Value of a Vintage Motobecane Mirage
 

I was wondering if you guys could help me determine the value of this bike. I'm a college kid on a tight budget. I came across this bike on ebay, it's a local pick-up only listing so the price seems pretty good compared to other completed listings, but I was wondering if anyone could comment on the condition of the bike by looking at the pictures. I honestly don't know much about bikes so your help would be greatly appreciated.

- Callil

Edit: dunno if this is relevant but I have about $150 to work with

Who is going to do the service on this bike to make it rideable? That will likely blow your budget.

Condition? Needs a lot of cleanup, and a full service: tires, bearings, cables, housings, new saddle, perhaps a new chain and freewheel.

Local pickup only is a good strategy to finding deals. I would keep looking. I've scored some local pickup only bikes, typically priced quite a bit lower, or bikes that were a lot better than this one. Newb sellers don't realize if they are going to do a local pickup only deal, they are better off using Craigs List.

Finding anything decent in your budget range is extremely difficult. I find bikes for less than $150 all the time. But every single one of them needed full service (we are not talking about a tuneup!), cables, bearings, tires, chain, etc. Typical "deals" are bikes that have been neglected for many years, or even decades. Unfortunately, unless you have the time/tools/aptitude/knowledge/access to parts/space/interest in doing such a rehab, you will quickly be upside down value wise (a full rehab around here can cost $200 to $250 at a bike shop).

Your other choice is to look at mountain bikes. Rigid frame MTBs from the late 1980s to mid 1990s are a bargain out there, they are well built, and cheap.

Here, decent, ready to ride, fully refurbished vintage road bikes start at about $200, and go up from there. You are in a pricier market than where I live, so adjust it up somewhat. This Motobecane is a really basic, low end bike.

Now finding deals on bikes is a lot of work, takes a lot of time, and you have to pounce when you see a deal, as there are plenty of other bike savvy people in just about every market out there, watching for deals.

Personally, I wouldn't even offer $10 for that bike. Its a very low end Cane to begin with, and it looks like it hasn't been cleaned or serviced for much longer than the advertised 10 years. There is nothing desirable about the components or the tubing. I think you can do much better for $100-$150.

I'd pass.

I pay $35 to $50 cash for that bike but I can do all the work my self... If you can't do the work your self you will quickly spend more fixing the bike than it is worth. You will find better deals on craigslist rather than ebay. Increasing your budget to $200 will also buy you a much better ready to ride refurbished road bike.

Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated!