Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - How much is this Schwinn Prelude worth?

I found this baby on craiglist and the price seems a bit high to me, $380. Given the alright condition, how much do you think I could bargain the price down?

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/1296247080.html

They are asking at least 150 too much IMO.

Thats high.....mid $200's.

It looks like an '88. That year, the Prelude was fourth in the Columbus steel framed Greenville built model line-up after the Circuit, Tempo, and Premis. It's a nice bike, but I agree it should be priced in the mid-200s.

I found this baby on craiglist and the price seems a bit high to me, $380. But it does have columbus tubing and the paintjob is in fine shape. I find it pretty beautiful. Given the alright condition, how much do you think I could bargain the price down?

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/1296247080.html


It looks like someones trying to sell it for a lot more than it's worth. If it had 105 componenets . . . I might pay $100-150. I believe a mid 80's w/105 retailed for about $350. For this I'd pay no more that $100.

The seller claims it's an "ideal fit for someone 5'9" to 6'2" tall" . A 57cm? 5'9" maybe, but not over 6'. That says the seller knows little about bikes. The seller likely found it somewhere and bought it for cheap, and thinks it's a classic Schwinn . . or can find some unsuspecting person who think it is.

Then again, if you are aware of what you are getting, and want it . . . get it. Ask for a $100 sale. You've got nothing to lose.

If it was selling here in SoCal it would be a $250 bike.

If it was selling here in SoCal it would be a $250 bike.

Same here in the bay area.

+1 $225 to $250.

It looks like someones trying to sell it for a lot more than it's worth. If it had 105 componenets . . . I might pay $100-150. I believe a mid 80's w/105 retailed for about $350. For this I'd pay no more that $100.

The seller claims it's an "ideal fit for someone 5'9" to 6'2" tall" . A 57cm? 5'9" maybe, but not over 6'. That says the seller knows little about bikes. The seller likely found it somewhere and bought it for cheap, and thinks it's a classic Schwinn . . or can find some unsuspecting person who think it is.

Then again, if you are aware of what you are getting, and want it . . . get it. Ask for a $100 sale. You've got nothing to lose.

What they retailed for and they're worth are 2 different things. Almost any RX100 or 105 bike will bring $225-300 all day long in Tampa. All day......

I sold a Prelude and a Tempo (one step up) earlier this year. If you offered me $100, that would be the end of the conversation.

If the bike fits you and is in excellent condition, then slightly below market is a reasonable offer. In the case of the bike in the OP, guy is asking well over market, so I would keep looking, or wait until he reposts at a more realistic price.

The harder you look (and the more time you spend looking) the better the deal. But at some point, the time and energy spent looking could be better spent doing something else.

The seller claims it's an "ideal fit for someone 5'9" to 6'2" tall" . A 57cm? 5'9" maybe, but not over 6'. That says the seller knows little about bikes. The seller likely found it somewhere and bought it for cheap, and thinks it's a classic Schwinn . . or can find some unsuspecting person who think it is.



I'm 6'2'' and ride a 57 tried a 62 and then a 60 and both were too big. It's all what your comfortable with and every build need a different size.

I sold almost the exact bike 2 weeks ago. Mine had some rust but cleaned up pretty nicely. After 3 weeks on craigslist at $190 and not many nibbles I put it on at $175. I had one person interested and sold it for $150.

This one is in much nicer shape, but the max I would pay for it is $250.

I sold almost the exact bike 2 weeks ago. Mine had some rust but cleaned up pretty nicely. After 3 weeks on craigslist at $190 and not many nibbles I put it on at $175. I had one person interested and sold it for $150.

This one is in much nicer shape, but the max I would pay for it is $250.

Location, location, location.