Classic & Vintage - Panasonic bike value

I have a coworker whose wife has a Panasonic Sport LX purchased May 2, 1987 (she still has her receipt and Operating Instructions booklet) and is in very good condition. She was going to just offload it at a garage sale this weekend but I believe she could get more for it. A quick "Google" ad I found some older Panasonics in the $200-500 price range. I'm pretty sure it's a smaller sized frame. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

James

They were fairly nice bikes, depending on the model, but they aren't worth a whole lot typically. They made some higher end models that do go for the $200-300 range but I believe the Sport LX is a pretty low end model if I recally correctly. We seem to work on a fair number of Panasonics at the shop and they are kind of a typical Japanese 80's bike in all respects. Frames almost identical to about 10 other manufacturers of the time.

They were fairly nice bikes, depending on the model, but they aren't worth a whole lot typically. They made some higher end models that do go for the $200-300 range but I believe the Sport LX is a pretty low end model if I recally correctly. We seem to work on a fair number of Panasonics at the shop and they are kind of a typical Japanese 80's bike in all respects. Frames almost identical to about 10 other manufacturers of the time.

Thanks seely,

just wanted to know if they could get more cash for it rather than selling it at a garage sale where it would most likely go for $10-20. Is this a bike that is worth the trouble of "fixing"?

Probably $100 at the max. It is not a 'collectible' but would serve as a good commuter for someone who does not want to spend big $$$. A garage sale? Lucky to get $20.
Lets face it most folks will buy a Wally World bike for about $100. Why? It's cheap and shiny brand-new. We live in a disposable society.
If you need a tax write off for next year, write it off and you get away with a $3-400 deduction.
Sold a Fuji STSL at a swap meet with Phil Wood hubs, got $125 . . . heck, the hubs alone were worth it. Asi es la vida!

Why are these always away from where I live: I want to get a smaller panasonic frame for my wife.

The Sport LX was pretty much the lowest model other than a few upright bar models. I believe the line up went something like:

Sport LX, DX 2000, DX 4000, and DX 5000. There may have been other models but these are the only ones I have seen around here. Panasonic imported bikes to the US from 1970 to 1989. The best link I have found on these is :

http://www.yellowjersey.org/pana.html

I sold a beautiful DX 5000 frame on ebay a year ago for 101$ (50cm, just to torment Mr. Karsten). However, I believe that bike is far better than yours; I watched a DX 2000 at a local goodwill auction go for 35$. More on that end, I think.

The Japanese bikes are very underpriced on the used market and are under-rated by anal collector sorts like myself, who prefer euro- and amero- trash. They're good rides.

I agree. I have a 1980 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8(made by Panasonic) that rides every bit as well(if not actually better) as my 1971 Paramount P-15.

An ex-neighbor of mine had (or maybe still has) a mid-'80s Panasonic road bike (forget the model) that has Tange 900 tubing and Shimano "Light-Action" components. I test rode and it rode and shifted beautifully. I would have bought it from him if the frame wasn't so big! Very light for it's size.

I rode a Panasonic Team America from 1988 to about 1996, and recently refurbished it as a travel bike. It has Columbus SL tubing, beautiful lugs, crit-type geometry, and came with contemporary Dura-Ace stuff. It was a great bike, and I put about 25,000 good miles on it.
I recently had Bilenky 'hack' it, putting couplers in the frame and making it a travel bike. I built it back up with current Campy stuff, leaving the beautiful brakes (and the front der because I was cheap). They repainted the beautiful red/yellow/white fade paint.
I have to vote that Panasonic made some great bikes, if mine is representative.

Hendo

My Girlfriend has a Panasonic Les Malliots (sp?) that she got in japan when she was young, its a pretty nice bike. Wonder how much thats worth.

I rode a Panasonic Team America from 1988 to about 1996, and recently refurbished it as a travel bike. It has Columbus SL tubing, beautiful lugs, crit-type geometry, and came with contemporary Dura-Ace stuff. It was a great bike, and I put about 25,000 good miles on it.
I recently had Bilenky 'hack' it, putting couplers in the frame and making it a travel bike. I built it back up with current Campy stuff, leaving the beautiful brakes (and the front der because I was cheap). They repainted the beautiful red/yellow/white fade paint.
I have to vote that Panasonic made some great bikes, if mine is representative.

Hendo

Based on looking at old catalogs, your Team America was one of the best Panasonics to be sold in the USA under the Panasonic name. (Many other good Panasonics were sold under Schwinn names during the 1980's).

Just before Panasonic left the USA, they introduced a "semi-custom" ordering program that enabled a customer to select a "Team America" in exact sizes (one inch increments) and then select from thousands of possible painting combinations. Even put the owner's name on the bike, if desired. Put down a deposit, and in a couple of months, the bike would arrive at the LBS from Japan.

But, by then, the Yen/Dollar ration had gotten to the point that making bikes in Japan for the US market became unprofitable, and Panasonic left the USA. But, the last bikes they sent to the USA included some of the very best factory-made bikes sold in the USA during the 1980's.

I have a coworker whose wife has a Panasonic Sport LX purchased May 2, 1987 (she still has her receipt and Operating Instructions booklet) and is in very good condition. She was going to just offload it at a garage sale this weekend but I believe she could get more for it. A quick "Google" ad I found some older Panasonics in the $200-500 price range. I'm pretty sure it's a smaller sized frame. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

James

I was selling them back then. All "Sport Series" models had 27" wheels and all "DX Series" models had 700C wheels. If I remember right starting from the bottom they went from:
Sport 500 Hi-ten $159.00
Sport Cr-mo seat tube $184.95
Sport LX Cr-mo main tubes $219.95
DX1000 ~279
DX2000 ~329
DX3000 ~399
DX4000 ~499
DX5000 ~599

I have been looking for info this bike and can only find the Sport and DX models. Does anyone know anything about the T-3000?

The Sport LX was pretty much the lowest model other than a few upright bar models. I believe the line up went something like:

Sport LX, DX 2000, DX 4000, and DX 5000. There may have been other models but these are the only ones I have seen around here. Panasonic imported bikes to the US from 1970 to 1989. The best link I have found on these is :

http://www.yellowjersey.org/pana.html

In 87 is was:
Sport 500 27x1-1/4 Hi Ten with Steel rims
Sport 27x1-1/4 Chromoly ST alloy wheels QR frt
Sport LX 27x1-1/4 Chromoly Main QR both
DX1000 700C
Upto DX5000

I picked up a smallish ~48cm black and yellow Panasonic DX3000 for $10 last month. I aired the tires, washed it, serviced it, installed new cable wires and trued the wheels. Cosmetics were about a 7.0-7.5, some paint and decal scrapes but not bad. Flipped it on CL a week or two later for $200 and it needed tape & hoods

I paid $200 for my '87 DX4000 at a store. It was in excellent condition.

I'm not sure about the value of a Panasonic DX-4000. I purchased one a while back and currently have it for sale on Craigslist in Atlanta for $245 which I thought was a great price. It's been listed for one week but no interest. It's a 58cm with mostly Shimano 600 and Suntour Suberbe pedals. Would you guys care to look at my listing and see if I'm missing something? Should I lower the price? I really like the bike but I need to reduce the herd a little.

I agree. I have a 1980 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8(made by Panasonic) that rides every bit as well(if not actually better) as my 1971 Paramount P-15.

Heresy, I say! :D

Mercurys, your bike seems reasonably priced to me, and certainly nicer than the other Panasonic that is listed at $350.

Scored this DX4000 today for $40. Full 105 end to end. On the rear portion of the top tube, it reads "Custom painted by Panasonic". Must be one of the custom order bikes, eh? A real shame it is an inch below my small range. The leg length is perfect on this picture, which should give an idea. Overall it is a nicely made bike. Paint is decent, and doesn't weigh more than it should. About the same or a bit lighter than my Prelude.,,,,BD

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n267/Kustombyker/DX4000.jpg

There is actually a Panasonic DX6000 too. I know of one at a LBS that I am trying to score. I was searching for a DX5000, but then saw this bike and I need to have it.