JacobLee 

Hey Everybody,

This is a 74 Raleigh International I picked up at an estate sale recently. I treated it to a very thorough overhaul and enjoyed the process very much. It came to me with original headset, hubs I assume (rear wheel rebuilt with Mavic MA2 and stainless spokes), seat and seat post, brakes, stem, and dt shifters. I changed a few things, front and rear derailleurs, to make it a little more period correct, and installed a set of Pasela ProTites. Otherwise, I left most of what the previous owner had done to it. There's a very detailed overhaul in my Estate Sale Bid Box Massacre thread. I've ridden it a few times, and I just don't think it'll replace my '71.

So I guess the question is where abouts should I price it on Portland, Oregon Craigslist? That seems like the most direct route. I could also sell it as a frame, keep a few of the parts, and sell some on the bay. I'm torn. It seems like a pretty nice complete bike, but most folks are going to want to set it up in a particular way, so what's the point of a non-original.

Thoughts?

Edit: Pedals are from my 71 and won’t be included. My mistake!

Gary12000 

That’s a nice bike, however not having original ekipment hurts the value to someone that cars about originality, local versus shipping is usually less, $5-600 local.. more shipped to a CV member, frame should be worth 4-500 on eBay..

cyclophilia 

I enjoyed your acquisition and rebuild thread.

If you want to maximize your financial return to finance future purchases, part it out.

JacobLee 

Thanks for the response. That’s about what I was thinking, just wanted to make sure I wasn’t way off!

JacobLee 

Thanks! I have a lot of fun doing those threads.

Parting it out might also be fun, in a way. I was just sort of struggling over what percent of originality makes it morally acceptable (in the c&v world) to part a bike. This one is probably way past that point.

wrk101

One thing I like about parting out is no money spent on consumables, much easier to pack. Packing a complete bike is a PITA. Packing a frameset is easier. Part out could be ~ $800, maybe even a touch higher. Is that a Campy seat post?

JacobLee 

Yep, pretty sure it's the original post. As far as consumables go, I couldn't help myself; I wanted to ride it for the experience. Fortunately, I bought the Kool Stop Weinmann 4-dot pads and the Paselas from a very cool LBS, so I consider that money well spent. I think I'll throw this on Craigslist at a high-ish price and see what happens. Next, maybe list it on Ebay as a local pickup only. We'll see what happens.

Thanks for your input.

SurferRosa

On Portland Craigs, I would start at $750ish and be patient concerning price. You have the rest of spring and all summer.

So, you overhauled it. Did you take pics of the bare frame. And maybe all the componentry nicely laid out on a table? That always helps the sale. Take the best, uncluttered pics you can manage. Let the listing's pics sell the bike for you, not the text.

JacobLee 

Excellent suggestions! I’ve got a pretty good set of pics, but next time I’ll think ahead and take a set with the idea that they will be listing photos. Again, very smart ideas.

I put it on CL for $700. We’ll see.

plonz 

I hope you let us know if it sells. This ‘71 has been on and off CL in MI/IN for about a year. Very nice bike but my gut tells me it won’t sell until it dips below $800. GLWS

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/b...470702099.html

red5996

Brings back memories of my 1976 Raleigh that was stolen from my middle school. I never really got over that, and my parents made me pay for my next bike (a good lesson to remember to lock up my bike every time). I ended up getting a1977 Nishiki, which I lent to a friend in college, and then never saw it again. Okay, enough sad stories. Good luck with the sale.

JacobLee 

I’ll definitely keep you posted. That’s a nice one in Chicago! The only response I’ve had so far is from a guy who is restoring a 76 and wanted to check out the original details. It was sort of a cool experience, even if not a sale. It turned out we ride a lot of the same routes. I asked if he rides any of his classics, and he looked at me like I was crazy! It was funny.

repechage

that happened to me when I was 7.
I bought every one on my own after that.

bwilli88 

I would love an International. too bad it is way over in Portland.

JacobLee 

I’m in Cambodia all the time, I’ll drop it off!

bwilli88 

For the time being I am in Lancaster, PA until June 15th.

JacobLee 

Well shucks, if you’re really interested in it, pm me and we’ll figure something out.

JacobLee 

Well, this beauty sat on Craigslist for a couple of weeks at $700, then a couple of weeks at $600 with no interest. I was two seconds from harvesting the seat post and wheels and sprinkling the rest of it over the interwebs, when my cousin's husband came by and we started chatting about cars, tools, garages, and bikes. He sort of flipped out when I showed him the copper International, and before long it had been test ridden, and was in the back of his minivan. We did some quick driveway math: I got the bike for $175, tires $75, brake pads $30, so I said "How about $300?" He said "How about $400 for all the work you put into it?" Deal.


I couldn't be happier that this bike will go to a good home. He's got a little MG roadster, and I really hope I get to see this bike mounted on some sort of trunk rack someday. I also hope we'll see him around here, as he has an inquiring mind, and now a '74 International to take care of.

plonz 

Congrats on the sale and thanks for keeping us in touch with reality. Being in Portland I would have expected at least a nibble at $600.

JacobLee 

Me too. Crickets. I think Craigslist shoppers want "barn finds" and I would have had more luck on ebay. Eh, it turned out for the best.

teisco 

One lucky guy, I have been looking for one for ever in my price range and so far "0"