miamijim

$800 on a good day. But take $600.

lostarchitect 

Dude, we're not trying to eff with you, we're just telling you what we think. I'm sure you will do OK on the bike, but you could have done better without the powdercoat and new decals. It doesn't look "classic" anymore, and that counts for a lot. That's all we're saying.

Take for example this JRJ frame I have. It has lots of missing paint. But these are so rare in original paint that I will never repaint it unless I absolutely have to. And then, I will get it properly done with wet paint and matching decals. I'm not planning on selling it, but I want to keep the classic look it has now. A Colnago buyer will usually want the same thing.

KonAaron Snake 

I maybe am being overly aggressive here, but I can tell you with 100% certainty that I could have sold that frame, as it sat, for $600 NET with ease. People would have paid that for it - they won't now. If you want to consider that an opinion, be my guest - but I've sold many bikes of this level and higher. How many have you sold?

Removing the original paint and decals is, absolutely, irreversible. It will never be original again and it will never have that value again. If I liked the frame and wanted to use it as a daily rider, I would consider doing what you did, but I sure as heck would know I lowered the value! Most collectors want original paint and NONE of them wants a powder coat and whatever decal choice that is.

Saying you don't like campagnolo is fine (I'll argue over the merits all day, but that's an opinion). I'm fine with putting on parts you prefer...and it isn't irreversible. You started out asking about Campy and leading us to believe it would be a restoration...then we see...this. The issue isn't really the parts - it's an inappropriate paint job from a collector perspective. A parts mix, like you used, is not ideal for bike value, even if it works fine. If you want to ride it, there's nothing wrong with your parts build (except that the drops might be a little tough to get a wheel in and out of frequently). If you want to maximize sales value, it's not a well designed build.

If you want to sell this for the most you can, part it out and sell the frame separately. I'd estimate the frame value at about $200ish now.

KonAaron Snake 

""

Everything you typed led folks to believe this was a restoration. A period restoration would be, as you were told, Campagnolo NR/SR. You didn't ask about modernizing, you asked about vintage, original parts.

I'm sorry that you feel that way...you're welcome to feel as you chose. Nothing will change the fact that if your intent was to resell, your choices were foolish. Hopefully next time you'll ask about what you're doing before doing it. That's not an opinion - that's fact; what you did was foolish if your intent was to resell. And enjoy stripping the powdercoat and paying for another repaint/decals

b dub 

I've had this happen; I spent a lot of time and money on a new vintage build, partly motivated by the idea that once finished I can show it to the world (well, the Bikeforum world to be precise). Then after I posted some pictures one not so nice comment completely popped my thrill... It can be painful but it is still just an opinion.

Unfortunately the OP picked the wrong forum to post his Colnago recreation. That doesn't make the people on this forum bad or negative, just not what you want to hear.

Well, at least no chopping was involved...

RacerNo.7

This is not some beauty contest, I don't care about the stickers, the rust nor how the bike looks now. This is appraisals forum and we are here to talk money. You came in here wondering how much does is worth, and got a clear answer. 2 months later you finished your build, powercoated the frame and came here to ask again about the value hoping the bike is worth more. You paid 200$ for a 600$ worth frameset and there is nothing wrong with that... That's actually a good thing. The bike is now worth around 600$ on a good day, meaning you've hurt the bike's value with your actions, end of discussion. You've lost some money, no big deal.

gomango

I honestly don't think it would sell in our market.

At all.

It would sit and clog CL like all of the other overpriced flipper crap that is three feet deep atm.

This bike of the op's is fine for a rider, but there are so many nice bikes in this price range, it just won't fly Orville.

...and yes, I could have sold that frameset for $600 here in original condition.

istanbike

Friends in the US,
Just to give a slightly diiferent perspective on this discussion. Here is a link to a vinatge bike shop in Germany. Check out the Colnago prices over here!
https://www.steel-vintage.com/bicycles/colnago/

Don't really know about the US, but Colnagos are rare and valued items.

What are you gonna do? Some people mix coca cola with 15 year old cask aged single malt whiskey.

A question of taste and priorities?

repechage

I have to agree with all who have advised that the bike as a whole now is worth less than the frame set was with original paint, even if it was not in perfect shape. This is a case where personal choices created it but the market will most likely not agree with you on its worth.
If this is to finance another build, then first try to sell it whole as it is together now. Then take it apart and sell it a la carte as that will most probably garner more. I will state that I have benefitted well by buying powdercoated bikes at a deep discount and renewing the finish to near original, so it goes.

Phil_gretz

Kidd69,
There's no question that you put effort into the subject Colnago. You took the time to have the frame refinished, and did an assembly with an eye toward the aesthetics (evidenced by the yellow bar tape and yellow housings, and red pedals). You located decals with the same brand name. Etc.

Having gone through the process, and having interacted with wise and experienced BF C&V members (I'm not in their league in any fashion), you can come away with a few lessons learned.

(1) If your goal is optimizing value and getting the maximum return, listen carefully to the advice given. First, do no harm. Second, watch the marginal rate of return on invested parts or time.

(2) Your own aesthetic choices and judgement likely will fall short of that of collectors. Expediency will often compromise on quality, so make choices carefully. It might be better to ask for inputs and use a different decision logic than what you did on this project.

(3) You'll have to explore why you took offense at the tone of the feedback you received. Something inside of you escalated emotionally. Examine that...

So, those would be the three lessons. This was a good project. I fleshed out some things to improve upon.

Good luck with future builds. PG

squirtdad

Aside from the whole powder coat/decal issue, what would raise flags to me as to quality of the build.... many have been mentioned but what I saw

Length of brake and shifter cables seem too short and just don't look good.

the cable for the read derailler without the step down ferrule looks sloppy

quick release seatpost bolt looks odd on an Italian Road bike

what look like double quick connectors or chunk of non matching chain

I see these multiple detail issues and I would wonder about how well the rest of the build (bearing adjustments, etc)

Bottom line is that to me it looks like a less than pro build and that would reduce value

JReade

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Colnago-Supe...-/111206795468

KonAaron Snake 

So let's summarize...

He came asking for parts hoping to have us help him flip his bike.
He talked about using parts mix for riding, though he's only used it once. His preferences somehow mattered for that one ride?
His argument for powdercoating was that he wasn't reselling, he was using it as a rider...though it's immediately for sale.
He ignored the comments about his housings and other build deficiencies.

"For you guys with stuff to sell, I would like to put vintage group on this."
"I plan on riding the bike and I will then strip and repaint following originality as close as possible."
"Thanks for all the comments, the bike rides beautifully and I do this for fun. Not profit. The sale of this bike will sponsor another build." - I hope losing money on a flip is "fun".
"I build bikes to ride not to hang up as art work"
"I don't like Campy, overpriced."


Yep - we're a big bunch of meanies.

Fahrenheit531 

Odin99

this thread has been great!

My take: What the OP values in a frame/bike is not what a typical collector values. OP wanted shiny and new, Collector wants original - even if it isn't in great condition. No one has even mentioned to the OP that he could get far more money if he parted the bike out! i don't think the ebay ad is going to end in his favor.

Fahrenheit531 

Actually, there were at least a couple of mentions of that. It'd be somewhat ironic though, given that he'd started with the frameset and only just finished putting everything on after trashing the value of the frameset he started with.

This whole thread has been nothing short of brutal. Could've been a really nice bike.

KonAaron Snake 

His best move was to just sell the frame he'd bought...you almost never get more money building up a high end frame, and if you are doing that, you certainly won't benefit by doing it in a way that is geared towards your sensibilities. His build makes some sense (though poorly executed) as a bike to keep and ride for himself.

Road Fan

What is the rear spacing? I'd expect 126mm OLD, though I have a 1980 Masi that was built as 120 mm.

Road Fan

This is where I'm at. If you wanted to make it indistinguishable from a Nishiki, you should have sold the Nago as it was to someone who would work with the original deep metallic, and bought a Nishiki for $100 and powdered that.

Road Fan

We DID tell you that frames of this grade were usually equipped by the shop that sold it per end customer specifications. This was one of the top frames of its day, most customers would have chosen NR or SR, which we also told you. Dura Ace was not yet a major factor in the high-end market, certainly not for serious racers. We even showed you the original literature showing you a virtually unmistakable original picture of your frame complete with the same colors. We showed you vintage. If you didn't recognize what was meant about NR (Campagnolo Nuovo Record) or was then concerned about costs, you could have asked about (much lower) real-world prices than the fantasy pricing you see on Ebay. No need to buy NOS. Everyone here has a box or two of NR and SR that is not being used and available for reasonable sale to folks here who want to try them out.

We have nothing against vintage frames with good modern equipment, check out the lengthy thread on that in the main C&V forum. I have an early '80s Mondonico set up that way and love it. But it's finish is original with Murray's Auto Parts touch ups, after using oxalic acid to reduce the rust pings, finished with a good wax. Still looks great in the sun!

BTW, my Mondonico was equipped by its first owner with Shimano 600 series 6207, all friction-shifted. And he did this to learn road racing on!

At $200, you got a great deal on that frame even though you don't know it. A year or two back for $200 I (sadly) got a decent but paint-challenged 1983 Trek 620 in 56 cm with original fork, much less frame!

KonAaron Snake 

$425 - ouch! Heck, the parts are worth more than that.

Fahrenheit531 

$425.

Ouch indeed.

JReade

Guys, guys, he didn't do this to make money, it's a rider!

Obviously not to make money...

Drillium Dude 

Interesting. I got notification today of a post quote and came back to find this thread. I'd forgotten about it, and since the OP has removed all his previous posts, had no recollection of what the frame looked like in its original guise. Then I checked out the Ebay auction.

The photo of the lower head lug with the clover cutout shows the original paint. Now I see why the response to the repaint was what it was. Better to have left well enough alone.

As Phil notes, this (may) serve as a learning experience for the OP. I still have those every day

DD

Kactus

I think that photo is after the powder coat. I also hope it's a learning experience for the OP. He can still salvage the bike somewhat by getting proper decals for it and doing a better job with the details of the build. It will never be worth what it was but he can improve the value considerably over what his ebay bids were IMO.