Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Nishiki value

Here is a Nishiki from the same seller as the Le Tour I am asking about. In his replied email he said he is 6 foot and can ride the Schwinn just fine and doesn't know what model the Nishiki is. Sorry for asking so many stupid and beginner questions but I want to make sure I get the right bike for a good flip and something I can ride in the mean time.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/976820788.html

Is that fork bent?

It's hard to tell from the little picture, but it looks like it could be a Custom Sport. I just bought one myself - picking it up tomorrow.

OK...and is this a lower, middle, or top of the line Nishiki? How much did you get yours for. As for the fork, I have no idea if it is bent.

The Custom Sport is a low-line Nishiki. Originally sold for $150 or so.
The one I'm buying today is in really good condition. I'm paying $70.

Does it have alloy rims?

Does it have a cromoly frame? Looks like a cotterless crank, which is a good sign.

If it has alloy rims and a cromoly frame, then it is a great deal. If not, I would personally pass on it because it is a heavy bike with little interest for resale. I paid $12.50 and $50 for the last two bikes I got (in the last week) that passed both of these tests.


+1 Fork does look tweaked, but it is a really poor picture, hard to tell.

Looks like a large frame, perhaps a 24 inch. If so, you will need to be pretty tall. (Again, hard to tell for sure from this picture).


The key phrase here: "Is the bike ready to ride?" New cables, good tires, straight rims, and so on. Getting an old bike ready to ride at your local bike shop will usually kill the value (cost more than completed bike is worth). But if it is ready to ride, then you are fine. And if you can do all the work, it doesn't cost much, just time.

If you have to put any money into a high ten steel bike with steel rims, you will never get your money back. I haven't been able to get more than $90 out of a ready to ride high ten steel bike. But again, with alloy rims and cromoly frame, you are golden.

I've seen this Nishiki before. Someone else on BF asked about it and about the bent fork. I'd be very careful about buying this. If that fork is bent you've got a basket case on your hands.
OK as for model and level, Bill went through many of the signs to look for. I note that it has stem shifters, a sure sign of a lower to low-mid level bike. The brake levers without hoods and with turkey wings (safety bars that extend from the brake lever) also say "entry level". That's OK, there are some nice entry level bikes. But $75 for an entry level bike that needs work and might have a bent fork? I wouldn't get near it and it's one of my favorite brands.

Fork is bent, and it looks as if the top tube is as well. Big time caveat emptor.

-Kurt

Alright perfect. I will not be wasting my time with this one then.

Fork is bent, and it looks as if the top tube is as well. Big time caveat emptor.

Great bike only needs tubes and a shift cable.

Including the top tube and fork tubes? :lol:

... he said he is 6 foot and can ride the Schwinn just fine ....


Overall height is secondary to leg length. I finally remembered where I saw a pic of two people standing side by side to each other, it was in an anthropology book. Both guys were the same overall height, but one had legs at least 4" longer than the other guy, one guy all legs, other guy all torso. Some people fit longer top tubes, others shorter top tubes. Standover height just helps to keep you from hurting yourself if you have to drop off the seat suddenly.:eek::innocent:

Also, that caveat emptor enters again, if the seller of the bent Nishiki is the same seller as another bike you're looking at I would personally be suspect of any claims about the other bike. If a seller says it just needs tubes/tires when the frame/fork are obviously bent, then what claims can be accepted about the other bike? :rolleyes: Maybe the seller doesn't know that the frame and fork are bent, if so then that lends further caution to any claims made about the other bike. And if it's just a funny pic of the bike making it look bent, but it really isn't bent, then just ignore everything I just typed. ;)

If SE means Sport Equipe, $75 is too high. $50.

Man you guys are much more helpful than those arrogant jerks over in the SS/FG forums...lol jk...no but seriously, thanks for the great and respectful help gents. I am one to be very grateful of helpful individuals such as yourselves!!