Old Fat Guy

Is there a reason this didn't reach the reserve, or is it not worth the high bid?
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=270213153552

Looked like a nice bike to me, not the greatest wheelset, but a decent rider. was it the poor spelling, bad description, or was there something else I missed?

It appears to be a good example in an attractive paint scheme. What am I missing?

Gary Fountain

With 31 bidders - is this an accurate reflection on the true worth of a reconditioned 80's vintage bike? I suppose the re-paint would not suit many collectors as its blending 70's era paint scheme with 80's era frame and components.

Personally, I like it but I wouldn't pay over $1000 for it.

hhabca

I think it was a fair price to end with. It's not a team issue race bike and it wasn't Molteni orange.. As well for $1000 there's plenty of choice out there in 80's vintage Colnago's, Pinarello's, etc....

caterham

that would assume that one would actually want an 80's vintage Colnago, Pinarello,etc. over a Merckx Professional...

(not that there's anything wrong with that...)



k

ps- too bad the bike only has a "paragraphed" stem.... i personally think the pantographed ones look much better

Picchio Special

I don't think it's a re-paint. That's the correct paint and decal scheme for that bike, from what I can tell, and the Faema livery is fairly desirable. Maybe others interpreted the description to imply the bike was repainted and that helpd keep the price down. I don't think the price it stalled at is necessarily way on the low side in any case, but I think it might have broken the $1,000 mark with some really good photos that made it look more attractive. We also don't know what the high bid was - maybe someone bid $1200 and still didn't meet the reserve and got discouraged.

MerckxMad

I was outbid by $10 and even contacted the seller after the auction about possible sale at reserve pricing, but never received a response. The seller's responses to questions were kind of sketchy (didn't know the model or the tubing, details about the group), but the serial numbers checked out. Apparently, Team Lotto rode this model in '85. I wonder if we'll see a re-listing.

avenan

Uh oh -- I'm afraid I might inadvertantly be the start of this Lotto rumor...Lotto didn't ride this in '85, they rode a yellow with white panels. See:
https://www.tearsforgears.com/2007/09...am-colors.html

The white/red is classic Faema, though there WAS a team that rode this scheme in 1985 -- Tönnisteiner (but with the italic-style lettering scheme).
https://www.tearsforgears.com/2007/12/marc-vrd.html

MerckxMad

I found a Belgian website showing a catalogue pic of what I thought was the '85 Lotto team riding the Professional yellow/white frames and below it was the Faema red/white model. Could be the same pic that you posted and my mind's eye linked the two. Does anybody know what happened to this particualr bike? I seem to have run out of luck in my quest for Merckx steel.

Old Fat Guy

There are a couple of other steel Merckx frames on the Bay now. One is from a seller who I understand is a bit shakey, in Germany. The other is a pretty beat up bike from Ca.

There is also a nice looking NOS Strada, that is a bit larger, and in Belgium.

The Faema bike looked to be very nice, and in good condition.

GCRyder

I noticed the seller's relatively low total feedback, plus evident reluctance to send a high-res photo to a supplied email address. Anything's possible, I guess, but how does one list a bike on ebay, yet "not know how" to attach photos to an email?

Old Fat Guy

The reserve was $1200, a bit on the high side, considering the inflated shipping charges. I think for the $923 + shipping, it would have been a decent deal, if the bike is truly in the condition stated.

TMB

Wow, tough room!!

due ruote 

How do you know the reserve?

ricgre

Last Merckx that I bought a couple of years ago paid $950. Wish I could find a vintage Mercian in that condition.

Dr.Deltron

It seems from what I've gathered, that parting it all out would have been the better way to reach the reserve.

tarwheel 

I think the seller made a mistake setting such a high reserve price. Perhaps the serious bidders quit bidding when they realized their bids still weren't reaching the reserve. It seems to me that the auctions that ultimately yield the highest price for sellers are those that set a low starting bid and no reserve price. That way people keep bidding hoping to get a bargain and then get sucked into trying to score a win.

MerckxMad

+1 I bailed at $900. With the $175 shipping, I lost interest when the bidding went above $900 and the reserve was not met. Too bad. Maybe we'll see it again on with no/lower reserve.

Old Fat Guy

The seller told me when I asked.

Old Fat Guy

The shipping to AZ was $120, still high, even with insurance and handling. The last bike I shipped across the country was under $60, insured. I don't think you'll see it again soon ;-)

Picchio Special

Last bike I shipped cross country (favor for a C&V member) was $37, uninsured. That's been about average for me over the past few years.
(I have a pristine [as in better condition than the one on eBay] Faema Merckx in 57 cm with full C-Record (deltas and Campy alloy freewheel) I'll be selling at Cirque in June, if anyone's planning on attending.)

MerckxMad

Did you buy it? The Seller has ignored my emails.

Old Fat Guy

Yes, second chance offer.

sunsurfandsand

[QUOTE=caterham;6247053
ps- too bad the bike only has a "paragraphed" stem.... i personally think the pantographed ones look much better[/QUOTE]

But with Eddy's all day comfort Century Geometry, sometimes you might want to have something a little longer to read along with you on the ride.

Old Fat Guy

I don't believe the Professional has the Century Geometry.

MerckxMad

Oh, you're killing me.