Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Shogun Katana Triple Triangle, 12sp, Tange Infinity, Shimano Light Action

This was, I'm sure, a fairly common build-up in the late 80s in terms of components- Shimano Light Action shifters/deraillers, Shimano SLR brakes/levers, Sakae SX crank, Shimano/Araya 32H 700c wheelset, gumwall tires, Sakae everything, etc. The frame, on the other hand, is something fairly unique- the triple triangle and the paint scheme are both distinguishing characteristics to me. Perhaps it's worth a little more than the typical late-80s CrMo road machine? Perhaps not. I'm curious what you all think either way.
I know the tastes in this subforum can veer a little older than mine, but nobody in the road forum is interested in downtube shifters and single-pivot brakes and there isn't a forum for 80s neon wonders, so you all get to deal with me.
OK, enough banter, on with the pictures. What do you think? It has a gumwall on the rear now. It's in VG+ condition- shifts well, wheels are true, brakes engage cleanly with no brake rub, all bearings are smooth and there's no rust (a few scratches).

This is a really interesting bike but I doubt that the GT style build adds alot to its final value. If this were a traditional frame, it'ld beworth $250-275 in NY. Figure that the bling factor of the triple triangle gets it a quicker, easier sale and an extra $25.

Looks like a fun ride!

Tange tubing is good stuff and I like to see their sticker on a bike, but Infinity is not one of their high end sets. As I recall, it's one of their lower end double butted framesets. Still it's a clean bike, looks like index shifting, and it's got 700C rims. I'd go $200 around here, maybe a little more for the good condition. Prices are crazy high right now so go high and come down later.

OMG, you have a larger-frame version of the EXACT same bike I have, and in the same colors. It appears that from the length of the headset tube on yours, mine is perhaps a 2cm smaller frame.

Just joined here after "googling" to find out more about this bike, and it was this old thread that came up. What year do you think yours is? I bought mine used in the mid-90's, and haven't ridden it much. I dug it out for a yard sale, and now am thinking the better of it. It's a cool bike with top-notch bits (for the time), it seems.

I don't know for sure what was stock components, but mine has Sakae FX headset & seat post, Sugino GP130 crankset, the same Shimano Light Action downtube shifters, same Shimano SLR brakes, though I seem to have Suke hubs and don't know enough about wheels.

My initial impression... closer to 3 than 2; target it at 3 anyway. I'ts going to depend on whether you sell Craigs List, e-bay etc.

So if you care not to read the following, there it is.

I like your text, it's funny. I like what all the fellows say too. The bike is quite interesting. Although the triple tri. design appeared in the '40s in an obscure but pricey bike (I don't recall the brand) GT as stated, was popular some years ago.
Unfortunately and perhaps undeservidly so, got a bad rap / rep. From a NY, NJ perspective, having "heard" the buzz in the streets, where I'm orig. from was unfavorable. This speaks to what dannyg1 wrote. In your area and others, the oppion of such frame designs may seem more attractive than average. Shogun was not a bike we associated with the likes of Miyata, Lotus, Fugi etc. either, another regional thing. Other than seeing the old rusted one at the shore, I've read and seen more about Shogun here at the forums than ever before. It's as if they ought to establish a special Shogun sub-forum.

The components are fine. Infinity, astutely evaluated by roccobike was a lower end, seemed but double butted tubing. A bike that I own has it. Like the brash colors on my DiamondBack, the tubing was found on many late '80s bikes and beyond. By late 1990 or so, many (most) Infinity frames were TIG'd, yours is nicely lugged and detailed. I believe that it would really appeal to some. In your area ??... in NY..not sure. In e-bay you've a wider market AKA The Planet Earth. (if you feel it's worth the extra trouble).

It's a very cool bike !

$200-225 street value in Tampa. The 'triple triangle' hurts value as its NOT 'traditional'. The simple fact is that Shimano 105 equipted steel lugged bikes bring ~$300.

The bike in question is not a marque manufacturer and it components are at least 1 level below 105.

[quote=miamijim;9838380]$200-225 street value in Tampa. The 'triple triangle' hurts value as its NOT 'traditional'. The simple fact is that Shimano 105 equipted steel lugged bikes bring ~$300.

The bike in question is not a marque manufacturer and it components are at least 1 level below 105.[/QUOTE

I'm with Jim on this one. Not a highly recognized name, components are at the lower end, triple triangle less desirable by buyers looking for a vintage bike. $200 to $225 around here.

To break the $300 mark in this area, it would either need to be a brifter bike, a touring bike, or have a more desirable brand and frame. Not to say there is anything wrong with Shogun. There is not. Its just buyers recognize a handful of brands: Miyata, Schwinn, Peugeot, Trek, Fuji (perhaps) and a few others. So other really good brands outside this list are just not recognized.

Condition is a plus, as is lugged frame.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Shogun%20Katana/Shogun_Katana_L.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Shogun%20Katana/IMG_0136_L.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Shogun%20Katana/IMG_0138_L.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Shogun%20Katana/IMG_0142_L.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Shogun%20Katana/IMG_0140_L.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Shogun%20Katana/IMG_0144_L.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Shogun%20Katana/IMG_0149_L.jpg

I paid $75 for this when I bought it back in probably 1997 or so, and used to ride about 15 miles a day on it in the warmer months. Definitely needs a good detailing, and of course I'm a little ticked off at my near-20 year old son who rode it when his bike was trashed. He's the one who got it all scratched up. Grrr...

I did take it around the block today after taking the photos and realized again what a smooth, fun bike it is. But what a surprise when I also realized that the kid must've dropped the seat about 3 inches on me!

$295 is reasonable in Chicago. Maybe more, the sub-thirty set around here are always looking for ways to distinguish themselves, and there are a lot of 12 speeds on the road.