Mountain Biking - $20 Old peugeot MTB and Diamondback Apex

I picked up these two bikes for $20 total today. The blue one is a Tange Diamondback Apex with full Deore, and in red is the Half assembled Peugeot Montreal express. From some basic research i found out that the Apex was centurions high end mountain bike of 1985. The Peugeot happens to be a bottom of the line MTB but i love peugeots either way. I want to know more about them and what they're worth. Tell me more about the Deer head on the FD :thumb:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/moop-dog/000_0001-37.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/moop-dog/000_0003-35.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/moop-dog/000_0005-30.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/moop-dog/000_0006-19.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/moop-dog/000_0004-32.jpg

They're worth about what you paid for them . . . or maybe less. Have fun.

I could probably get $20 for the bio-pace cranks alone, your opinion is insulting.

The Deer Head FD is worth more than you paid for the bikes. You need to go on line to find out the value or at least have someone here who knows the current value to post. You might want to consider replacing it with another unit and selling it to fund your rebuild.
Generally speaking rebuilt, ready to ride vintage MTB's sell for around $100 to $125, but that may vary depending on your area. That's why I'm thinking you want to sell the front DR separately. The deer head derailer also is found on Road bikes. I'm not sure if it's the same model, but they are desirable.
EDIT: Try posting over on the Classic and Vintage forum. They know more about those bikes and that derailer. My guess, from having rebuilt many of those bikes, the Diamond Back (early DB based on the separation of the name, later models have no space) is the way more desirable of the two. Peugeot road bikes are in demand, but their MTB aren't. They are rare, but no one cares.
2nd Edit: If you paid $20 for the pair, as is, that's a good price. The DB is worth about $25 as is, the Peugeot less. The prices I quoted above are for rebuilt, bikes with repacked bearings, new cables and brakes that are in good working condition, index shifters working perfectly, and a chain within specification, tires that have no dry rot.

I've always liked the thinking behind the biopace crank. Obviously the world doesn't agree. In their day the bikes were items. The market today is pretty slim. Classics is a good place to post.

personally, i think the apex is kinda sexy, if only for the spare spoke holders. makes me think
of truly serious riding in the outback or the atlas mountains. survival riding. post-apocalyptic riding! rrrrrr! tinker with them until the end of the world in december and then barter them. if by sheer chance the world [I]doesn't[I] end then, put 'em up for sale.
you didn't show much of the peugeot. boo hoo.

i can imagine a lot worse projects. find a bike co-op for used parts. i get extra used tires at
one in denver for ~$5@ with great tread, used tubes for $2@ (sometimes with a hole or two:D).

i should get one just for the s'perience and to keep my tools working. i'd enjoy it more if i had someone to give it to..

I'm liking the spoke holders, i know i would never use them on the road but they are still unique. I will take your word and remove the deer head for further examination. Both bikes will be extensively cleaned and re-packed. Since i live in a good market, i think i can part with the DB for $115, and i'm keeping the Peugeot.

Thank you

I could probably get $20 for the bio-pace cranks alone, your opinion is insulting.

As a general rule, at least 50% of the Road Cycling and Mountain Biking subforums really don't care much at all about bikes more than 5 years old so they assign their own values to old bikes, which is to say that since they personally don't want them that they're worthless.

The DB can make a fine off-road touring bike with the lowrider mounts on the fork. Make sure you highlight those in your ad. In its current condition I think $115 may be a tough pull here but MTBs are valued higher down south so maybe you'll get it down there. Be patient, repost daily and wait 4 weeks before dropping price.

EDIT: Just noticed the highflange front hub on yours. Those are hot! Just sold a Univega with that hub laced to Ukai rims. Kinda makes me think wheel didn't come with bike. Check fork for damage that may be related to front wheel being replaced.

Here's another member's Apex, which with cleaner bars and real pedals could maybe bring a little more. A little elbow grease on your bike would probably be worth it pre-sale.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/2669/p1010098r.jpg

Araya RM-25's laced to Suzue high flange hubs. No damage that i can see.

I could probably get $20 for the bio-pace cranks alone, your opinion is insulting.Wahwahwah. Why do you ask questions like that if you don't want to hear answers? Was your point really to get a bunch of attaboys over your purchasing coups? They're old; they're yard sale fodder; they're not collector's items. The mountain biking world has moved on even if you haven't. Get over it.

i know im new here, but are completely rude and disrespectful comments like these the norm? The bikes may or may not be worth anything, but i agree that the response was kind of rude. Theres a wrong way and a right way to get any opinion across without sounding like a prick. I just hope i didn't make a mistake by joining this forum, i may ask questions regarding my bike, which isnt the nicest, or most expensive one on here, but i dont expect to be made fun of or insulted because its my bike and i like it. just my .02

Many negative posts around here are tongue-in-cheek. Seems like dminor is experiencing some straightedge angst, though. Common phenomenon. :)

straightedge? This is why i drink, eat meat, and whatever other vices make me happy. Im much more friendly :)

Hahaha, I dunno if d is really keepin' the edge, just riffin' on his avatar.

Eh, there's a 92 page long thread about vintage mountain bikes in C&V where these two machines would be more than welcome. Vintage mtb's have their place. I rode my early 90's Stumpy last summer with some other riders. The only weakness was the brakes.

I think Mr. Minor was upset to see an early DB sporting Yeti Tourquiose. Plus he didn't get his ticket punched for Petermarzburg, gotta feel for him.

Let me rephrase:

Ooooooo . . . those are two sweet rides. Steel is still real, baby :thumb:. You should be sure to post them ion the C&V forum too; there are a lot of serious collectors there who will be envious of what you scored there. I wish I could find a deal or two like that; I think I would find it very satisfying to sink a couple or three hundred into one of those steeds for the cachet of doing some serious, hardcore commuting on real Tange steel.

There. Is that better?

Surely the Peugeot Montreal Express comes with a latte holder?

Not wanting to add to the flames at all here but I work at a Bike Kitchen (Co-op) and we have piles of these that were donated for free.............we build em up and sell them for $50 - $100 all day long. It's a good amount of work to get them up and running, but you'll make your money back, just not your time...........they are a dime a dozen..............steel sticks around for ever!!

Wahwahwah. Why do you ask questions like that if you don't want to hear answers?...Get over it.

D-bag, driving away potential participants is his hobby. Now get out of here!

D-bag, driving away potential participants is his hobby. Now get out of here!

Who's hobby? If it's dminor's hobby, he can drive away whoever he wants.

If it's hardtail, it's gotta be steel for me. Aluminum frames are poo on da trails without sproing front and rear.

Who's hobby? If it's dminor's hobby, he can drive away whoever he wants.

I open ~5 threads here and D-bag is a jerk in two of them. What's funny is he must not know how to actually work on a bike, he thinks the only way to fix up old bikes is to take them to an LBS. As if an LBS could work on something more than five years old. D-bag must be some industry type, he only hypes new and expensive. Hence his hating on hardtails and 29'ers. If it doesn't need constant LBS service, it's no use the D-bag....

I sold that same exact Peugeot for $300 recently and only 5 out of the 10 speeds worked, he knew it, solid solid commuter bike! Nice find!

Let's keep this to bikes people. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Let's face it, they are two ugly vintage mountain bikes and both need help. The DB is getting a quick dark green re-spray, and my Canadian Peugeot is going to be my beach cruiser. I knew they couldn't have been worth more than $100, i just wanted to share. And remember, MTB's didn't get much better than this at the time.

They're worth about what you paid for them . . . or maybe less. Have fun.

WRONG.... next opinion....BD

I picked up these two bikes for $20 total today. The blue one is a Tange Diamondback Apex with full Deore, and in red is the Half assembled Peugeot Montreal express. From some basic research i found out that the Apex was centurions high end mountain bike of 1985. The Peugeot happens to be a bottom of the line MTB but i love peugeots either way. I want to know more about them and what they're worth. Tell me more about the Deer head on the FD :thumb:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/moop-dog/000_0001-37.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/moop-dog/000_0003-35.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/moop-dog/000_0005-30.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/moop-dog/000_0006-19.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/moop-dog/000_0004-32.jpg


Your asking the wrong subgroup you need to post your question in Classic and Vintage. These folks won't give you a straight answer unless you bike looks like a suspension bridge and the Starship Enterprise mated..

Let's face it, they are two ugly vintage mountain bikes and both need help. The DB is getting a quick dark green re-spray,

Awww, I love the original Apex green.

Let's face it, they are two ugly vintage mountain bikes and both need help. The DB is getting a quick dark green re-spray, and my Canadian Peugeot is going to be my beach cruiser. I knew they couldn't have been worth more than $100, i just wanted to share. And remember, MTB's didn't get much better than this at the time.

You're listening to a bunch of Koolaid drinkers. DO NOT repaint that DB!!! It was perfectly fine until you happened upon it, and it is still perfectly fine. You will cut the value of the bike by over half by doing an ill advised repaint. Let the color sink in a little, before doing anything dumb.,,,,BD

The deer head btw? It indicates the absolute first generation of Deore XT. WAY before LX or XTR. It was top of the line for Shimano Mtn. The brakes are roller cam Suntour, and came on very few bikes. A b#%@h to set up correctly, but once you do, they stop almost as good as V-brakes.,,,,BD

You will cut the value of the bike by over half by doing an ill advised repaint.OMG - - you mean it will plummet to $10? :eek:

You really don't have a clue do you? Search "vintage mountain bike" on ebay. Welcome to reality dude, EVERYTHING is collectible these days.,,,,BD


Case in point the $79 BIN on the suntour roller cam brake.... page 4.

To the OP... Check out this thread, it may change your mind on the repaint...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/148170-Show-us-your-vintage-mountain-bikes!

OMG - - you mean it will plummet to $10? :eek:


Get out of here.

I'm sorry i can't afford the new 2012 cannondale jekyll or whatever you think I need. These bikes will have to do for now, and im perfectly fine with them.

Thanks bikedued

NP! I used to love finding old mtb's at the flea markets in Houston when I lived there. The older the better. Lugged mtb's with horizontal top tubes are my favorite. They have the same kind of charm that older road bikes do, IMHO.,,,,BD

Get out of here.

I'm sorry i can't afford the new 2012 cannondale jekyll or whatever you think I need. These bikes will have to do for now, and im perfectly fine with them.

Whoa, easy there hoss. You're the one who asked what they're worth, and that's a question that everyone is going to answer differently.

You really don't have a clue do you? Search "vintage mountain bike" on ebay. Welcome to reality dude, EVERYTHING is collectible these days.,,,,BD


Case in point the $79 BIN on the suntour roller cam brake.... page 4.

To the OP... Check out this thread, it may change your mind on the repaint...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/148170-Show-us-your-vintage-mountain-bikes!

HA! dminor got pwned.

In all honesty though, old bikes are silly. Just like old people. Just like dminor.

And new bikes are even more silly. A whole bunch of needless "improvements" to make riding them easier for non riders, or so such and such company can say their bike has more technology and weighs a 1/4 pound less. Bikes stopped being believable 10-15 years ago. Carbon fiber derailleur cages? Really? Who even needs that?,,,,BD

In all honesty the biggest pain in the butt at my job is working on brand new high end mountain bikes, that people actually try to use for their intended purpose. Sure it's high tech, but the components just don't hold up. Give me an 80's bike any day.. At least they stand up to being ridden.

The only real improvements in the past decade have been made in beer. That is a MTB component!

I do have a 94 HT with the original XT derailers and grip shifters. Can't part with it, can't part it out.

And new bikes are even more silly. A whole bunch of needless "improvements" to make riding them easier for non riders, or so such and such company can say their bike has more technology and weighs a 1/4 pound less. Bikes stopped being believable 10-15 years ago. Carbon fiber derailleur cages? Really? Who even needs that?,,,,BD

In all honesty the biggest pain in the butt at my job is working on brand new high end mountain bikes, that people actually try to use for their intended purpose. Sure it's high tech, but the components just don't hold up. Give me an 80's bike any day.. At least they stand up to being ridden.

I think the real question is why you're so grumpy.

Lack of respect for bikes that were made better than todays standards?? Seriously, I just saw a warranty replacement X9 derailleur mounting bolt snap in two with no other physical sign of damage? Meanwhile my 88 Cannondale is humming right along after 24 years?,,,,BD

Meanwhile my 88 Cannondale is humming right along after 24 years?,,,,BD

Yeah and I broke an 88 stumpjumper in 89. It's likely that your terrain and riding style have much more to do with your bikes longevity than the fact that it was built 20+ years ago. Ever use up a set of brand new brake pads before lunch? Ever wear clean through the sidewall of a rim? Ever break a stem in half? I have done all of those, but not in the past 10 years, and I ride harder and faster now than I did back then. Old bikes obviously work well for your purposes, and that's great, but it doesn't make sense to categorically apply your limited experiences to everyone, everywhere. Lots of folks are riding mountain bikes much differently than they did back in the early days.

You ride harder and faster now than ten years ago, but you admit to breaking a year old 1988 model bike? How old are you, and what's your secret to 20+ years of steady physical improvement? ;)I am sure you have limited experience too. I knew a guy who snapped a week old chromoly Hutch in two back in 84. He tried to bunnyhop a six foot wide culvert and hit the other side with the downtube. How roughly you ride it is how long it will last, that's a given. Older bikes stood up to abuse better, especially when you consider bikes and components cost 3-4 times more than they did back then. An 88 model was EARLY in aluminum development for bicycles. I never said the modern frames were suspect, except maybe in a few cases. Poopooing ALL old bikes because you broke one bike back then is kinda dumb. One local six hour race had modern $3k bikes needing a complete redo with new rear derailleurs, just from mud?,,,,BD

You ride harder and faster now than ten years ago, but you admit to breaking a year old 1988 model bike? How old are you, and what's your secret to 20+ years of steady physical improvement?

I ride harder and faster because newer technology (modern geometry, stiffer frames, suspension, powerful consistent brakes, stronger rims, thru axles, stiffer cranks, better shifting, grippier tires) allows me to do so, even lo all these many years later.



I am sure you have limited experience too.

Right, but my experience directly contradicts your ridiculous claims that "new bikes are silly" and "high tech can't stand up to being ridden."


Older bikes stood up to abuse better

Okay, you get your 80's bike of choice and I'll hop on my dh bike and we'll pound out 20K feet of rough descending and see who's still rolling at the end of the day.


especially when you consider bikes and components cost 3-4 times more than they did back then.

Inflation: look into it. Or in other words, what doesn't cost more now than 20 years ago.


Poopooing ALL old bikes because you broke one bike back then is kinda dumb.

There's nothing wrong with older bikes - they're obviously more than sufficient for your type of mountain biking. But they're not well suited for mine. Why do you care what I or anyone else rides? And, since you apparently work at a shop, why on earth would you complain about fixing them or selling new bikes and components? Isn't that your job? I mean, it's not like you can feed a family by flipping dumpster bikes, even if you do spend time spouting off on internet forums to try and artificially inflate their worth.

I never once said I do hardcore riding on a 24 year old bike? I have an 09 Specialized for that. Once I took the Sram crap off it's fine for my needs. I also dropped about 4-5 pounds off of it just by changing a few parts. You're on a mission to ridicule anyone that doesn't see things your way, that much is clear. I will be leaving MB for good starting now. Your job is done, feel proud of it. Later.,,,,BD

My apologies to the OP....

Update, I've been riding the Peugeot as a single speed cruiser for the past few weeks. It rides fine but i tend to treat it like a BMX bike. The DiamondBack apex has been finished, rode, and SOLD for $100. That Deore group rode better than i thought it would.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/moop-dog/000_0001-42.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/moop-dog/000_0002-42.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/moop-dog/000_0004-36.jpg

PS: The pedals were swapped out before sold.

How did I miss this thread? It's filled with such awesome bullheadedness, nothing will ever get accomplished!:thumb:


I never once said I do hardcore riding on a 24 year old bike? I have an 09 Specialized for that.

That's a silly bike to be riding. You must be a non-rider.

C&V would probably have been a better place to post to, but good luck with the Peugeot. It would also make a nice candidate for conversion to a commuter/tourer. The frame geometry looks good. For ideas, if you wanted to go that route, you could probably search the net to see what people have done with Surly Long Haul Truckers.

really sad you repainted that apex.. wish i could find one with complete deerhead for $20. could have sold it for at least $200 here. vintage mtb bikes make great commuter bikes and there is definitely a market for them, though the demand isn't like vintage road bikes.