Classic & Vintage Bicycle Appraisals and Inquiries - Classic Vintage bikes, price on models, line genealogy

Hi, where can I find general price ranges of classic vintage bikes on models and makes. For example I may be purchasing a Univega (model currently not known yet, I think it is a grey SupraSport) from a friend, whose back wheel is bent (a freshmen ran into the back), which I am thinking of converting it into a fixie. However, if I find that the parts and components used for the bike are quality parts, I may just as well restore it.

I have looked at the vintage bike database on www.oldroads.com , stickied in this thread catagory, but I could not find much on Univega and the price. I also tried search for my Centurion Le Man, and came up with nothing. I do know that used price ranges can vary much depending on conditions of various parts (including if the frame was damaged in any way).

In summary, I am looking for something that can give me Make, Model, price range guide, and possibly Make genealogy, and parts used.

This link http://www.sheldonbrown.com/centurion/ is pretty much what I am looking for, minus price guide. Extensive list of parts and components, genealogy line of where various models are placed, material used.

I am looking to buy the used Univega from my friend soon, and I want to give him a fair price for the bike.

there really isn't a single good source for information on vintage bikes out there. Searching the archives of BikeForums may be your best bet, or see if there have been any recent ebay auctions for the same or similar model. I know there have been a number of good threads regarding how to spot a quality level frame / components. VeloBase.com has a good resource of components, but not yet bicycles / frames. (it's in the works however...)

+1 There is no database right now. This is a good opportunity for the OP to start compiling one.

ebay is a common source, but it does have outliers (sales well above sanity, along with an occasional deal).

Hi,
.
In my opinion, the mid-1980s Centurions were the best years
for this line and for other Japanese road bikes as well.
Of the mid-80s Centurions, the '84 Comp TA (Tange #2 CrMo;
Shimano 600EX) and its successor line, the Ironman DS series,
were the best of the mid-80s Centurions that can be found
frequently on eBay. The mid-80s Centurion Pro Tour was among
the nicest off-the-shelf touring bike ever made.
.
The Ironman models came in two flavors, the Master (Tange #1 CrMo;
Shimano 600EX) and the Expert (same Tange #1 frame; lesser
Shimano 105 groupset). The 1985 and '86 models were not
called Masters but had the 600EX groupset. The Master
designation came into use in 1987 when the Expert was
introduced to distiguish it from the Expert. TIG-welded
fork crowns appeared on both models in 1988 and that in
my opinion is a downgrade from the earlier models' investment
cast fork crowns. I view the '86 Ironman as the best of
the higher-end Ironmen, though 1987 would also be a good
choice for both the Master and the Expert.
.
Prices on eBay for an all-original Ironman Master or its
1986 or 1985 equivalent in excellent condition usually
run between $250 and $300, plus around $65 shipping. Comp
TAs of similar quality fetch about the same or a little
less. The range for Ironman Experts in similar condition
is about $50 less. These are rough guidelines. Perfect
examples can fetch more or, on occasion, even less. My
'86 Ironman showed no signs of use at all and I paid only
$212, including shipping. Three others in excellent all-
original condition sold over the previous two weeks for
$265, $266 and $316, PLUS shipping. Mine was very large
and they on average fetch less then smaller frames.
.
The Centurion LeMans RS (Le Man won't turn up much on
Google) was the mid-range profits generator of the Centurion
line. It got better every year and in my opinion the best
model year was 1987 before production was shifted to
Taiwan to save costs. It has a Tange #2 CrMo (three main
tubes) and "Mangaloy" alloy fork blades and stays. It
has Shimano's "Light Action" 6-Spd SIS (ie Indexed) group,
including nice, dual-pivot SLR brakes. Earlier LeMans RS
models had hi-ten fork blades and stays, though in some
ways, nicer components from Suntour, Sugino and Dia Compe.
Excellent, all-original examples of the mid-80s LeMans
RS run around $150 on eBay but I've seen some of the
later models fetch $100 or more for reasons I don't
understand. I paid $167 for my '87 LeMans RS, including
shipping.
.
There are other models down the food chain from the LeMans
RS that fetch on eBay only a little less than the LeMans
RS. There are also models between the LeMans and the Ironman
that are nice but fetch only a little less than the Ironman
(eg Elite RS and its touring version, the Elite GT). At
the very top of the Centurion food chain, are the '83
and '84 Turbo (Tange Champion #1; Suntour Superbe Pro)
and the all-Italian Cinelli Equipe Centurion of '85. The
earlier Pro and Semi-Pro (mid-70s to the '80s) are
beautiful Cinelli knockoffs but they are hard to find and
expensive. There is currently a Cinelli Equipe Centurion)
offered for $1,000 on Portland, OR's Craig's List posing
as a Cinelli. The Cinelli Equipe Centurion would normally
fetch between $500 and $600 on eBay but I have seen them
fetch between $400 and just under $900.
.
Centurion offerings of the 1980s are very similar to what
was offered by other Japanese manufactuers at the same
price points so much of what is said about Centurions can
be generalized to other brands. All models within a line
were being upgraded from year to year to stay competitive
with their counterparts among other brands. When judging
the quality of a particular model, look for higher-end
frame materials making up all eight tubes (ie. Tange #1
or Tange #2) and Shimano 105 or Shimano 600EX or better.
Earlier 1980s components of higher-end models might be
nice mixes of higher-end Sugino (eg. Mighty Competition
cranks) Suntour (eg. Superbe Pro) and Dia Compe (eg. Grand
Compe) components.
.
To give you an idea of value for dollar when buying a
mid-80s lugged CrMo steel framed bike, have a look at
the 2009 Fuji "Connoisseur", a retro late-80s offering
of lugged CrMo steel and a modest Fuji groupset that
looks much like an early 1980s mix of Sugino and Dia
Compe, et al. It's an 8-speed (with downtube shifters), not
a 6\7 speed like the mid-80s, and has a cartridge bottom
bracket (not cup & cone), but otherwise is about the same
as a mid-80s bikes. Its MSRP is $1,500. Nice bike, but I
would take my Comp TAs or 1986 Ironman over it any day
and I paid on average only about 1/8th the Fuji's price.
.
Here's the Fuji "Connoisseur" link with specs\price:
.
http://www.fujibikes.com/LifeStyle/ClassicSeries/Absolute10.aspx
.
Hope this helps.
.
PS - More on Centurions can be found here on T-Mar's
Centurion Serial Number Database thread. There are pics
and specs of many models, not just those mentioned above.
.
Here are links to pics of my own Centurions, including
those models mentioned here. You will have to scroll
down a few screens to find my posts and pics:
.
Cinelli Equipe:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=6384620&highlight=
.
Comp TAs; Ironman, Master & Expert; LeMans RS:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=5970443&highlight=
.

I don't know much about Centurions....but if you want a price on your Lemans, eBay has plenty of old listings.

With a midlevel bike like the Lemans: Condition/Components/Color are the things I'd evaluate.

The friction models had a better level of components, in my opinion, relative to the rest of the market, than their indexed brethren.
My '84 w/Suntour LePreel is as smooth as any of my friction bikes save one, but my '88 with indexed LX just is not the reliable "click-shift, take it for granted" bike I'd like it to be.
I've heard the 6-sp indexed were smoother than the 7-speed. Maybe I need a new chain or something.

It may be because the friction components were near the end of years of development and improvement,
and the indexed models were near the beginning. I don't know, doesn't matter.

So, I'll climb out on the limb, and venture a market opinion:
$150-$200, delivered, for a good condition Lemans with rideable tires.
Subtract from that for anything you have to fix.

I'd pay more for an RS with friction than I would for a later indexed model,.....UNLESS....the wild card is the black and yellow 1987 model.
People just like that color a lot, and if it's in good condition with original components, it will bring Ironman prices. I dig that one, too.

That being said, right now the market has a lot of Ironman models, so you can likely get one of them for about $250 delivered, and that's a great buy if the condition is good. I've been tracking Ironman sales on eBay alone over the last couple of years. Delivered price is around $255-$260, based on 100 sold.
20% of the Ironman bikes listed do not sell, generally due to high reserves or seller's reluctance to ship.

If I had $400 to spend to get into the sport, I'd pick up an Ironman, used carbon fork, used STI shifters, clipless pedals, and a saddle I liked. I think the combo makes for one of the best all-around bikes you can get right now.

If I had $300, I'd go for a clean Ironman with all original components, and try to get as much of the other stuff as I could in the budget.
If I had $200, I'd look for a Lemans RS, either the last friction models or an '87 like A. Winthrop describes.
Less than that, I'd see if any '88 Lemans were available, or an early '80s Super Lemans.

By comparison, today's CL in Raleigh has a 1970 Peugeot UO-8 for $150. It will sell.

There are always individual bikes that are outside this general description, but what you see above is what I've experienced as far as Centurions.
I've got other makes and models, and some are very nice and were better values. They just happened that way, and I don't know their market.

I paid $15 for a centuian elite biopace chain rings full shimano 600. $2 Schwinn Tempo. $50 Miyata 914. $40 specialized epic carbon fiber frame, $10 mavic ksyrium wheels for it. your prices may vary.

I paid $15 for a centuian elite biopace chain rings full shimano 600. $2 Schwinn Tempo. $50 Miyata 914. $40 specialized epic carbon fiber frame, $10 mavic ksyrium wheels for it. your prices may vary.
I need to shop where you go.......:thumb:

I need to shop where you go.......:thumb:

Holy crap, +1.

lewt539, There was a Univega Supra Sport that I'm aware of that sold for $60 in the Raleigh area. The bike had been stored outdoors and that took its toll on the components and the chain. Amazingly the frame was not rusted. It was a grey/blue color and could be the same year/model you're referring to. I remember looking at it. If I had more time and if the frame was one size smaller, I would have purchased it for myself because it was super nice frame. It was double (or triple) butted chromoly steel, made in Japan. I can't remember if the steel was Ishiwata, Tange or something else. The model, SupraSport was NOT high end, in fact it looked like a very nice entry level model to me. But I remember being very impressed with the frame's credentials for a lower end bike. Take into account, prices have gone up since I viewed this bike and it was a good deal then.
Hope this helps.

We're working on a new price guide which has more 'used' bicycles than our original on-line price guide. It doesn't just contain 'collectible' bicycles.

I'm updating it right now, but it should have over 40,000 sales in it by this afternoon.
There are currently over 100 Univega records in the database.

Here's a direct link:

http://oldroads.com/p_query.asp