72 Raleigh Tourist
 

Picked this up for a song at a flea market from an elderly gentleman who was the original owner. Came with the owners manuals too. All original including tires which are in good shape, paint is good except for a few chips, brooks saddle is practicaly new. No rust on anything, nothing has been cleaned or restored, this is how it came. Tried for $300 on the seattle CList with no luck. What would you all value it at? How much would you expect on ebay?
I'd be willing to trade this off something 63cm...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/...1b3c2d86_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2524/...6262da8d_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/...5da98d44_o.jpg

Neat bike and in great shape, but especially with the rod brakes, not going to be in great demand. I think $150.00 is more realistic, but even then, it could take a while for someone to step up on CL.

Hate to say it, but you could probably get close to that for the saddle and the bag. maybe if you remove the bag and swap out the seat and then sell them separately.

Zorro is probably right, but I think you can get way more than $150. Probably even $300 if you're patient. This one is much nicer than a Triumph I sold a year ago, which sold for $150 in a matter of days. By nicer, I mean it's a more interesting bike, in better shape, and then there's the leather saddle and bag, not to mention the headlights etc.

Speaking of the headlights, if you want to sell one of them (the lower one), do let me know....

You might also do better simply by removing one of the headlights and relisting it. Sometimes it doesn't take much to turn a cautious buyer off.

Tourists are in big demand on ebay. I'd be surprised if you didn't get at least $300 for it on there.

For example, this bike which is a lady's version of yours already has a bid of $299 with 4 days left.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1970s-Ladies-Ral...d=p3286.c0.m14

+1 to what mparker said. I see similar bikes in worse condition selling for 300 on ebay.
I think the rod brakes are a plus... maybe not for their stopping ability, but for the cool factor.

Raleigh 1970's
 

Hi, The Ladies versions of these Vintage Bikes seem to fetch higher prices, Big plus ,Stainless Wheels and spokes. My Wife has one bought as spares now restored. I ride a 1984 model ,near Mint condition paid £100 for it, about 200 in foriegn money. I think they'll last forever given a little care. Regards to all, Ged'.

+1 Remove the lights and bag, and sell them separately.

As far as selling locally, I frequently have to repost onto Craigs List multiple times on niche bikes like this one. I just sold one yesterday that I had posted four different times, all a couple of weeks apart. You get a different audience just about every time. The last time, I had tremendous response. Go figure.

i disagree, and it would be a pity to part out an otherwise beautiful and original DL1. besides, the vinyl raleigh saddle bags themselves are not worth much, you can find them NOS for like $20. oldroads.com had a huge stock of them a little while ago and they were selling them for that little. there seems to be a niche market for rod brake roadsters, especially ones in great shape like this one-- even more so when there's documentation included, like a sales slip or owner's manual. i've seen nice ones go locally in the boston area for $300, and i sold one in only fair shape with an aftermarket fork for $300 on ebay. i also sold a really rough one with lots of rust for $140 on ebay. there were a lot of these roadsters from the 70s, and they're not worth as much as older ones with full chaincases and dynohub lighting, but they still fetch good money.


agreed.

Could the issue is that the bike looks too good? Either this bike was extraordinarily well kept or the paint work must have been touched up. I know that some buyers of bikes of this vintage want more 'patina' or 'character' and are wary of pristine examples. It's hard to know.