jen3774

Hi all! Long time lover of BikeForums but I rarely post. I'm moving and need to downsize my bike stable and am curious to learn what you all think my vintage 1987 Fuji Saratoga is worth including all components and add-ons, and where I would have the best luck selling it. It's just slightly too big for me. I'm in the DC area, so the season's not great for selling.

From some online research, I think this was the only year that Fuji made both the America and the Saratoga. Made in Japan, before Fuji shifted production to Taiwan. Great clean lugs and nice VAlite Si45 tubing, which I understand is Ishiwata EXO-V quad butted - likely Panasonic built. Comparable to the Trek 520 of the same era. Nice crown fork. No dents or dings in the frame, although it's scratched. Mostly solid and ready to ride for miles and miles.

Components alone are worth tons IMHO, but they're not something I really want to try to part out:

Nitto M12 front rack https://www.benscycle.com/p-2104-nit...ront-rack.aspx
Velo Orange Decaleur VO Decaleur Kits
Nitto Technomic stem https://www.benscycle.com/p-2499-nit...uill-stem.aspx
Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires City / Touring | Schwalbe North America
Cantilever brakes
Tektro TRP brake levers Tektro TRP RRL SR Brake Levers - Silver Drilled Alloy - Gum Hoods - 15180
Sugino cranks
Dual braze ons / eyelets in front and back to allow for both racks and fenders and good clearance thanks to the canti brakes
Mustache bars with real leather bar tape (should be able to be reused on other bars if desired)
New sealed bottom bracket
Velo Orange braided metallic cable housing

Original Fuji catalog listing: https://www.classicfuji.com/1987_14_Saratoga_Page.htm

Available with Swift Industries custom rando / porteur bag (https://www.builtbyswift.com/products/6) and Berthoud fenders (Peter White Cycles Fenders) I can include, but neither are on the bike currently. Great for commuting, touring, randonneuring, bike camping, etc.

I would love help from others more experienced than I am! I have loved the bike but haven't tried to sell something like this before.

oddjob2

Pay $12 membership and list it in the C&V for sale thread here. DC is an affluent market, list it on CL for $425 and wait a week. Lower $25 a week until it sells.

eBay, no specific Saratoga comps. Two are bike shop sales. Figure $50 for an LBS to box it up for you to ship.

Fuji Touring Series IV 58 Cm | eBay

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jen3774

Thank you! Do you think I should just take off the Nitto rack and fancy components to sell separately? I feel like vintage lugged steel doesn't sell in the $500-$700 range quickly even with all the bells and whistles, but even without any extras the frame and simple components would sell for ~$300. I didn't know that that was how to go about posting here - I'll sign up for the premium membership. Thanks!

oddjob2

Yes sell the racks separately. You may want to change the handlebars as well. Those accessories and parts will sell here pretty quickly.

zukahn1 

I would agree on price value of $400 or so. I would go ahead and take off most of the extras and put the regular touring bars back on the bike if you have them. You typically don't get much more out of the sale price for extras and upgrades on a used bike.

wrk101

Bars are a negative on a touring bike, so swap them out and sell separately. Also sell racks and bags if you still have them on eBay, easy to ship, good market for them.

Its a $400 bike with or without those parts. Leave them on, and they are a gift to the new owner, swap them out and you will make more money.

I love buying bikes with extras as the extras are almost always free. I then resell them to improve the economics. I bought a touring bike where the racks alone covered the price paid (good deal). Buyers have no imagination.