No work at all into this one. Wiped it off a little bit for photos and peeled the electrical tape from the seat. Now I just have to break it down and wrap it for shipping.

This thread is depressing. The average sweetness of the bikes you guys have flipped is significantly higher than the average sweetness of the bikes I have collected on purpose for myself (p<0.0001).

Roll-Monroe-Co, where are you? Location matters. If you widen your search, you may find an area where people cast off treasure, thinking it's junk.

I like the idea of using an "average sweetness" scale. Hit the yard sales and craigslist (even outside your town) and you will be amazed what you can come across. I get more pleasure from the "Hunt" than just about anything.

I flipped two Schwinn World's last year that I received as payment from a BikeForum member for restoring a couple of his bikes. Both Schwinns were stripped, cleaned, bearings repacked. I added new tires, cables and housings and bar tape. They both sold in under a week for an average profit of $100 each. Here's one of them ready for sale; an '84 World:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2487/...da677356_o.jpg

Hey, Tom. Yeah, I'm in a small midwest college town 70 miles from the central city in my state. There are three kinds of C&V bikes floating around in this town: (1) bikes-of-the-people (Varsinental/Huffy/Free Spirit), (2) entry level road (Fujis, etc.) and (3) the fine road bikes formerly belonging to guys who who rode in college, never left town, then stowed bike in the garage for 30 years (not very many of those). Class two can be further subdivided into (a) drewed and SSed and (b) reasonably intact. I have plenty of 1 and 2, and maybe 1 example of 3.

Anyway, I'm not whining, really, because I don't try very hard. Should I try to drive to Indianapolis on a Saturday, spend $100, and get my loot to the basement, well, there are about five ways that my wife might detect me. :lol:

Bloomington?

I'm a purely craigslist shopper since spend a large amount of time at work in front of the computer. It's a quick check of the bikes for sale in my area every once and a while - about as often as I check my email - and if one pops up there's a good chance of being the first one on it. With a little luck and a lot of patience you can find some good deals like everyone else.

Quick flip on this one. Paid $50 yesterday. Replaced one spoke and cleaned it up. Sold $260 today.

I also swapped out the pedals, because it had some cool pedals that have lights built in that light up as you pedal. Kind of like kids shoes do. Found out they are $55 pedals. They are now on my bike.

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/IMG_6361.jpg

Huffy Alumina low end flip
 

Low end flip last night of a Huffy Alumina. For a box store bike, it wasn't half bad.

Paid $15 - After very light cleaning Sold for $60.
It paid for my Saint Patrick's Day beer and wine.

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/IMG_6357.jpg

Peerless folding bike with 24" tires.
Paid = $60. Sold = $190 after light cleanup gear tuning and front tube.

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/IMG_6398.jpg
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/IMG_6405.jpg

Low end flip. Bought this Roadmaster mainly for the huge double rear basket rack it had for only $15. It was very clean. I liked the grips so I swiped those too and replaced them with foam grips.
You gotta love the Miami Vice colors on this one!

PAID = $15 - SOLD = $60

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_6433.jpg

Uhmmm...that wasn't no steam pipe framed Peugeot you had there. Looked minty fresh and tasty Italian "flavored" too!:rolleyes:.........Were you partaying pretty hard the night before or something??:rolleyes:

Chombi

Nice Cannondale F400. This bike was covered in dust and no air in tires, but that was it. All it needed was air and a good cleaning. I couldn't find a scratch on it.
Someday maybe I will keep one of hese Cannondales. I love them everytime I come across one.

PAID = $150 - SOLD = $415

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/IMG_6390.jpg

Another low end flip that I bought along with the miami vice colored bike. Check out the high vis grip shifters. They had been mounted on the other side of the brakes near the stem.
PAID = $15 - cleaned it up and put new grips on it - SOLD = $60

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/IMG_6437.jpg

kingfish, where are you located? These (not on the Huffys) are some pretty high prices for around here

I live in Savannah, GA. Don't know what to tell you on the prices. I keep my eye on the local market as well as see what similar bikes are going for on CL elsewhere in the US. We have a art college spread out in the heart of the city, so that is also a steady market of buyers.

2005 Novara X-R Hybrid
PAID = $85 (with a lot of nice accessories) - cleaned it up and kept the accessories (should be able to get about $200 for them)
SOLD = $200


http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/IMG_0850.jpg

Here are a few more recent flips:

Centurion Accordo
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ccordo011a.jpg

Miyata 310
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...-1981sidea.jpg

Nishiki Olympic (subsequently resold by purchaser on eBay)
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h.../DSCF7093a.jpg

Schwinn Premis
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...idePremisa.jpg

Trek 400
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...00-Red010a.jpg

Schwinn World Sport
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...dSport002a.jpg

First flip, about a year ago. Paid 85 at the goodwill, wiped off the dust and slapped it on the cl. It sold in 45 min for 200. I was shocked to say the least. as soon as I had the bike off of the car rack he handed me the money and split.
Needless to say, I was hooked.

Still have not found anything nice that fits, but I have seen some old bikes in amazing condition. Just so happens, I usually double up on them as well. The Iron Man went for 350. I sold the Cresta to an lbs for 225. I have sold him 3 others as well. I just take them to him now before I put them on cl to save him the hassle of calling me.

Just flipped my Merckx and Guerciotti.

Paid $500 (for both)
Sold for $1500 (for both)

Profited $1000

With that $1000 I bought a pristine Dave Moulton Fuso with full Super Record, Cobalto brakes and non-fluted SR cranks for $1100. Total out of pocket for the Dave Moulton........$100. Oh, I almost forgot, the Dave Moulton came with a spare set of Cobalto brake levers.

2007 Dahon Vitesse D7
PAID= $250
SOLD = $325 plus I have about $100 in accessories and swapped the bigger chainring for my Dahon Curve D3
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/IMG_0826.jpg
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/IMG_0822.jpg

2006 Trek 3900 16"
PAID= $70
SOLD = $200
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/IMG_0864.jpg

Our CL here in STL is a pretty good one. Just barely not enough of a bike town that bike prices arent crazy high, but there are plenty of them to choose from. PLus you can almost name you price when you re-sell something

In the past few months I have bought and sold :

Klein Custom - Bought for $45, sold for $400

Schwinn Paramount Series 7 - $115 sold for $285

Nishiki Prestige Proportional - $50 sold for $225

Trek 412 - Bought for $50 - Sold for $150

1973 Schwinn Varsity - Bought for $60 sold for $120

Schwinn world - bought for $30 sold for $95

Centurion Sports Dlx - Bought for $80 sold for $150

I am currently riding this, Its too nice to flip, for now, and I bought it for $65

http://i37.tinypic.com/2hmo80p.jpg