Recumbent - Rans V2.....price.....resale

A very odd question but I need a little help and would much appreciate some advice.

An acquaintance has a very slightly used V2 for sale. The bike has less than a dozen miles on it and while I have not seen the bike, the individual is reliable and I have no doubt that the estimate is very close. Without going into details his impression is that it looks like new and has been tuned up by an LBS. It is two years old.

Sooooo given that the assement is correct (and I have no doubt that it is)......he is giving me first shot at it at 800 bucks.

I still haven't ridden enough bents to know if this is the one for me. When the weather gets better I fully intended on riding multiple bikes under varied conditions. I also planned on renting and riding some on vacation. He has another buyer and wants to unload it. Should I ......

Buy it for the 800 hoping that if it isn't the bike of my dreams I can hold my money together on resale?

Wait until I know for certain what it is I want and spend whatever it takes to get that bike?

or just wait and see if the bike is still availble for an extended ride when weather permits and make up my mind then?

That price seems very good. As I recall, the base model V2 went for around $1300 new and there were models that were more $$$. If you chose to buy it and decided it wasn't what you wanted, you could probably flip it without losing a dime.

For $800 it's a steal. The only problem you MAY have is that because of its higher BB you may get numb feet. However there are many things that you can do to alleviate that should it happen. I'd say you could even flip this for $1k if you don't like it.

I don't really have anything helpful to add to this discussion. BUT 610, your signature is really funny. Bizarre, but I like it all the same.

800 is a very nice deal.

Thanks to all. The deal is pending and I will have last chance, should I so decide. The individual has the need for the funds.... as well as another buyer. He also has another bike that I may be interested in. Conscience has me feeling that I should let the other buyer have it and take the second bike even though it's not as good a deal. Thanks again.

Opedaler, just to add to what others have said, but a bike like that can be sold at bentrideronline.com pretty fast if you decide that it's not for you. Bikes seem to sell very well there, assuming they are priced reasonably and this one seems priced more than reasonable.

Good luck on your venture.

Dennis

Is this a V2 squared or V2 Formula Color Red or burnished Aluminum ? Two years ago the Formula could have had higher end components, makeing it a real steal..

Here are pics from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bentrideronline.com/reviews/formula/formulaseat.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bentrideronline.com/reviews/formula/ransv2formula.htm&h=302&w=350&sz=15&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=c3w99BUdyRiRjM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3DRans%2BV2%2Bbicycle%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Here is a pic:
That's a Tailwind.

Scottago ! thats a picture of a Tailwind, not of a V2.. $ 800 is no steal I'm afraid..

Scottago ! thats a picture of a Tailwind, not of a V2.. $ 800 is no steal I'm afraid..


Sorry! Will repair!

Scottogo !! Now your talkin.. that's a real fine bike, I sure like my Rans,and it's the cheaper V2 squared.

nice buy

"Is this a V2 squared or V2 Formula Color Red or burnished Aluminum ? Two years ago the Formula could have had higher end components, makeing it a real steal."

The one that I'm looking is a V2 (not formula) still a nice bike.....and yes the more I hear the better I feel about the deal. Still not in the bag and to be honest I really, really, really don't want to miss the fun of shopping as well as trying out all kinds. Getting a good buy would make the idea of changing less challenging however. And of course there is still the issue of helping out another individual.

I have to ask a related question. On the very little (and I mean VERY LITTLE) time spent on the bikes I feel more comfortable on the lower foot placement of the Stratus (and I would assume the Tour Easy). In time does one gravitate to a more comfortable feeling of higher foot placement as on the V2 or SWB bikes?

I have to ask a related question. On the very little (and I mean VERY LITTLE) time spent on the bikes I feel more comfortable on the lower foot placement of the Stratus (and I would assume the Tour Easy). In time does one gravitate to a more comfortable feeling of higher foot placement as on the V2 or SWB bikes?
For me, the opposite has happened. I started w/ a high BB and have gravitated to low (Stratus).