Bike Flipping 101
#501
Senior Member
Generally steady sales, although there are peaks - beginning of spring when the roads start to clear (mid-late March); first day temps get into the 70's (late April - early May); when school lets out for the year (early June); and back to school (or work) in August. I get a lot of parents who are looking for back-to-school bikes for their kids in very early August.
While there is a general slowdown after Labor Day, I actually do fairly well during that time because my bikes are priced reasonably, dialed in and ready to go, and sometimes people are not necessarily expecting this. Warm weather in the fall means I can extend my sales considerably. Couple years ago, I was selling into December, first time I've done that in this climate. Last year, I was selling only into November.
#502
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When I first started flipping, about 6 years ago, the "Added Value" was more than the money. I took great satisfaction in finding and fixing a wounded and neglected bicycle and matching it to the right person.
I believe everyone has a LIFE bike out there. I was lucky to find mine in 1982, (Blue Colnago) and after Baylis finishes her Re-Paint.. well.. it's me and my baby be riding again!
2 years ago I took a chance. I opend a bike shop, Crazy I know, but so far I (now we) have been lucky. I think to succeed in any endevour one needs passion and honesty. Passion for what you are doing and dealing with people honestly. It;s EASY to sell someone a bike. It is HARD to sell someone the RIGHT bike.
Thanks for letting me vent. Please find Below our shop's "Declaration of Principles"
"Declaration of Principles"
Citizen Chain promises to provide:
A bike shop that will treat every customer with respect and quality service, regardless of their level of biking experience or the price or make of their bike.
A fighting and tireless champion for bicycles: as a great method of transportation, the source of a unique culture, and most importantly, as the beloved friends of their owners.
Proper resources and safety that give every bicycle and bicyclist the opportunity to live up to their potential.
The tools, education, and opportunity for every rider to find their One Bike, no matter how long it may take.
Honesty, for both the rider and bicycle, about what can and cannot be done.
Signed,
Citizen Chain
I believe everyone has a LIFE bike out there. I was lucky to find mine in 1982, (Blue Colnago) and after Baylis finishes her Re-Paint.. well.. it's me and my baby be riding again!
2 years ago I took a chance. I opend a bike shop, Crazy I know, but so far I (now we) have been lucky. I think to succeed in any endevour one needs passion and honesty. Passion for what you are doing and dealing with people honestly. It;s EASY to sell someone a bike. It is HARD to sell someone the RIGHT bike.
Thanks for letting me vent. Please find Below our shop's "Declaration of Principles"
"Declaration of Principles"
Citizen Chain promises to provide:
A bike shop that will treat every customer with respect and quality service, regardless of their level of biking experience or the price or make of their bike.
A fighting and tireless champion for bicycles: as a great method of transportation, the source of a unique culture, and most importantly, as the beloved friends of their owners.
Proper resources and safety that give every bicycle and bicyclist the opportunity to live up to their potential.
The tools, education, and opportunity for every rider to find their One Bike, no matter how long it may take.
Honesty, for both the rider and bicycle, about what can and cannot be done.
Signed,
Citizen Chain
#503
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,717
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball
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#504
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Dallas has bought a few bikes from me. Nice guy... https://citizen-chain-cyclery.myshopify.com
#505
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I’m currently in my 3rd year of flipping. I do around 100 bikes a year. Most bikes I do are hybrids. They sell quickly where I’m at. I also do road bikes and mtn bikes buy for me hybrids are my bread and butter. It amazes my how may people will buy without a test ride. I always fully service the bikes including regreased all bearings. People do amaze me though.
I had one guy come over to check out a bike. He drove 2 hours over. Stood in my garage in the dead of winter and talked to me for 3 hours then said he’d let me know. A month later he called again to check out a different bike. Same story. Talked for 3 hours and left without a bike.
My sales remain fairly steady year round. They do slow down a bit in the winter but the spring is nuts! Anything I have in stock sells fast!
I had one guy come over to check out a bike. He drove 2 hours over. Stood in my garage in the dead of winter and talked to me for 3 hours then said he’d let me know. A month later he called again to check out a different bike. Same story. Talked for 3 hours and left without a bike.
My sales remain fairly steady year round. They do slow down a bit in the winter but the spring is nuts! Anything I have in stock sells fast!
#507
Senior Member
I just started. Main motivation is because I like to work on bikes, learn things, want to see a bike being ridden as opposed going to landfill or just dusting in an attic. I have no delusion on making lot of money, my only hope is I could make some money to pay for shop supplies, and tools etc. If I was retired I may volunteer at a bike coop etc., but with child and a professional job I need to be able to do things on my own terms of scheduling.
I first put a CL ad up offering bike repair, upgrades, built of online bikes etc. but my wife got all nervous and talked about needing insurance etc. so I tabled that idea for now. So the next best thing would be to get old bikes, fix them or upgrade and sell... except I do it literally the way I want and no customer who will later claim I made a scratch on his bike etc. and no one will want it to be done the next day.
Problem is getting old bikes at reasonable cost.
1. Police auction seems bad here since they do that online through a NY company (I'm in WI!) and looking at that website they only had bikes in NY.
2. CL seems bad because there are the several thousand $ bikes (more expensive than similar bike from an online retailer), or the bikes that seemingly lived on university campuses but allegedly still should fetch $80 LOL. I also don't want to spend $ and time going to multiple people and deal with their price expectations for heaps of garbage. One potential issue with CL are stolen bikes - if the bike is relatively new I would ask to see a receipt or some other proof they bought it. Oh, and people think having mis-matched tires is an upgrade worth a lot of $ :-)
I put up a post on the neighborhood facebook site and got two paired (male and female of same type) 26" rigid fork MTB for free. Well, those are old, steelframe and rims, rusty, 5-speed freewheel, but seem to work. So I can clean, lube, repack bearings etc. and hope to get $20 or so. I realize this isn't really worthwhile, but will be a learning experience. the only thing making those bikes better than CL bikes is that they seem to have lived in a garage much of their life (still some rust, though).
If I'm lucky I come along some interesting bikes my size or my wife's size that I can upgrade and keep, or just keep for a while to see how i like it and sell if not. For example I never owned a drop bar bike and would need several long rides to see if i like one (no LBS test ride would tell me if i should buy a drop bar bike). One problem i have we only have a 2-car garage with little room to spare.so between our own bikes i'm limited to having 2-3 project bikes (and that is not convenient)
Not sure if the market changed, but it seems from older posts it used to be better for flippers. If I was in the market for a used bike, I would compare it to a new bike from bikesdirect, or Canyon etc. That kind of puts pressure on LBS brand used bike prices. Nowadays you get a lot of new bike for relatively little money and new bikes have all the things I want (hydraulic disc brake, tubeless etc.). All the old bikes Obviously don't have any such options, so even upgrading them will never make them nearly as good as new ones.
If anyone has good ideas to get inexpensive bikes in Madison, WI area, let me know.
I first put a CL ad up offering bike repair, upgrades, built of online bikes etc. but my wife got all nervous and talked about needing insurance etc. so I tabled that idea for now. So the next best thing would be to get old bikes, fix them or upgrade and sell... except I do it literally the way I want and no customer who will later claim I made a scratch on his bike etc. and no one will want it to be done the next day.
Problem is getting old bikes at reasonable cost.
1. Police auction seems bad here since they do that online through a NY company (I'm in WI!) and looking at that website they only had bikes in NY.
2. CL seems bad because there are the several thousand $ bikes (more expensive than similar bike from an online retailer), or the bikes that seemingly lived on university campuses but allegedly still should fetch $80 LOL. I also don't want to spend $ and time going to multiple people and deal with their price expectations for heaps of garbage. One potential issue with CL are stolen bikes - if the bike is relatively new I would ask to see a receipt or some other proof they bought it. Oh, and people think having mis-matched tires is an upgrade worth a lot of $ :-)
I put up a post on the neighborhood facebook site and got two paired (male and female of same type) 26" rigid fork MTB for free. Well, those are old, steelframe and rims, rusty, 5-speed freewheel, but seem to work. So I can clean, lube, repack bearings etc. and hope to get $20 or so. I realize this isn't really worthwhile, but will be a learning experience. the only thing making those bikes better than CL bikes is that they seem to have lived in a garage much of their life (still some rust, though).
If I'm lucky I come along some interesting bikes my size or my wife's size that I can upgrade and keep, or just keep for a while to see how i like it and sell if not. For example I never owned a drop bar bike and would need several long rides to see if i like one (no LBS test ride would tell me if i should buy a drop bar bike). One problem i have we only have a 2-car garage with little room to spare.so between our own bikes i'm limited to having 2-3 project bikes (and that is not convenient)
Not sure if the market changed, but it seems from older posts it used to be better for flippers. If I was in the market for a used bike, I would compare it to a new bike from bikesdirect, or Canyon etc. That kind of puts pressure on LBS brand used bike prices. Nowadays you get a lot of new bike for relatively little money and new bikes have all the things I want (hydraulic disc brake, tubeless etc.). All the old bikes Obviously don't have any such options, so even upgrading them will never make them nearly as good as new ones.
If anyone has good ideas to get inexpensive bikes in Madison, WI area, let me know.
#508
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I just started. Main motivation is because I like to work on bikes, learn things, want to see a bike being ridden as opposed going to landfill or just dusting in an attic. I have no delusion on making lot of money, my only hope is I could make some money to pay for shop supplies, and tools etc. If I was retired I may volunteer at a bike coop etc., but with child and a professional job I need to be able to do things on my own terms of scheduling.
I first put a CL ad up offering bike repair, upgrades, built of online bikes etc. but my wife got all nervous and talked about needing insurance etc. so I tabled that idea for now. So the next best thing would be to get old bikes, fix them or upgrade and sell... except I do it literally the way I want and no customer who will later claim I made a scratch on his bike etc. and no one will want it to be done the next day.
Problem is getting old bikes at reasonable cost.
1. Police auction seems bad here since they do that online through a NY company (I'm in WI!) and looking at that website they only had bikes in NY.
2. CL seems bad because there are the several thousand $ bikes (more expensive than similar bike from an online retailer), or the bikes that seemingly lived on university campuses but allegedly still should fetch $80 LOL. I also don't want to spend $ and time going to multiple people and deal with their price expectations for heaps of garbage. One potential issue with CL are stolen bikes - if the bike is relatively new I would ask to see a receipt or some other proof they bought it. Oh, and people think having mis-matched tires is an upgrade worth a lot of $ :-)
I put up a post on the neighborhood facebook site and got two paired (male and female of same type) 26" rigid fork MTB for free. Well, those are old, steelframe and rims, rusty, 5-speed freewheel, but seem to work. So I can clean, lube, repack bearings etc. and hope to get $20 or so. I realize this isn't really worthwhile, but will be a learning experience. the only thing making those bikes better than CL bikes is that they seem to have lived in a garage much of their life (still some rust, though).
If I'm lucky I come along some interesting bikes my size or my wife's size that I can upgrade and keep, or just keep for a while to see how i like it and sell if not. For example I never owned a drop bar bike and would need several long rides to see if i like one (no LBS test ride would tell me if i should buy a drop bar bike). One problem i have we only have a 2-car garage with little room to spare.so between our own bikes i'm limited to having 2-3 project bikes (and that is not convenient)
Not sure if the market changed, but it seems from older posts it used to be better for flippers. If I was in the market for a used bike, I would compare it to a new bike from bikesdirect, or Canyon etc. That kind of puts pressure on LBS brand used bike prices. Nowadays you get a lot of new bike for relatively little money and new bikes have all the things I want (hydraulic disc brake, tubeless etc.). All the old bikes Obviously don't have any such options, so even upgrading them will never make them nearly as good as new ones.
If anyone has good ideas to get inexpensive bikes in Madison, WI area, let me know.
I first put a CL ad up offering bike repair, upgrades, built of online bikes etc. but my wife got all nervous and talked about needing insurance etc. so I tabled that idea for now. So the next best thing would be to get old bikes, fix them or upgrade and sell... except I do it literally the way I want and no customer who will later claim I made a scratch on his bike etc. and no one will want it to be done the next day.
Problem is getting old bikes at reasonable cost.
1. Police auction seems bad here since they do that online through a NY company (I'm in WI!) and looking at that website they only had bikes in NY.
2. CL seems bad because there are the several thousand $ bikes (more expensive than similar bike from an online retailer), or the bikes that seemingly lived on university campuses but allegedly still should fetch $80 LOL. I also don't want to spend $ and time going to multiple people and deal with their price expectations for heaps of garbage. One potential issue with CL are stolen bikes - if the bike is relatively new I would ask to see a receipt or some other proof they bought it. Oh, and people think having mis-matched tires is an upgrade worth a lot of $ :-)
I put up a post on the neighborhood facebook site and got two paired (male and female of same type) 26" rigid fork MTB for free. Well, those are old, steelframe and rims, rusty, 5-speed freewheel, but seem to work. So I can clean, lube, repack bearings etc. and hope to get $20 or so. I realize this isn't really worthwhile, but will be a learning experience. the only thing making those bikes better than CL bikes is that they seem to have lived in a garage much of their life (still some rust, though).
If I'm lucky I come along some interesting bikes my size or my wife's size that I can upgrade and keep, or just keep for a while to see how i like it and sell if not. For example I never owned a drop bar bike and would need several long rides to see if i like one (no LBS test ride would tell me if i should buy a drop bar bike). One problem i have we only have a 2-car garage with little room to spare.so between our own bikes i'm limited to having 2-3 project bikes (and that is not convenient)
Not sure if the market changed, but it seems from older posts it used to be better for flippers. If I was in the market for a used bike, I would compare it to a new bike from bikesdirect, or Canyon etc. That kind of puts pressure on LBS brand used bike prices. Nowadays you get a lot of new bike for relatively little money and new bikes have all the things I want (hydraulic disc brake, tubeless etc.). All the old bikes Obviously don't have any such options, so even upgrading them will never make them nearly as good as new ones.
If anyone has good ideas to get inexpensive bikes in Madison, WI area, let me know.
If you are looking for different ideas on how to get bikes, check out this page: FINDING BICYCLES - INTRODUCTION
#509
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,554
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
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@wrk101, why would you buy ten bikes? Was that the condition of getting that #10 gem?
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#510
Senior Member
I've been buying/flipping bikes for about 15 years now. 2017 was my best year ever. The market always changes, what I did 15 years ago, or even five years ago, isn't working as well. So I have changed my game many, many times.
Good deals CAN still be found on Craigslist. Four keys:
1) you have to be more knowledgeable than others that are scanning Craigslist. I am often amazed the bikes that sit on Craigslist for days or even weeks.
2) It really helps if you can pounce quickly, any day, any time. Expecting deals to linger until it is convenient, and you can miss out.
3) shop while on vacation or while traveling. I pretty much ALWAYS find bikes when I travel. I run out of space before I run out of deals.
4) High priced bikes! Most C/L buyers want the cheaper stuff. A $50 POS bike that might only be worth $10 can sell fast, while a $500 bike that could be worth $1000 lingers. I bought a Colnago this way. Guy really needed cash NOW, was bike poor. He was asking $1000, so I went to look at it. Nice bike, I told him I thought it was worth it, but I just wasn't looking for an expensive bike. So I passed. He contacted me two weeks later, he still had the bike. Turned out I was the only person that even responded to his ad. We worked out a deal and I bought it.
Stop looking for the $25 to $50 stuff. No thanks. Start looking at the $300, $400, $500, or even $600 stuff instead. Every market has a price where vintage bikes stuff don't sell. Shop ABOVE that point. If you can get a $1000 bike for $500, why not? The profit potential is 10X the cheap stuff, and you only have one bike to fix versus ten, and you only have one bike to sell. I used to hang out at the $150 to $200 price point. Find a decent bike for $75, put $50 into parts and consumables, and five hours of time, and ask $175. And then have to take an offer, say $140. At that point, I was making $15 for my time.....Even if I got the bike cheaper, the economics were still mediocre. Heaven forbid I found a serious problem with the bike.
Exception to this pricing is old MTBs. Old MTBs sometimes go cheap, really cheap. While most of the cheap MTBs are not worth repairing, the parts can be valuable. I bought two old rusty Ross MTBs 1/1/18 for $75. Sold the pedals on one for $150, sold the pedals on the other one for $75. Sold the crankset on one for $75, thumb shifter set for $60, list goes on. I'll probably end up with at least $600 out of those two bikes, which had been for sale for a month. Had I refurbished them, at best, I might have broke even (and gotten zero for my time).
Scoring deals is ALL about knowing bikes and their components well. Its not about having some secret list of specific models or brands. Thats all most pickers know. You need to go beyond that. Last week I picked up a Volkscycle. Volkscycle? I had never heard of the brand before. But I know components, First generation Dura Ace crankset, first generation Dura Ace brakes and levers, first generation Dura Ace long cage rear derailleur, first generation Dura Ace bar end shifters. Were all those parts listed in the ad? No. But with a trained eye, they were there in the pictures. That bike sat on C/L for over a month.
Picking/flipping bikes is just like picking/flipping anything else. It takes knowledge, and the more you know, the bigger your advantage. Its not easy, but the rewards are pretty juicy for those with the knowledge. Most flippers are unwilling to spend the time getting knowledgeable. I know flippers that do quite well in a variety of markets. One guy flips Miatas. He pretty much knows everything there is to know about Miatas, has a stockpile of parts, knows how to fix them. Does quite well! Others flip houses and make money doing it. If I started flipping houses or Miatas, I'd lose my fanny on it. I do not have adequate knowledge or skills in either area. I'd probably end up with the stuff the knowledgeable people passed on. Bicycles is no different. You can't just randomly buy old bikes and expect to do well.
Particularly when time is at a premium, would you rather flip four high end bikes a year, or forty low end bikes? Both can net you about the same $$, one will take you ten times longer! And selling forty bikes is a time suck too!
Good deals CAN still be found on Craigslist. Four keys:
1) you have to be more knowledgeable than others that are scanning Craigslist. I am often amazed the bikes that sit on Craigslist for days or even weeks.
2) It really helps if you can pounce quickly, any day, any time. Expecting deals to linger until it is convenient, and you can miss out.
3) shop while on vacation or while traveling. I pretty much ALWAYS find bikes when I travel. I run out of space before I run out of deals.
4) High priced bikes! Most C/L buyers want the cheaper stuff. A $50 POS bike that might only be worth $10 can sell fast, while a $500 bike that could be worth $1000 lingers. I bought a Colnago this way. Guy really needed cash NOW, was bike poor. He was asking $1000, so I went to look at it. Nice bike, I told him I thought it was worth it, but I just wasn't looking for an expensive bike. So I passed. He contacted me two weeks later, he still had the bike. Turned out I was the only person that even responded to his ad. We worked out a deal and I bought it.
Stop looking for the $25 to $50 stuff. No thanks. Start looking at the $300, $400, $500, or even $600 stuff instead. Every market has a price where vintage bikes stuff don't sell. Shop ABOVE that point. If you can get a $1000 bike for $500, why not? The profit potential is 10X the cheap stuff, and you only have one bike to fix versus ten, and you only have one bike to sell. I used to hang out at the $150 to $200 price point. Find a decent bike for $75, put $50 into parts and consumables, and five hours of time, and ask $175. And then have to take an offer, say $140. At that point, I was making $15 for my time.....Even if I got the bike cheaper, the economics were still mediocre. Heaven forbid I found a serious problem with the bike.
Exception to this pricing is old MTBs. Old MTBs sometimes go cheap, really cheap. While most of the cheap MTBs are not worth repairing, the parts can be valuable. I bought two old rusty Ross MTBs 1/1/18 for $75. Sold the pedals on one for $150, sold the pedals on the other one for $75. Sold the crankset on one for $75, thumb shifter set for $60, list goes on. I'll probably end up with at least $600 out of those two bikes, which had been for sale for a month. Had I refurbished them, at best, I might have broke even (and gotten zero for my time).
Scoring deals is ALL about knowing bikes and their components well. Its not about having some secret list of specific models or brands. Thats all most pickers know. You need to go beyond that. Last week I picked up a Volkscycle. Volkscycle? I had never heard of the brand before. But I know components, First generation Dura Ace crankset, first generation Dura Ace brakes and levers, first generation Dura Ace long cage rear derailleur, first generation Dura Ace bar end shifters. Were all those parts listed in the ad? No. But with a trained eye, they were there in the pictures. That bike sat on C/L for over a month.
Picking/flipping bikes is just like picking/flipping anything else. It takes knowledge, and the more you know, the bigger your advantage. Its not easy, but the rewards are pretty juicy for those with the knowledge. Most flippers are unwilling to spend the time getting knowledgeable. I know flippers that do quite well in a variety of markets. One guy flips Miatas. He pretty much knows everything there is to know about Miatas, has a stockpile of parts, knows how to fix them. Does quite well! Others flip houses and make money doing it. If I started flipping houses or Miatas, I'd lose my fanny on it. I do not have adequate knowledge or skills in either area. I'd probably end up with the stuff the knowledgeable people passed on. Bicycles is no different. You can't just randomly buy old bikes and expect to do well.
Particularly when time is at a premium, would you rather flip four high end bikes a year, or forty low end bikes? Both can net you about the same $$, one will take you ten times longer! And selling forty bikes is a time suck too!
Once these are gone I'll look for some better bikes, maybe some that potentially could be temporarily my or my wife's bike so that I'm not too disappointed if I don't make money or it takes a long time to sell.
#511
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"(Mainly I learn to never take freewheel bikes again :-)"
I have flipped dozens of bikes and not once had to remove a freewheel. Don't restrict your purchases to non-freewheel bikes or you will be limiting both your targets and profitability. Easy enough to check a freewheel before making the purchase. Or if it is bad, tell the seller you want the bike but need to lower the offer by the price of a tool and freewheel. That's a legitimate reason to bargain.
I have flipped dozens of bikes and not once had to remove a freewheel. Don't restrict your purchases to non-freewheel bikes or you will be limiting both your targets and profitability. Easy enough to check a freewheel before making the purchase. Or if it is bad, tell the seller you want the bike but need to lower the offer by the price of a tool and freewheel. That's a legitimate reason to bargain.
#512
Senior Member
"(Mainly I learn to never take freewheel bikes again :-)"
I have flipped dozens of bikes and not once had to remove a freewheel. Don't restrict your purchases to non-freewheel bikes or you will be limiting both your targets and profitability. Easy enough to check a freewheel before making the purchase. Or if it is bad, tell the seller you want the bike but need to lower the offer by the price of a tool and freewheel. That's a legitimate reason to bargain.
I have flipped dozens of bikes and not once had to remove a freewheel. Don't restrict your purchases to non-freewheel bikes or you will be limiting both your targets and profitability. Easy enough to check a freewheel before making the purchase. Or if it is bad, tell the seller you want the bike but need to lower the offer by the price of a tool and freewheel. That's a legitimate reason to bargain.
maybe I have to change my attitude for flipping, but my goal is to make the bike good, not great. A freewheel bike, with cup/cone Bb etc. is just not a good basis.
#513
Senior Member
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Location: mass
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Bikes: '74 Fuji The Ace, '07 S-Works Epic, 88? Hardrock.... A whole bunch more
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I think my favorite part of the flipping I've done is the fact that it's made me really appreciate some of the more basic bikes out there and how good they can be. Not all entry level rigs were made equal. Some really do make for sweet rides
#514
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For me, I remove the freewheels when needed. I don’t mind buying a freewheel bike if the deal is right. I limit myself to higher end bikes. Trek, Giant etc. they sell faster than Huffy. The biggest thing is to have an eye for faults when you buy the bike. Anything out of the ordinary and you can negotiate down or walk away. I usually turn them down if the paint is really worn badly. I don’t want to repaint a bike unless it is really worth it. When I sell a bike I aim to sell something that is good as new or even better. I have a had time sleeping if I sold something I wouldn’t ride myself
#515
WGB
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Wrenchspinnerjr I believe I met your opposite yesterday.
He had a Trek "ready to ride" for $100. When I got there it was missing the front tire and tube. Then I saw there was mud on it and the RD was bent in as was the right rear dropout. On his own he offered it had been fished out of the Welland Canal! Then I saw the front QR was so rusted it was seized to the forks. As politely as I could I told him I didn't want to insult him but maybe the brakes might be salvageable and that was it. I said it was a $25 bike. He became very angry and said he was insulted and now he wanted $150. I said I wasn't there to hurt his feelings but the bike was never going to be ridden again. He swore and said I was wasting his time which was valuable and I simply said sorry and walked away listening to him shout I owed him money for his time. It seems not everyone shares your concern for what they sell. I agree with you and I couldn't sleep either if I tried to sell an unsafe orjunk bike just for a buck from a sucker.
He had a Trek "ready to ride" for $100. When I got there it was missing the front tire and tube. Then I saw there was mud on it and the RD was bent in as was the right rear dropout. On his own he offered it had been fished out of the Welland Canal! Then I saw the front QR was so rusted it was seized to the forks. As politely as I could I told him I didn't want to insult him but maybe the brakes might be salvageable and that was it. I said it was a $25 bike. He became very angry and said he was insulted and now he wanted $150. I said I wasn't there to hurt his feelings but the bike was never going to be ridden again. He swore and said I was wasting his time which was valuable and I simply said sorry and walked away listening to him shout I owed him money for his time. It seems not everyone shares your concern for what they sell. I agree with you and I couldn't sleep either if I tried to sell an unsafe orjunk bike just for a buck from a sucker.
#516
Senior Member
Wrenchspinnerjr I believe I met your opposite yesterday.
He had a Trek "ready to ride" for $100. When I got there it was missing the front tire and tube. Then I saw there was mud on it and the RD was bent in as was the right rear dropout. On his own he offered it had been fished out of the Welland Canal! Then I saw the front QR was so rusted it was seized to the forks. As politely as I could I told him I didn't want to insult him but maybe the brakes might be salvageable and that was it. I said it was a $25 bike. He became very angry and said he was insulted and now he wanted $150. I said I wasn't there to hurt his feelings but the bike was never going to be ridden again. He swore and said I was wasting his time which was valuable and I simply said sorry and walked away listening to him shout I owed him money for his time. It seems not everyone shares your concern for what they sell. I agree with you and I couldn't sleep either if I tried to sell an unsafe orjunk bike just for a buck from a sucker.
He had a Trek "ready to ride" for $100. When I got there it was missing the front tire and tube. Then I saw there was mud on it and the RD was bent in as was the right rear dropout. On his own he offered it had been fished out of the Welland Canal! Then I saw the front QR was so rusted it was seized to the forks. As politely as I could I told him I didn't want to insult him but maybe the brakes might be salvageable and that was it. I said it was a $25 bike. He became very angry and said he was insulted and now he wanted $150. I said I wasn't there to hurt his feelings but the bike was never going to be ridden again. He swore and said I was wasting his time which was valuable and I simply said sorry and walked away listening to him shout I owed him money for his time. It seems not everyone shares your concern for what they sell. I agree with you and I couldn't sleep either if I tried to sell an unsafe orjunk bike just for a buck from a sucker.
I never buy bikes the way you guys do. No going to see it. Better be in front of me priced. I only buy in the wild!
#517
Senior Member
Here is something most probably don't think about. Ebay has this nice picture sharpening feature, and if your digital camera isn't the latest, and greatest it really can help bringing out details that you really want to bring out. Obviously you will only do this with really good stuff.
There's an old joke about walking on the beach and why women keep looking at one particular guy, and another guy does the same thing the next day but nobody paid attention....both guys look about the same otherwise.......
There's an old joke about walking on the beach and why women keep looking at one particular guy, and another guy does the same thing the next day but nobody paid attention....both guys look about the same otherwise.......
Last edited by StarBiker; 03-31-18 at 03:46 PM.
#518
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,717
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball
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Does that have something to do with a potato?
#519
Senior Member
#520
Newbie
I have a question that I'd like to ask. When it comes to selling bikes do you find it easier to sell and make a profit if you convert the bike to a single speed bike?
#521
Thrifty Bill
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
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The boom for vintage road bike conversions to a single speed ended here about six years ago. So no. Maybe your market is different. Try it.
#522
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Southern Ontario, Canada
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What I find is that brake lever extensions - those turkey leg things that allow the rider to access the brakes close to the stem while sitting up on the bike instead of bending over to reach the levers - are a big plus. When riding and commuting in city it is vital for riders, especially shorter female riders, to sit up as tall as possible on the frame and be visible over the roof line of cars in traffic. Safety, comfort and confidence.
Even an old blister like this becomes very attractive if it has decent brake parts:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qn1zik2la8...0copy.png?dl=0
Bink
#523
Still learning
#525
Newbie
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Hello
I have a vintage BSA racing bike that I was told was raced on a track in the 30's or 40's. Its a very unique looking bike and I think pretty rare.
Would you know where I may show this for sale?
I appreciate your help.
Thanks,
Juliansdad
I have a vintage BSA racing bike that I was told was raced on a track in the 30's or 40's. Its a very unique looking bike and I think pretty rare.
Would you know where I may show this for sale?
I appreciate your help.
Thanks,
Juliansdad