VRSN_3pt_oh

I found this for sale a couple of days ago and have been trying to do research on exactly what I'm dealing with:
https://toledo.craigslist.org/bik/3779633619.html

I am interested in the Katana, as the first image seems irrelevant to the post and the other bike is a modern department store bike. Can anyone provide more information on Shogun Katana's and perhaps this one in particular? Shogun seems like a decent brand looking at a couple of other threads, but i try to look up information on the exact bike I'm buying before I buy it (especially when they require long drives to pick up as in this case), and in this case I'm not having much luck with this bike.

I'm afraid I do not have any more pictures, though the current owner described it as "like new" (the way he described the bike over the phone seemed to suggest he acquired it only recently and didn't know what he had in front of him either). If people are curious I'll ask for more and ideally better pictures though.

zukahn1 

The Shogun Katana is a fairly nice mid level Japanese bike from the mid 80's. Looks to be in good shape and worth more than the asking price expsecially if everything works good and it is ready to ride. It is a fairly small bike with fairly aggressive comapct geomtry looks to be 54cm maybe 52cm frame so it would be for a rider 5'5" give or take acouple inches. The color and frame type size are fairly desriable I'm surprised it hasn't sold already.

oddjob2

IMHO, Toledo is not a robust market for road bikes, despite large Chrysler/Jeep bonus checks. But then are there more than a few UAW members who would rather bike than go to Cabela's for more fishing/hunting or boating gear?

zukahn1 

I'm with wrk101 on this one if it is your size this bike is definete buy! I would not take buy recomendation from him lightly he is one of the best here and seldom gives this strong of buy recomendation.

VRSN_3pt_oh

Thanks for the advice everyone! I only have experience with my Huffy 813 (1980s) and Schwinn Letour (1974) as far as older road bikes go, so everything else I know comes from what Google can find me. The frame may be a bit small for me if your estimations are right (i'm 5' 10", though I like my frames on the smaller end) but I'm right between Ann Arbor and Dearborn, so there is an ample market to say the least.

Assuming there isn't someone else that manages to sneak in front of me in the next day, I'll get some better pictures up asap.

oddjob2

Way too small. Selling a bike with minimal brand name recognition is not a slam dunk. You have to really present it well.

zukahn1 

Well if your 5'10" this one is just way too small for you. But your spotting good deals so your on the right track just keep looking and be patient it can take a while to find one thats your size.

VRSN_3pt_oh

If the bike is in fact about 54cm (I don't have a clue when it comes to simply eyeballing bikes) then I figured it would be too small. My Letour is 23" and while good in the seat tube is a tad stretched out for my liking. The question is whether or not I should take a chance and try and sell it then. I do both digital and film photography as a hobby, so I have little doubt I can make the bike presentable, which means it comes down to market interest. I live in the Plymouth-Canton area, which is pretty much right in between Ann Arbor and Detroit. I figured that being surrounded by colleges, and large ones at that (UM Ann Arbor/Dearborn, Wayne State, Eastern...) would make this an easy sell, but I suppose you all know much more than I do when it comes to these sorts of things. Any thoughts?

zukahn1 

I just would not recomend buying a bike as flipper to anyone without a lot of experience buying and selling. As good as this one is you would likely loose money ounce you figure in your time and effort to get it. Clean up fix possible problems there are always problems issues with CL bikes. Then the time and effort to remarket sell the bike.

VRSN_3pt_oh

Well, I'm still crossing my fingers that the triple triangle is throwing all of your measurements off, but in the case that you guys are spot on (and I'm assuming you are) I guess I'll just leave this guy alone and keep checking back to CL. Too bad though, cause I've been having such a hard time finding anything that isn't a Varsity or a Free Spirit for under $100 within an hour of my house.

zukahn1 

Well look at the realy short front head tube the space between the tubes in front and short wheelbase in the rear and front wheels very close to frames main tubes this tells you its a small bike. Notice the front wheel is almost halfway under the front quad.

VRSN_3pt_oh

I can see the logic behind that I suppose. I don't have much of an eye for the size of road bikes yet; up until last year my main (and pretty much only) ride was my Redline D640.

oddjob2

Two Japanese branded bikes with greater name recognition than Shogun, Centurion and Nishiki, took over a year to sell in Ann Arbor.

I couldn't sell a clean Miyata 310 in NJ for over a year. Brought it to Ann Arbor, gone in two weeks.

I've only sold one bike to an EMU student.

There are garage sale deals east of I-275, but you have to beat Rick, the DKO seller from Garden City. I think he does his garage sailing on Thursdays.

I did buy a cheap Shogun in Westland, but it was big and it came without wheels. If it fits, I'll keep it.