Road Cycling - Opinions Please!

I'm wondering what this is worth and opinions on titanium.
99' Litespeed Appalachian, titanium, Rolf Vector Pro wheels, Full Ultegra where possible, the rest XTR, custom stem, (whatever that means). Probably <1000 miles on it.
The bike is immaculate. I've seen new bikes look worse. Top of the line everything. It belongs to a neuro-surgeon in Columbia who's building up a new one. (I saw it, another Litespeed.)
I talked to the shop owner, (who isn't making anything on this because he's building the new one), he said new with these components it would be around $5000. It that about right?
So what do you think it's worth? Thanks

You'd be stealing it for anything less than $2500! But it is almost 3 years old now, so I'd offer around $2,000 and see where that goes!

L8R

I just called the LBS where I bought my Litespeed. They said a 2002 Appalachian retails for $3400 with standard wheels. He couldn't say what wheels they call "standard".

I agree with Vic. Offer $2000 [or less ;)] and you'll be getting a sweet ride. :thumbup:

If I'm not mistaken, the Appalachian sold for @ $3,500 last year, with the Ultegra mix. Used, I'd be looking at a little more than half that. I've seen 2000 models [and I think the one you're referring to is 2001 or 2000] sell for as little as $1800 used.

A buddy of mine rides one of these bikes and loves it. In the summer off-season [summer is the off season for cyclocross] he puts road tires on it and rides centuries.

Check the true of the wheels... take it for a ride. Make sure that nothing has been downspecced [like barcons instead of STI shifters].

And for god's skae change that yellow bar tape for black cork! A cross bike has no business having yellow tape! :D

First off, let me say how odd I find it to be writing my 1000th post in the Roadie Forum. What's this world coming to?:)
Thanks for the quick responses guys. This bike just happens to be my size too I think. (54) I heard he originally started out pricing it at $2700 but would probably take $2000. The shop owner said the bike owner might be by tonight to pick up his new one. He said he would ask if he would take any less.

Velocipedio, I doubt if it's downgraded in any way but I'll check that. Probably upgraded if anything. This thing looks awesome. I did spin the front wheel and it's as true as can be. The shop owner told me to ride it but I didn't have time. Maybe tomorrow if it's not pouring out again. And the bars are already wrapped with black.:)

Also, is it my imagination or did I read somewhere once that you didn't really like the way titanium rides? If so, could I ask why?
Thanks again all.

I haven't spent a huge amount of time on titanium, just trying other people's bikes and test rides, so take my opinion for what it's worth...

I find titanium a little too springy for my taste, particularly at the bottom bracket. It's not enough that I would say that I hate titanium, or that I would turn down a Litespeed or Merlin if I got one for free, only that I probably wouldn't go shopping for one.

On the other hand, I've always been a steel kind of guy -- at least where road bikes are concerned. I do find ti to be quite different in ride quality than steel, so that might be it.

On the other hand, I know of quite a few people who swear by titanium, so I'm sure it's a personal preference thing. I imagine the springiness I feel in ti frames could be nice in a 'cross bike, though, smoothing out trail buzz and providing a kind of pseudo-suspension... And ti has a couple of other nice properties: (1) it's repairable like steel, (2) it is very, very pretty.

Take the bike for a ride. See what you think. Ride over some gravel, if you get a chance...

I've got the '99 Litespeed catalog. They didn't make a 54... maybe it's a 53 or 55 (they don't say how they measure, c-c or c-t). One minor thing, the headtube is probably 1" instead of 1 1/8". I don't know if or when getting forks with 1" steerers will be a problem, but just so you know...

The other big plus w/Ti is that is doesn't corrode, which seems like a good thing for a 'cross bike.

Check the bearings for play and noise... wheels, headset, cranks, pedals. Check out chainwheel and cogset wear, too. $2K is a fair offer for that bike, if it's in good shape. If it needs much work, that's another story. Hope he goes for it. Good luck! ;)

Thanks, I'll check the size. I was wondering about that too. I've been researching them this evening and noticed the newer ones didn't come in 54 either. I'll also check all the other parts for wear, but it really does look like new. I doubt anything's worn very much, but I'll check. So a 1" steerer tube is hard to get now?

Originally posted by Dirtgrinder
.So a 1" steerer tube is hard to get now?
I don't know. It's just that they aren't making many bikes w/1" head tubes anymore, so it might become a problem.

Anybody else up on this?

BTW, do you ever commute to work by bike? A Ti 'cross bike w/700x32 tires always struck me as the ultimate commuter... provided you've got a good place to lock it up! :eek:

Shouldn't be hard to get a 1" fork, if necessary. You can get a Kinesis with a 1" steerer at Cyclocross World (www.cyclocrossworld.com). In any event, how likely is it that you'll be buying a new fork, anyway?

As for size, remember, 'cross frames tend to run a little smaller than road frames. If you're a 54, a 53 cm frame might fit you. You can also go a little short on the TT [a little] if you're comfortable in the drops.

The point is... throw a leg over...

You've got some excellant advice! Check the Bicycle Blue Book on line-- it's very similiar to the Blue Book for Vehicles. My thought on this is that true it's titainium, a Litespeed, all Ultegra, But it is a 1999 model with a thousand miles on it! Check for nicks,dents, unusual wear. I'd offer between $1800 --- $2000 tops. If you do get it you'll love the Rolf wheels! I have them on my C'dale R2000 along with the Ultegra set up. Good Luck! Hope it lives up to what you want!

Well, the answer depends on you.

1) Does the bike fit you? If it doesn't, don't buy it.
2) Would you buy this bike new? What I mean by this, do you want this particular bike or are you just looking at it because it is a "deal". Of course, if all that is stopping you is expense and this is your "dream" bike, well go for it.
3) Generally, one can get used bikes for about 50% of their cost as new. But if 1) the bike fits and 2) you LOVE this bike and 3) it seems to have virtually no wear - well you could well go above that and still do very well by yourself. It seems to me turning down a used bike because the owner wanted 60% list instead of 50% list is counterproductive if you then go out and buy the same thing new at 100% list.