JVinci

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/4986185681.html

$260

From listing:

"A classic, upper model 80's vintage Univega Aeropace road bike. The lugged steel frame was but in Japan, with Tange double butted tubing. it measures 58cm on the seat tube, with a 56cm top tube and a stand ver of around 32". This bike has been tuned and rebuilt from the bare frame, with new cables, housing, chain, saddle, and bar tape. Upgrades include a Shimano 105 rear derailleur, nice Dia Compe brakes with aero levers, and brand new Panaracer Pasela 27x1" tires with new presta valve tubes. Tuned and ready to ride, this is a nice, easy to ride and maintain machine."

I haven't been able to find any info out there for this bike. I'm trying to find something entry level under $300 and arrived at this.

Any thoughts?

dailycommute

Univegas are good, but underappreciated (relative to price), bikes. This one is franken_built which affects value a bit. The 27 in wheels do affect value as well since most people want 700c. Those paselas are probably the only good tire you will be able to mount on those 27s. However if it fits and the wheels are alloy (vs steel), everything shifts smooth, etc then I would say 180+- is fair value for a ready to ride commuter or casual oriented bike. Seeing as CA maybe a tad bit higher.

JVinci

Wow ok, good to know.

So pretty much $200 is more it's price range. That may be too big of a step down for this seller, so I'll probably pass on it. The 27 in wheels definitely are a negative as well. Thank you for your input!

bikemig 

Agree that this is too high. Do you know what size of bike you need?

CliffordK

It looks like a nice bike. I'm still partial to European bikes, but for a Univega, that would be a good choice.

The ad has been up for a half a week. Perhaps the seller is willing to negotiate.

How much do you wish to quibble about that last $60 between $200 and $260? That could be the difference between a good set of tires and one that needs replaced.

27" is sub optimal, but it can be changed to 700c. Brakes can be a problem, but it does have the advantage that the clearances are more forgiving if you wish to add fenders, or run slightly fatter tires.

Should those brake levers have hoods?

Bianchigirll 

Why is it a Frankenbike?

wrk101

Looks like a semi-pro rebuilder/flipper selling this bike. I don't see him going to $200.

Darth Lefty 

This is bike heaven and you can do better.

This link will give you a good number of Japanese bikes here in Sac
sacramento bicycles "(Univega | Nishiki | Centurion | Lotus | Shogun | Miyata | Bridgestone | Panasonic | Fuji | SR)" - craigslist

This link will give you "ten speeds" and "road bikes"
sacramento bicycles "((10 | ten | 12 | twelve | 14| fourteen | 16 |sixteen) speed) | ("road bike")" - craigslist

This might be the deal of the day
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/4969666667.html

oddjob2

+1

IMHO, it's nicely done and is good value for a clean ready to ride mid level chromoly bike. I just sold refurbished and at full asking price a Lotus Challenger $250 and a Panasonic DX3000 $300.

Just because a bike comes with 27" rims rather than 700c doesn't mean a $75 haircut in price. There are many decent tires available in 27" format.

Darth Lefty 

I posted these in the "finds" thread
Detel 10 Speed $60- Recumbent bike $40
BRIDGESTONE ROAD BIKE... GREAT FOR TALL RIDER
*******ALTRON 7000 BICYCLE*****

Darth Lefty 

By the way, welcome to bikes in Sacramento! If you have a bike by next weekend, come to the Scott Road ride in Folsom.

CliffordK

Ahhh... and your secret weapon is out.
Watch the prices double in the next week as people find the bikes they're looking for.

Around here, there are so few "nice" bikes that I can scan all the ads posted in the last few days rather quickly.

JVinci

I'm 6' with somewhere between a 33.5" and 34" leg length. I've been targeting either a 56 or 58 cm bike. Trying to find something good for under $300.




But what's the cost of upgrading tires? At what point do you buy the bike and do that?


Not sure about the hoods on the brake levers.

I don't know


Hey thanks! I'm sure you can guess, but I'm super novice when it comes to the world of biking. I've been just randomly searching, 80's japanese bikes like miyata, because I read these were pretty good for an inexpensive price. Would you recommend of the ones you linked? Should I keep my eye out for something else?

eschlwc

if you're that tall, you need to target 58cm bikes. 56cm will be too small.

i like the uni in the ad, but don't love it for a couple reasons. first, i don't understand those levers. they look like non-aeros, but they're routed as aeros. why not add $10 hoods to make it more comfy?

he says it's rebuilt, but doesn't include a photo of the bare frame.

also, that's a mid '80s paint scheme, so a 700c set is expected.

i like that he added new paselas in my fav (for 27" wheels) 1" size. these are usually $10 more expensive than the ubiquitous 1 1/4" size. so kudos to him for that. but he didn't mount the label corrctly centered on the front valve stem, so points off.

and his pics suck.

i would buy this bike for $150, fully overhaul it, and would have little touble reselling it for over $325.

oddjob2

As of this moment, using your above searches, the red/white Univega happens to be the best deal IMHO.

dailycommute

Thought this same bike was listed on CL a few weeks ago but needed work. New seller is attempting a quick flipper but it may be very solid, go test ride and see. I call it a frankenbike b/c it has those very likely replacement wheels , new deraillieur, etc. Up close you can check brakes, crank, etc to see if they are different. 180-200 probably eats his profit margin right up, but I do not think you could resell for any more. Those paselas are nice tires and very robust for 27 inch (if alloy), If steel 27 rims take a pass as they are heavy and poor stoppers. Biggest expense post any bike purchase is generally saddle, pedals, tires as often these are personal preference for riding longer than say 15-20 minutes. Those tires look new so that is a big plus.

Darth Lefty 

Could be! I did the usual search of this forum when one popped up a few weeks ago, because the model had cool name, but no one had anything really enthusiastic to say about it. @dailycommute might be right it's the same one from then.

Bianchigirll 

Why is it a Frankenbike or franken built?

TugaDude

27" is not as big a negative as some make believe. Various Continentals including Gatorskins can be found, the Paselas, etc. Don't scare newbies away based upon rim size.

JVinci

What do you guys think about this one then?

Upper limit of my budget, but Miyata's appear to have more respect than Univega's.

Road bike 58cm

dailycommute

That 912 looks like 85 model and they are nice bikes for sure. Check for rust, how much work etc but if it fits and you can get it for 250+- it is miles above the arrowpace. May be worth 300+- not sure but it is considered one of the better upper end japanese bikes of the era.

re franken and the arrowpace, I probably should have said lazara_build but always preferred the shelley version. Simply reference to brought back from the dead, looks like a decent flipper job but only worth 180+-. The Miyata is a much better buy if in good shape.

oddjob2

I am curious why you think the Miyata @ $250 is a worthwhile buy and not so much at $300?

Is this based on actual experience in selling or buying the same bike, or comparable bike (SWAG) or just a WAG?

ramzilla

Around here in Atlanta area that bike would be a solid deal at $250.

Bianchigirll 

I never understood the big issue of tire availability for 27" wheels. Do some people frequently change out their tires? I think provided you can find a quality tire that wears well how many different ones do you need?

This Myata is nice looking but I thought the Univega was nice looking too. A little expensive for me but I think most of Calif runs high for decent bikes.




Brakes are likely nicer on this and the index shift will be great for novice.

dailycommute

Re 250 price, it is CL and op said 300 was top. Cash in hand buyer in first few days are the most real. Never had the pleasure of a 912 but have had a 712 or whatever that 700 line was.

Re overall bike market in general lately I have sold 3, bought 1 (three were 1980s vintage) in last month and overall impression is soft for vintage steel, buyers are looking for (and getting) deals on wide range of bikes. Deals were transacted via ebay, swap, and CL. Sold 1990 trek 420, sold 1984 club fuji, bought 1989 fuso and they were all buyer side deals, that is totally overhauled, nicely presented and still buyer's market on value. jmo