edotomato

I've found one on craiglist for $900, though it's advertised with "SPECIALIZED STEM AND BARS and WOLBER SUPER CHAMPION ALPINE WHEEL SET". Did it come with these? It's really fantastic condition, is it worth that price?

https://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...822767224.html

bent-not-broken

Too much! Great bike but I see $300 - $400 if really mint.

wrk101

Total freakin dreamland.

Poguemahone

+1. Seller is sucker fishing. Prolly not "mint", either. In fact, I see a number of non-minty looking things just on a brief perusal, starting with pedal rub on the cranks and slap along the driveside stay.

+1 on 300$ or so, maybe a touch more.

My advice is to avoid. At 3x fair pricing, seller unlikely to listen to fair offers. Time-waster.

edotomato

My god, I am terrible at this! I was almost prepared to pay that much, it's so good looking. I'll see if I can drive him down. Thanks for the advice, all.

Unfortunately, I'm starting to think that Vancouver's sky high prices spread to used bikes as well, as everything I find is much of the same.

bikemig 

I wouldn't waste my time negotiating with the S; this is a waste of time. If you have $900 that you need to spend on a bike, you could always get a new bike.

edotomato

I'd much rather a used bike though, or, at least an older steel bike. And in what seemed like a reasonable shop, I was quoted $950 for a Brodie frame and Shimano 2300 group, $1200 for the same bike with Sora group. Compared to a high-end in it's time steel racer with components that are age-tested, I'd much, much rather the old!

oddjob2

https://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...814253922.html

Check size on Cannondale
https://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...807794122.html

https://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...833257320.html

https://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/bik/3741183682.html

FrenchFit 

My 1200 (82-83) was so legit it had the original bar tape, hoods and tires. Garage queen. I paid $425, but I was looking for one for some time, and it was my size and local. I think that's about the top end, and I doubt I could recover in a resale unless I did a great marketing job on eBay.

Yes, that's the correct wheelset on the '88. It's a fine bike.

wrk101

Shops around here tend to charge at least 50% more than private sellers, if the bike has been properly prepared, tuned up, etc. I've paid some shops 25% consignment fee to sell bikes for me, and with their higher prices, I still end up way ahead.

Get knowledgeable, or get taken. You decide. The best deals GO FAST! With knowledge, you will be able to spot a deal and pounce. A lot of these deals go so fast, you probably don't even see them (ads come down before you look). And some of those deals reappear a week or two later at a much higher price. On deals, there is not time to ask: "Hey is this one a good deal?" Its grab now, research later.

And if you can't find deals in your market, think road trip. Every time we go on a road trip, I always bring back bikes.

Poguemahone

I would argue it is okay to overpay a bit if the bike is going to be a rider or a first bike, as it seems yours will be. I wouldn't want to overpay ridiculously, however, and this bike has wandered into that territory.

I haven't been in Vancouver in years, but I can see it supporting a higher than average price for used bikes. One thing you might do is track down the city's co-op(s) and see if you can get some advice. They can also help with repairs and the like.

Also, nothing you're doing strikes me as particularly terrible, You're soliciting advice, that's all. If I were buying a car, I would be doing the exact same thing; I know next to nothing about them.

T-Mar

IMO, that's a $600 bicycle in the Vancouver market.

edotomato

It really is a fine bike, even though I know I can't/shouldn't, the urge is still hard to resist! It looks so damn beautiful, it reminds me of the motorcycle in Akira.

How does yours ride?

edotomato

Things is; for a novice like myself, getting taken is a LOT easier than getting knowledge. Knowledge takes time and I'm jonesin' for some wheels.

Unfortunately this isn't really an option for me, I don't even have a bike right now, let alone a car! I've just moved to Vancouver from the UK.

FrenchFit 

It's all I expected, but I had to go with Sugino Alpina crank and Kool Stops to make it work for the hills around here. Otherwise it's stock, the brown leather Ariake saddle was like in mint condition, beautiful. Frankly, I enjoy riding it more than my Roubaix, but I guess I'm weird that way. I'm running it with some 21mm tires right now, on those Araya red label rims it's a blast, though you have to get used to how quick the steering is. A very good buy for me.

CenturionIM

bike OP posted is gone.

My thoughts is regular noobies do not know why 1200 is a special bike. Long time BFer knows the market too well to overpay. It's thone who know a little (and flush with cash) buying at these prices.

edotomato

Quick steering? I like the sound of that! Why didn't the cranks work for the hills? Was it the biopace rings?