Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - value/desirability of 80s Ritchey MTB-see photos

can anyone evaluate this bike I've had since around '82-85? bought new from Gary Fisher's Fairfax CA shop...i seem to recall that Steve Potts made the front fork for some reason.

Whoa, that's worth a whole lot to a tiny amount of people. They're going to be real tough to find though.

That's really cool - The fork is throwing me off, but most of the components say 82 or 83. Do you by any chance remember the model? I've been looking for an early Ritchey.

underneath the bottom bracket is "284" but no letters or other numbers...any thoughts on the model? Mt. Tam?

Great looking bike and I agree to the right person it is pretty valuable. Before offering it though it would really pay to ditch that torn bag and dog eaten saddle. a take off from the locak bike shop is better than that. Also new tires will help alot too.

I think it is kind of a neat bike but I would turn it into a skinny tire city type bike.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=246848&d=1335461757

Are those Mafac cantilevers? I may have a pair or atleast enough parts on hand to repair that rear one, if your interested.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=246850&d=1335461824

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=246849&d=1335461794

Looks like a 1982 Tamalpais with some parts switched out.

thanks for your input---i let my grandson ride it and he started to trash it (and started by eating the seat it looks like) so i took it back; don't know if i have the patience to fix it up for selling; would sell for reasonable amt. to a ritchey-lover maybe but first want to find out an approx. value to one. i laughed at your "cat lady" comment; i'm a "shoe lady" myself...

I would post it here, might get a better response.

http://forums.mtbr.com/vintage-retro-classic/

I think you need 10 posts or something before you can post pictures though.

It's somewhat difficult to put a very specific value on this particular bike as it's not that easy to categorize. Some points of reference:

-Higher end custom Ritcheys (e.g. Everest) made by Tom that are in mint original condition go for $2000-$2500. These were custom, had flawless craftsmanship and typically had really cool Imron or custom paint.
-Lower end Ritcheys in fair condition go for for $350-400. These require quite a bit of reconditioning and came in standardized colors.

Your bike, if it's a Tamalpais, was considered "lower mid-line" at the time and has a MountainBikes II frameset that come in standard geometry and paint rather than one of Tom's top-line custom framesets with custom paint. However, it's still made by Tom, just not "made to order". It's kinda beat up and does not have some of the original parts, but from the pictures, it looks like it will clean up pretty well. The fork is pretty cool and I would rate it as somewhat better than a Ritchey fork. It was probably not standard equipment unless their was some sort of extreme parts shortage at the time (this happened frequently on early 80's mountain bikes), or if the original Ritchey fork broke (also been known to happen).

Hopefully that's enough to give you an idea. :)

I am glad this thread appeared, since I have been trying to learn more about the lugged frame Tom Richey I found last summer. Any help regarding vintage, model and value would certainly be appreciated.

I plan to restore the bicycle, unless someone buys it from me first...

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=227080&d=1321380042

I was writing my post and then realized you are in Canada which makes sense. There was a model made for the Canadian market which is what you have. Japanese made, mid to late 80s and distributed by Rocky Mountain Bicycles. I don't believe these were touched by Tom's torch so the value is like any other 80s MTB - not a lot.

ish: thanks for your excellent input

You do have something pretty good there. Here's a MTB website that might be of interest...

http://mombat.org/MOMBAT/index.html

The handlebars are the 'bull moose" type. Nice. You don't see those everyday.

thanks for that link cycleheimer---certainly is a scroll down memory lane lulu

Nice bike! MTBRs VRC forum regulars can give you all the info you want on that one. As far as value, as mentioned by a couple already, the right buyer in search of that size/vintage could give $500+ in my opinion. Some of those parts are pretty hard to come by and I think boost the value a bit. Not many around in that condition. Post it on the VRC classifieds at mtbr.com, you'll probably get lots of interest.

someone asked via private message if this bike was for sale and since i don't have enough posts to reply private message, the answer is not right now; it's being reconditioned a bit before i decide whether to sell it or keep it...

The handlebars are the 'bull moose" type. Nice. You don't see those everyday.

You might want to peel back the duct tape and see if the bars say "BULLMOOSE" or "RITCHEY", for if so they will be worth more.

Please don't recondition too much..... if at all....