General Cycling Discussion - Risking the purchase of a second hand, your opinion wanted

Sorry about posting this in the General discussion section, but since the subject applies both to mountain biking and commuting I thought I post it here.

Recently I had decided to put some money aside for an upgrade for my road bike but now I have realized it is better to get a second bike to add versatility and to fill my commuting needs during off season.

I am somewhat knowledgble about road bikes (although a novice still), but I'm cluless about mountain bikes. I have come across this ad for a used modified Gary Fisher bike.

It's a Gary Fisher Celerity. The owner claims that he has spent a $1000 on it and equiped it with top stuff during the time he was working at Syncros Technologies. The complete specifications can be found here:

http://www.bluemanitou.ca./bike.htm

http://www.bluemanitou.ca./bikey.jpg

He wants $700 CND for it.

What do you guys think? I'm thinking of using it for moderate trails, commuting, and off season training. As I said I'm cluless about mountain bikes.

Looks a little dear, but I'm not familiar with Syncros stuff. The Deore, Deore LX bits are good quality mid-range Shimano. The bike should be fine for your needs but looks a little dear to me.

Richard

Gary Fischer makes great bikes. $750 might be steep for a price.

Can you find our how much it was new? Oh, wait, you said $1,000. So he is knocking off 25%. Good luck to that. Nah, 'aint gonna happen. Offer him $400 and be confident that you are doing him a favor.

If there is no damage to the frame or fork, a used bike can be nearly as good as a new bike. In fact, if the parts are Campagnolo, a used bike might be BETTER than a new bike as Campy parts are famous for getting better with some use.

The most important thing to check is the frame. look at the joints for any wrinkles or cracks that may indicate damage.

Turns out SHE is selling it...

Here are the components:

1.Frame: Gary Fisher American made, hand welded, True-Temper Cro-Mo Double butted tubing

2.Wheels: Ritchie Mod Quad on/off road tires &Mavic 217 SUP rear rim w/stainless steel spokes

3.Hubs: Shimano Deore XT quick release

4.Bottom Bracket: Syncros Hardcore Titanium sealed bearing( The very best!)with Syncros crank-o-matic titanium bolts

5.Stem: Syncros cattle prod custom made (One of a kind)

6.Handlebar: Syncros hardcore aluminum with Syncros Pronghorn bar ends & Yeti grips

7.Shifters: Shimano Deore 21 speed index


8.Front & Rear derailluers: Shimano Deore LX & XT

9.Brakes: Shimano Cantilever

10.Crankset: Syncros hardcore Cro-mo hollow arm

11.Chainrings: Syncros Zicral ceramic coated chainrings

12.Pedals: NEW Ritchie Mountain logic pro clipless

13.Seatpost & Saddle: Ritchie Logic comp lite with Titanium bolts & Syncros hardcore 7075 aluminum Seatpost

Other Goodies: Quick release rear carrier, BELL cordless bike computer, fenders, new chain & casette freewheel, micro bell, front & rear lights, Zefal mini double-shot pump

She said the bottom bracket alone is $250 and the drive train costs $500. The Seat was $150...

Amir;
Used parts are not worth more than 50% of new, no matter how good they were when they were new. Sellers always try to get full retail when they unload the merchandise. In their heads the stuff is still new, but the truth is ,IT'S USED.
As suggested above. offer them $400. If you absolutely have to, go to $450. Unless there are 3 or 4 other guys lusting after this machine, they will have to sell at your price --IF they really want to sell.

One technique I have learned over the years is that When I am buying something to a private person, I would offer the money and wag the Bucks in front of him/her, if the attempt fails, try leaving the place and i can bet you he/she will run after you and finalized the sale, now for that bike I would offer $300.00, canadian, but if you really like the bike have at least a reserved of $150.00, but if the price go behind $450.00, your better of looking for another bike

Well I told here $400

and she said "I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to turn you down".

What do you think the chances are that she will contact me again?

well, i must admit that i'm not familiar with this particular bike or the Syncross parts...

but i have to ask what year the bike is? it has cro-moly frame, 7-speed drivetrain and canteliever brakes, no suspension fork even though it looks designed as an off-road bike. my guess is that it was maybe near top-of-the-line in about a 1993/1994, which is VERY old in MTB world where first 'real' MTBs were mass-available in about 1987 or so... MTB technology changes rapidly quickly making a $1500 bike into a $400 bike in 2-3 years - you have high wear and high obsolescence in MTB that you don't get with road bikes... Note: i have a 1989 Stumpjumper with all XT that cost originally something like $1400 (bought it used in '92 for $380), but unless someone wanted it for collector reasons it's not worth much more than $100 now... even though it all still works well (i've also replaced almost all original equipment except for frame)

on 7-speed... 8-speed was been standard in MTBs from 1996 (or earlier) and 9-speed since 2000... while LX and XT are decent, i would hardly call them expensive --- an LX front is something like $40 and an XT rear 7-speed is less than $80 if you can still find 7-speed. my old MTB now commuter is a '97 with 8-speed and i had to replace the drivetrain last fall and had to special-order some of the 8-speed parts. while 7-speed should be just as good, it's obsolete and so isn't worth as much.

anyway, i think it's probably a good bike and would work great for commuting, but unless i'm missing some major hidden value in some of the syncross parts, the price seems WAY over the top... my guess would be it's worth $200-400 (cdn?350-600?) ... so if she already said no to $400, maybe tell her you like the bike but you just don't think it's worth more and tell her to look for more offers and if she doesn't get any then to call you back (don't know how urgently you want it or she wants to sell it)

Originally posted by Amir R. Pakdel
Well I told here $400

and she said "I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to turn you down".

What do you think the chances are that she will contact me again?
forget about the bike, if you pay more than $400.00, then you'll end up being a sucker, and you don't want that to be labelled at you so, just forget about the bike, you will get a better deal in the future... and if you call her again, she will just be very firm on her price and no amount of bargaining on your part will she now lower the price......

They pedals are not much use if they dont fit your shoes.
I wouldnt want a seatpost mounted carrier on a hardtail commuter.