assumptions that don't always get written out here. Not the least of which is location, sales medium and the marketplace scope of your advertising, and how much hasssle you're willing to undergo in the sales process. I'm kinda in the local sales only demographic at this point in my life. Which I'm trying to keep as simple as possible.

I do know, from prior experience selling the better donations over at the bike co-op, in a previous, less simple lifetime, that the nicest mixte I ever sold for them topped out at $350, and it was a full Reynolds 531 frame.

And that went to some woman who lived two hours away on I 80, down in San Francisco. She really wanted it, and had trouble getting decent road frames to fit her as a smaller woman. It took a month or so to connect with her, on CL. There are people who really want something like this. The problem is connecting with them.

zukahn1 

I think there is probably two ways to get top value for this very fine bike part it out and sell the frame set on the evil bay. Or fix it up nice with upright bars and indexed shifters as a city bike so it will appeal to higher end lady buyers looking nice and pretty ready to ride with casual rider freindly setup I could se it selling for $600 or so in a major market considering similar quality bikes are going for $1200 or so new or more if you can find one in stock.

rjhammett

In my market (Twin Cities) that bike would set forever at $500 in it's current condition. If it was rebuilt with 'original' components you could maybe get $500. I have bought and sold a ton of vintage bikes.

Slightspeed

Thanks for the input, sort of what I was thinking. I'll pass the word along to her. It is a great looking bike, but I see the appeal is limited.

xiaoman1 

Agreed, The mismatched parts hurt the value and to build it right will make it a 300-500 dollar bike, BUT, how much will that cost do do in time/labor materials!
BTW along with the mention of the mismatched crank arms, I would be inclined to look at how the brake pads are set up.
Best, Ben

repechage

In Italy known as a "Donna"

unusual as it has close to or equal to race geometry and a pump peg!

I would include donna in the description.
this is a bike that equal to the time it was built, bought by a bike enthusiast for his wife/ girl friend so she might ride with and not be hopelessly held back by 15-20 lbs more bike.

Bianchigirll 

Great looking bike despite a few beauty marks. Can you get the actual size including what would be a standover height and the effective TT length? Oh yeah seatpost size too.

This is probably too small to make it worth the effort but like good shoes if the price is right a 6.5 is as good as 7.

Slightspeed

​​​​​​​I asked her to get those measurements. The bike is an hour drive from me, and I don't have access to it. Hopefully, she can figure out the measurements.

Bianchigirll 

It's probably too small to bother with but is the height it doable I think a long stem and some North Road bars might keep me from bending too low
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Slightspeed

I got these dimensions from the owner. I don't have a seat post diameter. 20.5" or 50.8cm from center crank to tube top entry. Exactly the same from center handle bar stem to center seat post stem. Distance from center crank to top step over bar at seat post tube = 9.5 inches. Distance from that point up to tube top = 10.5 inches Ground to center crank = 10 inches. I also included a couple of pictures showing that the seat post is free (not stuck) and the saddle without the padded cover. I have pictures of the saddle on the bike somewhere and will post them when I find them. I hope this helps.



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