re: ebay pricing don't forget the hefty shipping fees affect what people will be willing to bid.

My guess on the average the same bike will fetch more on CL, where a buyer can inspect, test ride and take home sans shipping.

I'd use ebay to sell parts and a frame/fork but never a complete bike. I did it a few times and it was a p.i.t.a.

I paid $200 for my 86 531 trek and have seen them fetch up to $300 on CL in NYC. More if full 531 (mine is main tubes only), and only a little less if 501 Reynolds, oddly enough. If looking at 501 Treks I'd say some of the better quality I****awa Japanese bikes of the same era are a better deal.

For the record, my trek has been updated twice - once with some more modern roadie parts (different size stem and bars, aero levers, clipless peds, new brake pads, tires and bar tape), and after I bought a newer Roadie, has been downgraded to a flat bar commuter/hybrid. I kept all the original parts after the first re-do but once I got it flat barred and dialed in, I reckon it's a keeper/user/beater/whatever. Great bike, and I not only sold the original parts (forgive me, BF bretheren) but the first set of aftermarket stuff too.

Ironically, as several old threads on here will attest, I was advised (wisely) not to try and make the old bike into something it was not. This was a dismal failure when I tricked it out all Lance style. However, in its current commuter makeover, it is really shining out, to quote Chloe/Nancy.