Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Late 1980's (1988 perhaps?) Raleigh Technium road bike

Hi folks. I've got a question about a particular road bike listed on craigs list. I'll post the link here:

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/bik/2336518586.html

The description is not completely accurate. I have seen the bike in person and I can definitely say that the frame is in pretty nice condition. The paint looks fairly new. There are some small areas of rust on the plate that joins the bottom tubes of the rear triangle behind the bottom bracket housing. There is a minor scuff on the mid-section of the top tube. There is also rust on the brakes themselves. Not sure if any of this is surface rust or not. Besides that, the bike rides fairly nicely. The chain definitely needs to be cleaned and re-lubed, and the front brake makes a singing noise when it's used.

Here are the specs of the components that I know about:

SunTour Stem & Shifters
Tektro Brake Levers
Sugino Alloy Crank (I think it's the Mighty Tour crank..)
Shimano SIS Front Derailleur
Shimano Acera X Rear Derailleur
Rear Rim is a Weinmann 519 Rim (I don't know what the front rim is..)
GeaX Laczem Tires

Serial number: R8202 (I couldn't see the rest of the number)

The guy is asking for $225.00, but I'm going to see if he will take $150.00

What do you all think? Is this road bike worth my trouble? I'm looking for something recreational and fairly decent. The bike weighs 26 lbs. Please share your insights.

On a side note: The guy explained to me that when he got the bike, it was just a fork and frame. He further explained that the brake levers and cables are new. The tires are also new.

It looks clean from what I can see. Check the lugs good. A lot of people poo poo the bonded frame because they heard somewhere sometime one came apart. I have had 2 and never a problem.
$225 is high for my market Wisconsin but I'm not sure about your area.....watch out for tornados!

stay away from that!!!!! there is an important peice missing on the downtube, a cable housing stop. the rearderailleur should not have cable housing running all the way back to it like on a Hufy. stem mounted Suntour shifters an Acera RD (which I believe post dates this bike), and a SIS front derailleur, really make this sound like something that was put togather to sell. I am sure you can do better for 225

OH rereading your post it appears right here.

****On a side note: The guy explained to me that when he got the bike, it was just a fork and frame. He further explained that the brake levers and cables are new. The tires are also new. ***

also this bike is very small so unless you ar say less that 5'2"ish it won't fit.

Big time flipper here in the area-IMO overprices for minimum work done to them. They remain projects @ premium price. Drives up prices of any local sales around. :( I'm sure it's the same in many places. sigh

That appears to be a mt bike conversion? My road technium is closer to 23#. Thats a $50 bike at most. Either get an unbutchered mt bike for much less or a decent raod bike for that price.

did they make Technium hybrids? it may have been one of those. I missed the cantilever brakes as I was stunned by the zip ties and the housing running to the RD

stay away from that!!!!! there is an important peice missing on the downtube, a cable housing stop. the rearderailleur should not have cable housing running all the way back to it like on a Hufy. stem mounted Suntour shifters an Acera RD (which I believe post dates this bike), and a SIS front derailleur, really make this sound like something that was put togather to sell. I am sure you can do better for 225

OH rereading your post it appears right here.

****On a side note: The guy explained to me that when he got the bike, it was just a fork and frame. He further explained that the brake levers and cables are new. The tires are also new. ***

also this bike is very small so unless you ar say less that 5'2"ish it won't fit.

Yeah, I had a feeling this guy was overpricing this bike. He overprices all of his bikes pretty much. I guess he just expects people to cough up that kind of money here since it's summer. As much as I like the style of bike, I think I'll respectfully decline, thanks to all of your insights here. The bike does fit me, it's a 49 cm frame and I'm 5'5" with a 28.5" inseam. My legs are pretty short. But you guys know what you're talking about so.. Thank you!

Big time flipper here in the area-IMO overprices for minimum work done to them. They remain projects @ premium price. Drives up prices of any local sales around. :( I'm sure it's the same in many places. sigh

That sucks.. I don't know what kind of business this man is running, but it's rather bothersome... to put nicely..



$225 is high for my market Wisconsin but I'm not sure about your area.....watch out for tornados!

Yeah, I'll definitely steer clear of 'dem Tornaydas!

I just sold my 1986 Technium 460 that was in gorgeous shape for $200.00 to a college kid. Had it listed higher for two months with zero takers.

Not a great bike market right now unless you have something "special". There are still a few Techniums on sale in the area, but mine was in much better condition than the others. They aren't selling either.

Would have kept mine, it was a nice ride, but I had to make room.

Guy gives flippers a bad name. Run.