Recreational & Family - Just won an Auction... Was it a mistake?

Howdy,

I've been doing research for a while. I picked up a Trek Nav 300 for my wife the other day and have been looking at a couple of gary fisher bikes for myself. I had just about settled on the Zebrano when I happened across a 2002 Gary Fisher Mamba. I realize it's more of a mountain bike than a comfort bike but it was $200 less than the bike shop wanted for the Zebrano and I can pick it up locally. If you have time to look at it:

TAKE A PEEK!!!! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSAA:US:11&Item=7180449434)

and tell me what you think.

Thanks,

Keith Grant

it looks like a really nice mountain bike, and with two sets of tires (mt. - hybrid) it sounds like you'll be able to enjoy the best of both worlds. plus, the price is right!

enjoy!

sdr

I think you did fine. Besides that yellow and black is ultra cool!!!

I wouldn't say it was a mistake. I also wouldn't say it was a very good deal. You basically bought a 4 year old bike for near the price of a new one with the same specs. Here (http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Mountain/Hardtail/Alpha_Aluminum/3700/index.php) is the basically the equivilant of that bike in the Trek line.

Gary Fisher is owned by Trek and there bike lines are very similar on the low end. The component groupos are basically the same between the two bikes. So, you could have done better by going to your LBS, because you could have gotten a new bike with local service at nearly the same price.

With that said, you still have a nice bike coming. You didn't waste a LOT of money, so forget it and enjoy the bike. Next time, you might want to do a little more homework first. ;)

I checked all three LBS and priced various models and compared their components. The closest I could come around here was $389.99 plus tax for a simular bike. To me the fact that it's old only means that it's depreciated almost as much as it's going to and if the fellow has actually had it in the shop for adjustements and tuning every 3 months as he claims I shouldn't have any troubles compared to a new bike. Additionally I like the shifters on this mamba much better than the grip shifters on the models I was looking at in the 'just under 400' price range. I did know that Trek now owns Gary Fisher but I still favor the Gary Fisher brand. Anyway... I'll post more after I take it for a test drive. I don't expect to be disappointed (wearing rose colored glasses)

Thanks for the feedback,

Keith

The 3700 that Ranger linked to has the same shifters as the Gary Fisher (Shimano EF29). And if you know what you want, your LBS can generally order it. The MSRP includes shipping and assembly costs as well as suggested markup, so the only thing not included would be sales tax.

My LBS doesn't carry the 7200FX (hybrid), so I had them order it in the correct size. Took about a week (6 days, I think, including a Saturday and Sunday). LBSs generally throw in a first service and you get the 1 year warranty on the components, for the same price. But you did get an extra set of road tires.

That thang ain't no prize considering it's age,low end quality, and it looks to be pretty well rashed.

Man, those pictures really show that bike was used a lot (some would say beat up--lots of deep scrapes)... and the tires look like all the middle tread was worn down...and the seat looks like it's possibly torn.

I hope it works out for you, but you have more guts than I do buying something, sight unseen, that shows obvious use and wear.

I have to ask the rest of you....do you take your bike in for adjustment every 3 months? I would have thought only people riding a lot would need that. I find an annual tune-up is more than sufficient for my "lightly used" bikes. Maybe many of you don't even pay for annual tune-ups?

I've made arrangements to pic up the bike this weekend. I guess I'll see soon if it was a mistake or not. Either way it's got to be better than the last $260 bike I bought from Sam's Club :-)

Thanks again for the feedback,

Keith

Ah. I was under the impression you would be paying the $50 shipping fee. That makes the deal a wee bit better. Good luck with the new bike.

I checked all three LBS and priced various models and compared their components. The closest I could come around here was $389.99 plus tax for a simular bike. To me the fact that it's old only means that it's depreciated almost as much as it's going to and if the fellow has actually had it in the shop for adjustements and tuning every 3 months as he claims I shouldn't have any troubles compared to a new bike. Additionally I like the shifters on this mamba much better than the grip shifters on the models I was looking at in the 'just under 400' price range. I did know that Trek now owns Gary Fisher but I still favor the Gary Fisher brand. Anyway... I'll post more after I take it for a test drive. I don't expect to be disappointed (wearing rose colored glasses)

Thanks for the feedback,

Keith

You must live in a very high priced area, because the prices on the Trek site are retail and most shops don't even charge that much.

at second glance the more astute readers of this forum may have been accurate in their assessments. apparently this bike was very low-end to begin with and it would appear that the seller has managed to obtain nearly all of his original investment after having ridden the bike for 4 years.

here are some reviews i googled, should you care to read them:

http://www.epinions.com/bicycles_2002_Gary_Fisher_Mamba/display_~reviews

regardless, i hope that you'll enjoy the bike and get some good use from it.

btw, i was at my LBS this afternoon getting a computer, front headlight, and rack on my own fisher nirvana s and happened to notice a brand new trek mtn. bike for $269 - forgot which model it was but it 'LOOKED' nice...new anyway

*sdr*

Keith,

Have someone with experience take a look at the rear derailleur angle. Granted, it is at the gearing extreme that makes the chain tight, and it might indeed be fine, but to my eye it looks a little too tight. Perhaps the seller broke the chain and rather than replace it simply took out a link or two?

Hope your wife like her Navigator!

Steve

Thanks again for the feedback... I'm going to take the fisher in and have it 'tuned up'/inspected as soon as I get it. My wife's Nav is on a UPS truck but probably won't get here until next monday.

Someone said I must live in an expensive area and I wouldn't think that SW Missouri is all that inflated but all of the bike shops seem to sell everything for MSRP. One of the dealers quoted me $390 for a Giant that has an MSRP of $370 on their site. It was an '05 model too. I figured they would have 'sales' to get rid of their inventory for the new '06 models.

I called pricing a Bell Citi helmet yesterday and one shop said $88 (maybe he got it confused with the Metro but still that's $20 over the metro's MSRP). And when I called the other shop they said "MSRP". This is the only industry I've stumbled upon that items sell at or above MSRP. Maybe I should drive to Chicago :-/

Thanks again,

Keith

I find that smaller areas actually tend to have higher markups than cities. I'm in a pretty afluent area -- mid-size coastal town -- and the dealers here all seem to charge MSRP. I would steer clear of any shops who are trying to sell last years model above MSRP. Again, good luck with the new bikes.

looks like a geek bike if you ask me.