fender1

+1. This is what I do. I just bought a frame and sold 4 others to help to pay for the incoming frameset. I have 2 more frames to sell, then a bunch of wheels and various components. It helps me get what I want and limits the build up of bike stuff.

vintagerando

I have been developing my taste over the past few years. I have become more focused on condition too. Currently, I am looking for American builders; looking for higher levels of craftsmanship. The story behind a builder or bike is important to me too. I like to know provenance, it adds value to me, value I probably couldn't get back if I sold some of the bikes I own. I paid $460 for a (complete bike) Peter Mooney. I don't even know the "FMV" of it, it doesn't even matter. I lived in Cambridge for awhile, 15 mins from Peter Mooneys Belmont Wheelworks, even met him once. Would I have paid more? Maybe. Right now my method of purchase, running an ad in the local paper, allows me access to bikes at affordable prices. I buy to ride, so it has to be my size, good condition. Thinking about it more.....I don't know my limit.....I guess I haven't run into a bike that has reached that point where I am unsure it I should pass.

rhm

I am a collector, I admit it. And I'd rather be a collector than a diabetic, or a heroin addict. As pathologies go, collecting is fairly mild. But with time, the pathology gets stronger and my ability to control it... does not. Is there a upper limit to what I'll spend? Yes... but more than once I've learned that it was higher than I thought. It may on fact turn out to be higher still.

Bikerider007

Nice candid post.

nesteel 

Over the past three years I've explored where my personal ceiling is. It's higher now than it used to be. Higher than I thought I would be comfortable with. Still cheaper than a drug habit. And the exercise helps keep the diabetes in control. So, win-win. Once I buy/trade my way to my goal, it's onto a different project.

Barrettscv 

I have a left-brain, right-brain dialogue when the price reaches a certain level for a bike. The right brain appreciates the hand crafted qualities and rarity of an exotic bike, while the left brain is more rational and provides an evaluation concerning return on investment.

Most of my collection satisfies both the left-brain and right-brain easily. When the price is moderate, I can enjoy the aesthetics, performance and value without conflict.

Two of the bikes in my collection succeded in appealing to both the right-brain and the left-brain even when the price was higher than prior purchases. Both bikes were acquired for less than my price ceiling. The 1972 Paramount filled a strong sentimental need, I owned a Paramount as a teenager and was able to acquire a replacement at a rational price. The 1993ish Pinarello Gavia was built up from the frameset and I was able to control both the cost and quality by carefully acquiring components that fit well together. I've wanted a frame from a top producer built from Columbus TSX and I now have great performance bike that's also really beautiful.

The formula gets more complicated when the total investment climbs beyond $1100. When the price crosses this threshold, the bike has to satisfy the right brain and be significantly better than the other bikes in the collection. It also must be a sound purchase that can be justified as a good value. I'm also less willing to spend serious money, sight-unseen.

My next acquisition is facing some serious headwinds.

italianbiker

Originally I had to many bikes, wife kept complaining. So we made an agreement, sell 4 bikes and buy one bike. So, know I feel better and have fewer bikes but my bike fund certainly increased. I'm always looking for that deal and will certainly buy it as long as it is a deal if it comes along. But bikes have become expensive, sellers aren't selling them but they sure are asking 5 x more. There is that very nice PX10 on eBay that sold for 650 last year, today the guy is selling it for 3500! A very nice 60's Bianchi didn't sell last year for 1500, this year 2999.00, interesting.

I sold an 80's Gios Professional (650.00), '65 Peugeot PX 10 (1600.00) - bike was a grail bike, but large for me and not able to ride. And then sold two Japanese for about 150 each.

So now I'm looking for a De Rosa or Cinelli and maybe another Bianchi but wouldn't mind adding a Colnago if I don't find a Masi. I think in 5 years my wife will start complaining again.

DMC707

Aint that the truth --- i built an SB-95 last year with XTR 1x11 and the nicest suspension Fox has to offer and i am in for 6k -- 6k and still not supremely happy with the wheelset, but i cant wrangle a "pro deal" on an Enve/Chris King combo --- LOL . That was with me calling in favors, trolling the internet for component deals , plying my local shopkeep with micro brews and all that

My cost per ride is going to work out alright because i use that thing a lot. Cost per ride for my DH bike OTOH, -- not as wallet friendly

DMC707

This has been what started my sickness --- i still retained most of my old framesets from years past when i was a budding USCF racer --- A bike typically lasted me a year to a year and a half until it started needing some work, and i wanted something newer.

I gave away piles of parts back then when i was done with them -- i also recall tossing a big rubbermaid box of old Shimano stuff in the dumpster- because who would ever want a bunch of old Shimano crap? LOL

But something clicked and i wanted to rebuild some of my old bikes both for viewing pleasure and possibly to ride occasionally ----- Not much of it has any true dollar value but if i tallied up what i have spent on "parts bikes" that are still waiting disasssembly while i look for the perfect groupset, i probably could have bought a couple of decent Colnago's or similar machines instead
-- Somebody else's old Colnago doesnt mean as much to me as restoring one of my old bikes

Not to say i havent picked up things i shouldnt have --- but i rationalized my newer ('04 or 05) Pinarello as saying, -- "this will take the place of my newfangled carbon bike" -- and i picked up a DeBErnardi frame because it was pretty, not much $$, and i had a Campy triple setup off one of the parts bikes that needed a frameset -- it will be my hill country cruiser

I spend serious money on my hobby, but so far it hasnt really been on any one particular bike ( new mountain bikes excepted )

gomango

Nice rig!

Many of my friends change mtbs every couple of years. There is constant improvement in off road gear and it is a bit of a space race right now. I sold my Niner after two years to a friend. He is using it till his new Santa Cruz shows up.

This all costs big $$$.

The good news is you can get a nice Marin Pine Mountain for less than a $1,000. That's a lot of fun for the bucks.

Back on c&v topic though, a couple of people are clamoring for my McLean. Two solid offers on a bike that's not going to be for sale anytime soon.

Barrettscv 

We have similar motivations. I have the Paramount, PX10 and Grand Record since these, and the best Raleighs, were the better known performance bikes from the teenage years.

My steel 1994ish Pinarello has a 3x10 Chorus drivetrain and it performs as well as my carbon road bike with a Shimano triple. The Pinarello could replace multiple bikes in the collection, both vintage and modern, and probably will this spring.

bikingshearer 

With this crew? You're kidding, right?

gugie 

Erwin8r

Dang. Rings far too familiar for me...

armstrong101

I can spend up to 800 on a bike without blinking an eye, if it is in good condition with good parts.

The most I've ever spent on a bike is 1300. That's the only one over 1000 (compared to about 20 between 500-1000). I think I'm pretty averse to anything about 1000 - it would have to be definitely a "good" deal, otherwise I won't pull the trigger. Unless it's a grail of some sort (e.g. Cinelli SC in my exact size), not sure what I'd do in that case.

I turn a lot of my bikes and bike parts over, to fund my collection, so it really pays for itself. And if I ever sell everything out, I'll be up thousands of dollars. So I'm not too fearful about the money I'm putting into this.

SloButWide 

My ex's uncle restores vintage Chevy and Harley. "Men want what was cool when they were in High School". The exception has the early eighties - few fell in love with those, which drove up the prices of 60's and 70's Camaros and Corvettes.

DMC707

I had a '69 GMC truck in HS (Still have it) - i remember looking down my nose at guys' driving trucks from the late 70's/early to mid 80's thinking "Why do they even bother trying to make that pile look cool" this would be '88/89 time frame (In OK and TX- everyone drove trucks - nice examples from the 50's/60's were as highly regarded as Camaros-Vettes-Cuda's etc) .
80's/early 90's Camaros etc are not collectible, but i'd give large coin to have my '91 Z-28 back i bought when i was in the Army

cs1

Agreed 100%

Barrettscv 

Well, after pushing past my price ceiling but falling short on bids and price offers on two Merckx MX Leaders (one complete bike with Campagnolo and the other a NOS frameset), I scored a Corsa Extra with original Dura Ace for $510 plus $75 shipping. I'm feeling better about having a price ceiling.

Chrome Molly

Patience has its rewards

jr59

this is me^^

I turned down a Confente a while back. It fit me, and was very nice. Also almost 9,000 dollars. I kick myself for not buying it now. I have a lot of bikes. Most are custom US hand made. Most are well above what most posters on here would pay. That's alright, to each their own. I see it all the time in posts. A high end bike on here gets very few posts and at times almost shamed, while a med. grade bike, get praise heaped on it. No problem my me, I just like high end stuff.

so no limit to what I will spend on the things I want. Providing that I can afford it.

Wildwood 

Never had an MX, but I do have Corsa Extra stories that could be appropriate for this thread.

Barrettscv 

Well...?

Wildwood 

My 'custom US hand made' only had a 3 bike life, still own them. 2 are lifetime keepers. Anybody need a great tandem?

Wildwood 

just for you as a new owner.
I really wanted a Merckx (any nice Merckx) with Campy CdA jewelry and the prices here in the US were more than I wanted to pay - by a lot. Sooo, I started the Euro search casually - which opens up a whole new 'can of worms' of possibilities. I passed on a lot of bikes because of language difficulties, but found one Merckx CE w/ CdA (pristine) which sustained significant cosmetic damage during shipment to Seattle, so bad = Couldn't bear to look at it, but the ride was supreme. Decided to keep the Campy and find a 7-11 frame. But never found the right frame so sold the Merckx including Campy. NOW THERE IS THIS 'Merckx' BURNING HOLE IN MY SOUL. Ultimately I found another Merckx frameset similar to the first one from Belgium. Didn't build it with CdA but the ride is still heavenly. The prices weren't a killer but the entire process was more than a man should have to go through to acquire a keeper.

Long story short = you should really like that SLX (I presume) frame with Century geometry.