justaguy168 

This bicycle was originally posted in this forum back in Sept of 2015 here. I got some encouraging answers back then. Paid for premium membership for a few years but did not get any offers. I still have the bicycle. I still don't ride it. Since that time, I've cleaned up the bicycle and put on a new seat and tires. I'd like to think that this is valued by someone but I'm not sure who. I live in New York City. Questions for the group:

• Who would likely buy this bicycle?
  • rider
  • non-rider-collector
  • chop shop (cringe!)
  • category not mentioned
• Would there be buyers in the US or would I have to look to the UK/Europe?
• Where would I sell this bicycle? I am NOT willing to use Ebay. I have heard too many bad things about it. I have also posted this bicycle for a couple of years on the bikeforums.net marketplace but had no takers.
• What would be the asking price?

Backstory:

This was purchased from Vinsentin's Bike Store in Oyster Bay Long Island in the 1970s. It belonged to my father and it hasn't been ridden in approx 45 years because of back surgery. Bicycle is in good condition but paint has scratches in some places. The tires are sew-ups. The non-original parts on it are two new Hutchinson Tempo sew-up tires, and a generic saddle put on by same shop in 2015. Original saddle will come with the bike but it is unusable. Wheels were trued. It has been stored indoors suspended from a padded hook on the front wheel. Paint has significant chips and decals have significant wear. Rubber brake hoods and handlebar grips are partially torn. Front rim says "Akront," rear rim says "Mavic Championnat du Monde." Bicycle is sold "as is."

More pictures can be found by clicking here.


More pictures on https://tinyurl.com/5n92rr3x

Dimensions:

• Seat tube: approx. 22 in
• Top tube: approx. 22 in
• Front Sprockets: 52 & 43 teeth
• Rear Sprockets: 25 teeth largest, 15 teeth smallest
• Down tube: approx. 24 in
• Head tube approx. 5.25 in
• Handlebar outer-to-outer approx. 15.5 in
• Wheels: 64 cm dia
• Tube measurements are center to center

Components:

• Tubing: Durifort tubes and fork
• Handlebar Stem: Cinelli
• Brakes: Zeus 2000
• Rims: Akront front / Mavic Championnat Du Monde rear sew-ups
• Rear Derailleur: Zeus Criterium
• Other parts simply say Zeus

Bianchigirll 

It’s an interesting bike, if it was my size and close to me I’d off between $250-300, but I’d have to give it a good looking over first, for the novelty of having an all Zeus bike. The fact that it’s been stored inside is good but if the bearings haven’t been serviced in 45+/- years that means any buyer will have to overhaul it so that will cost them their time.

do you have a better pic of the handlebar and brake levers?

EVlove

I'm not an expert by any stretch but that is a cool bike. Put the original saddle back on, for heaven's sake get rid of those awful grips, put "L'Eroica ready" in the description, and this sells on ebay in a heartbeat. Since you're ruling that option out, I think your next best and easiest move is to contact a vintage bike seller. Surely there must be one in NYC? Someplace like Premium Cycling in Europe. (No affiliation or endorsement, haven't dealt with them, I just go to their website to drool sometimes.)

Always assuming it still doesn't sell here for some reason, I think it will.

wrk101

First choice is eBay where you can reach the broadest market. Since you have eliminated that option….

Second choice is discount until it sells here. Presentation and Price are the two variables that affect selling. Assuming you have presented it well, time to lower price.

Third choice is to find a collector/buyer in NYC. Again presentation and price are the two factors.

The market for this bike is VERY limited. Yes it’s a nice one and has value. It’s all about finding the buyer (one is out there).

In my area, I sell some bikes to collectors, the rest go on eBay. I’ve been selling on eBay for 23 years. Out of probably 20,000 sales, 3 have gone bad. And none have gone really bad. But I pack very carefully.

joesch

Will probably be purchased by a collector who also rides.
Not a voting category.
A rider looking for an L'Eroica has many other options for better performing rides that still meet that ride requirements.
As many have stated, ebay is your best option and it may result in a local pickup / purchase especially since NYC area.
Hard to pay shipping for a vintage bike that is in the value range that some of these appraisals are quoting.

himespau 

Isn't there a vintage bike auction house somewhere in NY (or at least an antiques auction house that did periodic auctions of vintage bikes)? Sure, you'd have to give them a big cut, but that might be the easiest way to go.

TugaDude

I think the local pick up option makes a ton of sense. The "bay" will give you a broad audience, and the buyer will have the opportunity to inspect the bike before leaving. Once they leave with it, to me, that means they are content, so no coming back on you after the fact which can happen if you ship it out.

xiaoman1 

From a quick glance at recent sold "PARTS" on Ebay a few parts alone would bring more than 300.00.....people that are into this brand seem willing to pay a decent price for the Campy copies.
Best, Ben

3alarmer 

.
...most of those older, better quality Zeus components have a pretty high value in the used parts marketplace, so my guess would be that someone who traffics in that stuff regularly will probably try to buy it cheaply and turn a profit on the components. I have an orange Zeus that looks just like yours, but a lesser model ( Competition ), with all Zeus parts that are much less desirable. That one is the Zeus I wished for, but it is an inch too small for me. They don't show up all that often here. I don't think there was anyone local importing them where I live.

FWIW, they are built around the French design model, with metric tubing, French threading, etc. etc. , but everything was made in Spain because of the history and politics of the era. Mine came up from Mexico. I guess you might luck into two people who both want it who are the size to ride it and like this older stuff on ebay. Not sure a local sale will find them, but you do live in a major metropolitan area. Intact, these are kind of a rara avis, and it's a a shame it will probably be dismantled. But that's where we are right now.

bikemig 

I've seen this bike posted before. If it were local to me, I'd buy it. I've kept my eye out for a Zeus for a while and I prefer a bike that is a rider than a collector's piece. You live in a big city. It will sell there without the hassle of shipping.

justaguy168 

Bianchigirll These pictures should have been in the folder included with OP. But here they are again:





EVlove Thank you for the kind words. I didn't know what the L'Eroica was but thanks to you, I do now. Will mention that in my adverts. I do not know of a vintage bike seller in NYC. Most NYC LBS' cater to the NYCC which is all about the latest and greatest.

joesch I'm not trying to be prickly, but what do you mean by "better performing rides that still mean ride requirement?" Newer bicycles with newer technology? A more typical Bianchi/Campy vintage bicycle? It would be helpful for me to know where the Zeus fits performance-wise with others from that era that a collector might want to purchase.

3alarmer Thanks for the design lineage. Yours is a beautiful ride. The same "Aztec Orange." Enjoy!

This is an old post here that describes one poster's experience which heavily influenced my perception of Ebay. I'm open to seeing if this has changed. There are many pros and cons to the local pickup option. The "risks of selling on Ebay" is the topic of another thread. A long time ago I worked in a bike store and know how to pack bicycles for shipping quite well. Again, that is covered in other posts.

EVlove

You're welcome. I may have been a little too optimistic based on what other, more experienced posters contributed. As for ebay, unfortunately there is a very similar Zeus (in worse shape, admittedly) currently being listed and relisted, on Long Island. Could be from the same shop as yours. Has failed to meet reserve several times. However, that's local pickup only and a seller with non-existent feedback.

wrk101

Sadly, in a local market vintage bikes often go for just a fraction of the parts. Do not be surprised if a local buyer ends up parting it out and then tripling his money.

joesch

Yes correct, like you guessed "A more typical Bianchi/Campy vintage bicycle" that is closer to the eroica 1987 cutoff year for technology updates. It is more cool to be riding an older vintage bike and some even ride the older single speed stove pipe steel bikes. That is way heroic!

PhilFo 

If that were 2-3cm larger, I'd be all over it for a full restoration and fair-weather rides. A fascinating bike with history.

StarBiker

I can't believe you can't sell that on NYC CL. Boston CL, or Philly CL. You can post it on on three ya know. And top post every 48 hours.

justaguy168 

EVlove and wrk101, It seems that selling this involves casting the widest net to catch the niche buyer. I may need to revisit selling on Ebay. This would require more research on avoiding pitfalls. These are the 6 Zeus bicycles I found listed on Ebay right now. Note that all except one are local pickups -- including one in Madrid, Spain!

1. $2.00 2 bids, local pickup Long Island, NY
2. $700, ships from TX Campy/DuraAce/Repainted
3. $999.99 0 bids, local pickup IL
4. $1,299 local pickup CT
5. $1,000 local pickup only Madrid, Spain
6. $1,300 local pickup CA

Isn't that against the CL Terms of Use?

wrk101

Need to research SOLD prices on ebay.

Typically local pickup kills the sale, but since you are in a big city, I would consider that.

Pitfall #1: Seller does not disclose defects.

Pitfall #2: Seller does not require signature on delivery (on higher priced items).

Pitfall #3: Seller poorly packs.

I bought a bike here on the forum, seller did not secure the front wheel, and left about 6 inches gap on the front of the box. As a result, the bike slid back and forth, and the wheel did as well. Lots of damage by the time it arrived. Its OK to have gaps around the bike, but the bike itself MUST be secure. So had the seller attached the front wheel to the trame and placed a six inch box in front of the box, all would have been well. Cutting the box down saves on postage.

Sooner or later, if you are a collector of just about everything, you either have to embrace on line sales, or sell locally at a small fraction. I sell stuff on ebay for $100 that I might get $5 MAX locally.

Anyone who sells frequently on ebay will have a horror story or two, but they tend to be relatively rare. And alternatives ALL involve getting LESS for my stuff.

StarBiker

The seller should have filled the gap. That is amateurish.

You can get online prices on CL and FBM in large metros. Especially DC, NYC, Boston, LA, San Francisco.......
I always have.

StarBiker

No.

Sometimes I have two posts for the same city, so I can top post daily.

Again, pound it on CL, and don't give up. It may sell quickly, it may not. And you have to get on FBM.

You will sell that bike.

I have had people drive distance to buy bikes from me on CL.

And after you have top posted a few times you will not see the renew option. Delete the post and repost again. It's easy.

You have to pound it to sell it! And a fuggin month may not cut it.

It has taken me months to get my price but I got it.

(I am a regular Ebay seller, no bikes, and no electronics. Always CL!)

repechage

copake

himespau 

Thank you. Looks like my suggestion comes a month or 2 too late. https://www.copakeauction.com/bicycl...ycle-catalogs/

wrk101

Thats the beauty of living in one of the hotter markets, I'd add Toronto and Vancouver, BC to the list. Here in average market land, I just can't get FMV or anything close to it. On the one hand, this works in my. favor as a BUYER, but it sucks as a seller. Picked up a 1987 Panasonic DV-5000 recently, $50. Full Shimano 600 components. I. didn't scoop it either, it had been for sale for over a month.

Now sadly, if I tried to sell it locally, I would lose $$ on it as clearly I am the only buyer in this. town willing to pay even $50 for it.

So on the one hand, I am blessed with a market where I can find nice bikes for very little $$. On the other hand, I am cursed with a market where I cannot sell bikes for anything close to FMV. My $$ go far, but to sell I have to be willing to pack and ship. As a result, I pass on the basic stuff, and the mid level stuff tends to get parted out.

StarBiker

You have to come up to a good DC sale in the spring with a U-Haul, and bikes. Live and in person.

I always get DC buyers.