Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - GT Karakoram

Hey,
Feels a bit weird posting here.....Anyways, a GT Karakoram partial bike popped up on the local Craigs and the price is a bit out there IMO but I never see any of the upper end ones around in my size......Think it's worth a $100? I'd rather have a Zaskar but I can want all I want......They aren't just falling from the sky in the small sizes and I'm a cheapskate. So whatcha think?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/bik/991575112.html

http://images.craigslist.org/3p43oc3lb1141f41gb91d3ac5fe3dbc2f1062.jpg

Kpug,
They are great Tange Infinity frames, but w/o the wheelset I think that price is a bit steep...And that FS isn't a really great Rock Shox model either.... I understand that your neck of the woods ain't cheap, but still.... Could you try for $75 cash ??

No way. Plus, it is really hard to tell if there are any alignment issues without being able to ride the thing.

+1 Around here, I could get the bike complete for that price, or close to it. I picked up my Trek 950 for $75 and passed on a second one for $50.

But if it fits and you happen to have a donor bike, then go for it. I finished another Trek 950 for my wife that I picked up for $30, in similar condition to the one you are looking at (had everything but RD, wheels, chain and cassette). A $5 donor (high end Kona with a split frame) and I was set.

Hmm...Just got an email from the seller and he says there is a small dent on the top tube. He's listed it several times over the last month or so and the price has dropped $50. I think I'll pass unless the price drops to a more reasonable amount. Besides....I'd much rather have a Zaskar.

Thanks guys!
Kelly D

For comparison, I bought this bike for $65 last summer

http://www.fiataccompli.com/bike/photos/chriskarakorampicture.jpg

it was actually the asking price, but 150 miles away (don't see this combo in my neighborhood too often either) & I arranged for the (super nice) seller to hang onto the bike 'til I was in town to pick it up about a month later. I thought it would be just a parts bike for my '88 Karakoram, but it ended up being basically in good, ridable condition w/ all the original LX/XT....just a lousy rattle can frame repaint.

Also fwiw, I also have a '95 Zaskar. I weighed both bikes: the Zaskar came in a 24 lbs & the Kararkoram at 25lbs....not a bad bike to have & steel is nice, imho.

Well it depends. If you just want a hardtail MTB, then pass. If you want a steel hardtail MTB, make him an offer of $75. This way if he says no, you can pass on it and let it go. Finding a steel MTB with a nice frame, in your size, that has a 1 1/8 head, meant for a front shock isn't exactly easy to find unless you go to ebay, then you've got to add shipping. If you have to go as high as $100, maybe you're better off going to ebay and getting a complete bike that will not require as much work.
I built up a Nishiki Ariel from just a frame and a shock. After all was said and done, I've got well over $200 into it. Even with a donor bike, these things can get expensive quickly.

I'd buy it for $50 in a heartbeat!

But........ I have sentimental attachment. That year Karakoram was the same bike I bought when I was 14 as my first mountain bike!

Check out Bikepedia. The frame info & original components are listed for that bike there. They were a bit pricey when complete & new. I paid $20 for a complete 1996 Trek 930 with Rock Shox, bottle cage & alloy rear rack in great shape. Spent $10 on a new chain to make it almost perfect. They were in about the same price range back in the mid-1990s. Stripped bike from "who knows who"? Dent in the frame?