siGno

2010 Trek 2.1 Triple (58cm) w/ Accessories (Excellent Condition)

That is the bike, I have been waiting patiently for something legit to show up, and I texted the guy and he seems nice..

My main questions are...

1. Is this bike worth diving into? Or keep waiting (I literally have no knowledge of bikes, and really only have 500 ish.. as my max to spend on one)

2. What is this bike worth, I offered him 450.. just to low ball and see, but he wouldn't take it. What is it worth?

Thank you!!!... Again this will be my FIRST bike, so any advice would be AWESOME.


Also as a side note, I am 6'1" with a 33.5" inseam

cale

IMHO, your offer was well placed. Had you and the buyer met halfway, @ $ 550, you'd both have made a good deal.

tadawdy

I'm guessing that, since he posted a link to bicyclebluebook, he thinks it's worth $600ish.

siGno

So should I maybe offer 500? Is this a good bike to begin with? And if he says thats cool go test ride it and purchase it?

siGno

What do you think its worth? And what would you do in this situation.

Bah Humbug

Is it just me, or does that not really look like a triple?

RoadTire 

Make sure it fits! My biggest mistake, emotions talk and money walks. If the bike is as clean and low miles as it looks then 500+ is a good deal - that's a lot of bike, 10 sp, not too old, looks to be Tiagra / 105 group?

cale

It's a used bike and I would make certain it tracks, shifts, brakes, wheels are properly tensioned and run true, that there are no cracks in the frame paying careful attention to the joints around the head tube (above and below both top and down tubes) and around the bottom bracket and seat post juncture.

What I don't like about the ad. I don't like the description, 110% functional. That's just bs. Functional comes in the 100% variety and less but never more than 100%. I also don't care for the description "everything is in excellent, working, and even like new condition." So which is it, excellent? working? or like new? He then goes on to say that it has a few blemishes but doesn't say what they are.

The seller seems to want to cover all condition possibilities but without being straightforward. I'd say there are things that he is hiding but I haven't a clue what those things are. My gut says, Stay away unless the price is good enough to overcome those misgivings.

Finally, I'd like to relate my experience buying a "lightly used" Specialized with a similar drivetrain. After riding it for two years, the frame cracked at the head tube. I had no warranty through Specialized because I wasn't the original owner and I replaced the frame with a cheap aluminum frame that made the bike whole again but the "bargain" that I got wasn't much of a bargain in the end.

Good luck.

Stucky

Value is tricky, because it depends on the supply and demand of your local market- but for $450, you could do much better-even if you went with an older but higher-quality bike. And he won't take $450? I'd forget it. The MSRP on that bike was like $1350- and it probably sold new for less than that- and at end-of-year, it was probably selling brand new for $650-$700.

I mean, there's nothing wrong with that particular model- but it's a lower-end mix of Tiagra and such...you could get the same thing or better brand new in a Bikesdirect bike for less than what he is asking.

For $450, you should be able to get a better quality bike, with at least 105 components. I just don't see the value in a low-end 5 year-old bike.....

WhyFi

I only see two chainrings, but he says that it's 110% functional, so maybe that's like having a triple.

bt

flip it

siGno

I am lost lol..

Stucky

You're right! Second pic, taken from the NDS clearly shows only a double. Seller is full of feces/doesn't know what he's talking about.

bt

two websites call the same bike a triple. not sure why.

2010 Trek 2.1 Triple - New and Used Bike Value

2010 Trek 2.1 Triple - BikePedia

ARPRINCE

Yeah that's odd. But I think this is the bike

2010 Trek 2.1 Compact

BicycleBlueBook.com Value:
$602 (Like-New)
$573 (Excellent)
$516 (Good)
$384 (Fair)

RoadTire 

...didn't catch that.

cale

Regarding the "triple" or lack thereof, the image of this bike on bikepedia dot com is similarly confusing. https://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/B...iple&Type=bike


Regarding the opinion that it can only be valued in relationship to what's available from somewhere like bikesdirect dot com... It is tempting to take this position but doing so ignores the very real value of buying a Trek. The Trek name is well known and known for the good build quality and well sorted-out mix of components. I could tell you my former Casati Special (with Columbus SL steel tubes) has the same qualities of a similar DeRosa frame but the name on the frame makes all the difference.

siGno

So a no go on this bike then?? Everyone seems to be saying something different. Should I just get a cheap bikes direct bike? Like $400-500 range? Would it be better? I just have no clue

Stucky

That bike seems to have come in about 7 different varieties: A triple; a double; several WSD women's models; and some 650c models.

OP: Hard to say. How fast do you want a bike? Personally, if i were you, I think I'd hold out a little longer for something used of good quality in that price range. The wait will be worth it if you find a good one. $400-$500 Bikesdirect bikes are still pretty low-end; whereas that same money could get you something pretty nice if you're not really itching to get out on the road right this minute.

cale

Is the bike on CL conveniently located? If so, you could take a look at it. (It would be fun to hear back on the question of the triple crank.)

The best advice I can give you is to continue to read and ask questions on the forum so that you get an "education" in bike details and learn about the values.

It doesn't take much effort to spend $750 and get a great 1st road bike. But doing the same with $500 is entirely different. A new road bike at bikesdirect can be purchased for $500 but at that price you may end up with an AL frame with carbon fork and a bunch of components that will make for a difficult upgrade path. (Lower priced component groups tend to be less durable and have fewer features, such as gears or fast stopping brake pads.) Today's component groups also tend to be less forgiving of a mix-and-match approach to upgrades. (Among Shimano component groups, the current Sora group is 9-speed, Tiagra 10-speed, 105/Ultegra/Dura Ace 11-speed. Sram and Campagnolo groups present similar challenges where upgrades are concerned.)

I bring upgrading into the picture because it is not uncommon for a spill to damage a brake/shifter lever beyond repair. This presents an "opportunity" to choose a replacement part that improves shifting refinement, etc. But the path to that upgrade can be very expensive if purchased "off the shelf". It is far better to buy a bike that more closely resembles what you'll want to be riding three years from now than one that will be great after a "few" upgrades. (Especially if those upgrades include anything to do with gearing.) This is why I write that a $750 1st road bike is far easier to buy.

Homebrew01

That Trek for $500 or $550 is a lot better than what you'll get new for that price. Either get the Trek, or save up and get a new bike in the $800 range.
What do CAAD 8s go for these days ??

How hilly is your area ? That bike has decent low gears as a double compact with large-ish looking cassette.

Looks like the seller is 6' 2" based on the seatpost.

qclabrat

looks like a good clean bike, and will have better resale than a BD bike
but it is already 5 years old

there are a few 2.1s at BIN for 650 on the bay, they are 2012 ad 2013
you can use that fact to bargin
your lowball number depends on their motivation to sell

tricky part is to figure the top dollar you're willing to spend without insulting the seller
$550 seems fair for a bike in this condition, but not too much more

as for fit, you won't know till you take it for a spin, for all we know you may have monkey arms......

siGno

How do I know if a bike fits me well? It will just feel right? All I have ever ridden is a mountain bike haha so I am pretty much a straight noob.

Also curious at what point a road bike is total over kill for the bike path. As I live in scottsdale Arizona and the drivers here are packed and also ****ing ********. I'll do some research on roads that are a bit more clear. But to start I'll be on a nice bike path that I use regularly on my mountain bike. Just wanted some input on that aswell.

All I'm saying is mainly for now atleast I just want a bike that I can crank and get 10-20 miles of exercise on every day, tired of the big clunky mountain bike.

rms13

$870 msrp with Claris. But CAAD 8, Allez or Defy can all be had in that range. I've seen previous year Allez and Defy with Claris in the $650 range. Worth at least checking some lbs out

qclabrat

what size mtb are you riding now?
Is it an aggressive setup, meaning the bars lower than the seat?
make and model as well

I hear Scottsdale is great for road ridng this time year, I'm sure there's some folks here who can point you to some safe routes