Classic & Vintage - How to sell a C&V bike.

Hey guys, I was wondering if you could shed some light on how to successfully sell a vintage bike. It's funny but I have sold a varsity and continental for pretty good money but I'm having a hard time selling an '84 Trek with Campy victory on it.

The Trek is a great bike and I never meant to flip it but I have a chance to get a different bike I really want so the Trek has to go.

What kind of pictures do you include in an ad? How do you describe the bicycle? Any help will be appreciated.

This isn't rocket science...

Take good photos, chain side and be sure to include close ups of things like the derailleurs, the cranks, the lugs, the stays and the wheels.

Have good looking tape.

Clean everything.

Include measurements and suggestions of the size of the person who would use it.

Have it tuned up and ready to ride.

Determine your price on market value, adjusting for the speed with which you need to make the sale.

Campagnolo Victory is NOT a desired or valuable group. I don't know what you'd consider good money, but a Trek with Victory likely has a maximum $300-$400 ceiling (depending on size and condition). I wouldn't pay $200 and would consider a flip price under 150.

Make sure you mention it will make a good fixie :rolleyes:

Why do you want to sell C&V bikes? I thought the idea was to horde them?

Neal

Make sure you mention it will make a good fixie :rolleyes:

If only that were a joke. :b

I don't know what you'd consider good money Well the Varsity I sold it for $140 and I paid $4 for it. The Continental I built it as a fixed gear for myself, new wheels and tires, new three piece cranks, etc and it sold for $350. I know I got pretty lucky on both of those bikes but I was hoping to get $400 to $450 for the Trek.

I'll try to get better pictures but it already has a new chain, cables and it has been tuned. Thank for the help.

That model Trek was originally outfitted with a Suntour Superbe group, and would be worth more with that on there. (I think frameset only may have been an option). You may be better of selling the frameset & the group separately.

Just an FYI - I sold my '84 760, not quite 100% original (Campy Record wheelset), on ebay a few years back for more than the $450 I saw yours posted for. You can click my signature to get to pictures of it for comparison.

With a superbe group MAYBE 400-450 in good shape. With Victory? I doubt it. I think $300 would be a great price for you IF IT'S IN GOOD SHAPE. Maybe $400 in Portland.

I don't think parting out is the answer here because:

1. Campagnolo Vistory is near worthless
2. The frame isn't THAT valuable

Good product. Good communication. Fair price. Good pictures. Honesty. And patience. Pretty much the same, anywhere, with anything, as nearly as I can figure it. There is no magic.

I know I got pretty lucky on both of those bikes but I was hoping to get $400 to $450 for the Trek.
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Not a chance of getting that price in a sane market. That price range is reserved to just a few bikes, with more desirable components. $350 for a Continental? WOW! I have a couple of them in the queue right now.

Why all the 760 hatin' going on? It wasn't Trek's top tier road bike [reserved for the 753/Columbus 170/950], but the 760/770 (shared frame) were fine bikes, Trek's only tier of full 531 frames (not 531cs or any other hidden hybrid). I sold mine on ebay for $532+shipping maybe 3 years back.

They're nice bikes fo' sure...I just don't think he's getting over $400 with Campy Victory. I think 250-300.

I think it's Campy Victory hate, not Trek 760 hate.

It's also a soft market.

three years ago sounds right for a 760. This year its a different game. Companies now are flooding the market with fixies and SS bikes with all sorts of "flair" at $350 and under. Despite being possibly heavy and dead feeling these bikes are "new" and "cooler" than a high quality frame converted. This is knocking out the competition for vintage frames and driving prices down.

I picked up one of these new versions for a song and it is 26 or so lb! Why anyone would choose this over a nice vintage frame you can build to under 20lb is beyond me! It's getting flipped this weekend.

I rode it on my commute several days and the final decision is the brakes suck, it is heavy for no reason, if I want an SS I'll just not shift, and while it looks nice the geometry is odd and just strikes me as a markting built bike as opposed to a purpose built bike.

I think it's Campy Victory hate, not Trek 760 hate.

In no part thanks to your previous post.

-Kurt

I need some Victory calipers and levers, with nice white hoods. So I'll get them for free right? Send me those worthless devils!

Scott

Please feel free to show me I'm wrong...won't be the first (or last) time. I have not seen Victory sell for high prices.

This has sat for ages:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Campagnolo-Victory-derailleur-Body-Campy-jewlery-/110666199769?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c43832d9

Set of calipers...we'll see the big money these bring in (I'll bet $35)

http://cgi.ebay.com/CAMPAGNOLO-VICTORY-BRAKES-FRONT-REAR-/200597723180?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2eb48e582c

Complete group @ under $200...let's see...

http://cgi.ebay.com/1985-Campagnolo-Victory-Strada-groupset-/230607987100?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35b14ea19c

Perhaps if the Victory was on something other than a Trek. This Bertoni Pro Victory was pretty tasty with it's lowly group and brought a very attractive sum. Pbucket is down at the moment.

I would be trying for $350-$375 on the Trek in SoCal.

FWIW, I sold a minty Trek 510 with Victory for $600 a few years ago. Granted, the market was stronger, but this was a cash, CL sale, not an auction.

pics of it here: https://picasaweb.google.com/A2UsedBikes/Trek510#
I think i know what I need now. A better camera and a white garage door, I'll have to use my neighbor's garage since I live in an apartment.

Please feel free to show me I'm wrong...won't be the first (or last) time. I have not seen Victory sell for high prices.

Low prices do not equal a poop group. It performs as good as Nuovo and Super Record, and it's finish is superior to the old groups (though C-Record did eclipse it).

Though if we're debating value, these bits didn't go for pocket change:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Campagnolo-Victory-Crankset-Very-Nice-/280653870094?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item415846340e
http://cgi.ebay.com/Campagnolo-Victory-Aero-Seat-post-27-2-/280656544997?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item41586f04e5

Surprisingly enough, some incorrectly-labeled Triomphe parts (which is the true dog of the Campag friction era, IMO) being sold as Victory brought some serious cash:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Campagnolo-Victory-Brakes-Calipers-/350451924862?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51988fff7e
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Campagnolo-Victory-Crankset-170mm-42-52-/350451672860?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51988c271c

-Kurt

Please feel free to show me I'm wrong...won't be the first (or last) time. I have not seen Victory sell for high prices.

This has sat for ages:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Campagnolo-Victory-derailleur-Body-Campy-jewlery-/110666199769?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c43832d9

Set of calipers...we'll see the big money these bring in (I'll bet $35)

http://cgi.ebay.com/CAMPAGNOLO-VICTORY-BRAKES-FRONT-REAR-/200597723180?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2eb48e582c

Complete group @ under $200...let's see...

http://cgi.ebay.com/1985-Campagnolo-Victory-Strada-groupset-/230607987100?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35b14ea19c

Somewhat odd choices for examples but I get your point. Not the prettiest, not the best but calling Victory near worthless is a bit of a stretch for me.

Scott

Low prices do not equal a poop group. It performs as good as Nuovo and Super Record, and it's finish is superior to the old groups (though C-Record did eclipse it).

Though if we're debating value, these bits didn't go for pocket change:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Campagnolo-Victory-Crankset-Very-Nice-/280653870094?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item415846340e
http://cgi.ebay.com/Campagnolo-Victory-Aero-Seat-post-27-2-/280656544997?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item41586f04e5

Surprisingly enough, some incorrectly-labeled Triomphe parts (which is the true dog of the Campag friction era, IMO) being sold as Victory brought some serious cash:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Campagnolo-Victory-Brakes-Calipers-/350451924862?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51988fff7e
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Campagnolo-Victory-Crankset-170mm-42-52-/350451672860?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51988c271c

-Kurt

Kurt - I think you read into what I wrote. I was commenting strictly on value...and a Victory group is worth around a third to a half of a Superbe group, at least in my experiences, which are admittedly more limited than many here. I have no opinion or comment as to its quality since I've never ridden it.

Scott - I did go overboard...how about not super valuable?

... how about not super valuable?

Right on! That I like. Rat's, I was hoping for some freebies .... ;)

Scott