Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Bianchi mountain bike, Yellow, Campion Del Mundo decal

It finally stopped raining in SoCal but I still need something to ride this winter. I know there is a consensus that an older rigid frame mountain bike will work nicely for this purpose.
There are dozens of them on CL so it's a buyers market for sure. Is this Bianchi anything special that makes it worth more than the $50 I would pay for most of them?
I am guessing the frame is decent and has lugs. It is also big enough for me.

There is no asking price yet so I will need to make an offer if it's in good condition. The one shifter that can be seen is a bit out of whack and could mean the whole bike might be as well. It's 20 minutes away to go and look. Is it worth the trip?
Thanks.

Hard to say but the front derailleur looks like it may be a SunTour Alpha 3000, which would indicate a 1987-1988 model somewhere around the crossover between entry level and mid-range, depending on the frameset. Binchigirll can probably ID the model and tell you what the tubing is. I also noticed that the pics themselves are dated from almost five years ago, so the condition could be worse than shown. AccuShift from this era wasn't great shifting even when new and compatible parts can be hard to find but at least it should have an index option. Assuming pics are reprersentative of the condition and everything still works, I wouldn't go over $50.

nice looking '87 MAXX. isn't that T-Mar great? Alpha 3000 deraileurs just like he said. the frame is listed as "MTB chrome-moly main frame" so the stays are likely mangalloy which is not bad for a ATB of this level. the fork is ChroMo unicrown.

there is nothing special about this, other than being a Bianchi. for a commuter/ "winta betta" as they say in Boston $50 to 60 would be a good price. clean her up and put some x1.5 slicks on it and it will ride real nice. but like T-Mar those pics are 4+ years old so check it out close.

the Campione del Mundo decal adorned thousands of post '86 Bianchis and makes none of them a special or commerative model except the '88 Trofeo which carries the "Argentin Celeste" paint scheme.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=183362&d=1293201746

Thanks for the info. The seller has put a price on it and will "let it go" for $120. He has placed emphasis on the Campione del Mundo decal and says they are in great shape, wooohoooooo.

I won't bother trying to change his mind. There are plenty of bikes to choose from so the search will continue. It would be nice to find a butted cro moly frame, maybe a Univega Alpina or a Miyata xxxx.

Peugeot Orient Express

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/bik/2119191826.html

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/bik/2119176976.html

Happy Holidays.

+1 I like my triple butted Alpina Pro a lot better. Much better components, lighter weight, black chrome finish, etc. If I was going to spend $120 on a MTB, I would hold out for a good one: Trek 900 series, the Univega as I described, or whatever.

That whole "this sticker makes this bike valuable" is nonsense.

that univega is HUGE! it looks closer to a 22"er however they were nice frames. Univega stole the Columbus MAX frame design and used it to make their BiAxial Power Oval (that was part of my sales pitch) to make this frame. the "MaxMudroom" chainstays were gimicky but worked.

the Peugeot is nice and would make a great commuter if you don't mind the U brake. if he is close I would try taking $80 cash to his door.

even at 120 for the condition I think the Bianchi is overpriced. I don't think it sold for more than 300 in '87

The nice thing as a buyer of a vintage MTB, is that the prices are bottomed out. So you should be able to find a late 1980s/early 1990s MTB, that originally retailed for $800 or more, for about $150. Such a bike will have a nice frame, top of the line components, and more.

Or for about $120, you can buy a vintage MTB, one that retailed for $300.

One reason these current prices are so close is that the buyers tend to be recreational riders, that are just looking for a basic around the neighborhood bike. More sophisticated MTB buyers want more modern stuff. MTB technology has changed a lot.

I would use these market forces to your advantage: get a top of the line MTB at the cost of a Walmart bike!

I think the choice is pretty obvious.

Thanks for the input. It is definitely a buyers market for the rigid frame late 80's MTB. I looked at a Kuwahara Cougar yesterday pm that had a cro-moly frame but not a named tubing. It was in good running condition for $60. I know these bikes will weigh about 30 pounds +/- but I would like to find a better tubeset.

I did some digging and Kuwahara made the Sierra with a frame from Ishiwata quad butted tubes and Tange fork. Sounds sweet.

I e mailed the owner of the Bianchi and since he is ignoring me I guess his price is firm. I did e mail the owner of the Peugeot Orient Express and it's 45 miles one way.
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/bik/2119191826.html

I may go and see it though. He says it has "sought after Araya 7X rims laced to Suzue low flange hubs." Maybe that's cool for MTB wheels. It has Tange PG tubing. Must be plain gauge or straight gauge.

Why did they put a "U" brake on the bike? The Peugeot has a Suntour Power Cam U Brake. Looks like a mud catcher to me. Is that a bad thing? I'm a noob about some things.

Googled pics of the Kuwahara Sierra below. I doubt I could find one of those.

I'll have to look up the Araya rims but I think new or good quality used ones may be sought after.

there may just be a missuse or terms. a U Brake is Different from a PowerCam but looks like the seller is using both names may he is confised.

when ATB and MTBs first came on the market cantilever brakes were kind of wide so the U and RollerCam were used under the chainstay to provide better heel clearance.

yes they are mud catchers and you need to turn the bike upside down to adjust them