General Cycling Discussion - Police Auction - Bikes

Hi everyone.

Has anyone here ever gone to a bicycle police auction? I just found out they have one here in New York and I was wondering what to expect.

1. Are the cycles just dangerous junk or do they have some usable ones in the lot?

2. Do the bike shops bid on the bikes making them expensive?

3. Do the working junk bikes sell for more than $50.00

4. What do you need to bring besides money?

You might get lucky, maybe not. There could be anything there from junk to jewels, even the bike that was stolen from you that the Police wanted to sell for themselves rather than tell you they found it. ( This has happened! a friend of mine used to own a shop and he said that he often found the bikes he had reported stolen from his shop at the police auction!!) da crooks!

Shops probably wouldn't bid much, since they get wholesale
prices anyway.

It's hard to tell what to expect what's there varies from acuiton to auction town to town etc. etc.
Take a look the first time out and them go with money the next time if you think it's worthwhile. Be cautious if you don't REALLY know what's what, take someone with you who does.

Ride with your eye on it
Pat

Over this side of the pond some of the Police auctions use Ebay. Prices look pretty good on the less popular bikes (old three speeds can be picked up for next to nothing, as can older road bikes), mountain bikes go for more, particularly if a big brand or full suspension. Accuracy of descriptions leaves a little to be desired and some look like they need a bit of work. I've sat and watched a few bargains go by, but as soon as I can persuade my wife that we have got room for another bike....

Richard

In my area of Maine they are sold on an auction basis. There is an awful lot of crap, but some fairly decent frames IF you know what you are looking at.
Primarily, though, it's Huffies, Roadmasters and broken junk.

I've been to police bike-auctions.

They are OK. It is just a collection of abandoned or known-to-be-stolen bikes that the police have picked up over a six month period. Some of the bikes are in good shape, others are not. Some are high end, but most are mid/low-end; probably just a good cross view of the bike population in your community.

Depending on the turnout, you could get a good bike at a good price.

My suggestion is to know what you are bidding on and know the value. Due to auction fever, some old bikes are sold for values which exceed their true worth.

Originally posted by Richard D
Over this side of the pond some of the Police auctions use Ebay. Prices look pretty good on the less popular bikes (old three speeds can be picked up for next to nothing, as can older road bikes), mountain bikes go for more, particularly if a big brand or full suspension. Accuracy of descriptions leaves a little to be desired and some look like they need a bit of work. I've sat and watched a few bargains go by, but as soon as I can persuade my wife that we have got room for another bike....

Richard

I recently bought Specialized BMX from the Police Zone on Ebay for £50.00, and it was in good condition.

It's definately worth a look at, but you've got to know what your buying, before you do.

Good luck

Rich :)

I have had better luck with smaller city auctions, however, if your into buying dozens of bikes at a time, and dont care for the quality, show up a few minutes after the auction has ended, offer a low ball price for ALL the bikes. I once watched as some body purchased 80 - 100 bikes for $250! These were the bikes that didnt sell on the auction, i honestly have no idea what anyone could do with 100 junkers!

BTW, I purchased an old 3speed beach cruiser bike for my sister at a police auction, $15, it rides and looks great after a $8 purchase of red and clear coat spray paint! :D

A friend got a nice Raleigh at a police auction.

Check out Goodwill. They often don't know what they have. $15 - $20, tops.

Pete is right about Goodwill. Two years ago I found a Nishiki Sport at Goodwill for $6 ! They had no clue.

Most of the Huffys, Murrays etc. were 15 to 20 bucks as Pete says, but the Nishiki was covered with dirt, dust, and a sprinkling of dried chicken poop (thus the lower price).

I tore it down and completly repacked all bearings and replaced the dried and cracked brake hoods. There was absolutely no wear on any of the bearing surfaces. I believe it had never been ridden, just hung in some barn for years.

I use it only on the local flat canal towpath which is crushed limestone. Always hated to ride my "better" bikes on that surface because of the dust (abrasion).

Last summer I picked up a like new Blackburn mag trainer at the same store. At the checkout they ask me what it was. :p

Oh, yeah, the price ? $6.

police auction for bikes??
I would love to go to one of them.
could you please give me some info.. where/when. or tell me where to look to find them. thanks


K

Originally posted by ahuman
police auction for bikes??
I would love to go to one of them.
could you please give me some info.. where/when. or tell me where to look to find them. thanks
K

Call your local police department and ask for times and locations of the auctions. The auctions are regional and many cities have them.

Louis, today I stopped in to one of the several Goodwill stores and picked up a Mongoose "kids" bike. (an older Aluminum model from California.) Cost me less than the two-ton Huff my 6 year-old
rides, and guess what: I WISH IT FIT ME!

Man, this thing is almost perfect. Almost NO maintenance
necessary at all. SRAM grip shifters, V-Brakes, nice aluminum quick-stopping rims that are NOT out of true, even the tires are in great shape (just add air.)

Angela (6 years) will have a bike-store quality bike as soon as she fits it (very soon! :D )

Now I have to remove the pedals from her Huff to teach her balance!

:thumbup:

(Poppy's excited! :) )

Glad to hear that, Pete. Sounds like a great "score". That's a fine bike for a young kid.

Those who have patience can occasionally come away with the prize.

I hit the thrift shops often but almost never buy anything, just lurk about. It's kind of like fishing; getting skunked mostly, then coming away with a lunker. :)

My wife calls me Louis Cheapazz :D

;)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1800893079

Well somebody might want them :)

For police auction bikes check out the user 'India Foxtrot' on E-bay, they seem to have a couple of hundred on the go at any given time.

Like many others I have it on my 'watch' , just waiting for the Dawes Super Galaxey for £10, or the Specilized Rockhopper for £20

You can check out all their current auctions (not just bikes) on

http://cgi3.ebay.co.uk/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=indiafoxtrot

Andrew

Richard, Seeing thoese bikes piled up like that makes me want to cry. Like unwated children.

It really is a shame. People would kill for those bikes in a country like Africa. Those bikes would provide work for dozens of young men who want to make money as a bike/taxie in some poorer nation.

We should have a website like that in every major city in the US since most don't have any idea on bicycle auctions and most are located in the middle of no-where. Transporting those bikes here in the US would be almost as expensive as buying new ones from Kmart so it makes no sence to bid on them.