italianbiker

I thought I would post this, see how high it goes. I don't have a bid in yet. I have a 7400 DA group thats needs a frame and came across this...

Team 7 Eleven Merckx Bob Roll Race Bike | eBay

McBTC

That motivates me to return to clips and just pedal from winery to winery for health and sport...

0.2HP

2 questions come to mind:

1. What would this bike be worth if some one famous had not ridden it?

2.. What evidence does the seller offer that any of their claims are true?

(The $90 the seller want to ship it to my coast is close to "my bike $$ limit".)

joe englert

Agree for sure. I think he posts the serial number but I would want a signed picture of Roll testifying that it is indeed his bike..also, I wouldn't call Roll one of the great American cyclists. He is a personality however but I don't think he has won any major races has he? I would put him in the same category as any other "'domestique" racer on the 7-11 squad at that time as far as talent on the bike. Certainly not up there with a Phinny, Alcala or Hampsten...much less Greg Lemond. So, I don't really know, even if this was his bike, why it would be worth much more than a standard 7-11 team bike.

xiaoman1 

If the pedals were included I would be interested.
Ben

Kactus

The seller says the bike is "in its original state and untouched". For a supposed pro race bike in original state it is in remarkably good condition; looks more like a bike ridden by a recreational cyclist on sunny days. He also says the Deore Xt seat post "was installed by Bob" yet in the photo of Bob with the supposed bike, it has a different seat post.

It's a beautiful and desirable bike but, at the price, I would want a lot more provenance than what is provided.

daf1009

Would definitely need a LOT more provenance! While the bike might be worth a little bit, it just strikes me as NOT being what is claimed...not that the seller is intentionally doing anything wrong...they may have bought it under the belief that it was Bobke's bike...but...it just does not quite add up.

The bit about taking the pedals from one bike to another...really? I am pretty sure that even Bob Roll would have been able to get a new set of pedals for his new team's bike!

joe englert

Well, someone out there thinks it's the real thing as he bid over 3 grand....wow. He must know something we don't. Maybe Bob Roll bid on it?

McBTC

It's got Bob Roll's name is on the top bar so there's a lawsuit if it's not really Roll's bike, right?

dweenk

With "Reserve Not Met" at that level, I suspect a shill bidder. Just sayin'.

work4bike

Look closely at the rear tire, it's blown out with a big hole in the sidewall; that should drop the price a little

88prelude

The last auction didn't meet the reserve at $4050 (Team 7 Eleven Merckx Bob Roll Race Bike | eBay). Every photo I've seen of Bob Roll on a Eddy Merckx bike has him riding a with a silver seatpost...Also they didn't start riding Eddy Merckx until 1989, not 1988 as the seller states.

EDIT: I guess it's still an 1988 model though; the 89 had internal TT cable routing.

italianbiker

Yea I wonder what the price is without Bob's name on it. Way over my budget.

howsteepisit

Hell, I just wonder what his reserve is.

88prelude

I'd imagine pretty close to 9k since he mentions that was the sale price for Hampsten's bike and then comments that Bob has become way more famous.

EDIT: Reread the ad and it states "Frankie Andeau's" (Andreu's I'm guessing) sold for 9k. Note sure if that got edited by the seller or I was just making stuff up.

daf1009

Good point...and just proves that this seller is definitely in "dreamland!"

miamijim

1. Team mechanics did a poorly with the red cables, the front housing is bunched up at the caliper adjuster.
2. Campy headset
3. Needs more provenace
4. Hoping for $9,000 but wont thorw in $75 SL pedals?
5. Needs much more provenace.

shelbyfv

Seller's feedback isn't very good.

joe englert

Isn't this guy living in L.A. La La land for sure. Said before, Hampsten is way more important in American cycling history. Roll is just a good domestique who happened to write a book and is a commentator. A personality perhaps, but certainly not a star. That seller needs Roll himself to back his claim that the bike is legit. Just having a name on the top tube means absolutely nothing to most collectors. I had a Harvy Nitz branded Huffy 7-11 bike that I sold for just a grand after having it on Ebay. My feeling is that Nitz is actually just as important to American cycling than Roll.

joe englert

Just sent a note to the owner asking for proof of what he says...here is his answer..."some simple math for you...wolber profil20 tubular wheels with motorol team property decals...9100 merckx serial number...red cable houseings that were used by team techs for these bikes only...avocet 2 seats with yellow lettering...frame geometry consistent with Roll's...." a few more things as well like the tires and the cineli bar and stem...he then sent me another email saying he can't get hold of bob roll to confirm or eddy merckx...

Kactus

Oh, well that proves it, not just anyone can buy red cable housing!

For the price he's apparently asking, he should try just a little harder to get in contact with Roll or Merckx.

miamijim

Does a 9100 serial number mean anything? Does it establish provenance? IDK

McBTC

Hello Eddie. I'm just calling to see if the Merckx bike I'm about to drop $9k on was actually ridden by Bob Roll when he rode for Speedee Mart. What's that? You say you'll sell me your bike for half that?

88prelude

I have yet to find a photo/video of any 7 Eleven team bike with red cabling. Bob Roll has an active twitter account - I wonder if he'd recognize it from the blown out tires and the Deore XT seat he installed himself.

Kactus

That line up photo the seller included shows all black cable housing and none appear to have Cinelli XA stems like the one he's selling.