Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Value - Fuji Design Series with Dura Ace

Hey I was hoping there was a Fuji Expert out there that could help me price a bike that I want to sell. I am not going to sell it on the forum here, but I just wanted to get an idea of the worth of the bike.

Its a 1986-1987 Fuji Design Series with the slick purple paint job and all Dura Ace componentry. it is the road race version, not the track version.

http://images.craigslist.org/3m73o43l9ZZZZZZZZZ969dcbb249264b8129e.jpg

i dont really know how to post images, but that is from a CL ad i put up with the bike at $500. is that reasonable? I appreciate any help anyone can provide.

Jeff

The Design Series frame was sold by Fuji for three years, 1986-1988. I have one that's fully equipped with Super Record. A very lovely frame and pretty rare in the Fuji world. My avatar is the fork crown of my Design Series.

Scott

its a super rare bike and Scott knows Fuji's better than anyone.

I think it would also depend on condition, overall. Saddle looks a bit out of place but im sure its a fine-riding bike.

Scott - That's cool. I love the bike and wish I could keep it, but I am way too tall, and my girlfriend, whom I bought it for, is too short.

Do you think $500 is fair?

its a super rare bike and Scott knows Fuji's better than anyone.

I think it would also depend on condition, overall. Saddle looks a bit out of place but im sure its a fine-riding bike.

I have the saddle that was on the bike when i bought it as well, it was purple and a sort of feltish material, that i think was not original. it was also not comfortable.

I'd hold off on the value until I see more detailed photographs. Is it possible for you to email me some? or post?

The saddle, the maroon suede, it's great you still have that. That will help the selling price even if it's uncomfortable.

If you PM I'll give you my email address.

Scott

i just read the sticky post of the guidelines for the appraisal forum....obviously a little bit late. sorry.

i am posting the pictures on to webshots or something...when they are up i will put a link up.

i appreciate the help.

i just read the sticky post of the guidelines for the appraisal forum....obviously a little bit late. sorry.

i am posting the pictures on to webshots or something...when they are up i will put a link up.

i appreciate the help.

Once I see what condition the frame is in and all the components .... that will give me a better idea.
It should have the lovely Hatta Swan headset .... which don't go cheap on it's own.

Scott

Here are the pictures I took over the weekend for the craigslist ad.

http://sports.webshots.com/album/572928148kcNzsZ

I focused on showing the fact that literally everything was Dura Ace. I know of two small nicks in the paint. One is by the shifter on the down tube and the other is down a ways near the water bottle cage. There are probably others but I don't have those kind of pictures handy.

Hope that helps.

Full Dura Ace bikes start in $400's on Ebay and go from there. Although its a rare bike and well known in some circles those circles are small. Outside of those circles its not worth any more than any other full Dura Ace bike.

As a seller you need to assume your buying market doesnt know what it is otherwise it'll take forever for you to sell.

No offense but those pics have alot to be desired. Skip trying to be artsy. Place your bike in front of a solid white garage door thats barely in the shade. Snap the pics and edit them in software to brighten them up. I use Vistas 'auto fix' feature.

click here for a good example: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=539597

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/Raleigh/DSC01966.jpg

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/Raleigh/DSC01967.jpg

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/Raleigh/DSC01968.jpg

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/Raleigh/DSC01975.jpg

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/Raleigh/DSC01976.jpg

Thanks for the advice. I will take some more as soon as I get a chance.

Thanks for the advice. I will take some more as soon as I get a chance.

I'm just trying to help you make as much money as possible. Just to give you an idea the Trek 2000 in my earlier link I sold for $430 on CL.

Jim - I almost managed a deal at 500, but that fell through towards the end. The additional pictures on webshots helped. Thanks for the advice. I am sure someone will come along on Craigslist eventually...

High end bikes can be tough to sell on Craigs List, it depends on your market. Around here, it would be really tough. Most C/L buyers around here are looking for something in the $100 to $200 range. But if you are patient, you should be able to find the right buyer.

+1 On Jim's pictures comments. And on Craigs List, you have to use a hosting site (I use Flickr) and insert them in the text of your ad. Otherwise, the pictures are way too small.

High end bikes can be tough to sell on Craigs List, it depends on your market. Around here, it would be really tough. Most C/L buyers around here are looking for something in the $100 to $200 range. But if you are patient, you should be able to find the right buyer.

+1 On Jim's pictures comments. And on Craigs List, you have to use a hosting site (I use Flickr) and insert them in the text of your ad. Otherwise, the pictures are way too small.

I agree...give it time and be patient.


I've found the same here in Tampa except our market meets resistence @ the $250-300 range. I give my high end bikes a few weeks to sell before adjust the price and I submit a new ad every 2-3 days. If CL boots your new ad just flip around your description or knock a dollar of the price. I'll alternate my ads with prices of $199, 198, 199, 198 as a way of fooling the software.

Well based on some research, and a lot of impartial advice from people here and elsewhere, I think I have decided to keep the Design Series, and try to set it up so I can ride it. I originally bought it for my girlfriend, hoping we could work it so she could ride it, but it was just too big. Its a little small for me, but I am hoping to get around that. The bike just seems too nice and too rare to get rid of right now.

So this will be my first "restoration" though I suppose that word is a stretch considering the condition of the bike and components...any advice?

Ride it and enjoy it! I'll send you the info on the auto touch up paint that was pretty close to the color of my Design Series frame.

Scott