What do i have here?
 

i got this bike in my attic and i have no idea if it's junk or something worth hanging on to.
it's a bridgestone 400. my dad gave it to me and wanted me to try and sell it on ebay. he thought i should be able to get a few hundred for it. is this bike something people desire?
thanks for the help.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...g?t=1175995669

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...g?t=1175995699

i guess i meant to say "what do i have here".

Thanks to Sheldon's site I found this quickly...

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgest...ne-400psd.html

If it was my size & I wanted an old steel bike I'd certainly be interested. I'd guess you should get $1 or $2 hundred easily. Maybe more, I'm not an expert.

If it's *your* size, keep it if you have any thought of ever riding a bicycle. These old alloy-steel bikes are renowned for being very-nearly as nice in some respects, better in others, as very expensive new bikes but at a fraction of the price.

You could post in the 'Classic & Vintage' forum. It's maybe not modern enough for the 'Road' forum though it's a road bike.

-Rich

The people paying this much must know something I don't. This looks like a $40 bike to me. I don't think bridgestones were anything special. Maybe somebody will correct me and tell you that this bike is the Schwinn Paramount of bridgestones, but I doubt it.

looks like a nice quolity classic. Ebay will get the highest price depending on whare your at, I hear the market in San Francisco bay area sells high. Here in Lancaster Pa $40 is about right. Check ebay for similar items and price you starting be by that. Is the bike all original, that could get you a little more.On ebay make sure lots of good photos and a well writen add.

Not a Paramount, but this particular model is a pretty nice one. Before about '81 (IMHO) Bridgestones weren't really anything special, but through the mid and late '80s and beyond they really began to shine. Vwguy's 400 looks like an '85. I own an '84 400, and it's great. The fit and finish is superb, as are the ride and handling. It's easily on a par with Treks, Miyatas, and such from the same period. I stole mine for $100, and in my area I could sell it for $250-$300 in nothing flat.

Bridgestone
 

I would agree that it could sell for $2-300 because here in Portland I've sold similar bikes for that much. Bridgestones have a following and although the 400 is a mid-range model yours looks very clean and original. If it is your size I'd tune it up and ride it. I'd bet it is a comfortable, sturdy bike. It certainly looks like MY size...

is it worth keeping or should i sell? i won't ride it, not that i'm lazy i just don't ride road bikes.
but if it's something that will increase value over time i guess it's worth keeping.
any thoughts?
thanks.

I don't know where you are, but the market for road bikes most places is pretty hot right now (it certianly is in Austin). You can gamble on how much longer they will go up, but I wouldn't.

Also, unless you have an ebay account with lots of good feedback already (and maybe even if you do) I would try to sell it on craig's list first.

yours looks like like around the same year as my 500 model, i think the last 500 i saw on ebay went for around 250 bucks maybe more, that was a few months ago. so that should give you a ballpark of value.

'84 500 , cost $5 :

:beer:

If you're not going to ride it, I see little sense in keeping it. It's a nice bike, but not one that's likely to increase in value. I'm a bit taken aback by the price estimates I'm seeing above. Bridgestone does have some brand value, but I'd think $200 was way optimistic outside the really hot markets. JMHO, and worth every penny you paid for it.