Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - A General Value Question strait branded frames vs inport secondary branded frames.

This is a intersting value question of frames better vintage quality bikes are strait branded bikes where the name on bike is who made the bike worth more than import brands and bikes made by second or third parties for major brands. I'm of the opinion that strait branded bikes are worth more as a whole, Genuine Peugeots, Schwinn Paraomounts, Ralieaghs, Gitanes, Treks, Bianchias or any of a couple dozen smaller real bike makers will be worth more than a second or third party built bike with a label stuck on it. Any thoughts on this.

Do you mean like a Japanese built bianchi compared with an italian one? An Italian Bianchi is most lilely a more valuable bike than a japanese one.

Depends on the model. A 1973 Schwinn World Voyageur, built by Panasonic, is one of the more valuable Schwinns from that era. A 1986 Schwinn Peloton has pretty good value as well (Panasonic built).

Meanwhile, the Panasonic Paramounts are worth a small fraction of the Waterford Paramounts.

On Treks, few if any buyers realize that some of the 1980s steel Treks were made off shore, so I have not seen a difference value wise there.

Schwinn was kind of unusual, as they outsourced some of their top bikes. Most brands outsourced the bottom end of their product line (or their entire product line).

Consider the entire product line of well respected brands such as Centurion, Lotus, Univega, and many more were outsourced. It has not hurt their values.