Jicafold

Someone had made a commento me that vintage 80's bikes with aluminum frames are not as valuable and desirable s those made of steel? I would think that a similar year bike depending on the grade of steel (excluding high end tubing) with similar components would be considered of similar value. Are there any other opinions on this?

RobbieTunes

Not really, but the Kleins and some Cannondales have kept their value quite well.

It's hard to beat a Cannondale Criterium frame, especially for criteriums, even today.
An SC800 is a match for anything out there, bar none.

The paint job on some of the Kleins is worth the prices they bring.

That's just my 2 cents. You may want change.

cb400bill

Depends on the bike.

Some of the early Cannondales have held their value quite well. Especially their touring bikes.

However, the aluminum Trek bikes of the 80's tend to sell for fewer dollars than their steel counterparts.

LesterOfPuppets

I had a Raleigh Technium Pro (glued alu front triangle) in really good shape sell for $400. Probably about on par with what could be gotten for a similar Japanese steel frame bike from the era (Centurion, Schwinn, Nishiki, etc.)

LesterOfPuppets

oops, I think that Technium was a 1990, so excluded from the time frame of this thread.

MRT2

It is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Now, as to why a steel frame is more valued than an aluminum frame, I think the reason vintage aluminum is less valued is the quality and ubiquity of new aluminum frames. If you want an aluminum road bike, you can get a pretty decent new frame for not very much money that is probably nicer than a vintage model. The same is not always true of steel frames, particularly if the vintage steel frame is a name brand like Columbus, Reynolds, True Temper, or Tange. You can still buy a new steel frame with a name brand pedigree, but it will cost a lot more than it will to buy a new Trek or Giant aluminum bike.

DMC707

Something like an Alan or a Vitus -- plus the aforementioned Kleins -- are nice. I have a couple of Cannondale Criteriums , they are neat bikes and are great machines for their mission parameters, - but they seem to sit for weeks and weeks on ebay for 350-400.

Everybody's idea of valuable can be different but in my eyes, - a bike like my Dales (and many others) that sells for 250-300 but only after you give it an overhaul and swap in new cables , tires , and tape -- is not very valuable

oddjob2

I agree with most of the aforesaid comments, particularly pertaining to Cannondale and Klein. Certainly among the C&V enthusiasts around this forum, most prefer lugged steel frames.

But the general public, looking for rideable bikes and not interested in collecting, who buy the bikes some of us refurbish and rebuild for relaxation or to fund our own fleet, are for the most part agnostic to aluminum or steel. Many think Reynolds 531 means an aluminum frame.

As the three examples below demonstrate (including a hybrid), vintage aluminum does fine as these were locally sold in Michigan by me for $350-$400 in 2014. In my experience, only the rare steel touring or Reynolds 531 bike would consistently fetch more money.

KonAaron Snake 

Be warned, I'm making sweeping generalizations. Your question is a bit broad and it depends which aluminum frame is being compared to which steel frame, but the short answer is that no, they're not.

To understand why you have to understand why aluminum bikes like Cannondale became prevalent; they were cheap. Most people felt (in the 80s) that they were overly harsh and even now aluminum frames are generally not a top of range option. Generally speaking, there are other materials that can out compete aluminum in pretty much every regard other than price. Aluminum still isn't really a top of market offering...CF is the first option for most, and those who want metal typically want stainless steel or ti.

Historically some of the screw and glue frames have fans - we have fans that are passionate about alan's. Some of the vitus stuff is interesting, though quite whippy for most of us. Early Kleins have their fans, but not like a top end steel frame has. Some of this is also just time - there aren't many aluminum offerings from the 60s/70s, when a lot of our favorite brands made their bones. Even through the early 80s they were relatively uncommon.

The fatigue inherent to aluminium also affects desirability, though must folks agree that most aluminum frames are so overly engineered that it's a hypothetical rather than a real concern (I don't recall seeing many aluminum frames that suffered from fatigue failures). That's why Cannondale offered the life time warranty. I've seen members here make impassioned arguments for aluminum, and it has its fans, but this is a numbers game, and there are fewer of them driving the market (and they don't seem to back their opinions with their wallets).

So, is there a market for aluminum like Cannondales? Sure...there is. It's people looking for a decent cost used bike. Generally speaking there isn't much of a collector market for it and it certainly doesn't carry the cachet of top end steel. Collector markets are driven by what a 14 year old most wanted and couldn't afford...that isn't typically Cannondale.

cale

Do you know the story behind those Klein paint jobs? It is almost as rich as the paint itself.

Bianchigirll 

Just to toss in my .02 I tend to agree with the others. For the most part the 'cookie cutter' Treks and most Cdales don't hold much value, since one frame was used across several models.

Some of the lesser known brands and models may sell for higher prices, like a Mangusta, Nishiki Altron, because of cult following and lower production numbers. Now if you had a aluminum '80s Bianchi that would worth a few sheckles.

LesterOfPuppets

Mangustas bring higher prices??? Wasn't that Mongoose's short-lived road brand, before they started just calling their roadies Mongoose also?

rccardr 

Slightly different opinion here, but then I'm biased by nature. Agree that among vintage-y aluminum, Cannondale, and to a certain extent Klein, seem to hold their value the best. I'm not a Klein guy, but I do restore and sell a lot of high end Cannondales They sell for about the same as a restored late '80s mid level Schwinn (e.g. Tempo, Circuit, Peloton, Prologue or Super Sport), and my stuff tends to go for more than the average bike, generally in the $750 plus range depending on components. But if you looked at one of my bikes, you'd be forgiven for thinking it just came off of the showroom floor. Not for everyone, and they do often take a while to sell, but I'm fortunate that this isn't something from which I need to make money. There is a certain exclusivity that comes from not doing much marketing and letting the customer come to you.

I think the reason a lot of the Cannondales on eBay for $350-400 sit for a long time is that they're not really in very good condition. Not good enough for me to want to buy them, that's for sure. I think the owners see my stuff (and that sold by a few other builders) and believe that their bike with a rusted chain, mismatched components and scratched up finish that lives out in the shed must be worth a lot as well. I can't buy a bike for that kind of money and then sink another $600 into it for the restoration and sell it for anything but a loss.

Bianchigirll 

For the few I have seen listed I believe the seller though they were solid gold. I think Mongoose had a hand them somehow.

KonAaron Snake 

That seems right to me...it sells for about the same as mid-level Japanese, but slightly lower. I do think it takes longer to sell - a mid-range Japanese frame will sell more quickly, at least for me. I think those prices are a reflection of utility and value compared with modern entry/mid level.

Another reason for a slightly lower value for aluminum might be less versatility - it can't be cold set.

gaucho777 

+1, to lack of versatility b/c it can't be cold set.

in addition, many 80s alum bikes, especially Cannondales, suffer from lack of clearance for wide tires, which doesn't help the harsh ride issue.

I'd be glad to have Vitus like Sean Kelly. That almost auto-corrected to Virus - don't want one of those!

PeregrineA1 

"The fatigue inherent to aluminium also affects desirability, though must folks agree that most aluminum frames are so overly engineered that it's a hypothetical rather than a real concern (I don't recall seeing many aluminum frames that suffered from fatigue failures). "

I've broken, via fatigue, several mountain bike frames over the years. Just flat wore them out. Head tubes, down tubes, suspension links, you name it. But, no, never seen it on a road frame. Though my exposure to aluminum road frames in very, and intentionally, limited.

Darth Lefty 

Just wait til you see this xr800 I'm putting together! I think it will take a 40 in the front and maybe 29er in the rear unless I want fenders.

Dave Cutter

I've been keeping an eye out for a nice old Cannondale myself. Great bikes! And a classic that I can feel comfortable about riding in the rain.

bikemig 

Just bring an umbrella!

KonAaron Snake 

Made of titanium.

fietsbob

My 2 AlAns I owned in the 80s.. 1 developed Lug cracks , because I rode it * .. and the Cross Bike was traded away to someone that Raced Cyclocross in the 90's .

then I replaced them with Steel frames & built bikes up with the same components , some from the70's.

*Once shipped, air freight to Italy It could have been repaired , but the air freight from California, was billed on carton size, not weight. which ever was highest.

wrk101

Despite my own person bias for steel, I routinely sell aluminum bikes from the same manufacturer and era for more. For example, Take a Trek road bike with 105 components, I have always gotten more for the aluminum ones.

Cannonades sell even better.One reason (guess) that I think Cannondales can bring more, is a 30 year old Cannondale can look like a modern bike. And they tend to be lighter in weight. So someone looking for a nice bike, that is not really interested in vintage steel, is more attracted to an older Cannondale.

D1andonlyDman

Personally, I think the key is the technology of the joints. I would avoid an early Aluminum frame with lugs glued to the tubes (such as an Alan), whereas Cannondales tubes are welded, and IMHO. are more robust frames at the joint.

KonAaron Snake 

Those Alans were also screwed into the lugs as a reinforcement to the bonding. The bond doesn't give like on a technium, or ti miyata. I have heard that the clusters have cracked.