norcal96

i have a 1988 schwinn prelude and it is in relatively good condition and but has some scratches how much should i ask for on Craigslist for the bike.

pic of bike from schwinn catalog, yellow and white bike in pic

jjames1452 

The Preludes are good - not great bikes.
I enjoy riding my Prelude - and just sold a mint pink Prelude frame.
The bike that came from that frame is beautiful.

Pictures would help, but in Dayton Ohio, I would expect to pay $100 for a ready to ride Prelude in decent shape.

WNG

Wrong forum, you need to ask the folks in the C&V Appraisals forum.
The Prelude's selling point is the frame, it rides better than the bikes it was created to compete with in the market. The components are entry to mid-grade.
It's a sport-tourer bike, emphasis on sport.

How much to charge depends on condition and regional demand. I bought mine for $50 in Boston, where bikes are so plentiful, they give them away in the CL free ads.
In Phoenix, $100-200 due to an artificially high valuation. In your neck of the woods? Check similar bikes of condition and year on CL.
Cosmetic issues and mechanical issues will drastically lower price. Mint condition, well maintained bikes command top asking prices.

FastJake

+1 We need pictures to assess condition and value. But for a decent Prelude I'd expect about $150 around here.

Scooper

Detailed photos, please.

MSRP for the '88 Prelude was $399.95. Double-butted Tenax main tubes with chromoly stays and Hi-Ten fork, SunTour A5000 components, Weinmann alloy 700c rims.

I agree with Bill on the evaluation if it's in decent shape, especially in the bay area. ~$250 or so on S.F. CL without seeing detailed photos.

This isn't as bad a time to sell in S.F. as in other parts of the country. It's 60 degrees and sunny.

zukahn1 

I would say $175-200 for this bike in your aera if in good working ready to use condition. Pics would help a alot as said before condition size and general cosmetics could make a huge differnce. The low end on a prelude is about $125 and the high is close to $300 considering condition.

Poguemahone

Since we regularly see bikes with copious amounts of rust described as "mint", we really do like to see photos. Give us some, and we can narrow down the price a bit more; it's somewhere between 50 and 300$.

jjames1452 

Pictures would help, but just paid $100 for a mint Tempo. Columbus tubes throughout and better components.
No disrespect to Preludes. I love my Prelude.
Maybe its the snow in Dayton Ohio that depresses the bike market here in winter. Spring is coming.

xkjzix

I bought my Le Tour (a few steps down from the Prelude) for $70 in decent shape. I think you could fetch at least $200 in the NorCal market. Bikes in California go for MUCH higher than in other areas.

zukahn1 

[QUOTE=jjames1452;16460213]Pictures would help, but just paid $100 for a mint Tempo. Columbus tubes throughout and better components.
No disrespect to Preludes. I love my Prelude.
Maybe its the snow in Dayton Ohio that depresses the bike market here in winter. Spring is coming.[/QUOTtE]

That is a big segway but the bike is great for under $250.00

Fahrenheit531 

Exactly this. I found a Tempo in excellent shape for $100 -- this is in Portland, mind you -- and the ad had been up for a couple of days before I noticed it. Crappy picture, bike hadn't even been wiped down, old bar tape, and simply described as a Schwinn 10-Speed. Had the guy shined it up and taken $20 and 20 minutes to replace the tape he could've doubled his asking price and sold it in hours, not days.

Take the time to make the bike look like something somebody would want, have it in rideable condition when they get there to check it out, and you'll sell at the high end of the range.

Steve Whitlatch 

You would get $200 to $250 for a good Prelude in Chicago.

cehowardGS

I purchased this 1987 Schwinn Prelude off CL for $50..As you can see it had a bent rear wheel. I had some old wheels and tires that were take offs from other projects, seat and bartape were takeoffs off too. Put them on the Prelude. Cleaned it up, oiled it..BTW, it came with a Cannondale Velcro Water Bottle, that I had been searching for, and would have paid at least $35 for one. So, I got the waterbottle and 87 Prelude all for $50

Here is as I purchased it.. I took the bottle off to clean it







After the minor fixes, it takes on the role as a beater bike. I has a sweet ride..





Here is one I saw on CL for $100 but it wasn't my size. I purchased it, and as is, I listed it for for $175 and put it back on CL.. It sold in 2 days..

FastJake

And you got a screaming good deal. That doesn't mean the market value of a mint Tempo is $100. I was ecstatic when I found a 1988 Tempo in 'good' condition (needing an overhaul) for $150.

oddjob2

In the last year, I bought the following Schwinns, for between $25-$130, one at auction and the balance within 80-85% of CL asking price. They're all good deals IMHO, all needing full overhauls and new consumables. The gross selling price on one will cover 80-100% of the acquisition costs of the remainders.

1981 SS
1987 SS
1987 Tempo
1982 Voyageur 11.8
1980 Voyageur 11.8

Steve Whitlatch 

My 86 sporting its new wheelset. Now if the snow would just go away.

oddjob2

A beauty Steve! I like the red on grey, which is hard for a Wolverine to admit that.

Steve Whitlatch 

Thanks. I hope to make it a Super Prelude by spring. I bought a Superbe Pro FD and will have a Superbe Pro RD soon if the stupid jerks on ebay would quit outbidding me.
I bought those wheels from a forum member. The rims look new. No brake marks or scratches. They have Suntour hubs. I also bought the Suntour New Winner Freewheel from him as well. If I luck into a better frame for cheap I will have a great set of bits to swap onto it.

My wife`s Voyageur is almost finished. Just waiting on the HG 50 Cassette to come in. Will be done Saturday. Getting ready for spring.

zukahn1 

Gun metal grey with colored details cables bar tape is just great. Great mix of just classic and bold look at me.

cehowardGS

Dammit, you are going to make me spring for another wheelset for my Prelude... Since mine is my beater, the present wheels are untrue... Will be getting a new cheapo set shortly..


Yours looks great!!!