Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - 1988 Trek 520 time capsule

I have finally convinced a fellow I know to sell his 88" Miyata 1000 to me. We haven't set a price yet but I'm hopeful.
Anyway, since I have been debating on what to do with this 520 I am thinking that selling it may be the best option.
I'm never going to use it since it is basically new! Someone else can use and abuse it the way it was intended to be or keep it in a collection. I don't hang bikes up, I use them.
Anyway, this bike has a few km on it but as the seller said, it is new. Bought by her dad and hung up in the garage. Never been serviced and the rims have no braking marks on the anodizing yet. I took it around the block once and it works perfectly. The only thing that is flawed is the clear on the aluminum cranks arms. They have aged slightly and have a few spots in the clear.
The original tires are perfect. No wear at all as this thing is nearly NOS.
What is this thing worth? I know its worth nothing where I live so I will try selling it in the U.S.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC02303a.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC02306.jpg

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http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC02309.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC02310.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC02321.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC02316.jpg

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That bike is so clean, you might be able to get $450 to $500 for it.

A really clean 1990 Trek 520 just sold for $660 on ebay. It had a really small frame, and barend shifters that might have pushed the price up a little. Otherwise, your bike is very similar. A 1983 model sold for $416, also very clean. I would consider yours better due to indexed shifting and the 1983 had a Maillard rear hub.

Oops my bad. Its an 89'.

I've been tracking Trek 520's and other tourers on Ebay for the last week (I have a '92, although I don't plan to sell it, and I'm starting to look for a touring bike for my son). A mint '91 received offers up to $750, plus $120 shipping, but the reserve was not met (!!). A mint 17" 1990 model sold for $660 plus shipping. The 520's that sold for $400-500 were the earlier 80's models with friction shifting, and were in good but not mint condition. Based on those observations, $500 for yours seems to me on the very low end of the scale. I would think you could easily get $700 for it, and probably more. You have one of the best vintages, old enough for lugged steel yet young enough for indexed shifting. It's certainly much nicer than anything you can get today for $1000. We all know Ebay pricing is all over the map, yet if you track the high-end tourers, the pricing is pretty consistent-- and pretty high. Track the auctions for a while and you'll get a better idea of what the market (at least the Ebay market) is like.

I've been tracking Trek 520's and other tourers on Ebay for the last week (I have a '92, although I don't plan to sell it, and I'm starting to look for a touring bike for my son). A mint '91 received offers up to $750, plus $120 shipping, but the reserve was not met (!!). A mint 17" 1990 model sold for $660 plus shipping. The 520's that sold for $400-500 were the earlier 80's models with friction shifting, and were in good but not mint condition. Based on those observations, $500 for yours seems to me on the very low end of the scale. I would think you could easily get $700 for it, and probably more. You have one of the best vintages, old enough for lugged steel yet young enough for indexed shifting. It's certainly much nicer than anything you can get today for $1000. We all know Ebay pricing is all over the map, yet if you track the high-end tourers, the pricing is pretty consistent-- and pretty high. Track the auctions for a while and you'll get a better idea of what the market (at least the Ebay market) is like.

That is a good idea!
I will follow ebay for a while. But what is the best time to sell a bike? I would think spring but I find I am always buying stuff in the off-season.
These numbers are over double what I though it was worth and should easily get me the well-used Miyata.

Right now is the best time to sell, as prices are the strongest I have seen. I bought a MINT Trek 620 for $113 on ebay earlier this year (January). A Trek 620 would normally sell for more than a 520. Frankly, I was shocked at the prices the nice Trek 520s are bringing on ebay right now. WOW!

If you put it on ebay right now, I would put it at a "Buy It Now" price of $600, or whatever you want to ask. If no one goes for it, you are OK. You must be willing to ship it to sell it on ebay. You probably need to ship from a US address, I don't know about the rates out of Canada. People in the US find that FedEx ground has the cheapest rates on shipping bicycles.

If you started an auction at a lower price, you might not get the interest you expect, and you will end up selling it cheaper. Here is the picture of the Miyata 215ST I bought off of ebay about a month ago for $165 (I picked it up). Yes, the Miyata is not a 520, but its a pretty nice bike (and indexed shifting too, and it really looks brand new). It has a triple butted cromoly frame, bar end shifters, aero brake levers, and the original rear rack (I think). It came with the original tires, which I replaced due to dry rot.

I really need to go ahead and sell my 1983 Trek 520, given this recent surge in pricing. I like the Miyata better than my Trek 520. Back in 1983, the 520 did not have canti brakes, no indexing of course, and the helicomatic rear hub.

The good news with this steel frame touring bike inflation is that I have several in the to be sold list.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3526115469_f711101811_o.jpg

I'm kind of shocked by the high prices, too, but on the other hand, have you been to a bike shop recently to see what five hundred bucks gets you? A really good used bike in clean condition is a way better deal IMHO. I may be becoming an old fart, but the frames they're making these days just don't convince me. I'm still waiting for them them to get over it and go back to 1970's-style sport tourers. I'm seriously thinking my '92 520 might be the last new bike I'll ever buy. Anyway, you scored a couple nice tourers, which shows that the deals are definitely still around. I think the second-tier bikes are where you generally find the best deals, and the difference in performance between the upper-middle class and the top-end is pretty minimal for most people.

Well, my deal fell through this morning. It seems I would need to sell three or four bikes like this to pay for the Miyata. To bad as its just my size. Maybe time (he will never sell it for 2K) will help.
But then for that money I could buy another Sherpa 30 and equip it with Tubus racks. The hunt goes on.
As soon as I can figure out shipping, this bike will be sold. I can't seem to get it in a small enough box to satisfy Canada Post. And that is a problem.
What are other Canadians doing for shipping bikes out of the country?

I suggest you start a new thread on your shipping question. I bet someone has figured it out.

Ricohman,

I sent you a PM this morning.

I suggest you start a new thread on your shipping question. I bet someone has figured it out.

I have searched to forum endlessly and even found one of my old threads on that subject.
Apparently it is costly to ship from Canada ($200+ USPS) and Canada Post would require 2 boxes as a bike box is to big I think. If anyone has any experience in this let me know please.
I've decided to list this bike and a couple of others. Just trying getting all my bases covered with boxes and quotes first as ebay requires you to enter a quote.
I've never sold a bike on ebay before so I don't know if its possible from Canada due to the shippping.

Wow. Unless you really like the rep and "bling" factor of the 1000 I think you're foolish to
go through with the sale of the Trek.

I've gotten my nose bloodied before for being so outspoken but the practical differences between
your "bird in the hand" Trek and the over-touted 1000 are hardly significant..

You have a first class bike that suffers little against better known "tourers".

Wow. Unless you really like the rep and "bling" factor of the 1000 I think you're foolish to
go through with the sale of the Trek.

I've gotten my nose bloodied before for being so outspoken but the practical differences between
your "bird in the hand" Trek and the over-touted 1000 are hardly significant..

You have a first class bike that suffers little against better known "tourers".

Plans have changed. I am selling a few to buy a new carbon wonder bike. Better to have one I can enjoy on a Sunday century than one that is not being ridden at all.

I have shipped a bike from the US to Canada. It cost about $120 via UPS ground.


If you are going to sell that bike on ebay, I would highly recommend selling it in a no reserve auction not as a buy it now. Make it last 10 days, have it end at a good time (like a monday evening), and set the beginning price as low as you can. That bike is pretty much guaranteed to sell for a lot. Make sure you put a lot of big pictures in the auction.

ricohman Because of the flaw in the cranks, I do not believe you can get $500 for that bike. I'm afraid you will have to reduce your expectations for that absolutely beautiful bike to $499 to compensate :D.
I'm glad that bike is not my size because if it was, I'd be going crazy to figure out how to buy it.

To me, given the costs and prices involved, a new Trek 520 is the way to go, with whatever upgrades you want.

Oh, wait, you already HAVE one......roccobike, afilado, and I agree on this one. And if it was my size, I'd be talking "road trip" to my northern WI buds....

That is a ridiculously clean bike and in my size, I agree $500 should be your bottom line. I agree though, that based on the prices vintage touring bikes are going for it makes more sense to buy new... A new surly LHT is around $1000 in the states AFAIK, I mean the surly has ugly welds and blant paint but it's not about flash with touring bikes, in fact the blander, the better IMHO.

I really should not be reading this thread, the first bike pictured looks too tall for me but the one wrk101 posted a pic of is dangerously close to my size.

There are two issues with shipping a bike across the Canada/US border. One is box size and the other is import/export issues and fees. I don't know the border fees so I'll skip those and won't make the suggestion to meet someone at the border and have one party ride across for lunch with the other and swap bikes plus cash and ride back across ( huffy + cash = Trek 520 ). For sizing a box look for a Madone upper level bike box. Those boxes are set up to ship the bike with both wheels removed. If you canKt find one then take two standard bike boxes and cut and glue them together to make your own short and stubby but extra wide box. Lable it as bike parts and not as a complete bike. Next option is to just use two kid's bike boxes and ship the wheels and chainring crankside in one box and the frameset in the second box.

Excuse me now while I go figure out what I can sell to raise funds to buy a touring rig.

I am ready to do this. Reserve or no reserve? I'm no expert on ebay but I don't want the thing to sell for $100 as I need to pay for the new bike!
I know that no reserve auctions are more exiting, as a buyer.

I am ready to do this. Reserve or no reserve? I'm no expert on ebay but I don't want the thing to sell for $100 as I need to pay for the new bike!
I know that no reserve auctions are more exiting, as a buyer.
Items I have very little into and I want to get excitement on, I will start at 99 cents. I just sold a tent a couple of days ago, found it at a thrift store. I knew it would get ample interest/bids regardless. So a 99 cent start maximizes the interest level, and minimizes ebay's listing fees. Then I use Flickr to insert extra pics into the listing, so no extra picture fees either (and better pictures than ebay's).

For something where I think the interest will be limited, I just start it out at a high price with no reserve. I sold a motorcycle that way, $4000 starting price, no reserve.

Buy it now with the best offer feature is another interesting option. You could have a Buy it Now of $500 and accept best offers. I have done that as well on limited interest items that had pretty substantial values.

But if you don't have ample feedback already, showing you are a good seller on ebay, I am not sure it will work out too well.

How do I get around the wacky ebay shipping calculator?
It doesn't even list fedex as an option?
Flat rate?

How do I get around the wacky ebay shipping calculator?
It doesn't even list fedex as an option?
Flat rate?
I always go flat rate.

I followed the advice given here. No reserve, 10 days. I hate to see it go but you can't have it all!
And all the watchers will be BF guys!