Touring - How much should I pay?

I'm probably about to buy a Raleigh Sojourn over the next few weeks. I say probably because they don't make them anymore. Raleigh is just emptying out their inventory on the Sojourns, labeling the old 2010s as 2011. Hopefully they'll have a 55 cm left for me! Anyways, how much should I pay for one? I know they list at $1200 but I see people getting their LHTs for $300 off list price all the time on here... the Sojourn is right around that price range. I just had a shop tell me $1100, I haven't gotten back to them and asked them if they could come down on the price yet. Just wondering what sounds like a fair price? Unfortunately I don't have long time business dealings with any LBS around me, that may be how some folks are getting good deals like that.

When I bought my (2009) Sojourn, it was listed at 1200, and I got it for 1050, since it was at the end of the season. I didn't press on the price, but I did get a number of accessories (front rack, pump, multi-tool, computer, handlebar bag) for pretty cheap. You might be better off trying to get a shop to knock down prices on other stuff you buy at the same time; the markup on small parts and accessories is normally much larger than that on bicycles, so the shop will usually be more willing to give you a deal on those.

thanks for the advice, I'm looking at panniers and misc accessory stuff too. Sounds like a good time to buy em, maybe they could cut me a deal on something

I'm probably about to buy a Raleigh Sojourn over the next few weeks. I say probably because they don't make them anymore. Raleigh is just emptying out their inventory on the Sojourns, labeling the old 2010s as 2011. Hopefully they'll have a 55 cm left for me! Anyways, how much should I pay for one? I know they list at $1200 but I see people getting their LHTs for $300 off list price all the time on here... the Sojourn is right around that price range. I just had a shop tell me $1100, I haven't gotten back to them and asked them if they could come down on the price yet. Just wondering what sounds like a fair price? Unfortunately I don't have long time business dealings with any LBS around me, that may be how some folks are getting good deals like that.


I don't recall what MSRP was when I bought my 2009 Sojourn, but I paid $1050 in June of 2009.

A fair price is the price you pay for it. Ask around and be straight up, "I'm looking for the best deal on a Raleigh Sojourn, accessories". Bike shops aren't getting rich and not every shop has the same amount of leeway to make a sale. Shops might have had an excess of inventory a couple years ago and big discounts were more common and the same shops might have a smaller inventory with less driving need to unload old inventory.