I may have the opportunity to buy one, or even two, EG Bates bikes fairly cheaply. Now, I know these are excellent bikes, and if they end up really cheap, I'll buy them. However, since I'm thinking of buying to sell on, rather than keep, I may still be interested even if they're NOT an absolute bargain basement steal. There could still be money to be made. They information on them is limited, as they're being sold by someone who is not a bike nut (they belonged to his father). This is what I know:

First bike - track bike. Supposedly used for 5 years, and stored for 5. Looks like magnificent condition, but don't know much about the equipment. It's certainly a real track bike (you can see the track ends). It's a 24" frame, with (apparently) Suntour and Specialized components, look pedals, Mavic rims. It has a front brake mounted, and it's in 531.

Second bike - TT bike. It's a lo-profile, looks like radial spoking on the front wheel, handmade for the same guy. Campag seatpost, suntour groupset, apparently, made from 753.

I suspect some of the details might be mixed up from one bike to another, but my impression is that either of these bikes, on ebay and properly described, would fetch around £1000 ($1500). I realise it's a bit of a punt in the dark, but any opinions?

these bikes are religeous icon,s

Yes, I know, but there are some unanswered questions about them in my mind. They seem to have been built recently, for one thing. Lo-pros weren't around during Bates's heyday in the 50's, nor was 753, and the fact that they're equipped with Suntour is odd too. The guy thinks they were made about 10 years ago, but they sure as hell don't look that way, in terms of style, particularly the track bike. It's as old-skool as they come. Is Bates still manufacturing? Were they 10 years ago at least? If so, do recent bikes have similar cachet (and market value) to the older ones?

These bikes are my size, and if I buy them, there will be a HUGE temptation to keep them......

Ok, so, 753 was introduced in 1976, and everything I can find about lo-pro "funny bikes" says early 1980's on. In the pictures, the bikes are very clearly badged as EG Bates, and you can see the 753 sticker, so I presume Bates went on at least this long. They certainly look very much the hand-built thoroughbreds in the pics, but the Suntour components don't quite fit in my mind with that.

The brand name went on with different players. Refer to the Classicrendezvous archives and google a bit, your expectations for the time trial bike are probably too hopeful.

Hmmm. Looks like Horace Bates was revived by Ron Cooper, of Gillots, but that the E.G. Bates business continued until 2002 without needing revival. These are certainly, then, more recent products of the E.G. Bates business, which fits this sellers timeline. It looks like $800-1000 is more of a relevant price, but there's a fair chance I can buy these a long way under that. Might be investment time.

Hmmm. Looks like Horace Bates was revived by Ron Cooper, of Gillots, but that the E.G. Bates business continued until 2002 without needing revival. These are certainly, then, more recent products of the E.G. Bates business, which fits this sellers timeline. It looks like $800-1000 is more of a relevant price, but there's a fair chance I can buy these a long way under that. Might be investment time. Thanks for the useful steer number6.

Neither of these bikes looks like it's cantiflex tubing, nor do they have the diadrant forks. Nevertheless, nice handbuilt British bikes, in excellent condition. If I can get them as cheap as I hope, I'll be able to keep one, and sell the other for considerably more than I pay for both.