Emperor Ryker

I'm still looking to buy my first road bike, and I've stumbled upon a nice used 1997 Bianchi Campione d'Italia. However, there are two snags:

1. Namely, the owner is asking for $600, which seems a lot, but then again I don't know much about road bikes. However, BicycleBlueBook lists it as a $313 value at most, which is if it's in "like new" condition. Is the latter estimate closer to what I should be willing to pay? Would I be getting absolutely fleeced by paying $600? What would your fair price be?

2. The frame is 57 cm, but according to Bianchi's Road Bike Sizing Chart I'd need a 58 cm one, since I'm roughly 182 cm with an inseam of about 86 cm. Do I just forget about the bike then? Since this would be my first road bike, I'm not sure I could tell by feel, unless it was greatly off. But if I just take a spin, I don't think I'd be able to tell whether it's going to be suitable in the long run.

Thanks in advance for any comments/help/sympathies with my plight!

Kamau

Sounds like it should fit (6ft 34 inseam 56-58cm). A new bike can be had for $700 (complete with warranty and servicing). Haggle.

Emperor Ryker

I would definitely haggle, but I don't want to low-ball and lose the bike right away. But according to the mentioned website, my initial offer should be at most $300, if it was to settle close to their listed $313 value. Do you think this would be fair, though?

Oh, and where could I get it for $700? That website also states the MSRP to be $1099.

Kamau

Speshy Allez w/ 10 speed would run you abt 700. Bianchi, cool name but bike is from 1997 which makes it almost 2 decades back... Decades. Can't tell you how to haggle but sending sellers links to bikepedia pages tends to have that impartial enlightening effect. Worse he can do is make a counter-offer or let you keep your money for being too well read. That's not low balling, that's an educated serious buyer.

Emperor Ryker

The seller did actually provide a link to bikepedia himself, but I don't see any suggested used prices there. So I think I'll definitely send him the link that I provided here, because you're right that I'm not going to buy it for $600 just for the sake of having it. It would, after all, be my first road bike, and for that kind of money I don't want to overpay.

By the way, he says the bike has "only" seen 2000 miles. I mean, that's not that much, but is it truly only light usage? All the parts seem to be original, except for the front derailleur upgrade.

Lazyass

I would pay that much for the Veloce model in the same condition (I had one), but the Campione was a step down with Mirage group, heaver wheels, ect. I would try to talk him down but the older steel Bianchi's with Campy do have a good resale value. Someone will probably pay him $600.

BillyD

That buy is nothing special. Be patient, keep looking, there's always other fish in the sea.

Homebrew01

There's a "bicycle blue book" site with used prices. It probably takes MSRP and reduces by some % each year, so it would be a ballpark value.

MDfive21

depends completely on the components. are they all original stock, or has he done upgrades to the wheels, drivetrain etc?

fwiw i ride a 97 bianchi trofeo and the frame is probably of similar quality. it's a nice steel frame, but the drivetrain components were low end campy and the wheels, BB and headset were #2 brand miche. i have replaced everything but the brakes, so any online value calculator will not apply to my bike.

i would ask the seller what if anything he has done to the bike which added to the value. if nothing, then go with the book value and move one. if he's added value, post again and we can help out. you will probably get better info on a bike that old from the C&V subforum than here.

RoadGuy

It's winter, the toughest selling season for bikes, and the Seller's asking price is out of line. I doubt if he will get someone willing to spend that kind of cash on a bike that can't be ridden until Spring.

What you need to do is take someone who is familiar with bike sizing with you and go see the thing. No use obsessing over something that may not fit you, or may not be in the condition advertised. The bike may not even be the size that the Seller claims it is. Bike Sellers more often than not advertise bikes as the wrong size. Examining ad photos will give you a hint about the size, but is not the same thing as a visit. Don't automatically eliminate any bike based on the Seller's sizing claims until you see it (first a photo, then in person).

The thing might be 18 years old (Sellers are often optimistic about the age of bikes). By the time bikes are that old, they pretty much conform to a basic formula that says a nice rider, regardless of the brand name is not going to sell for much more than $300-$400 unless it's of particular interested (like BNIB, extra popular classic, etc...) regardless of the original selling price. High priced high performance bikes seem to suffer more from price deterioration than other more common bikes. Name brand titanium bikes are about the only ones that don't follow the pricing formula. Titanium bikes seem to hold onto their value better than other bikes.

Bikes can be a wreck a ruin with low or high mileage on them, depending on how and where they were stored.

Emperor Ryker

Thanks, I posted there just now, but I'd like to keep this going here, as well.

So to make it shorter, I'm not going to quote everyone individually, but thanks to all of you that responded nonetheless. To answer your questions, though, the bike supposedly has all the original components, except for an upgraded front derailleur.

Grambo

I personally would pass on that bike. IMO u would be much better off buying a new bike at a similar price with modern componentry. A bike equipped with current 10 speed Shimano Tiagra or better componentry is just going to work better and be more enjoyable to ride. If u r trying to keep cost down you might want to check Bikes Direct ( Save up to 60% off Road Bikes, Free Ship 48, Schwinn, GT, Kestrel, Fuji, Motobecane and more Road bikes. Authorized dealer for Schwinn, GT, Kestrel, Fuji, Motobecane, Mercier, Gravity, Dawes road bikes. Shimano Carbon Road Bikes, Titanium Road Bikes, ) or scour your local bike shops for a year end clearance. No matter what buy a frame that fits you correctly. Don't be tempted by a good deal on a bike that is larger or smaller than your ideal size.

If for some reason you have your mind set on the Bianchi and it is a steel frame check for rust. Remove the seat post and shine a bright flashlight into the seat tube and look for rust at the bottom of the tube where it welds to the bottom bracket shell. That is a common are for moisture / water to accumulate and cause rust problems for steel frames.

Emperor Ryker

Thanks for the tip in regards to rust. I guess I am particular to a Bianchi, but I think I can get over that quickly. I do know of Bikes Direct, but if I was to, say, be able to get the price down to $400 for the bike in question, do you think a new bike going for that price at Bikes Direct would still be better?

Grambo

IMO spending 600- 700 on a modern bike would be the way to go. Bike technology has come a long way sine 97 and with a bit or effort and research you can get a lighter and better riding bike with modern componentry. That having been said at the end of the day buy something that will make you happy. If that's the Bianchi then go for that bike.