Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Need a Bike Value

Hello,

I need to know how much an early 90's Trek 930 hybrid is worth. I've decided to use all my new friends here on Bike Forums as my lifeline. Ha! Anyhow, it is a very nice conditioned steel frame chromemoly supposedly hand made in USA? Not sure if I believe that? Has been converted to a flatbar bike, whatever that means, has been upgraded to Shimano equipment and has new tires. What's a fair price to pay and what should my ceiling price be? No front or rear suspension. Can this model accept suspension forks? Thanks.

John

A Trek 930 is a mountain bike, not a hybrid. A good condition rigid fork mountain bike is typically worth about $100. That's a ready to ride, needs no repairs price.
As for adding a suspension fork, for starters, it will not increase the value of the bike as much as it will cost to convert.
If you still want to add a suspension fork, you'll need to determine the year of your bike because early 930s had a 1" steer head and later 930s had a 1 1/8 inch head. This 1/8 inch makes a huge difference. If it's a 1" head, take my advice, don't bother trying to convert it. It's an expensive proposition, that results in an ill handling bike.
If it has a 1 1/8 head, you have much better options, but they may still result in an ill handling bike. If you have 1 1/8 inch head and you change it to threadless headset (cost about $50-60) you can pick up used fork off ebay with limited travel for cheap, maybe $40 or $50, and have a bike mechanic install it. You can probably make the change for around $100 to $200. Is it worth it NO.
Better option, if you want a hardtail MTB, sell the Trek for $100, take that money and another $100 and buy a nice, used hardtail from around early 2000's. Much better than upgrading the 930 and much less expensive.

The 930 was a pretty good bike.
You can get more information on it by checking Bikepedia.com
Price depends on the market, and the bike's condition. I am in New York, and I see them with Rock Shox going for around $125 to $150 on Craig's List. I had a 1996 Trek 930 with Rock Shox, and sold it to a friend's coworker last summer for $75 as a favor. Make sure it has a frame size that is appropriate.

Thanks for the input everyone. I bought the bike for $80 on Ebay. I'm glad I got it too because my inseam is only 28-29 inches and 17.5" Trek 7100 was making me sing soprano. A little too tall but didn't like the looks of the 15" Trek 7100 cuz top bar really drops diagnally to an angle that looks a little feminine.

But this Hardtail 930 is a smaller frame so could straddle the top horizontal bar and still had an inch or so protection for my boys. It has new road tires, shimano upgrades and a flat bar. Not sure I like the flatbar yet. Think I want a taller handlebar. Also, that guy was not lying about it being made in USA. There is a stamp plate on frame above forks that says so. Anyone know what year Trek moved production to China and how I can verify what year mine is? Seller did not know? Thanks.

THe vintage-Trek.com web site and Bikepedia.com web site can probably help you out.

+1 Go to the vintage Trek site and you will find all the info you are looking for. Old rigid mountain bikes, even a nice one like the Trek 930 are only worth around $100 in good ready to ride condition. I bought two 950s last year (one model up), one for $75 and one for around $40. But those prices were below market, pretty good deals.