andre3000

Hey everyone-

I have been looking for road bikes for a while, and I came upon this:

All Original Japanese Nishiki Olympic 12

23" very light cromoly 4130 frame
21-speed Suntour VX components
Nishiki crank set, Dia-Compe brakes
Suzue hubs
Araya alloy 27" x 1 1/4" wheels and tires Sakae Custom drop bars and kickstand.

"In very good riding condition, tuned up and ready to go."

The tires and tape are a little worn, here are the pictures:






Is this worth $200? IF not, how much should I offer? I am hoping to call him back today before I leave for school -- THANKS

20grit

Do you want the bike? Is it worth 200 dollars to you? Will you get 200 dollars worth of transport/enjoyment out of it?


i'm not an appraisal expert (and my guess is this will get moved to appraisals) but that's how i gauge everything. it's comforting to know that something i have is of enough value that i wouldn't lose much in selling, but really it's a matter of what it's worth to you while it's in your possession.

10 Wheels

Will it Fit, is more important then a few $$ one way or the other.
Give it a good test ride.

andre3000

Oh I just want a nice bike to go from home to school (3 or 4 miles a few times a day), something reliable, light, fast, and that wont take too much energy out of me. I just want to make sure I am not getting ripped off or anything since I am so new to this...

10 Wheels

I had a Nishiki Sport. Rode it 1500 miles. It was tall enough, but too short on the top tube.
It is a good bike.
New Tires and tape add about $45.

thirdgenbird

if it fit and rode well i wouldnt hesitate at all to spend $200 on that.

DRietz

Well, I recommend knowing whether or not it fits you. Do you know your inseam?

I don't know how much you're planning to upgrade it, if at all, but maybe a new seat and bar tape could be in the works. It has alloy wheels going for it. I recommend that if you go to look at it, take the wheels off and see if they spin true in a straight line. Test ride it, make sure the brakes work, make sure the shifters do their job, etc.

If the wheels aren't true, offer him $150.

phoebeisis

That isn't a rip off price- it seems maybe just a little on the high side of middling.
If you like it, offer $160 and work from there.
Nice bike- if you like it, buy it-pay the full $200 if you have to. $20- won't matter much
Luck
Charlie
It probably sold for about $200-$250 new

thirdgenbird

this is pretty good advice.

new tires, bar tape, and saddle would go a long ways on this thing.

bernardmarx

$200 would be a little high in this market, but more resonable in a hotter market. Will it bother you if you find a better deal after you buyit? BTW, the seat's a little low - most people are unable to stand flat-footed seated on a properly-fitting bike.

andre3000

Thanks for the advice-- Are there other big things I should look for when checking it out in person (in addition to what DRietz said)?

Haha it would bother me if I found a better deal, I think I actually might have just found one: CLASSIC Nishiki 10 Speed FFS Tourist for $45...He says its in great shape...gonna check that one out too:

10 Wheels

That one is smaller.
How tall are you?

andre3000

5'10ish

DRietz

I'd stick with the Olympian, even if it is kind of pricey. That Classic looks to have a heavy one-piece cottered crank. Maybe I'm hallucinating, though. If you go to check it out, make sure that the sidewalls on the tires aren't rotted.

Also, if you're 5'10 that Olympian may be a tad on the biggish side...

thirdgenbird

i agree, it looks too small and pretty clunky...

10 Wheels

$45 bucks it would be worth looking at and test riding.

DRietz

This, but also...

It's worth a look.

andre3000

Hmm, here's another image:
https://img96.imageshack.us/img96/7046/nishiki10a.jpg

10 Wheels

At 5-10 the Olympic 12 looks to be to tall for you.
Go see it will be fun looking.

dedhed

I wouldn't pay $200 for it - BUT - I'd certainly ask $200 if I was selling it. that's not an out of line price in most areas. The red one looks like a bit smaller frame and appears to have the orphaned FFS front freewheel system on it. Not a deal breaker, but may present parts issues down the road

https://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-...s-nishiki-ffs/

bernardmarx

+1 on the Tourist being clunky-looking. If the Olympic fits, I'd rather have it, even with the price difference.

gerv 

Doesn't it also depend on the market? In San Francisco, you wouldn't think twice about $200 if it is in good shape and fits. In my town, it's a little pricey. even though it is a nice looking bike.

auchencrow

+1 . What he said ^.

If you are 5'10" (taller than me) you owe it to yourself to check out the larger bike. I ride a 60cm and for longer rides at least, it is much more comfortable - even though that may not be your initial impression.

andre3000

Now I found an olympic 10 for $185...New tires and tubes, same size as the olympic 12:




I am in Los Angeles BTW

3373jones

Even though it is a very hot market, you can get a pretty decent bike in the LA area for $200. That being said, DON'T pull the trigger too fast! Find a bike that fits right (probably in the 56cm range since you are 5'10) that has newer tires and shifts/breaks well. Don't be afraid to be a little patient. There may even be a someone on this forum in this area who would sell you something nice for that price.