Is this a good price?
 

This is my first post to this forum, so hello everyone.

There's a guy on CL selling a 1992 Trek 1200 road bike for $125. Is this a good price? Looks to be in good shape from the low res picture and the owners describes it as being in 'good condition'.

I'm not sure if this is considered classic or vintage - sorry if this post doesn't fit into the Classic and Vintage forum. How old does a bike have to be, to be considered classic and/or vintage?

Thanks,

Andy

I don't know the Trek 1200, but if it is in good shape mechanically, fits you, and you like the way it rides, almost any non-X-Mart bike is worth $125...

Classic and Vintage definition varies, but it seems that pre-brifter is a good bet, some like to see them older before fitting into the bracket...

Does it look similar to this?

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5...01smallrw3.jpg

shimano rx100 group? Matrix ISO-II rims?

Thanks for the info, I'll certainly give it a test drive and a 'once over' before parting with any cash.

The picture on CL is pretty small so it's hard to say for sure that it looks like the one you posted. Yes to rx100 group. Not sure about the rims but I haven't heard back from the CL poster yet.
http://d.im.craigslist.org/xb/Rq/TYV...OkzgYlCw35.jpg

Here's a link to the CL add

That bike looks fairly clean and with RX100 ergo... it's worth $125... but not much more. I think the 1200 was entry-level but Trek does make nice entry-level bikes.

I think for another $50 or so you can get an early 90's Trek 2300 Carbon/Aluminum with Shimano 600 which is a bit more serious.

It's definitely worth $125. I've seen them go for almost $300 on Ebay.

Incidentally, that fluorescent yellow is a GREAT commuter or road bike color-- it will help increase drivers' recognition distance (the distance at which a driver recognizes what an object is), and thus, will aid your safety on the road. If you're interested in that bike, I would strongly urge you to get it before someone else does.

Incidentally, it's a 1991 Trek 1200, not a 1992, and it's an aluminum frame, if that makes any difference to you. Some people prefer aluminum, some prefer steel.

I'm not sure about that.. that catalog does not show integrated brifters, they may have been upgraded later...
my 91 had downtube shifters and was spec'd identical to the one in that catalog.

edit: I paid $200 for mine used 4 years ago, so $1125 sounds about right.

Yeah, but if you go through the catalogs for every year, 1991 is the ONLY year that color was available. I did that-- went through every catalog-- when I was trying to ID my 1991 Trek 830, which also comes in the same great fluorescent yellow.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, the one I've seen up close had downtube shifters, and so does the one in the attached pic, so yes, the brifters must have been an upgrade.

If it's clean and working, it is a very good price. BUT....... MAKE SURE those RSX brifters are in working order, because if they're not you'll be in trouble as they are not fixable. Sometimes you can hose out the gunk and get them working again, but don't count on it before paying for the bike. You can always convert to barcon's or DT shifters if that's your thing, but if you're after brifters make sure they work.

RSX brifters were good in their day, but that was a while ago so most of them are either broken or have high mileage on them and might likely wear out soon. Be mindful of that when you test drive.

EDIT: I just re-read the CL posting - he's got Sora shifters on there now. See - the RSX one's wore out! :D See if you can get a feel for how long ago he swapped them out - Sora's aren't repairable, either.....

Boy, I am so glad that I posted this on here, I never would have known about the repairability issues with the RSX's and the Soras. I'm still going to take a look at it but I will definitely ask about the age of those Soras.
I was planning to use this as a commuter (I live just a little over a mile from downtown Nashville) and maybe for some recreational riding as well. But I'm in no hurry to get something, so I can take my time and be careful about what I purchase. However, I do love a good deal when I stumble upon one.
Thanks again for all of the advice and information!

You are right about the old shimano brifters. Sounds to me like the price is pretty good here.

Don't get me wrong, Sora shifters, while on the low end, are sturdy enough, work well, and will last for a few thousand miles. You just want to try and guage how much life is left in them..... :D

For reference, replacement Sora shifters aren't too bad - about $50 for the right and about $40 for the left:
LEFT
RIGHT

A Tiagra pair runs about $200:
Tiagra set

Oh well, I finally heard back from the owner of the Trek, I was second in line to look at it, and it would appear that the first in line took it home because the post has been removed from CL.
Drat!
My search goes on.

You'll get the next one & it'll be even better!