Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Trying to Discover How to Figure the Value of My Bike

Hey guys how much do you all think I could get for this bike as it is shown here in the current economy I've researched and researched and I still am unsure what I might be able to expect to sell it for and I need to get it sold, because my hours at work have been cut back to the point that I need the money to pay bills and groceries?

Click Here to see a slide show of the bikes current condition. (http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii116/tomallyn/?action=view&current=6d23f977.pbw)

Unbelievable Custom Tang #1 Vintage Steel Centurion Ironman Road Bike customized with a Dura-Ace Group with a FSA Chainring. More Tour De France races have been one on bikes equipped with Dura-Ace groups then any other brand. Dura Ace is arguably the best in the world.

Amazing Centurion Ironman Road Bike Click Here to view a full slide show of this amazing custom vintage road bike

The odds of finding any vintage steel bike equipped with a Dura Ace Group with a FSA Chaniring is nearly zero you could be the only person you may ever meet with a vintage road bike like this. The rear triangle was spread to fit a 9 speed cassette by Steve Rex of Rex Cycles in Sacramento. Steve is considered one of the best custom frame builders in the in the United States.

The Centurion Ironman frame was built with Tang #1 Japanese Steel and is one of the most sought after frames by vintage steel road bike enthusiasts for all types or road riding including racing and this bike is equipped with a group and chainrings that will make your racing or club ride buddies enviouse. The combined Dura Ace and FSA chainring group alone is actually worth more then I am offering this entire bike for.

This road bike has a 55 centimeter frame: Measured from the center of the crank to the top of the seat tube.

I only got to ride this bike one time about 4 miles after having it put together by one of the best road bike mechanics in Sacramento CA., due to changes in my schedule at work. Now that the economy is like it is I need to sell this bike to help my son pay for college tuition.

Beginning from the front end components are in virtually like new or exactly like new condition. The tires are show only a little black from the black asphalt I was riding on during the short 4 mile ride I took it on. It needs a slight tune up which you can get for a $5 dollar donation to the at the Sacramento Bike Kitchen, just ask for John he's one of the volunteers and he is an awesome mechanic that could be easily paid $100 for a full road bike tune up. The most worn parts are the brakes however they work like new and according to the well to late Sheldon Brown who is a legend in the world of cycling they are the best stopping brakes ever made so I chose to keep. The brakes do need new pads.

Features are as follows:

Bars: Nitto Soba

Bar Tape: Cinelli Gel Cork

Brake Levers: Tektro

Quill Stem: Cinelli A1

Wheelset: 2008 SL2008 Vuelta Pro SL

Tires/Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 4000

Saddle: Brooks B17 Narrow

Seat Post: Thomson Elite

Bottle Cages: Velo Orange (Can't tell the difference between these and Nittos)

Bottles: KIT Alloy Drinks Bottle (From PBK in Great Britton) and they do hold the bottles well.

Fond and Rear Derailleus: Shimano Ultegra

Crank: Shimano DA

Chain Rings: FSA

Bottom Bracket: DA 7700

9 Speed Cassette: Shimano DA

Cabling: Shimano DA

Front/Rear Branks: Shimano 105 STI (From the Original Bike Group)

Cateye Cyclo computer complete with Cadence

Very nice bike, but - Probably worth more if you strip it and sell the components separately from the frame.

Very nice bike, but - Probably worth more if you strip it and sell the components separately from the frame.


+1 Parted out worth more than whole. Robbie has several Centurions on ebay right now, you should watch them to see how they turn out. But parted out is likely your best option to recoup your investment. In addition, you have a mix of components, which usually depresses the value of a complete bike. Ditto the repainted frame with no decals.

Someone looking for a classic bike will not like your modern touches. Someone looking for a modern bike will probably not be interested in a 20 year old frame. By separating the two, you will allow both groups a shot at your bike.

But maybe you can find that special buyer that will appreciate your hard work.

I will be interested in seeing Robbie's assessment, as he knows Centurion values very well!

I want to apologize to the mods for having to move my thread I haven't been on here in quite a while plus I somehow missed this part of the forum.

I agree with the above. Strip it and sell the parts.
I'm not going to even inject what it would be worth around here right now.

Wow, that's one of the nicest steel frame, custom built bikes I've seen. I really like it.

The problem is, not everyone wants one. If you can find that rare person who
1) likes steel,
2) doesn't mind a custom job that masks the brand, and
3) appreciates all the work and expense, you'll get maybe $600-$700.

It's just a fact. I just paid $850 for a Kestrel Talon, outfitted as well. Yours is prettier, I appreciate it more, but I can buy a very nice OEM Ironman for $300 and upgrade it, too. I also paid $700 for a Fuji Team Carbon with 9-sp 105 STI group, not my kind of bike, but that's the market. I figure I paid about $100-$150 under max market value on each.

Now, the guys who have told you to "part it out" are 100% correct in my book, unless you know the guy who meets 1) 2) and 3) above and has plenty of money to spend and really digs the bike. The vast majority of the other buyers are looking for a deal.

Speaking strictly Ironman on eBay, of 120 or so sold in the last 2 years, the average is about $260-$270, shipped. An immaculate model brought $400 plus shipping. None had the quality you have on that thing, but your market is people looking for steel, and that means sub $500 unless it's Italian.

Now, my experience with Ironman bikes. I've sold one very similar in quality to yours for $600, 9-sp STI shifting, new everything, all black, carbon fiber fork, seat post, 19 lbs and some change. He won't sell it back for $600, so I'm assuming it's a $600 bike. Yours is prettier, but the black one would outrun it. That makes a difference.

Nothing else Ironman has brought more than $450, even with 8-sp STI shifting, very clean steel frame sets and excellent components. Generally, $280 to very cute girls and $350 to their dads, avg $300. OEM Ironman bikes, all day $250-$275, which is why I sometimes have a lot on hand.

The reason is simple: at that price point, there are some pretty good deals on aluminum with STI shifting, and unless they have a Centurion bug, they just want a light fast bike that works.

My carbon Centurion Ironman bikes are probably the nicest riding bikes I have, well under 20 lbs, and I have fielded offers of $600 on those, not sold them. You have a little better overall components, but mine have STI shifting, a unique appearance, and the frames are OEM. That makes a difference.

So, lets assume the best you can do on a good day when the competition is out to lunch is $600-$700. You're going to have to have the right person, that person has to have it bug him/her for a while, and it's going to take 2-3 months.

Let's go back to the bike, and I'll try to lay it out:

Frame: $250 max, and probably not that. You and I know it's worth it, but it won't bring more.
Wheels: $250-$275 w/tires. Vuelta made 'em from low end to upper end; buyers are often unaware of that.
Bar end shifters: $40-$50
Saddle: $50? I don't know Brooks. It would sell the quickest. Brooks people love Brooks.
Brake set: $50-$60 w/hoods and cables. 2/3 that separated. I agree with you on the calipers.
Crank set: $100 with BB, will take a week or two to sell. Everyone wants Carbon Carbon Carbon
FD/RD: $50 for the set, $60 separate
Bar/stem combo: $60 max
Bottles/Cages: $10-$20 because they just don't sell.
Cassette: $40-$50

The advantage to parting out, besides several hundred dollars more if you get lucky, is that people want their parts YESTERDAY, and it could take months to find the buyer for the bike.

If I had $500 ready to spend, I'd go $500 on the bike and put the parts on something else, build the bike with either Shimano 600 Ultegra or a triple group and ride it in centuries. The bar ends go to the tri nuts, Dura Ace stuff always sells, and the rest would sell, too, in 7 days on eBay.

I'd not go over $600, since I can probably find 3-4 really nice frames for that, or a Carbon model and build it, or two Ironman bikes I can clean up and maybe get $400-$450 for,upgraded.

If I was trying to sell it, I'd find a pair of tri/aero bars and put on it, wrap them to match the bike. Increase in value is NIL, but increase in interest is double.

The Tange 1 is, in my opinion, the best all-around frame produced in Japan for price, quality, geometry, and strength/weight combined. That is, I'm sure, a gem to ride, and I'd love to have it, but the money I'd think you're looking for is going to be spent, in most cases, on Italian steel bikes.

Well, that's my take on it; I tried to tell you what I knew to be fact, or lied convincingly.

Really, it's gorgeous. txvintage and jmazz are doing what you did to the bike, and theirs will look pretty darn good, too. They both, and I concur, feel it's worth it, on a bike that will last a long time and always perform, be around looking good in another twenty. That aside, over half the reason they and I do it is the enjoyment of the build, and many of us balk at paying for someone else to have all the fun.

You're in California, so anything's possible. And I'd say the closer you get to San Franscisco with that bike, the better you'll do.
For all the reasons you can think of.

Robbie thanks your input now and in the past is always appreciated and you are the man when it comes to Centurions.

Now I'm beginning to think I'll sell off the seat and see if I can get by for the rest of this month money wise. So I'll put it on Ebay tonight. If I can I'll see how I'm doing next month and if I'm still in the same financial shape I'll Start taking parts of one at a a time and selling them. I love the bike and the pride I took in the build well makes me really want to keep it. Maybe I'll sell the wheels right away too. The in a few months when my financial position is much better maybe I'll buy a new brooks and get a better wheel set then the one on it now.

Thanks everyone for the input.

One at a time is a good plan. That way, you still have most of the bike if the economy turns up or the situation improves. All the best!