Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Help with my LeMond Zurich would be much appreciated!

Hi guys, as you can tell I'm new to the forums...I've often browsed but finally decided to register.

I've been riding this LeMond Zurich for the last year (kindly donated from a friend, I'm the third owner), and I've always wanted to know more about it. Mainly the year it was manufactured, if possible. The paint is in extremely rough condition, even down to the bare metal in some spots.

My last couple hours of searching on Google about LeMond serial number identification hasn't come up with a lot of results....so I figured I'd pick your collective brains. :p

The engraved numbers on the BB (extremely hard to read...i can take some pics tomorrow) are as follows: I(or T)U0020335P and 280 55 TBI1311

There's also a small black sticker on the BB with: BS610211

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/gotkrypto/me/Lemondchampionedition.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/gotkrypto/me/ultegrawhat.jpg

this frame on ebay seems fairly identical (welds, decals) to my untrained eye: http://i.ebayimg.com/t/LEMOND-ZURICH-BICYCLE-FRAME-57cm-RED-NEW-853-STEEL-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqVHJBEE8+gQM(39BPWV5CFwGw~~60_57.JPG http://i.ebayimg.com/t/LEMOND-ZURICH-BICYCLE-FRAME-57cm-RED-NEW-853-STEEL-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqZHJBgE9(u3O20qBPWV5HRIJw~~60_57.JPG

For bikes 1993 and newer, bikepedia.com is your friend. However, Lemond made the Zurich for a long time so it can be kind of hard to tell.

There is no picture of the 99, but that would be my guess.

http://bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=1999&Brand=LeMond&Model=Zurich&Type=bike

haha, when doing research on my own I'd found that exact Bikepedia page, and since I never saw one with the same color scheme, I just left frustrated!

But thanks, that does help!

I'd guess 1999 also, but that is a guess. It is definitely earlier than 2000, when the paint scheme was the same layout as yours but in blue with white panels. (The 2000Zurichs even had exactly the same red "Lemond" decals as yours.) In 2001, they went to a two-main-color scheme (blue and yellow). After that I don't remember, but it wasn't red.

AFter searching around more for that specific year ('99), I think you guys got it spot-on.

One more question: since the paint is SO ridiculously rough (down to bare metal in several spots), I'd long been thinking of repainting. I work at a car customization shop, and I'm well versed doing automotive-finish paint jobs on a variety of materials....but would it absolutely ruin the value of the frame by doing so?

If I did go ahead with repainting, I figured I'd mask off the white area with the red LeMond decals to keep it, unless the decals are readily available and won't break the bank. Other than that, matte black is what I'd had in mind.

I am selling a 2002 Lemond Zurich. As you may know, this is an extremely rare bicycle, as Greg LeMond's bikes stopped production in 2007 and are now collectors items. This bike has been kept in good shape and lived in indoors since new.This bike is used but it is in like new condition. Listed below are some parts of note:

Main frame: Reynolds 853 butted steel tubing
Fork: original carbon fiber fork
Group: FULL Ultegra: brakes, bottom bracket, derailleurs, cranks, cassette, chainrings
Tires: BRAND NEW Conti, 700X23c
Wheels: Bontrager Race Lite, bladed spokes
Computer: Shimano Flight Deck Computer (displays gear position and candance)


Think I can get $1,500 for it?

One more question: since the paint is SO ridiculously rough (down to bare metal in several spots), I'd long been thinking of repainting. I work at a car customization shop, and I'm well versed doing automotive-finish paint jobs on a variety of materials....but [B]would it absolutely ruin the value of the frame by doing so?


Matte black = ruined value. The only way a repaint can increase or keep the value of the frame is if it's professionally done with ALL the proper decals and art. And even then it's still not original. Sure it may be scratched but the paint still looks all there in the photos. I would leave it alone. Apparently you haven't seen many old bicycles if you think your paint is bad!

I am selling a 2002 Lemond Zurich. As you may know, this is an extremely rare bicycle, as Greg LeMond's bikes stopped production in 2007 and are now collectors items. This bike has been kept in good shape and lived in indoors since new.This bike is used but it is in like new condition. Listed below are some parts of note:

Think I can get $1,500 for it?

Bike companies come and go, just because the company doesn't exist anymore does not make this a "rare collectors item." Just another used road bike but a very nice one at that. By 2002 the Lemond Cycle company had long been sold to Trek (much like Gary Fisher) and existed in name only.

MSRP was $2100 in 2002, now it's 10 years old but if in "like new condition" I'd say you could still possibly get $800-900 for it.

For a used bike that paint is good! touch up the bare spots an enjoy it as aoriginal as yuo can keep it.

I am selling a 2002 Lemond Zurich. As you may know, this is an extremely rare bicycle, as Greg LeMond's bikes stopped production in 2007 and are now collectors items. This bike has been kept in good shape and lived in indoors since new.This bike is used but it is in like new condition. Listed below are some parts of note:

Main frame: Reynolds 853 butted steel tubing
Fork: original carbon fiber fork
Group: FULL Ultegra: brakes, bottom bracket, derailleurs, cranks, cassette, chainrings
Tires: BRAND NEW Conti, 700X23c
Wheels: Bontrager Race Lite, bladed spokes
Computer: Shimano Flight Deck Computer (displays gear position and candance)


Think I can get $1,500 for it?

H' no. Almost every bike I own is from a company that is out of business. I've got about 50 right now. Not a single one is worth $1500.

Company out of business, that's really typical for bikes. Just sold a very attractive Klein, all nine speed Ultegra, got a VERY small fraction of that amount (and original MSRP on the Klein was $3000).

On the OP topic, flat black: you decide, it basically drops a bomb on your value, and you pay money and time to do it. Pass.

KypD - Do you plan to sell the bike in the future? If so, keep it original and touch up the paint. If not - who cares about the value!?!! Paint it if you want.

v70cat - You're probably looking more in the $500-600 range if it's in very nice shape.

nope, I plan to ride this baby for a long, long time. Originally I was going to powdercoat the frame, but the oven at my shop isn't quite big enough anyway.

"Apparently you haven't seen many old bicycles if you think your paint is bad!"

you're right, I haven't....but that IS a low-res picture on the "good" side. :p I've performed many automotive paint jobs with excellent results...but I'm not worried about the looks so much as the ~10 large spots of bare metal I have, and my wet FL environment wreaking eventual havoc on it.


I've already found an EXACT color of touch-up paint that matches the original (a GM red made by Duplicolor)....after reading all of the input I'll stick with touching it up! Thanks again.

I will probably keep then I think it ihas a real nice looking paint job and the 853 steel is nice.

I ride a Cervelo R3SL and have many more miles on it. Nothing wrong with the Lemonds put since it is like new I probably just keep it on the trainer and keep it looking new.

This LeMond frame would have to compete with the resurgent market for older(80's - early 90's) steel framed bikes which frankly look better to a lot of cyclists because of their fully lugged cosntruction, chrome and for Italian bikes, fancier graphics and lugwork. The "retro" look is really in for cyclists of all ages. Lots of C&V collectors also look at design details seen on that LeMond like the unicrown style fork as kinda ugly, which does not help.
Most Italian Columbus SLX framed bikes from well known makers, in very good condition and a high line component group on them can pull $1.2K easy these days.....I would say that this LeMond that is more simple in its construction and mid-lineish components cannot match those values. 500 to 600 bucks max sound to be in the ballpark.
This LeMond will need to "cook" a few more years to start gaining real value in the collector market. Try again in about five to seven years from now and maybe $1.5K can be realized
JMOs

Chombi

I am selling a 2002 Lemond Zurich. As you may know, this is an extremely rare bicycle, as Greg LeMond's bikes stopped production in 2007 and are now collectors items. This bike has been kept in good shape and lived in indoors since new.This bike is used but it is in like new condition. Listed below are some parts of note:

Main frame: Reynolds 853 butted steel tubing
Fork: original carbon fiber fork
Group: FULL Ultegra: brakes, bottom bracket, derailleurs, cranks, cassette, chainrings
Tires: BRAND NEW Conti, 700X23c
Wheels: Bontrager Race Lite, bladed spokes
Computer: Shimano Flight Deck Computer (displays gear position and candance)


Think I can get $1,500 for it?

I have one of these 2002 Zurich's (which are distinctly recognizable for their unique red/black color scheme and the combination of an 853 steel frame with carbon fork). The 2002 IMHO is a superb road bike, quick, light, and nimble and with a perfectly responsive Ultegra drivetrain and brake system...

I paid about $350 for mine a couple of years ago (in slightly used shape...even had the original Bontrager X-Lite Silica tires with perhaps 300-400 miles on them) and felt that was a good deal. I might have paid up to $500-600, but not more than that. Maybe someone who really wanted a well-maintained 2002 would pay $1,500.

The Lemonds on trainer is safe and serves a purpose so I guess I will keep it until it ages so more. In another seven years I will be getting a new bike (new bike every 10 years) maybe at that time it will be work more and I will move the Cervelo to the trainer. For $500 it is not worth selling.

Hello Kypd, I only just found your post as I was looking for information about paint color for my lemond zurich.


Mine looks like yours (less the Reynolds sticker on the left chain stay, headset and stem) and the one from ebay. I bought mine in the first week of March 1998 while in Colorado. I can check the serial number but it is in the shed at the moment. I wanted to either repaint the bike or at least touch it up but I have not found a color match for the red.


Can you tell me the details of the paint you matched so that I can try to get some.

http://archive.org/details/LemondBicycles1998Catalog

You have a '98 Zurich. Here is the 1998 catalog.

Thank you rjr2008 for the catalog reference.

For KypD. The serial numbers of my bike (stamped on the BB) are L280 53 and WTU0016353P