I saw this mentioned on the CR list. So far as I know a very early PX10 that went for $7K+ is the eBay record for a vintage LW. This Rene Hersealready has it beat by alot and might double it.

I never "got" the PX10 as they've never excited me. I understand the collectability of a Herse but when I think of the NOS Masi's that "only" drew $3K or so I still have to scratch my head.

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...egory=420&rd=1

Gotta be. I know (via internet) one of the bidders,
but its really nuts. The japanese collectors will go to great lengths for French bikes, especially smallish frames
(and don't I regret that fact!).

Marty

IMHO they have more money than brains. But, that is what my wife thinks about my bikes.

$12K is alot to spend on a bike with a Huret Allvit front derailleur, mismatched shift levers, and a non-QR rear axle. It is interesting that French* bikes have been dominating the high end of eBay pricing.

*Euro-Heaven: British police; French lovers; German mechanics; Italian chefs; Swiss politicians.
Euro-Hell: German police; Swiss lovers; French mechanics; British chefs; Italian politicians.

Geez, maybe I should sell all my french bikes and buy up some Huffys...

Nah.

Lotek's comment about the Japanese bidders buying small frames makes me glad I'm over six feet and ride a 62cm frame.

Having been born in the UK to an Irish family makes me shudder at the thought of British police being euro-heaven... gawd, what must the cops in the rest of the countries be like?

HaHaHaHa!!!!! That cracks me up.

British cooking:

Place all ingredients in a pot. Boil until all flavor is removed. Serve barely warm in a bowl.

By the way, there is a reason Rene Herse bikes do not have a quick release on the rear hub. Look closely- the derailleur is mounted IN FRONT of the axle. This is supposed to make the chain last longer by spreading the stress over more teeth. The rear hub uses a winged bolt on the drive side (rather than a derailleur tab and QR) to make wheel installation easier.

Well, if the high bidder isn't a stinkbid, I'll bet it's somebody in Japan.

I was touring in Japan last year and, in the middle of absolutely nowhere (bet you didn't know Japan had a 'middle of nowhere'), I met a guy in his early 40's riding a Peugeot. We stopped and chatted and I had a close look at his bike. It was a 'made in Taiwan' Peugeot. I looked at him and said, "Hmm, made in Taiwan". He kind of laughed and said, "ya, there is NO WAY I could own a real French Peugeot".

I thought of all the French Motobecane and Peugeot, Italian bikes, and British bikes that I saw tossed out over the years. I have just been overwhelmed by the massive amounts of wonderful bikes from the 1960's, '70's, and 80's that I just could not rescue from dumpsters after my garage was filled to capacity. It was painful to watch their demise when I had to refuse when my friends would ask me if I wanted these gorgeous machines. Into the dumpsters they would go.

If a Japanese buyer is willing to take them for any amount of money - God bless them. I am just glad to see the bikes appreciated.

Why would the derailleur's unusual mounting preclude the use of a standard hollow rear axle with QR skewer?

The increased chain wrap would indeed make the small cogs last longer, but the long gap from cog to jockey wheel would make for sloppy, late shifting.

By the way, I did not invent the five national European stereotypes -- they were condensed from a 1992-vintage T-shirt which was popular during the formation of the European Union.

[QUOTE=Walter]I saw this mentioned on the CR list. So far as I know a very early PX10 that went for $7K+ is the eBay record for a vintage LW. This Rene Hersealready has it beat by alot and might double it.
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...egory=420&rd=1
QUOTE]

Hmmm, looks like the buyer has 50% (25+ out of 50) of positive feedback made from the seller and all "AAAAAA+",... all entered on the same day, and the buyer can be found repetitively in the seller's feedback list. I wonder if this auction turned into a sale or was intended to attract a higher bidder.
I wouldn't be surprise we're dealing with some "e-con artists" there.

My local vintage guru, Quas at Village Schwinn in Somers Point, NJ tells me that the $12K is no an unusual price for a Rene Herse in excellent condition. According to Quas, similar bikes in smaller frame sizes often fetch that much and more from Japanese buyers. If I recall, the late 50's Campy crankset went for over $3K and the same era Campy RD also went for over $3K, both to Japanese bidders earlier this year.

Not at all. It looks like the high bidder (who, BTW, is Japanese, as I had suspected..) is either a conservator for a cycling museum, or has a huge collection of old cycling bits. He bought 25-some items from the same buyer, yes, and all of them went for a very good price. But, all the rest of his purchases are from other sellers, and are also old, collectible bikes and bike parts. Suffice to say, whoever this guy is, he has more money than most of us do...

I doubt this was a schill bidder-it would be too obvious if it were. However, if this bike shows up again anytime soon, then I'd start to wonder.

There are a few very well heeled Japanese collectors
who have VERY deep pockets when it comes to
items they want (i.e. $4200 simplex derailleur, $2000 campy bar end shifters, and a cheap $920. Brooks saddle).
These guys are collectors, and resellers in Japan, are
very patient and know what they want. There have been
numerous discussions concerning the huge amount of sales (and prices) of all things French going to Japan.
And besides, if you just sold a bike for $12k wouldn't you
leave lots of positive feedback?
Marty