How would you value this Viking bike?
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How would you value this Viking bike?
I'd like some help in valuing this bike. It is a 1979 Viking "European" model. By the late 70s, these bikes were being made in Northern Ireland. The bike is made of straight gauge Reynolds 531 tubing with Campagnolo drop outs.
I like to rebuild bikes (as do a lot of us) and I figure that the return on that labor is negligible. I overhauled the bike (hubs, bottom bracket, headset) and all the bearing surfaces are smooth. I replaced the consumables (new Jagwire housing and cables), installed new tires, and purchased the correct Reynolds sticker for the frame. The components on this bike are, IMO, very solid. The wheels are Rigida 16-22 rims laced to Normandy Sport high flange hubs (OEM on a Peugeot UO 10)(these are strong wheels). The suntour retrofriction shifters and the shimano light action rear derailleur give a very solid shift. The Dia-Compe G brakes are solid. Nothing fancy about this bike but everything works well and the bike rides nicely.


I like to rebuild bikes (as do a lot of us) and I figure that the return on that labor is negligible. I overhauled the bike (hubs, bottom bracket, headset) and all the bearing surfaces are smooth. I replaced the consumables (new Jagwire housing and cables), installed new tires, and purchased the correct Reynolds sticker for the frame. The components on this bike are, IMO, very solid. The wheels are Rigida 16-22 rims laced to Normandy Sport high flange hubs (OEM on a Peugeot UO 10)(these are strong wheels). The suntour retrofriction shifters and the shimano light action rear derailleur give a very solid shift. The Dia-Compe G brakes are solid. Nothing fancy about this bike but everything works well and the bike rides nicely.



Last edited by bikemig; 06-09-23 at 08:26 AM.
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Thanks, this is helpful. Yeah I took a good look at the online catalogs before rebuilding the bike. There's decent documentation on Viking bikes. Just wondering how others might value the bike given how clean it is mechanically.
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Not sure that $150.00 is realistic. I know if I was selling it I wouldn't be thrilled to only get that much, that's for sure.
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I have the frame at about $200 Craigslist on a good day, however the build parts stagnate the value.
If I were to sell, locally, I would probably put $300 on it and see how that shakes out.
If I were to sell, locally, I would probably put $300 on it and see how that shakes out.
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one account found of the Ulster operation a while back stated that frames were not produced in-house but rather contract build
their source was not given
account stated that rights to name were acquired by two investors in 1977, following a period in which it had been allowed to lay fallow, but that it took another year or more for production to commence
so your example relatively early in the short-lived enterprise
as recalled, operation is said to have ceased play by about 1985
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suggest to list at 285USD, vectoring australly only if required
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one account found of the Ulster operation a while back stated that frames were not produced in-house but rather contract build
their source was not given
account stated that rights to name were acquired by two investors in 1977, following a period in which it had been allowed to lay fallow, but that it took another year or more for production to commence
so your example relatively early in the short-lived enterprise
as recalled, operation is said to have ceased play by about 1985
---
suggest to list at 285USD, vectoring australly only if required
-----
Last edited by juvela; 06-09-23 at 08:51 AM. Reason: addition
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I would say very nice basic rider but in the current market only $200 or so in sale value. While nicely done and very good functionally the somewhat mixed none original component's hold value down some. While just OK it would be worth $300-400 with the original Campy stuff while probably nicer functionally most of the components on the bike would be consider downgrades from OEM for most buyers.
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