Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Maybe selling my Nishiki conversion...need opinions

OK so I have a lot of time, money, and pride into this bike. It was my first and only conversion thus far. I started with a Nishiki 3 spd. I had it powdercoated and sandblasted. Frame is flawless besides a scratch on the top tube when some jackass tried to steal it at school. It has the following parts:

Sugino crankset (Think its the $100 one)
Shimano BB
Tange polished headset
Wellgo Pedals (white and silver) w/straps (cheap no name from lbs)
Pyramid bull horns
Bontrager white cork tape
Soma Ensho Saddle
Promax seatpost
Soma cog w/Soma lock ring
Aluminum wheels (take-off from Bontrager SoHo)
Tektro Mt. bike brake with lever w/ white housing
Nitto Pearl stem (also have matching B123 Nitto drop's)


This bike has only been ridden 20 times or so, with the longest ride being 6 miles or so. Its a very beautiful bike and all the parts or either barely used or brand new. The pictures honestly do not do it justice. I will not sell unless I can get a really good amount of money, as I have a lot into it. I have had a couple mechanics tell me I could get around $600 for it. I am sure no one on here agrees, but let the opinions fly I guess.

Thanks,
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Free

Wow, I think $600 is a stretch, but I'm not into the fixie, single speed thing at all. Based on what I've seen on CL here, I'd estimate $300.

Sell it to one of the mechanics.

I will not sell unless I can get a really good amount of money, as I have a lot into it. I have had a couple mechanics tell me I could get around $600 for it.

#1: What is the "good amount of money" you would like to get for it? Would help to know if this threshold price of yours would be a reasonable selling price.

#2: Sell it to the mechanic.

#3: $300 in a reasonably good fixie market, IMO.

-Kurt

Well to have well over 6 into it. I know you all dont think thats possible but I think I may try just for fun lol. I would like to ge5 6 for it to be honest. I get it just takes the right buyer.

For selling, not in any way referencing the bike:

The strong points are the frame paint quality and the deep-V wheels people seem to like.

The weak points are the lack of flip/flop hub and rear brake. You lost 1/2 your market there.

I can get a late 80's frame, with great paint already, for about $50-$75, toss on a bright deep-V flip/flop set, tires, bright saddle, and bullhorns, stay around $200, then flip for $275. That's just this market, and I've gotten $150-175 for stripped Raleigh Rapide's using the same 27" wheels with ground down cogs, flop/chop bars, and all the decals removed. So in this market, shared with roccobike above, $300 would be achievable on CL.

Now, where real hipsters dwell, I'd say more, but a real hipster makes his own, then makes his girl a mixte one.

Good luck.

Well to have well over 6 into it. I know you all dont think thats possible but I think I may try just for fun lol. I would like to ge5 6 for it to be honest. I get it just takes the right buyer.

Like I said, I can only tell you the market here. The paint job and wheels probably set you back, I bet, and I think it's a cool bike, would love to have it. It looks like it would be a blast to ride.

Thanks Robbie, I appreciate it. Actually it IS a flip/flop hub. I had a cog and freewheel on it at one point. I also have the matching rear brake and lever. The wheels arent Deep V...however they do look similar to me...

Well, it looks like you will end up keeping it because you will get no were near $600 or even $500 for it. The mechanics are smokin' something. I would agree with everyone saying $300 probably. A lot of that might depend on your location. In the midwest non-biking and non-college town that will be very tough. In a very big city, bike friendly, and/or college town you MIGHT be able to get that or even a little bit more. I have built up and sold close to 10 fixed conversions and never got more than $300 for any one of them. All of mine had brand new wheelsets, tires, tubes, cog, lockring, chain, bar tape, and bottom brackets. I stopped doing it because the money involved was too much for the slight profit I might get.

The best way to sell would be to part it out. That is the only way to get most of your money back.

I had a feeling thats what everyone was going to say. Well, I have it on CL right now and I not really dying to sell it because it does have sentimental value to me and especially my folks. It sucks being a poor college student and needing to pay off things. I think if the right hipster with a lot of money comes along, he will bite for substantially more than $300..we will see. What do used parts like my Nitto Stem and bars and Sugino crank set usually go for? They are all in great shape. I just dont really want to part with the frame it I part it out. If I cant sell it as a whole, I think i will just hold onto it.

I think if the right hipster with a lot of money comes along, he will bite for
substantially more than $300..we will see.

Listen, if you put anything up for long enough, the chances of finding the Ultimate Sucker™ does increase. You might have to sit around for a year or two, but some idiot might pop up.

Better yet, post it for $1,200 - someone might think it's better then what it is.

-Kurt

I hate it when I see the same bike clogging up the local CL for 6 months.

Never say never, but I highly doubt you will get $500 for it.

Yeah that's my feelings. There are plenty of people out there willing to pay a lot of money for nice things. I am not going to over-advertise however.

I am not going to over-advertise however.

Well? What are you waiting for? List it and let us in on the results.

-Kurt

Listed yesterday, no bites. I don't need to sell it and I am not letting it go for dirt.