I've been wanting to upgrade from my ~73 motobecane mirage due to an ever increasing need for an overhaul. Instead of putting money into getting the mirage in top shape, I'd just like to put that money toward an upgrade.
I commute ~20 miles round trip to work 3-4 times per week. I would like to be able to ride year-round, and start doing some longer rides (I've been commuting 3 weeks, and am already hooked on the road).
The bike I've been lusting over...
https://www.therecyclery.com/bikes/trek600#
1985 Trek 600, full shimano 600 groupset. Bike has been overhauled by the shop, and the 600 components have all been upgraded (not the original set to the bike).
I've taken it for a spin. The thing is a feather compared to the motobecane, and it was a breath of fresh air being able to shift into the desired gear on the FIRST try!
That being said... $650 isn't cheap, but the bike seems to be in fantastic shape, with a few blemishes.
I almost got hit on my way to work today by a van pulling out in front of me, coupled with my weak brakes. Before the ride this morning, I was looking for a sign on whether to upgrade bikes...
If this Trek is reasonable, I'm going to take another test ride tonight, and then, who knows?

Thanks for any and all help, this forum is FANTASTIC!

eag

its a nice bike. I personally wouldnt pay that for it, but thats mainly because I know I could build one and ride it for much cheaper than that.
Even for someone who doesnt wrench, and is just looking for a good "out of the bike" bike, i still think thats a tad high for that.

nice bike though.

I'm not sure if there's any haggle room, but what would be a fair price to offer for the bike, approximately?

well, as you may have seen in this forum, its very hard to place a very specific value on things like this. It really depends what market you're in as well as a bunch of other factors.

I can tell you I personally wouldnt pay more than $350 for that and that's pushing it, but maybe that's why I've had to build all of my bikes . I may not be the best gage to go by.

Hopefully some others will chime in.

I'm in the bike-haven of Portland Oregon, and this seller is in down-town. It's been there for a while due to the high price, but I'm not having much luck with craigslist, and I have a hard time settling for a new bike with sora/tiagra components, a $1300 bike with 105 is just out of my range.

For that price I was expecting 8s STI (and it would still be too high), not '85 era 600. Nice bike, but worth about half what they want.

for what it's worth I sold my 85 670 (full campy Nuovo Record group with exception of brakes)
full 531C frame and forks for $250, and it was in excellent condition.
$650 is too expensive for that bike, regardless if it's in Portland or not.

Marty

Good to know, good to know.
Thanks for all the input. I would feel comfortable paying up to 450 for the bike, but it'd probably be a tough sell for the shop.

If you can get them down to $450, it's sweeter, but how good a technician are you? Could you have accomplished what they did at restoring and tuning up that bike, and do you need any of the post-sales support they might be offerring, similar to what you get with a new bike? If so, look for a suitable frame and parts set and have at it, it MIGHT cost less than they ask at the end of the day. If not, or if all you need is reliable transportation, then even the $450 is probably more than you need to spend. or are you in need of a reliable bike right now?

On Ebay or CL that would probably be too much, and it would come with uncertainty as to what you will actually get. Here you've seen it and ridden it.

Intangibles, I know, but they are part of the story, especially when considering an LBS purchase.

Road Fan

I'm looking for reliable and fun transportation. I'm hesitant to take longer rides on the motobecane, but would like to start undertaking long rides this summer. After my squishy brake experience this morning, I'm sure I want a newer (better equipped) bike.

That price is outrageous. Seriously, for $650 they could have at least managed to get some hoods on the brakes, never mind all the other cheapskate touches.

I see bikes like that around here in the $200 to $250 range. That price is ridiculous. Watch Craigs List, and be willing to travel a bit (like Eugene or similar).

The Recyclery is a great shop (I buy things there all the time), but their consignment bikes are massively overpriced. You'd be better off on Craigslist, really. Too bad you just missed the Recyclery's swap meet this last weekend. There were a lot of bikes there. You might also try calling up Sellwood Cycles and telling them what you're looking for. They will keep an eye out for you and tell you if anything comes in.

Karl

Which include the Shimano modern production freewheel (I use one of these on commuter, it is ok, but for $650, I'd like to see something higher quality and/or more period correct). The dropout adjusting screw is missing its knurled knob. Stem/bars came out of the random parts bin. The rear derailleur cable routing is typical of what happens on Trek internally routed cables w/out a ferrule or something else to decrease the angle where the cable leaves the stay, it will wear the cable out and saw a groove into the stay eventually (don't ask me how I know).

I love old Treks and all, I've got a couple, but at current valuations, $650 for this model would only be possibly justifiable if:

1) Minty original condition, ideally such low miles that it still has original wear items like chain in still good usable condition.

2) Some serious upgrades, like the original owner went nuts and put a C-Record group on the bike (and the frame is still in pretty darn good condition).

I'm sure they tuned it up, grease/lubed, etc, but it is a bit of a Frankenbike, with sort of uninteresting changes that do nothing to increase collector or utility value. IMO, $650 is wildly overpriced, not as wildly as it would have seemed even 6 months ago, but still pretty far out there. This is a fairly common model that turns up on ebay. If you are considering popping $450 for a bike, just watch some Trek auctions, you'll find a lot better (even including shipping) for substantially cheaper than this bike.

Did anyone read the "about" section on the recyclery website? Owner sounds like a character, he has a huge litany of jobs he's been fired from, group homes he's been kicked out of, etc. Sort of this rambling diatribe about how he was hitting bottom but got a line on a barnful of old bike parts.

Ok, so I'll pass on the trek, unless they seriously drop the price.

How about this (if you don't mind indulging me further)? I know nothing about suntour component levels. This forum is wicked.

Fuji America, Someone stripped and rattle-canned it blue some time ago and the paint is scratched up. Otherwise in very nice condition. Chrome rear triangle, chrome front fork. Nitto (Fuji pantographed) bars and stem, SR Apex cranks. SunTour Cyclone M-II rear derailler, SunTour ARX front derailleur, SR Laprade seat post, Dia Compe G series brakes with new levers and new hoods. New bearings and grease in the Sugino bottom bracket, new cables and housings, new Dura Ace cable clips. SR Pedals. Currently it's running a mixed set of wheels with 700c rear and 27" front. $175 without the wheels or $250 with.

I have a 1980 fuji america, and it is a very cool bike. Sounds like many of the components being non original, but are still nice.

The Fuji America was one of Fuji's top level bikes. Marketed as "sport touring", it was hardly that, 43 mm chainstays, it is heavy on the sport aspect. Very light, the forks/stays are chromoly in addtion to the main tubes. All the bells and whistles are there. I love the chromed fork/stays, if the chrome is ok, not pitted, I would jump on this one in a second, sans wheels, for 175 if the paint were original. W/the rattle can, not quite so good a deal, but still an excellent bike. OTOH, now that the original paint is gone, you can do anything you want to it and not have to worry about screwing up an original bike.

FWIW, your bike probably had 700c wheels. The Fuji America was very early on adopting 700c wheels, again, at least by 1980. If neither of the wheels is original, or anything special, no point in paying $75 for a set of mismatched wheels. FWIW, the originals were Sunshine Gyromaster medium flange hubs (tres cool, with circular cutouts, like a proper french bike) on Ukai 700c rims (no model noted, but definitely better than the typical Ukai's on Japanese bikes).

Too bad they don't have the original cranks, Super Mighty Tour, those alone can get you around $100 on ebay.

Here's mine shortly after purchase:



As you can see, it didn't have handlebar tape, so I am currently working on this - sort of tacky and wild, but maybe fun. Cheesy cell pic:

Would this be able to carry any significant load? I don't plan on doing any major touring, but definitely want to put on at least a rear rack to carry water/clothes/food. What is the hierarchy of suntour components, can they be compared to shimano (the only group I "know")

Absolutely on the loading. As for the Suntour groups, I'd suggest searching the forums. AR(x) is pretty good, and even the bottom level Suntour stuff is pretty good/reliable/performs well.

Well that sounds like a deal to me. I guess the main issue is if a 700 wheel would fit up front. I don't see any issues with getting a mismatched wheelset? I'm too new to the bike scene, hopefully you all can help me get it figured out eventually!

much thanks again

I realize you've received your answer, but I also wanted to weigh in on the Trek. Having owned quite a few of these, I'm pretty sure that the one at the Recyclery is actually a 400 series frame and fork (unless there is a Reynolds 531cs decal hidden somewhere). My conspiracy theory: the Campagnolo Triomphe parts were pulled off a 410 and Shimano 600 stuff was slapped on. Shimano 600 is great, but (arguably) not as marketable as any Campagnolo line. I'd value the bike at $250, and not a penny more.