jem01 

Pair of Bianchi bikes that my folks rode back in the early 90s. They are gone now and I would like to sell these. They do not fit me or my husband. Any info as far as fair value (range) to sell to an interested party would be greatly appreciated. Please know I’m a newbie to biking and so please feel free to explain the “higher” biking lingo to this rookie! I will start with some pictures that I think will be useful, but I have a bunch more, so if you need something let me know. In addition to general knowledge and value… I am also wondering if they more valuable selling as a set or individually? I live in Estes Park Colorado but certainly the Denver market is readily available. Are these in the highly desirable or hard to find category or just rather average? The bike sizes are 59 cm and 53 cm.

Thank you, thank you so much for your help!

jem01 

In addition… Here’s some pics of the smaller (53cm) bike:

celesteguy 

Awesome bikes!

Looks like late 80s Giro models to me, but not sure.

The components are nice Italian components (Campagnolo) which will draw a higher price. I wouldn't bother to sell them as a set, but to the right buyer, and in the condition they look to be in, I would venture a guess of $800 each on the low end and $1200 on the high end. It depends on your local market, too. What someone in NY would pay might vary by a few hundred than what someone on Colorado would pay. Opening it up to a national audience would help you get higher dollar but then you would have to ship it etc...

Thanks for sharing these. Very cool.

jem01 

Ok great…. Thank you!

repechage

I would look around for the original parts that have been removed or swapped out- toe clips, straps, a “Celeste” colored saddle, original pedals on the bigger bike. Will help with interest and value.

get the tires aired up, I bet there is a floor pump about. Don’t need to be rideable inflated just hold form.

aside from eBay - really really depends on the location of the bikes for value.
there will be interest even in this weak market.

An eBay transaction will most likely involve shipping. Locate a local bike shop and get a quote for boxing up so you have a path.
shipping has gotten expensive, the days of the $100. Transcontinental send are over.
so, get box dimensions from the bike shop for provisional calf’s. The bigger bike will cost more, bikes in general go by “ dimensional” weight. If the local shop has a UPS account or equal, the price for them to ship will be much cheaper than the UPS store.

repechage

Oh yeah, if there are other items worth selling on eBay, do so, a recent positive feedback track record brings confidence to a bidder.

jem01 

That was all very helpful information… Thank you so much!

Mackers

Looks like mainly Campagnolo Athena parts, with the exception of the seat posts.

Stem on the smaller bike looks a bit high, should probably be lowered before a test ride

nomadmax 

That's a pair of nice bikes.

BTinNYC 

Those are nice bikes in suberb condition with excellent components, from an iconic maker, in Bianchi's classic celeste green color. They will sell. The $800-$1200 seems right but I'm not an Italian bike expert.

Good photos BTW, well done.

VtwinVince

Oooh, a nice pair! Ditto what was said above, these date from the late '80's and are SLX frames, not the lightest stuff around, but very nice. And the unmolested Campy groupsets just add to the package. Oh ya, and Celeste.

Polaris OBark

These are hazardous toxic waste, and are putting you in grave danger. I will help by taking them off your hands for free.


No, seriously, these are very valuable bicycles in apparent mint condition. I suspect they might actually be worth quite a bit more than you have been quoted.

I've owned a slightly lesser version of the smaller one since 1987. I would not let go of it, but if I did, it would take a lot of $$$.

randyjawa 

Were I buying, $600 US per bike. Were I selling, not a penny under $1000 US. If you can ell locally, do so. Shipping, if you don't know what you are doing, can be costly and, quite frankly, dangerous. Recently had the post office destroy a lovely old TT bike. I plan to post a thread about it soon but being in Jamaica limits on-line time to one Red Stripe at a time.

jem01 

Thank you to all for the insight and info! I have bought a lot of items over the years on eBay, but have never sold on eBay. However, I am hearing that usually you can sell for a better fair price on Ebay than on Craigslist or locally. I am wondering if anybody can tell me how to go about doing this on eBay without it being dangerous/damaging the bikes? How to minimize the chances that somebody wants to return the bike to me after they receive it? Do I need to send (or should I send) these bikes to a local bike shop and get them shined up, lubed up, and make sure everything works perfectly before selling? I am seeing several similar bikes on eBay currently selling for the upper limit around $1200 per bike in much worse shape than these bikes appear to me.

Thank you!

SoCaled 

There are a few pitfalls/dangers to selling on Ebay. They take a good chunk of your $$ in fees. They favor the buyer over the seller in disputes (lots of successful transactions but also lots of horror stories). Most ebay transactions involve shipping which is expensive, requires additional effort and has inherent risk. Ebay does provide a much bigger market, but there are trade offs. If you do go the ebay or other sale that involves shipping i would suggest having a local shop do the packing and have the package fully insured at top dollar. Another option not mentioned is to become a paid member here ($12?) and then you can list the bikes for sale on this forum. I don't think you need to take these to a shop for a tune-up, they look to be in nice shape. I would certainly try a local sale (wrong time of the year in CO) but it is a big market. You have the advantage that are not only nice, but Bianchi is a well known maker and the color is easily identified/iconic, which helps with sale. I would start with local listings on Craigslist, Offerup, Facebook marketplace, etc. If that does not get results then I would move to Ebay. You might find they sell locally without much effort? Lastly, if you are not in a big hurry local sale in the spring is when you will find the most buyers. good luck

jem01 

Thank you for all the info and advice… You guys are awesome on this site! So kind and informative!

I was just out poking around in the garage and found a box that dad had obviously packed. Not sure if all of this stuff goes with these two bikes, so I am sending some pics. He even kept the original catalog that he took notes in (… definite heart tug ) and yes, these bikes are Giro’s with Athena components. The chains are 138 cm long. Not sure about the wheel gear looking things (sorry… still learning … if they all go with the Bianchi bikes (he had other bikes). Two of them are marked Regina Synchro 90 and two look brand new and are marked Dura-Ace. I noticed one of the petals has a broken hook on the edge… see pic. I only found three toe clips. Still looking for the original Bianchi saddle for dad’s bike. Again, many thanks! Pics to follow:

jem01 

…. and a few more pics:

Spaghetti Legs 

Yes that is a 1989 Giro with Athena groupset. The post is Athena as well. I bought one from the original owner about 9-10 years ago kind of the same way. He gave me the original pedals, catalog, original freewheel in the box too! If you look at that catalog closely, you’ll notice that the SLX frameset is the same as the two models above it in the hierarchy, Mondiale and Superleggera. They just differed in a little higher end components. I got mine for $300 and was super excited about that price. On mine, seller had one or two other contacts about it right away but he sold to me as I responded first. I’d think about $600 each would be fair to both parties.

jem01 

Love the back story!!! They are beautiful! Thank you!

spudly

I had the same bike and, somewhat oddly, it had the same Specialized saddle when I acquired it. It was in very good condition as the prior owner had a recent professional tune-up with new Conti tires, chain, etc. Before selling it around two years ago, I swapped out the saddle for a Bianchi one that better matched the bike, kept the Campy seatpost, and put on new bar tape (pic below).

I had it listed in a good market (Boston area) for at least a few weeks for around $600 and was surprised that it didn't garner much attention. I ended up selling it for $525 - probably a reasonable price for a good vintage bike with Campy Athena downtube shifting, but I though the Bianchi name and Celeste would bump that up a bit more. Anyway, it rode pretty well, but not well enough to keep especially considering it was on the large side for me. And the frame details (or lack thereof) - especially the chintzy stick on "Bianchi" logos on the seat stay caps - always kind of irked me.

Spaghetti Legs 

^^^

Yeah mine was was a very good rider but I ended up selling it to a friend and getting a “blingier” Specialissima with chromed fork crown and seat stay caps.

rccardr 

…and I’m the friend who bought it, and then had it repainted. Rode it for several years equipped with Dura Ace. Great riding bike!

gkamieneski

Is it just me, or does anyone else miss the days when that bicycle was nearly the best money could buy? Many of us raced on models just like it.

Oh, and yes, lower that stem!

jem01 

….. Already have!

Trakhak

Looks like the chromed handle on one pump has abraded the paint on the underside of the top tube and has caused a rust spot to form. I had a celeste Bianchi with the same pump attached in the same position and neglected the rust spot until it became a major problem. Perhaps someone posting here can suggest the best fix.