cpsqlrwn

Can I get some help with a valuation of this early Merckx Century, probably late 80's?

Reynolds 653 tubing, looks to be full C-Record although it's a bit rough, frame's a bit rough as well on the stays and fork blades, bike's been ridden extensively, no dents, no dings, no rust, Delta brakes and Sheriff Star hubs, chrome on chainstays is pretty good, please ignore the crazy aero handlebar setup, one owner bike

Thanks! Here's the show....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/4993867...62413546/show/

jet sanchEz

As it sits, I would offer $800 but would probably be happy to pay $1000. If I were the seller, I would buy a stem, handlebars and some downtube shifters and try for $1200.

Force 

Condition does not look too bad. Easy to touch up the black frame and the parts would clean up well. As jet sanchez says, get rid of stem and bars. Looks like dt shifters are already on the aero bars. I'd say could be worth $1200 - $1500. Like jet said, if you can buy for $800 - $1000, take it. Could do really well parting it out. If you buy it, I would be very interested in the wheels.

c_c_rider

that is a 1989 Merckx Century frame. you can see it as it appeared in the 1989 catalog here: https://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=28752

reynolds 653 was a very special tubing. it was a special variant that reynolds made just for eddy merckx for the century model. it's a cross between 753 and 531. the rear triangle is made of 753, and the main tubes are a lightened version of 531 (what reynolds called '531 SL'). it was probably too expensive (like 753 is) and difficult to source or who knows the reason but merckx only offered it one year. then from 1990 onward the century frames were made of columbus tsx.

that bike is in well used condition, but it's complete and those are probably the original parts (except the tri-bars, those were obviously added later). take off the atrocious tri bars and find a period correct stem and handle bar (either TTT or cinelli) and rewrap the bars with cinelli cork wrap. then i'd would say you could get anywhere from $700-1500 for it, just depends. having all the original parts means a lot, especially the c-record parts with the sheriff star hubs and delta brakes.

c_c_rider

oh, the shifters are original, don't throw them away! they are campy c-record retro-friction shifters, the first version. they go with the rest of the parts. simply take them off the tri bars and put them back on the downtube where they belong.

Bianchigirll 

So what happened? did you buy it? I am with Jet it was real nice bike once but the elbow grease needed to make it nice again reallt brings the price down. I don't like polishing parts, just clean thn really well and these will never have the original Campi luster to them again.

c_c_rider it is very difficult to tell the retrofriction (aka Doppler style) shifter from the standard friction. I am not aware of any esternal ifference. how can you tell?

KonAaron Snake 

Parted out I think that bike gets close to 2 grand...the hubs alone are around $400, the deltas are 175ish the condition of the cranks and derailleurs isn't great but figure 75 on the rear, 20 for the front and 100 for the cranks. The c-record seatpost, even scratched, is another 100. I think the numbers I tossed out are conservative actually. The frame probably goes 600-800.

cpsqlrwn

I bought it for $1000 from a guy in Austin. Was used by a girl for triathlon rides. It may be a 53 rather than a 54 in which case it may be a touch small, but if it is, I'll move the components to another bike and sell the frame and fork. The Delta brakes don't really do it for me but those sheriff star hubs are the bomb.

c_c_rider

well if it fits, keep it. it's a freaking cool bike. i have the exact same frame i use it as a runaround town fixed gear (but i have c-record cranks on it, with cobalto brakes). it's beat up but man it rides sweet. the hipsters drool over it (because now they are ditching track bikes and wanting 80's road bikes).
hopefully it fits you and you can keep it as is (after a bar swap of course!). just clean it up and have it tuned. new tires, a new chain and freewheel and it'll ride good as new. the delta brakes aren't the best, but they can't be beat for '80s exotica and cool factor. i think you can still find replacement brake pads for them on ebay or other places. those sheriff star hubs are the coolest hubs ever (please sell them to me! lol )
so enjoy that bike, and if it doesn't fit... well i would guess you'll get $500-800 for the frame. 80's and early 90's lugged steel merckxs have gone up in value in the last few years, they are getting quite rare. for years you would see them go for a lot less than a colnago or de rosa, but not so much anymore. so hopefully you'll get a good price for the frame. as for the parts... if i were you i'd keep all the parts together and move them over to something of similar vintage, say a de rosa or a bianchi or whatever trips your trigger. you really don't want to split up the group. it's very unique to have everything together.

4Rings6Stars

If it's a 53, I would be interested in the frame should you decide to sell it...

cpsqlrwn

That's the plan. I'm going to see how the fit is on this, and if it's a bit small, I will move the entire package over to another bike, just not sure which one.