m_drizzle

I'll be meeting with a guy selling this Trek 1220 road bike soon. He's asking $350 for it, and I'm wondering if that's fair or slightly overpriced. I don't know what year it is either, so if anyone has any knowledge as to the year and quality of the bike that'd be a huge help.

I know seeing and riding the bike will be the biggest factors as to whether or not the bike will fit me personally, but I need the bike to give me a 50km commute a couple times a week and I'm working on a tight budget.

Any help would be delightfully received!

Thanks.

oddjob2

I'd say the price is $100-$125 too high, depending on local market conditions. It looks dirty and neglected.

You can look up the specific mid 1990's year at the link below.

https://vintage-trek.com/model_numbers1.htm

It's a small frame, probably 19", suitable for riders about 5'6" and under.

Not the best candidate for a commuter, no eyelets for rack or fenders, and lacks clearance for wider tires and fenders. I have one, but haven't ever ridden it much. Fairly stiff frame.

bargainguy

+1 on being overpriced.

Anytime I see clip-on tri bars on a road bike, I take a very close look at the frame, esp the top tube. People training for triathlons tend to sweat buckets compared to the average rider. All that sweat has salt in it, and of course that salt is corrosive. If the owner doesn't wipe the bike down after every ride, could start eating the paint or even the frame in a worse case scenario.

oddjob2

Good point, but the 1220 is a bonded aluminum frame and the Trek factory paint on that model is awesome.

FastJake

Agreed. Bike is clearly dirty, neglected, and has probably been sitting for the last 10-15 years. I would say overpriced by at least $100.

If you decide to buy it MAKE SURE the brifters work first. Otherwise walk away.

a77impala

I have a 1220, same paint, 1996. I paid $80 for it. It has seven speed sti that don't work well when under 40 degrees, otherwise nice bike.
I have to say road bikes don't sell well where I live.

m_drizzle

Thanks a ton everyone. The seller measured it for me and said the frame is 21.5 inches, so 54cms. I guess I'll actually find out for reals tomorrow (I'll be bringing my own tape measure).

Thanks for the heads up on the brifters and I'll be sure to check out the frame in regard to the sweat and tri-bars. I'm not sure how hard this bike has been ridden. The original seller said he bought it from his sister who must have used it more than him. As most of you have noted from the picture I don't think he's ridden it much.

Based on fit, and the condition of the bike I'm going to offer around 200$ for it with a 250$ max on the offer. I guess we'll see.

Thanks again!

mikesbikes17

I know this is way out of date but, I sold my '93 for $200 last night. It was in pretty good condition, less than 5000 miles but needed tires and tubes.

linnefaulk

Mine is a 1995. I just spent $400 on repairs. It was kept in a garage for too many years but not as dusty as the one in the photo.
I needed new brifters, bar tape, tires and tubes.

09box

I almost bought a 94 model of one of these a month or two back. It was a nice bike but probably needed too much work. If you can get one at the right price that doesn't need too much work, they look a good, solid cheap road bike. Not so much a commuter bike though.

icepick_trotsky 

I sold mine a while back for $260. It was in good shape, but the fork was not original. These are nice bikes, if aluminum is your thing.

packitin

Sorry to butt in, but I'm faced with a similar case. I'm new here, so I thought (after reading the thread) that some you experts, who know the Trek, might advise me.
Should I take a look? I'm in the market for a bike.

He says he bought a few yr. back, but only rode it 3 mons. Been in his garage ever since. Is this believable? He wants $300 for this 7200 Trek.
Thanks,
Joel

oddjob2

Bike is probably around 7 years old, because I think that is when Trek transitioned from the 7?00 numbering scheme to the 7.?X numbering scheme. While it is not a C&V bike, I've handled a few of these. Check the suspension fork to make sure it works and doesn't leak. The non suspension versions are preferred because the 35c or 38c tires offer plenty of shock absorption and are lighter weight. Also, ride it and check that the shifters shift to all gears.

If it doesn't need any work and the paint is clean, the bike is worth around $275 +/-. Good luck!

packitin

I appreciate it. Partly based on your advice, I got it. I looked at it, decided the nice, little guy was right about only riding it 3 months. He sweetened the deal by throwing in a free helmet (about $20) and a new seat (about $30). I tried to bargain a little. He wouldn't budge, saying that he knew for sure that it was worth $300, because its like new (without a scratch - and that he only rode it to church on Sundays - ha!) Believe it or not, I believed it. (you have any land for sale in Alaska?) Took it for a spin - sweet!!! Thanks again.
Joel (who will ride it church on Sundays also)

playback2004

I'm looking at one of these tomorrow. I'm not sure I negotiated correctly. I talked the owner down to $250 from $320. Maybe I should stall and see if he calls me. I want to get an older bike but don't want to deal with down tube shifting.

I can see that it is probably in very good shape except for a couple of paint chips. I was wondering if anyone knows what to do about paint repair besides masking and Krylon.

oddjob2

Nail polish or Testors

RoadGuy

I take it that you're going to take a look at the one on Craigslist. It's a 1995 model with a 56cm frame. You need to have a pant inseam of at least 32" to standover it. It has brifters, so you won't have to deal have downtube shifters as long as they work. Brifters on a bike of this age are tricky, because it they don't work, and hosing them down with WD-40 does not restore operation, then you're looking at about $60-$75 a pair to repair, or $150-$200 a pair to replace.

It's bad form to try to grind the price down below market, when you haven't even taken the time to have a good stare at the photo/s, or go visit the bike and see what's up.

If the bike is in rideable condition, it's worth $300. $250 is good price for a Trek 1220 that fits, and is ready to ride. Deduct for things that need to be replaced like tires, tubes, the seat, rusty chain, and/or handlebar tape, or for necessary repairs (are the wheels round?).

playback2004

Now I know I am suffering from a head injury.
@RoadGuy.

I don't know why you think the bike is worth $300. 10 years ago people were saying it isn't worth $250.

RoadGuy

Try to buy any bike with the same features in working condition for less than $300. You can sell the Group for $300 or more alone. There is a minimum limit to bikes of certain ages with certain features. Rideable used bikes with working brifters are not going to go much below $300, simply because the value of the parts will stop further deterioration of the price. I can't help it if you didn't notice in the photo of the bike, this it has brifters and not downtube shifters. But that doesn't say much for your powers of observation.

I'm not saying that bikes don't come on the market with brifters for less then $300. I bought a 97 Trek 1400 last year for $100, But it needed the wheels replaced (the rear was hopelessly taco'ed, the front was a untrue inexpensive replacement wheel), the handlebars were bent and the handlebar tape was in need of replacement.

I also traded for a 93 Trek 2300 last year that was missing the wheels (and the cassette). The brifters are sticky and the hood on the right brifter is torn and in need of replacement. I still need to buy handlebar tape, tires, inner tubes, and rim strips. Depending on how you look at the value of the bike that I traded the Seller, that deal was worth $100 or $200.

By my estimate I might have close to $300 in each of these bikes by the time that they are road ready in a condition and with the features that I prefer on my bikes. It's hard to get a bike into good working condition (with brifters) and not have at least $300 in it, including new tires. New hoods for brifters can cost up to $75 a pair for some models.

The same bikes with downtube shifters might sell for $100 less.

playback2004

I'll pass on your troll bait.

zukahn1 

+2 On being overpriced also the Tri bars concern me a bit also Tri riders are notoriuos for riding beating the hell out of bikes not maintaining them. I usually won't consider buying a bike when I see Tri bars unless it's at a bargain price. As for the finish I wouldn't worry these had aluminium frames with really good paint.

RoadGuy

I think this is the bike that the OP is talking about.

Men's Trek 1220 Aluminum ZX Series 56cm Road Bike

This is the Trek 1220 that I think the OP is talking about. As you can see, it doesn't have tri bars. It's an earlier bonded aluminum bike in good condition with an RSX Group and brifters. Does look like it could use some work on the cable routing at the handlebars.

Is this the bike you are looking at with tri bars? Are those tri bars? What's the difference between tri bars, and aero bars?

Trek bike

That's a much newer Trek (2XXX) with compact frame geometry, carbon seatstays, a carbon fork and Shimano 105 Group (it isn't a Trek 1220) with brifters. Still, at an asking price of $320, it's worth considering if $300 or less is the target price range, and a TIG aluminum frame with carbon features is acceptable. It looks like the bike was way oversized for the current rider.

oddjob2

Ten years ago, who knew that vintage Treks, both steel and aluminum road bikes, would continue to hold there value far better than most other bike lines. In overhauled eady to ride condition, I have no problem moving them along at $250 or better. Even the early 1990's hybrids can fetch $200+. The same goes for Cannondales.

playback2004

I think he is flipping them. He has several bikes for sale of various sizes.

RoadGuy

He doesn't seem to know the Trek very well. Listed as a 54cm, it's a compact frame. It may have a seat tube length of 54cm, but the effective frame size (draw a horizontal line from the top tube at the head tube to the seat tube), is more like at least 58cm or 60cm.

His price for the Trek is low to right in the Ball Park (for a bike of the Trek's age), which is rare for Flippers in CA, who are usually asking high premium for their bikes. I didn't search to see if he was selling other bikes, just saw the other bike (Cannondale) behind the Trek in the photo.

I went back and can see that he does have the Dale listed for sale, and also a vintage Schwinn. Interesting enough, he has the size of the Schwinn listed incorrectly also. It's not a 52, more like a 54cm.

I'd be worried about the bikes being stolen (from what I've seen, stolen bikes are usually listed at lower than average prices). His story does not make sense, and the pricing is off for an experienced Craigslist Seller (so he isn't a Flipper). Schwinn is way too high while the Trek and Dale are too low for opening asking prices on Craigslist.