IcySmooth52

As I was browsing Craigslist for amusement and possibly a find, almost every bike > $100 was an old steel hybrid or pre-suspension steel mountain bike. "Garage Junk". It's the road bikes with down-tube shifters that're desired from the steel days (70's - Early 90's). There were expensive hybrids and mountain bikes back then too, but these days any old hybrid has the same value.

I wondered, what was going to be the garage junk of what's made now? I doubt it'll be mountain bikes and hybrids like before (and there's so many kinds of mountain bikes and hybrids now, like comfort hybrid, flat-bar road bike hybrid, cross hybrid, etc). I do bet comfort hybrids will still be collecting corrosion instead of value though.

fender1

Its all garage junk unless it gets ridden.

John E

The *-Mart specials will end up as GJ.

IcySmooth52

Of course! And this applies to all eras.

CroMo Mike 

There are a lot of bikes being made today in all price ranges that use phony engineering design ideas to try to carve out a market niche. The result is stupid frame and component designs that bring nothing to the party but complexity, weight, difficulty finding parts, and difficulty making repairs. May they all end up as GJ.

crank_addict

Hard sell but I happen to like some garage junk. I say that cautiously but can be excellent for guest loaners, train station, donors, fixers for giveaways to someone who just needs a basic bike, for charity groups who ship them overseas. I find it amazing no creative small hotels in resort towns offer freebie bikes for guest. Could be a nice incentive to draw guest. If its offered for free use, no guest should complain if its not up to their bike snobbery. My bro-in-law who has quite the house rental operation finds bikes and gives to tenants who may be struggling and for their kids. A $100 bike at Wallymart is still beyond many's reach. Their eyes light up and you get the feel good rush. We also have a few as keepers and really do ride them.

On the contrary, I do understand why they are shunned. Its more about the marketing consumerism, throw away lifestyle in the US. It has to be this way in order to keep the economy turning. Not only bikes, its clothing, electronics and even cars. Many still freak when their car hits 50k. I know of a few. A friend received a late model Cad and with just 60k on it. The woman owner was ticked about some minor glitch it had. My friend got the car for a few hundred, on the spot.

nlerner

Department store bikes were by and large junk in the 60s/70s, and they are by and large junk now. Some of the store names have changed (Grants, which became Two Guys, was the source for lousy bikes in my area when I was a kid), but the commitment to quality has not.

upthywazzoo 

Probably the Thruster fixie.

crank_addict

In defense of the big box stores selling bikes, some are not that bad for $100-150 range. I've seen Target stores blow out $250 retail tagged Schwinns for $125. Aluminum framed, flat bar, rolling on 700c with some snazzy alloy deep rims. A few years back while in a Wallymart just before the Christmas garbage displays went up, couldn't believe how low cost ATB and kids bikes were only $30 to $40. They assemble them like its the barbeque next to it with the caster wheels falling off, but that's besides the point.

David Newton

This thread is another great opportunity to showcase the Bicycle Bungee!!!!

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aixaix 

The bikes that just take up space in a garage are mostly low-end, but not always. Like many on this forum, I've pulled decent bikes out of the trash and gotten garage sale bargains. (A few years ago I got a virtually unused Bottecchia Mixte that was left out for the garbage man.) What gets ridden and what gets dusty, rusty and neglected depends a lot more on who owns it than on the quality of the bike, I think.

As for the masses of cheeseball bikes with poorly designed articulated frames and miserably underbuilt sprung forks, splashed with lurid graphics, some kids ride and love them until they irreparably bust, while others abandon them after a short time. Just like toys.

upthywazzoo 

This is the best cycling product I've ever seen, and I thought Symmetrispokes were a huge deal. Wow. Wow.


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squirtdad

I think trendy bikes: read fixies will go the way of the garage.....until they are cool again, kind of like the single speed medium tires schwinns/clones did....until cruisers were cool

IcySmooth52

I think cyclocross is going to grow a collective value. Unique bikes with lower quantities that'll be desirable years from now. Cyclocross is a growing sport too.

crank_addict

The $175 Mongoose fat bike single speed from Walmart defines future garage junk. Heavy weight, plastic rims, a proprietary bottom bracket that is short lived, and $40 ea. replacement tires that most owners won't spend for.

big chainring 

I venture out into peoples garages as part of my job. I see a lot of Sora equipped Trek and Giant bikes hanging on hooks, a layer of dust and cob web or two. In a few years CL will be full if these bikes. "I paid $3000 for this bike in 2012....."

OldsCOOL

I also think the low end Treks, Giants etc will be laying all over the place due to low market demand. There is a reason for the neglect. Who wants a well worn entry level bike once you have moved up or gone over to MTB's.

Zinger

Doesn't mean that you can't be passed by one with the right motor though.

OldsCOOL

Garage sale filler.

mrybczyn

Those old steel MTBs are appreciated by some CV types

IcySmooth52

What's a CV type?

auchencrow

Perhaps only a few people can relate to the vintage guitar analogy, but I could likely have purchased an original Martin guitar like this one here for about $200 in the late 60's - and today, the "authentic reissue" is priced at $7000.

- Just my hunch - but I think the bikes which will be valued in the future will share characteristics with bikes from the classic era: E.g., triangular steel frames, DT shifters &/ IGH's.

mrybczyn

Claasic and vintage type...

IcySmooth52

Lol. New retro will become the vintage of these times?

I could see that happening. I bet carbon hardtails will be more collectible than full suspension because most MTB riders with that budget just go full suspension. So less common = rare = collectable.