Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - 1974 vintage Schwinn varsity - $150

Someone near me is selling this bike. Wish I didn't already have 4 bikes ...

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/1043340149.html

Varsity's are worth $20, tops. Even in new condition. With new tires, $25.

JMO, sorry.

No offense Schwinn folks, but they are the bottom of the heap.

I'd rather have a Suburban or Collegiate, if I had to choose.

$150 does sound high to me as well, although I would value it higher than $20, more like $75. I do have several Schwinns right now that I would put a higher value to such as a Tempo, Prelude, and a Voyageur. I also have a Suburban, but I would value a Varsity higher.

Man I gave that exact bike away a few years back

really? 20 bucks? when a wal-mart dog will set you back 100.00?

I'm not a big Varsity fan, but they seem to bring some bucks. I've seen them going for around $100. I thought the sellers were crazy, but they keep on selling. There's a segment of the vintage bike market that loves those bikes and keep on buying them.

Varsity's are worth $20, tops. Even in new condition. With new tires, $25.

JMO, sorry.

No offense Schwinn folks, but they are the bottom of the heap.

I'd rather have a Suburban or Collegiate, if I had to choose.

It really depends on the market. Good condition Varsities commonly go for a standard $100 dollars here.

Bottom of the line? Maybe, but not bottom of the heap. They're solid and pretty indestructible. I've put my Varsity through hell and more without a single tuneup or upgrade and it's holding up great.

$150 is a lot more then I'd pay for that, though.

This sounds like a phishing expedition....Mods?

Sounds like OFG is a little grumpy today.:p

That Varsity seems to be in very nice shape. If it is in as nice of condition as it appears to be it would bring around $75-$100 here in S/W Michigan and $100-$125 in nearby Chicago.

They go for around $200 in highly inflated Sacramento CL.

It caught my eye for sentimental reasons. That's the bike I grew up on. Well, my maturing formative years, you know girlfriends and all that. It does sound high. This is my first year keeping a close eye on bikes on craigslist, I honestly don't know how the Boston market changes seasonally. Last year I bought an old Schwinn LeTour for $20 in CT (the guy wanted $25). I needed a road bike to experiment with. Right now there aren't too many road bikes for sale up here. I wonder who will wind up with it.

Old thread I know but hey, that's a solid bike and if it's in good condition and you really want it, then go ahead and buy the bike for $150. And that philosophy goes for all bikes. I don't understand why so many of us seem to want to get something for next to nothing. Big deal if you pay a little more than you might want to. So what if you ride it and enjoy it for a few years and sell it for a small loss. What's $50-$75 bucks in the grand scheme of life?? Never overpay for cars or houses but don't sweat the rest...

.... What's $50-$75 bucks in the grand scheme of life?? ...

3 PX10's.

You just need to know how to shop ! :)

I have refused free Varsity bikes and will continue to do so.

I have refused free Varsity bikes and will continue to do so.

I don't refuse any free bikes. As a minimum, I take them to my favorite thrift store where they can sell anything. Several times I have bought a group of bikes, have to take them all to get the one or two decent ones I want (seller had no interest in splitting them up). First rule of making a deal is figuring out what the seller wants, and see if you can accomodate them. If they want all the bikes gone NOW, then thats what I do. I have dropped off several bikes at the thrift store on the way home from the purchase. As long as the bike is complete, they can sell it. Even the Huffys/Roadmasters/Magnas/etc., don't last a day there. I also have gotten some decent parts off such bikes: saddles, tires, tubes, etc.

As far as any of the EF Schwinns: Continental, Varsity, Suburban, and more, there are a lot of people out there that like them. I've got two Continentals, a Varsity and a Suburban in the project queue right now.

I cannot tell from the image but blackwall tires were stock on the Varsity, so it might have fresh rubber. In SoCal, this would be listed for $175. If it was rust free, $100. is the top of the market in my view, but if there is little to do, a cheap reliving of one's youth with the satisfaction that your other bikes are better.

$50-100 here. I got mine for free from the dump. Had the fenders, too. Decent bike to tool around on.

Interesting that we're still offering valuations on a bike that was advertised close to two years ago! Love 'em or hate 'em, Varsities stir up debate. My most recent Varsity sale went for $100 last summer.