Classic Auto Bike Worth?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,031
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4509 Post(s)
Liked 6,374 Times
in
3,666 Posts
Likes For merziac:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Hollister, CA (not the surf town)
Posts: 1,734
Bikes: 2019 Specialized Roubaix Comp Di2, 2009 Roubaix, early 90's Giant Iguana
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 641 Post(s)
Liked 1,517 Times
in
549 Posts
I don't have any first hand experience with these but have seen a few threads about their value and the general consensus is they have little value unless in mint or unused condition and then may have some value to a collector or museum as an oddity.
Likes For Ogsarg:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Madison, WI USA
Posts: 6,149
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2362 Post(s)
Liked 1,746 Times
in
1,190 Posts
^^^^^ +1; as an actual rider, they're the spawn of Satan. There's no manual override, and the way they shift to larger cogs (lower gears) in response to load, it's always too late. I rode once with a guy who had one, and he told me it drove him crazy to ride it in any hilly location. So yeah, museum / collector / novelty value only.
Likes For madpogue:
#5
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,630
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista
Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3085 Post(s)
Liked 6,566 Times
in
3,764 Posts
Thread moved to Appraisals forum.
__________________
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,674
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1372 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,748 Times
in
937 Posts
They are very low end bikes with what is supposed to be an automatic shifting system. In reality, the system is a bit of a nut buster, frequently slipping out of gear causing, well broken nuts. Anyway, a such a bike, in perfect condition might fetch $100 to $150 from an unsuspecting buyer. If I were the buyer, I would simply pass. If I were selling, even though doing so would challenge my ethics base, I would want the $100 but be more than willing to take whatever I could get.
I did not share this information to offend. I base my appraisal on actual experience. Anyway, best of luck with the bike, be it buying or selling.
I did not share this information to offend. I base my appraisal on actual experience. Anyway, best of luck with the bike, be it buying or selling.
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
Likes For randyjawa:
#7
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,627
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3870 Post(s)
Liked 2,563 Times
in
1,577 Posts
#8
Thrifty Bill
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,523
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
Value as a "classic bike" = zero. Value as a novelty item:: $50 to $100.
If I found one for free, I would donate it. A good co op can get saddles, pedals, inner tubes and odds and ends off a bike like this and scrap the rest.
If I found one for free, I would donate it. A good co op can get saddles, pedals, inner tubes and odds and ends off a bike like this and scrap the rest.
Last edited by wrk101; 06-25-22 at 03:25 PM.
#10
Banned.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: PAZ
Posts: 12,294
Mentioned: 255 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2588 Post(s)
Liked 4,823 Times
in
1,709 Posts
If I found one in a dumpster, I'd set it on fire. Then, I'd call the FD in and root for them to save the dumpster.
Yeah, they are POSes
DD
Yeah, they are POSes
DD
Likes For Drillium Dude:
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Madison, WI USA
Posts: 6,149
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2362 Post(s)
Liked 1,746 Times
in
1,190 Posts
^^^^^ Dang stupid forum site only lets me "Like" the post once....