General Cycling Discussion - is this trek 1.5 a good deal?

Planning on buying a used trek 1.5 2011 triple for 750. It was purchased in April and has 300 miles on it. Does this sound like a good deal? This will be my entry road bike.

Have you test ridden it? More important than the price is sizing and ride quality.

More important than the price is sizing and ride quality.

Agreed. If those two things check out, depending on if any accessories are included, I think the price is a bit high. MSRP was $910 new.

My theory/reasoning/rational is that if I am going to buy something used, I don't pay more than 75% of the retail price. If I pay above that, buy it new with a warranty and everything.

If the seller is including some accessories worth some value, then it may be worth it. I just don't think I would fork over more than about $675-$700 for it.

Seems to be a couple hhundred bucks too much. That's a pretty common bike so I'd wait for a cheaper 1.5 to roll around if that's what you really want

I sold a minty 1.5 last year for $500, new tires, looked like it came out of the LBS new. Since it's last years model (soon to be to years dated), I'd offer $500-$600. It's too close to a new price for me, I'd just buy a new one. I'm pretty sure my LBS sold me mine for that price or close.

Thanks for the responses. Where are you getting the 910 MSRP? I've been trying to find a number like that but can't seem to find it anywhere. There is a website for a store here in chicago and when I look at their trek 1.5 inventory I get this.... http://villagecycle.com/sitesearch.cfm?search=trek+1.5&goSiteSearch.x=0&goSiteSearch.y=0 . They have the exact same bike as on craigslist for 804 dollars new but it's 52cm and I need 56cm. Do I still count the result as a valid price for the bike if it doesn't fit me? I would probably spend the 800 dollars for a new one if I could find it. They also have the 2012 model for 967 dollars. Seems a bit difficult to really nail down a new price, this website says the MSRP is over 1100: http://road-bikes.findthebest.com/l/341/2011-Trek-1-5 . I'd like to explain the facts as much as possible for why i'm going to offer 150 - 200 dollars under his asking price.

I looked the bike up on Bikepedia.com. It lists all the specs and MSRP procing for a make/model/year bike.


I'd like to explain the facts as much as possible for why i'm going to offer 150 - 200 dollars under his asking price.

The facts are, you shouldn't be willing to pay top dollar for a used bike. The facts are, you can take your $750 to a LBS, add another $150 to it, and walk out with a brand new, zero mile bike, with a warranty, and probably free tuning/adjustments for the first 90 days.

A used bike is just that...all you get is the bike and nothing else. The value of tuning, adjustments, and a warranty is probably worth more than $150.


Do I still count the result as a valid price for the bike if it doesn't fit me?

Yes and no...if it's not the bike you're looking at, and it's below the asking price of your potential bike, use it. If the potential bike you're looking at doesn't fit properly, walk away.

In all, what it comes down to is this: WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY FOR A NEW OR USED BIKE? If $750 is too much for that used bike, make your offer and be willing to walk away.

Please also keep in mind that the Trek 1.5 is a Taiwanese mass-manufactures bike made in the same factories that make every other brand you see. Only Trek's most expensive carbon bikes are actually made by trek, so fixating on a particular brand or model could be a sure-fire way to pay more than you have to.

Not present to see the condition , will it need a new chain and cassette, promptly?

... if you can not tell, you will not know..