SoCaled 

Looking at three older road bikes, all seem to be original parts, my size and in good condition, my question is which would you grab?
1987 Schwinn Circuit - $150
1984 Centurion Comp TA - $200
1987 Miyata 512 - $200

All asking price

rccardr 

All good, I’d go for the Circuit.

wrk101

Circuit for the WIN. Comp TA second choice. Of course, its all about FIT and CONDITION. The prices on either of these two is well below market, and quite a surprise for CA. Go now, don't hesitate!

SoCaled 

I put in an offer on the Circuit before I even got your replies! Glad to see y'all agree

Bianchigirll 

No pics?

SoCaled 

wrk101

When I see a bike I want at a realistic price, I just get in the car. I then pay full price. I save negotiating for bikes with issues and bikes I have no plans on keeping.

Circuits from that era are relatively difficult to find. I'd grab it now and pay full price before someone else beats you to it.

T-Mar

I find it hard to believe that they are all the OP's size, as the Schwinn is much larger than the Miyata. With that big of a size discrepancy, my choice would be made on best fit, not best deal.

SoCaled 

Wise as usual T-Mar. Still working on my ability to guess size from pictures. On second look Miyata is probably too small, Comp TA as well (no overall pic but got a message it is 19") I put in a full price offer on the Circuit but no response, I was early, but maybe not early enough.

wrk101

First rule in replying to a deal on C/L or FB marketplace: keep your response simple. Don’t ask a bunch of questions or for extra stuff or you could go to the back of the line.
I always go simple; “I’d like to buy your Schwinn circuit and am available at your convenience. You can reach me at xxx-xxx-xxxx. Bill.”

when it is obviously out of area I’ll tell them “I’m going to be in Charlotte this afternoon and would like to buy your Circuit.” I neglect to mention the reason I am going to be in Charlotte is to buy their bike….

Oldbikenut

Hey how'd you know the way I do it! All great advice!

zukahn1 

If in good shape the circuit is a bargain for whatever reason late 80's to mid 90;s Schwinns are good to great and typically undervalued. The advice of keeping things simply when buying are very good if it's good deal just take it.

SoCaled 

I agree with everything you said in both posts WRK101 - My standard line is "I would like to buy your XXX bike, Serious buyer, Cash in hand, Shows up on time, Available anytime". I seldom ask questions, partly because it puts you to the back of the line, partly because they seldom know the answer. The only exception I have to that rule are bikes that are far away, with bad pics that are not obvious hits, for those I might ask for size or model or a pic - If I get more info great, if not I let it go. I have found a couple of bikes this way I would not made the drive for without the additional info.
The main reason I even asked about these is I realized I have not been properly utilizing the power of the Forum and I already have Too many bikes (I know common problem around here).
As I said in a previous post I had placed a full price offer on the Circuit before I had received any responses here.

I appreciate all the good info and advice that always flows from this forum

Still waiting to see if I get the Circuit got a "come get it" message after midnight last night, no response yet this am

wrk101

The best deals on public sales outlets tend to have little to no information, and also tend to be sellers who don't quickly respond. I got a response once THREE WEEKS after I replied to an ad. Seller told me he had been busy. Another bike I bought had a simple ad: Race bike bad paint. Picture was a disassembled bike, in a dark garage. So size, no brand, no model, no nothing.

The worst ever was an ad that was "Blue Bike". That was the entire ad, no brand, no pictures, no nothing. Called the guy, only thing he could tell me was it was a "nice bike". Didn't know if it was a road bike, a mountain bike, or even if it had gears. I felt sorry for the guy so I went to see it and bought it. Turned out to be a nice Cannondale, that was in fact BLUE in color, full Shimano Sante.

hose

Miyata 912 is my choice.

wrk101

Except its a 512.

jdawginsc 

Oops

Kabuki12

Yup! Circuit, That is a great price if it is as nice as it looks in the photo. It looks like at least a 24" frame.

SoCaled 

[QUOTE=wrk101;22367895]The best deals on public sales outlets tend to have little to no information, and also tend to be sellers who don't quickly respond. I got a response once THREE WEEKS after I replied to an ad. Seller told me he had been busy.

WRK101 - similar thing happened here. As I said before, I got a message after midnight from the seller that said "come get it" with no address or contact. I replied with "Cash in hand, tell me where and when and I am there", and heard nothing for 48hrs, assumed it was sold or seller was a flake. This Friday opened the computer to messages from the seller 72hrs after my last contact that had address and phone number and "sorry i am never on the app" called him and he still had the bike. He told me it was worth three grand and he had gotten it from a millionaire, I asked if he was still ready to sell it to me for $150? He said "Yes" I said "Sold", bike is now in my kitchen. I will post pics soon, but it is all there and minus some cleaning in really nice shape.

SoCaled 

The Miyata and Centurion are still listed in LA, I put links in the "looking for one of these . . ." section of the forum.

wrk101

[QUOTE=SoCaled;22376221]Worst for me was the seller that told me they lived on the corner of two streets. So I arrive, and of course, there are FOUR houses at that corner. So I try to deduce which of these four houses is it? And the neighborhood was beyond sketchy. All the doors and windows had bars over them. I didn't want to get shot. No one appeared to be home. So I made my best guess. Rang the door bell of my choice, no answer, two I knocked on the door. I was half way back to my car when guy answered his door. "Are you the one selling a bike frame?" "Yes."

Bought a Sekai Professional frameset, at a very attractive price.

bikemike73 

Congrats on the CIRCUIT !!!!!!!!!!!

You will not be sorry!!! I have one of these in MINT condition and it is a JOY to ride !!!

That price you paid was / is a STEAL !!!!!!

Even I would have bought it, and it is TOO BIG for me.

But at that price!!!!! You HAVE TO BUY IT !!

LIGHT
FAST
STABLE
QUICK

The frame size is at least a 26"

Looks to be in VERY GOOD condition !!!!!


Will clean up nicely

guy1138

[QUOTE=wrk101;22377456]Ha, the last 2 years, I've basically become a full time bike dealer, and had multiple buyers go to my neighbors' house before it dawned on me that they had painted their brick and door the same color as my house.

So I got some old garbage steel wheels, painted them fire engine red, added a bunch of reflectors and wired them to the mailbox. Now, everybody knows the right house!