Schwinn Phantom investment. Should I buy it?
06-09-19, 01:22 AM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Schwinn Phantom investment. Should I buy it?
i have found a schwinn phantom for sale what should i look for what should i stay clear of how do i get a good return on my investment
06-09-19, 04:55 AM
#2
Inoxidable Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 18,820
Bikes: Fuji SL 2.1 Carbon, Cannondale Synapse Alloy, Trek 710 531 Steel
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2194 Post(s)
Liked 2,155 Times
in
1,344 Posts
How much is it? What is the bike's condition? Where do you live? Is it an original bike or a later made reproduction bike? Do you like and ride bikes or are you only looking to flip it for a profit?
06-09-19, 06:46 AM
#3
weapons-grade bolognium
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Across the street from Chicago
Posts: 5,385
Bikes: Battaglin Cromor, Ciocc Designer 84, Schwinn Superior 1981
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 664 Post(s)
Liked 716 Times
in
359 Posts
Be aware that the Phantoms were "re-issued" in the mid-1990s and the newer ones are often passed off as originals.
You should probably steer clear of bikes as investments. The only way to get a good return is to buy it dirt cheap, wipe it off, and sell it. If you have to put time and money into it, you'll be on the losing end.
You should probably steer clear of bikes as investments. The only way to get a good return is to buy it dirt cheap, wipe it off, and sell it. If you have to put time and money into it, you'll be on the losing end.
Likes For thinktubes:
06-09-19, 07:09 AM
#4
Senior Member
Originally Posted by riplip
... how do i get a good return on my investment
Likes For Oakman:
06-09-19, 07:21 AM
#5
Senior Member
If is under 100$, if it is complete with the tank, fender light, drum brake, rear rack, you should buy it. You'll get a nice profit. Doesn't matter where you are living.
Most of the older bikes I got here in Ohio, I sold them west, in California or that area.
Most of the older bikes I got here in Ohio, I sold them west, in California or that area.
__________________
'81 Schwinn Super Sport;
'81 Schwinn Super Sport;
06-09-19, 07:34 AM
#6
Thrifty Bill
Never buy a bike as an investment. If someone is that good at predicting future trends, try the stock market. Collectibles make lousy investments as things go in and out of style as people's tastes change, older people die off to replaced with people with totally different interests, etc. In addition, collectibles provide ZERO income. Then you have the problem of lack of liquidity. Then you have the sales transaction costs. Finally there are no guarantees when you want to sell you will get anything close to full value out of it.
Meanwhile you can sell hundreds of shares of stocks any time you want, for about $7, and get FMV whatever that might be at that particular point. Meanwhile, if you sell an item on eBay, you have about 15% in fees including PayPal, and you have to pack and ship.
+10 The only bikes that I have profited from were quick flips, not investments. I bought really cheap, cleaned up and sold almost immediately. Everything I hold on to, runs the risk of changing tastes. To buy really cheap you have to know values extremely well and pounce. Even then you will make mistakes. +10 Lots of reproduction/re-issue phantoms out there. To the untrained person, a 25 year old phantom looks like the real deal.
Meanwhile you can sell hundreds of shares of stocks any time you want, for about $7, and get FMV whatever that might be at that particular point. Meanwhile, if you sell an item on eBay, you have about 15% in fees including PayPal, and you have to pack and ship.
+10 The only bikes that I have profited from were quick flips, not investments. I bought really cheap, cleaned up and sold almost immediately. Everything I hold on to, runs the risk of changing tastes. To buy really cheap you have to know values extremely well and pounce. Even then you will make mistakes. +10 Lots of reproduction/re-issue phantoms out there. To the untrained person, a 25 year old phantom looks like the real deal.
06-09-19, 08:10 AM
#7
~>~
Read this book:
"How to chase after pennies by "investing" real dollars, time and effort in old bicycles: A time wasters guide to trading money for a pile of un-wanted unsaleable old junk."
"How to chase after pennies by "investing" real dollars, time and effort in old bicycles: A time wasters guide to trading money for a pile of un-wanted unsaleable old junk."
__________________
'74 Raleigh Internat'l. '77 Trek TX900 FG. '90 Vitus 979. '10 Merckx EMX3. '13 Soma Stanyan
'74 Raleigh Internat'l. '77 Trek TX900 FG. '90 Vitus 979. '10 Merckx EMX3. '13 Soma Stanyan
Likes For Bandera:
06-09-19, 11:32 AM
#8
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: The Big Tomato
Posts: 19,315
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 272 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20165 Post(s)
Liked 3,350 Times
in
2,447 Posts
Originally Posted by riplip
...what should i stay clear of ...
06-09-19, 11:47 AM
#9
In a Land Without Winter
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 3,754
Bikes: Schwinn Volare ('78); Raleigh Competition GS ('79)
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 644 Post(s)
Liked 302 Times
in
168 Posts
^ That.
__________________
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
06-09-19, 04:41 PM
#10
Senior Member
I agree. The vintage bike market is in the doldrums right now. I think the biggest pressure on vintage bike sales is Chinese robots that can manufacture 1000 new bikes a day for almost nothing. You can get a really nice new bike any day of the week for around $600 and when there's a sale about $300. Nice bikes are available on line for $450. WallyWorld bikes are even cheaper.
The only time I've ever made any profit on a vintage bike is when I got it for cheap to begin with. I'm talking complete bikes w/no missing parts for anywhere from $30 to $40. Cleaned up with new consumables & sell for $200 - $300.
The only time I've ever made any profit on a vintage bike is when I got it for cheap to begin with. I'm talking complete bikes w/no missing parts for anywhere from $30 to $40. Cleaned up with new consumables & sell for $200 - $300.
06-11-19, 01:46 PM
#11
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Schwinn phantom
Originally Posted by cb400bill
How much is it? What is the bike's condition? Where do you live? Is it an original bike or a later made reproduction bike? Do you like and ride bikes or are you only looking to flip it for a profit?
Last edited by riplip; 06-11-19 at 01:52 PM.
06-11-19, 05:35 PM
#12
Thrifty Bill
I don’t drop $600 on any bike unless I have the knowledge to know for sure what I am getting and I have a plan for how to make money on it. So I pass on some deals and that’s OK. I certainly would not base it on internet advice.
i take chances on stuff all the time. But those chances are in the $1 to $50 price range. They don’t all have to work out. When I spend more they really have to work out.
I spent more than $600 recently it wasn’t taking a chance. If it was I would have passed. I’ll also spend $150 when I see $300 to $400 in parts. I pretty much stick to what I know, or something so cheap I am risking very little. I don’t rely on cereal numbers.
i take chances on stuff all the time. But those chances are in the $1 to $50 price range. They don’t all have to work out. When I spend more they really have to work out.
I spent more than $600 recently it wasn’t taking a chance. If it was I would have passed. I’ll also spend $150 when I see $300 to $400 in parts. I pretty much stick to what I know, or something so cheap I am risking very little. I don’t rely on cereal numbers.
