Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - HELP: Raleigh Technium 440?

I've got a line on a local Raleigh Technium 440. I had put a "WTB" post out on the local Craigslist looking for a late 70's through 90's Raleigh complete, for $75 or less. The owner of this bike replied and provided me with these pics...

http://www.spokejunkies.com/forum/uploads/1224624502/gallery_2440_161_26869.jpg
http://www.spokejunkies.com/forum/uploads/1224624502/gallery_2440_161_96221.jpg
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http://www.spokejunkies.com/forum/uploads/1224624502/med_gallery_2440_161_11456.jpg
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He tells me he was going to hold onto it till Spring and sell it for $100, but he's willing to let it go for $75 if I really want it. The standover is 35", so it should be about the perfect size, and everything appears to be in great shape. The color looks a tad powder blue for my tastes, but I'm hoping it's just the lighting. I was also hoping for at least downtube shifters, but I have an RSX group (provider the FDr is the correct clamp size) so I can switch it over to "brifters" which will also get rid of the suicide levers. ;)

So is it worth $75? Anyone care to take a guess at the year? I've already asked him to send me the serial number, so hopefully I have a definite date shortly. Any history, quirks, "where was it in the Raleigh model hierarchy" type comments to share? I'm assuming that given the Technium name and the fairly boring lugs it is one of the aluminum main/steel rear combo frames I've read so much about. Also- is this a Raleigh USA/Washington state at this point, or still the Japanese Reg(?) I've heard bad things about.

Oh, and if it helps, this will become my daily driver. Commute 7 miles into work (85% downhill- ya!! :thumb:), 2 miles round-trip to the gym at lunch, and then it'll ride the bus-rack home (85% uphill going home- boo!! :twitchy:). It'll also ferry me to and from my indoor soccer games and be a grocery getter. Is this a decent bike for a fenders, rack, and panniers, or is the geometry all wrong?

If you were looking to flip the bike, the price isn't so great. But since you are looking at a keeper, yeah I'd say that's a nice price for a bike in that condition. Three years ago I sold a Technium for $65 on CL and realized later I sold it much to low. Since then prices of vintage bikes have gone nuts this year. So I think you can't go wrong at that price provided the bike is in good shape.
Sorry, can't help on the fenders or other info.

I've done some looking, but finding concrete info on the 440 seems to be difficult. I've seen it listed as a sports/tourer which would seem to fit since the headtube angle seems pretty relaxed giving it a fairly large trail. After zooming the pics a bit I believe I can make out mounting eyelets on both the front and rear dropouts which is a BIG plus. It also appears to have come with 27" rims which begs the question about 700cc fitting well. I could stick with 27", but I'm not too keen on steel rims.

I'm thinking the RSX group (minus a set of cranks) and RSX wheelset, if everything fits, would be a great upgrade. I think the only thing holding me back at this point is the color. On my screen it looks like it's powder blue with an electric blue headtube. I'm heading over to check it out this weekend to see for myself so maybe it won't look as femme in person?

I sold one like that last year for $140.

Looks to me like those are alloy rims, not steel (could be wrong though). Nothing really wrong with the 27" ones then.

I recently swapped to 8-speed RSX setup with 105 crank on my Marathon. Worked great with a 7-speed freewheel out back. Too many broken spokes now has the 27" wheel unlaced and ready for a newer 130mm sealed bearing hub and an 8-speed cassette out back. The RSX stuff works great and if you can get it for cheap, well worth it. Picked mine up for cost of shipping only from a friendly BF member. 700c wheels would work, but you may need some long-reach brakes to get the extra 4mm of pad movement you'll need to make up the loss in rim diameter.

Should be a great bike and you'll get a lot of good miles for not much $ out of it. I say pick her up!

Thanks all for the comments. I bought the RSX stuff for about $100 total and that included an RSX hub/Mavic rim wheelset (700cm) with 7sp cassette, clamp on RSX FDr, 7sp RSX RDr, RSX STI "brifters" (right is indexed, the left is friction), and a set of RSX brakes. Do you think it would be ok to try and reuse the cables and housings that are there for the upgrade? Or should I just spend the $$ and replace the cables?

Also, the color is starting to grow on me. I think it might just need a silver rack, some new white bar tape, and a white saddle? Fizik makes a nice blue and white one... Nevermind the pricey saddle, I need to keep in mind this is just a commuter and I still need to deck out my race bike before Spring. :(

if the cables aren't rusted or anything you should be able to resuse them. cables and housing are fairly cheap though, if the are at all worn just replace while you are fixing the bike anyway. STI shifters are way more particular about worn cables then friction stuff.

its going to make a good bike though.

Well I just confirmed the test ride and pickup for this Saturday at 1pm. Baring a problem with size (35" to 35.5" standover he says, so it should be about perfect), serious dents, or bad rust I'll will be the new owner as of about 1:30pm! :love: :D :love:

The guy selling it was nice enough to email me the serial number even. Turns out the bike was built on Thursday July 30th of 1987, and was the 49th frame built that day. That means the the Iran-contra affair was THE news story at the time, it was the height of the "Star Wars" struggle between the US and the USSR, and Mary Davis Wilburn, the oldest survivor of the Titanic died that day. She was 104 years old. Fitting that the bike is a Raleigh and she was English (even though this is a Raleigh USA bike, Raleigh started out in the UK), so I think I will christen the bike Mary in her honor. :)

You'll have to excuse me, aside from being a bike nerd I'm a history nerd too. :thumb:

You might want to double check with him. That looks a lot taller than a 30" standover.
That's cool he gave you the serial and everything. I think it's a good looking bike.

No way that is a 30" standover. Closer to 35" or 36" standover.

WOOPS, I meant 35" or 35.5". I'm 6'2" so there's no way I'd be this excited about a 30" SO bike... Good catch, the original post has been edited.

Now to find a nice set of blue panniers that'll fit a 15" laptop...

I have one just like it. 27" alloy wheels, lower level components, entry level for Techniums. Paid $4.00 for it

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a57/crazy-b/PICT0837.jpg

+1 Good deal. And if you change your mind later, you should be able to flip it for $125 to $150, depending on your market.

I had one like it, and totaled it on a dog. I'd pay $75 anytime for one like that that fits and was in good shape.

Quick update- I am about 90% finished with the rebuild. Some nice Shimano RSX 700c wheels w/7sp cassette (steel rear traignle makes cold-setting the spacing cake), A Sora STI for the left side, a R600 STI for the right, RSX rear DR, a set of Cinelli bars, some new cables and housing, a new pair of Tektro LR brakes, and it's almost ready to roll. All that's left is to get my replacment rear brake housing (the brake housing in the Jagwire kit was too short for the through-the-TT routing), a rack, and some panniers, and I'll have one sweet commuter.

I have been riding this bike off and on during the winter on my rollers and REALLY like the ride thus far. Can't wait until the build is complete and the weather warms... :)