dailycommute

Hey everyone

A large annual bike swap is this weekend in my area and I plan to sell a few old steel bikes there. Generally anything of quality under 200 seems to sell and I have had good luck there vs CL on thinning older steel. My questions and observation has been that higher end race-oriented bikes do not sell well, even if discounted vs new models. I am thinking about taking this fuji team SL 2005 there but no real expecations it would sell. Very fast bike and it has 6700 ultegra tubeless wheelset with less than 500 miles (stock wheels were weak point on this model). I sunk a bit more money on new ultegra chain and crank rings and a comfortable but very light racing saddle. Thinking about selling b/c I simply do not ride this much, only on group rides and occasional long solos. Post swap commission this one is a money loser anyway it cuts, but thinking 700+- might get a bite which I would take but realistically more like 600 or less which = just keep it for now. Any thoughts or experiences?
thanks

topflightpro

People at swaps are looking for deals. That's why you see lower priced things selling quickly.

The updates you made to that frameset are not going to raise the value much. You're really just selling an old aluminum Fuji, and there is pretty much zero demand for that frameset. You would be better off parting it out, selling the saddle and 6700 parts separately.

Also, I don't think many people will be willing to pay $700 for that bike when you can buy a used Caad with similar parts for around that price.

dailycommute

Thanks, pretty sound advice. This frameset is not your typical aluminum bike and for 61 cm is light @17.5+- range but I hear what you are saying and it confirms my own thoughts. Better to keep it and ride for now.

dr_lha

Honestly I don't think any 10 year old bike is going to be worth much more than $500 unless it's a "classic" in some way. No Fuji is going to fit that description IMHO. 10 year old parts are 10 year old parts, even if they're high end.

But that doesn't stop people trying to sell them for more than that of course. I noticed today someone on my local CL trying to sell a 2005 Jamis Eclipse for $1500. Sure the bike cost $2500 new, and apparently it's "like new", but not "like new" enough to still have the Campy components on it!

dtrain

+2. That Fuji would sell for about $500 around here. You could significantly downgrade the wheelset and not see much of a price hit. Sounds like a keeper. But if you were to list it, I think CL would be better than bike swap.

rpenmanparker 

Well, the problem folks are talking about is there is like new now and like new then. An old bike may be like new relative to when it was bought, but it is not like what is being sold now. Even NOS parts depreciate significantly just from obsolescence. Oh, they still work fine, just not as fine as the current offerings.

I don't think folks go to swap meets to spend $700. Just my opinion.

cale

The large frame and 53/39 chainrings, guessing, hurt the price.

RNAV

You know what that bike needs? More downward saddle tilt.

DXchulo

+1. Do you still have those stock wheels? Put those back on and try to sell it for $500.

bt

Juan Foote

Yeah, not conspicuous at all....

dailycommute

Thanks for feedback regarding pricing. I decided that motivation to sell was strong, so yesterday gave the SL a tune and polish, removed pedals and dropped off at early registration last night. The swap is generally a madhouse so chose not to attend but did just receive online notice that it sold for list of 585. Net commission that is 500 to seller, much happier to give 15% commission to bike coalition vs ebay and much simpler really. Had ended up putting close to 700 in this project, but have learned my lesson relative to most bikes' depreciation yoy esp when you just do not ride them enough. In the end I think somebody picked up a very solid deal on what, imo, was/is a very underrated frame relative to speed/weight.

Stucky

Ya done good! ...and avoided the hassle; expense; and possibility of being ripped-off on Ebay!