mleach82

I was recently given a Panasonic Aero AR-6000 by a family member.

I took it into my LBS to have new tires and tubes installed, and to have them go over everything. They told me that the bike was in excellent shape for its age and that everything except for the tri-bars and shifters on the bars (and now tires) were original on the bike. I believe the seat was also changed. All Dura-Ace components.

There are some scratches here and there and the decals show their age.

I'm not sure of the year but i was told it was purchased new in the early to mid 80's for around $1600.

Was just curious as to what something like this was worth, pictures below:

















That's all i have for now. Just a note that i do have the leather straps that go on the pedals, just took them off while test riding.

Thanks

omgar

Wow, that's nice! I think the Dura-Ace AX stuff is sweet. Looks like it's all there too.
What's the size?

mleach82

I measured the seat tube and it's 23" center to center. I'm 5' 9" and its a bit tall for me.

balindamood

People will pay $$ for the brakes, bars (minus the extentions), and stem, but the rest will be of lesser value. You also will need to replace/repair the drive side pedal. If you have the original shifters (the ones that are on it are not original), that may help. There is some guy how has been trying to get $X000 for a couple of similar bikes on Ebay for at least 6-months (I think he is nuts, but he may be lucky and nuts). I cannot tell if that bike uses the Aero tubing from the time-period. It is lugged, which is more common for the Japanese bikes built around the AX group, but not very common for the Europeans. I think Tange was the only maker of lugs for that tubeset, (or at least the only one I have seen).

You have a fairly original piece in good shape (I have always been somwhat partial to the design in concept, even if the function was a bit lacking). The Dura Ace AX group is good and bad. They did some weird things in the name of innovation, some good, some not (function was not bad, but not a strong point either). Some people like what they did, many shun it because it is weird and are adverse to non-standard stuff. The bike may be worth more parted out, but the frame will not be of much value (weirdness again). One think I cannot reconcile are the shifter mounts (which are now the barrel adjusters for the bar-shifters). The AX shifters were typically mounted on top of the down tube, not on either side of the tube like the traditional ones. I am not sure how or why the frame was built in that fashion. To the right buyer (someone who appriciates/covets the Aero-designed bikes), it may bring close to $1000, perhaps a bit more. I think it will sell quickly at $500 in the right market.

Just my opinion.

Baraka

This guy has been trying to sell the same bike as yours on ebay for a LONG time at a ridiculous price. Yours is in nicer condition. The ax stuff is quite collectable mainly due to its uniqueness, others are right to point out that its more valuable parted out although I hate to see nice bikes like that being taken apart. Sorry I cant help with price but im very envious .

mleach82

I saw that post on ebay and thought he was crazy, thats what prompted me to post here to see what the realistic value of these bikes are.

Thank you for all of the input.

jet sanchEz

Since the bike is too large for you it might be a good idea to check out the "The frame is too large pass around game" thread in the main C&V forum. Someone will definitely want that frame since it is in such good condition and hopefully, they will have something to trade that is in your size.

As for value, parting it out would be the way to go to attain the most money. The Dura Ace AX stuff is pretty rare and it appears to be in great shape, I think that you could get an easy $400 for all of those parts listed in separate auctions. The frame and fork would probably get $300 or so on eBay, perhaps more with some really up close and personal photos, it is in excellent shape for a bike of its age.

Selling it complete on CL might be a bit chancey at this time of the year but I will guesstimate that you could get about $500 in your neck of the woods.

mleach82

I honestly would hate to see a classic ripped apart (anything classic for that matter). I would prefer to possibly swap with someone for something my sive before i tore it apart. My LBS said they may know some people in the area interested and would let them know when they see them, just sucks that it's too tall as it is a nice bike and was looking forward to riding it.

T-Mar

The bicycle appears to be the 1984 model, as it is missing the post collar of the 1983 version and this model was discontinued for 1985. Quoted MSL Is far too high. My literature says $919.95 US for 1983. I doubt it would have gone over $1000 for 1984. I'm pretty sure the saddle and hoods are non-OEM. As suggested, this will probably bring a bigger return if parted out, though selling individual components can be a nuisance and sometimes backfire. Personally, I'd sell the frame individually and sell everything else as a group/kit but then you'd have the expense of the LBS having to take everything apart. I really like Dura-Ace AX and have always regretted selling my NOS group.

KonAaron Snake 

I think Balinda really explained this well...it's a weird bike with a limited market - meaning highly variable selling prices (and this is a bad time of year for bike sales). Anything from $600 - $1000 seems likely. I think they're interesting, but I probably wouldn't want to ride one regularly.

Snydermann

I think the Aero bikes right now are still under-appreciated in the collector market. If you look at bike catalogs from the early 1980's there really weren't that many road bikes that were unique and different, so they were ahead of their time in that respect. Given their importance I'd like to think that at some point in time they will see a stronger demand.

Lotus had two Aero bikes, The Dura Ace AX, fillet brazed, Super Pro and the 600 AX, lugged, Aero Sport. The Panasonic is neither of those, but a blend of the two. The Aero tubing came in two flavors, double butted and DPG (double plain gauge). The Super Pro used the DB tubing and the Aero Sport the DPG. From what I managed to find out, that the Panasonic used the DPG tubing, so it's like a Lotus Aero Sport with Dura Ace AX parts, or in other words, fits between the two Lotus models. In the last year or so, I've watched a bunch of Aero Sport and Super-Pro bikes sell and the range is anywhere between $350.00 and $900.00. I know of a mint, unridden almost NOS Aero Sport that sold for $600.00. Is a Panasonic more or less popular than a Lotus, I don't know.

A Super-Pro was around $1200.00 new so I agree with T-Mar that the Panasonic wasn't $1600.00 new.

I also find it odd that Panasonic mounted their shifters on the side of the down tube rather than use the top mounted "aero" design on their Aero bike? Photos I have seen of the Panasonic also show the OGK aero water bottle in favor of the Shimano aero bottle.