Purchasing Advise off CL -- Any Comments?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: New York Metro Area
Posts: 3,863
Bikes: '02 Litespeed, '99 Bianchi Alfana. '91 Fuji Saratoga, '84 Peugeot Canyon Express, '82 Moto GR, '81 Fuji America, '81 Fuji Royale; '78 Bridgestone Diamond Touring, '76 Fuji America, plus many more!
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 181 Post(s)
Liked 224 Times
in
127 Posts
Purchasing Advise off CL -- Any Comments?
I read this on Craig's List this morning. Sounds like good advise to the casual rider who just wants a bike he can ride on occassion. There seems to be some backlash out there against those fellows trying to sell "$$$$$ Vintage $$$$ Check-it-Out!!!!" low-end bikes in bad states of disrepair for "big bux". What do you think?
BUYING A USED/VINTAGE/CLASSIC BIKE? - $1 (VCR's are really RARE/Vintage/ Classic )
https://newyork.craigslist.org/stn/bik/1277722118.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2009-07-19, 11:57AM EDT
Reply to: see below
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
. I dont understand buyers on Craigslist. Why are you willing to pay $500, $125.00 or even $100.00 or 75.00 for an old bike? Are you really that lazy, you cant just go to the Depart. Store and look at the real prices of bikes that are far better. and cheaper if not the same price? All of these bikes on here are old DEPARTMENT STORE bikes. Do your research. If you cant find it on the computer, Than it's a very old peice of ****. or its just a piece of **** that doesnt even warrant to be posted on the computer. (THINK). Who declared it to be VINTAGE/RARE/Classis/Great bike? The guy selling it to you? If its such a great bike, why does he have so many of them? and willing to sell it to you? If it were such a desired bike why is he/she not asking for $5000.00? A 1965 FORD MUSTANG new in 1965 was under 2000.00. Now for a good condition 1965 MUSTANG is like 20,000.00. I dont think there a classified Vintage or Classic Bike certification. (automobile there is. Insurance even classifies it that way)? Have you ever seen anywhere including the ANTIGUE ROAD SHOW, any bikes being apraised? or an aution on Vintage or classic bikes? Biicycles do not increase in value as the get older. You will never see any auction on bikes unless its a ESTATE AUCTION, meaning everything from there estate is on auction. ITS RARE BECAUSE its old, they now have new models. VCR's are RARE, want one for 125.00? Bikes today that you buy brand new in Walmart, KMart, Target, Sears, JCPenny's And Deptment store under 100.00 are far more safer, new shifting technoligy, state of the art braking systems, far more durable and lighter wieght frames, Safer wheels and tires. Than any VINTAGE/CLASSIC. For the pice you will spend tuning, adjusting this old bike at a LBS you could have bought one new with a 90 day "just dont like it" warrantee. The bike is Vintage/Classic (old) means you cant get parts and if you do its going to cost you half of what a new bike is plus labor. Alot of Local Bike Shops (LBS) have brand new Cruisers, commutter, Beach, Road, and His and Hers bikes for 175.00 or LESS!!!. BRAND NEW with Warrantee!!! Is it not worth the $8.00 to $10.00 to cross the bridge to NJ or Brooklyn or SI to buy a brand new bike for well under 200.00? Isnt Safety an issue to you? Todays 89.99 bike is safer, lighter and far more advanced gearing and braking technolighy, new tires, aluminum wheels. rust free. NEW TECHNOLIGY!! and if you just "DONT LIKE IT" you can bring it back in 90 days. A local bike store will let you exchange it. Will the Used/Vintage/Classic bike guy do that? trust me. Do your research people!!! BET you offer these guys 25-50.00 theyll take it when you go look at it. They found the bike on garbage day, bought it at a garage sale for 10.00. bought three of them at an estate auction for 20 bucks. 25-50.00 is a good deal, because if you find it expensive to fix, than you only lost 25.-50 bucks, Sell IT!!!
All those reviews you read on the internet on new bikes are rediculus. All new bikes in a Dept store are put together by a min wage HS kid. After you buy the bike, take it to a LBS or its easy to do it yourself and have everything adjusted properly. Do you really think that HS kid cares? Dept store are not in the BIKE BUSINESS, they are in the Selling of bikes business, there is a differance. After you tune this dept store new bike, you'll be ammazed what it can do. HINT: dual suspension Mountain bikes look cool, but are not designed for communting or riding a long time. They are designed for DH (down hill only) You will get tired riding normal very quickly. All new bikes are designed for the commuter now. with safer tires and easy self finding gearing with a push of a botton. Advanced braking system for all weather. BECAREFUL WITH BUYING USED CORBON FIBER BIKES. (BUY IT NEW!!!) THEY ARE IN REALITY FIBER GLASS. MOST HAVE SMALL CRACKS IN THE FRAME. (FROM BEING USED ON CITY STREETS) THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR EVERY DAY RIDING. MOST ARE SELLING THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE SMALL STRESS CRACKS READY TO SNAP AT ANY TIME. YOU WILL GET HURT. ITS VERY VERY EXPENSIVE, IF NOT POSSIBLE TO REPAIR, YOU WILL BE VERY DISAPOINTED. THATS WHY THEY ARE SELLING IT. BEWARE. YOU CAN GET SEVERLY HURT when THEY BREAK. (AN UNEXPERIENCED RIDER WILL NOT NOTICE THESE CRACKS OR FEEL IT TILL ITS TO LATE) SOME WILL TRY TO SUPER GLUE IT IF ITS A BIG CRACK SO YOU DONT NOTICE IT (BIG NO NO) WHEN IT BREAKS YOU WILL NOTICE IT.
If you buyers have any questions about bikes, feel free to contact me, I am an avid rider and hate seeing you all get ripped off. I DO NOT OWN A BIKE STORE OR SELL BIKES. A BIKE STORE OWNER WILL NOT WASTE HIS TIME WRITTING THIS POST.
BUYING A USED/VINTAGE/CLASSIC BIKE? - $1 (VCR's are really RARE/Vintage/ Classic )
https://newyork.craigslist.org/stn/bik/1277722118.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2009-07-19, 11:57AM EDT
Reply to: see below
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
. I dont understand buyers on Craigslist. Why are you willing to pay $500, $125.00 or even $100.00 or 75.00 for an old bike? Are you really that lazy, you cant just go to the Depart. Store and look at the real prices of bikes that are far better. and cheaper if not the same price? All of these bikes on here are old DEPARTMENT STORE bikes. Do your research. If you cant find it on the computer, Than it's a very old peice of ****. or its just a piece of **** that doesnt even warrant to be posted on the computer. (THINK). Who declared it to be VINTAGE/RARE/Classis/Great bike? The guy selling it to you? If its such a great bike, why does he have so many of them? and willing to sell it to you? If it were such a desired bike why is he/she not asking for $5000.00? A 1965 FORD MUSTANG new in 1965 was under 2000.00. Now for a good condition 1965 MUSTANG is like 20,000.00. I dont think there a classified Vintage or Classic Bike certification. (automobile there is. Insurance even classifies it that way)? Have you ever seen anywhere including the ANTIGUE ROAD SHOW, any bikes being apraised? or an aution on Vintage or classic bikes? Biicycles do not increase in value as the get older. You will never see any auction on bikes unless its a ESTATE AUCTION, meaning everything from there estate is on auction. ITS RARE BECAUSE its old, they now have new models. VCR's are RARE, want one for 125.00? Bikes today that you buy brand new in Walmart, KMart, Target, Sears, JCPenny's And Deptment store under 100.00 are far more safer, new shifting technoligy, state of the art braking systems, far more durable and lighter wieght frames, Safer wheels and tires. Than any VINTAGE/CLASSIC. For the pice you will spend tuning, adjusting this old bike at a LBS you could have bought one new with a 90 day "just dont like it" warrantee. The bike is Vintage/Classic (old) means you cant get parts and if you do its going to cost you half of what a new bike is plus labor. Alot of Local Bike Shops (LBS) have brand new Cruisers, commutter, Beach, Road, and His and Hers bikes for 175.00 or LESS!!!. BRAND NEW with Warrantee!!! Is it not worth the $8.00 to $10.00 to cross the bridge to NJ or Brooklyn or SI to buy a brand new bike for well under 200.00? Isnt Safety an issue to you? Todays 89.99 bike is safer, lighter and far more advanced gearing and braking technolighy, new tires, aluminum wheels. rust free. NEW TECHNOLIGY!! and if you just "DONT LIKE IT" you can bring it back in 90 days. A local bike store will let you exchange it. Will the Used/Vintage/Classic bike guy do that? trust me. Do your research people!!! BET you offer these guys 25-50.00 theyll take it when you go look at it. They found the bike on garbage day, bought it at a garage sale for 10.00. bought three of them at an estate auction for 20 bucks. 25-50.00 is a good deal, because if you find it expensive to fix, than you only lost 25.-50 bucks, Sell IT!!!
All those reviews you read on the internet on new bikes are rediculus. All new bikes in a Dept store are put together by a min wage HS kid. After you buy the bike, take it to a LBS or its easy to do it yourself and have everything adjusted properly. Do you really think that HS kid cares? Dept store are not in the BIKE BUSINESS, they are in the Selling of bikes business, there is a differance. After you tune this dept store new bike, you'll be ammazed what it can do. HINT: dual suspension Mountain bikes look cool, but are not designed for communting or riding a long time. They are designed for DH (down hill only) You will get tired riding normal very quickly. All new bikes are designed for the commuter now. with safer tires and easy self finding gearing with a push of a botton. Advanced braking system for all weather. BECAREFUL WITH BUYING USED CORBON FIBER BIKES. (BUY IT NEW!!!) THEY ARE IN REALITY FIBER GLASS. MOST HAVE SMALL CRACKS IN THE FRAME. (FROM BEING USED ON CITY STREETS) THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR EVERY DAY RIDING. MOST ARE SELLING THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE SMALL STRESS CRACKS READY TO SNAP AT ANY TIME. YOU WILL GET HURT. ITS VERY VERY EXPENSIVE, IF NOT POSSIBLE TO REPAIR, YOU WILL BE VERY DISAPOINTED. THATS WHY THEY ARE SELLING IT. BEWARE. YOU CAN GET SEVERLY HURT when THEY BREAK. (AN UNEXPERIENCED RIDER WILL NOT NOTICE THESE CRACKS OR FEEL IT TILL ITS TO LATE) SOME WILL TRY TO SUPER GLUE IT IF ITS A BIG CRACK SO YOU DONT NOTICE IT (BIG NO NO) WHEN IT BREAKS YOU WILL NOTICE IT.
If you buyers have any questions about bikes, feel free to contact me, I am an avid rider and hate seeing you all get ripped off. I DO NOT OWN A BIKE STORE OR SELL BIKES. A BIKE STORE OWNER WILL NOT WASTE HIS TIME WRITTING THIS POST.
#2
Desert Flatlander
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Buckeye, AZ
Posts: 88
Bikes: 2001 Trek Alpha 1000, Micargi Tahiti NX3 'The Iron Horse', and many other cheap resale and family bikes.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I guess it depends on whether you buy a good classic or classic junk. I believe a poorly tuned department store bike may be far more dangerous than a thirty year old vintage bike with original brake pads. At what point did the safety demands placed on bicycles change? It's not like the new ones have airbags. This poster obviously doesn't know what a real bike costs these days. Go out and try to outfit yourself with Lance's Alpha 6000 or whatever he's on now. You can spend less and get a great used car. There may not be many vintage bikes going up in value, but getting a great ride for under $150 can't be done even at the mart.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: New York Metro Area
Posts: 3,863
Bikes: '02 Litespeed, '99 Bianchi Alfana. '91 Fuji Saratoga, '84 Peugeot Canyon Express, '82 Moto GR, '81 Fuji America, '81 Fuji Royale; '78 Bridgestone Diamond Touring, '76 Fuji America, plus many more!
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 181 Post(s)
Liked 224 Times
in
127 Posts
Black Sunshine --
"I guess it depends on whether you buy a good classic or classic junk."
I'm heading out in about 10 minutes for a 20 to 20 mile ride on a bike whose serial number indicates a November 1980 manufacture date. It is one primo ride, and it cost me (with all extras) less than the cost of a pizza and a movie. I can't believe, however, the number of 3-speed AMF Nimbles I have seen on C.L. in the past few months in the $150 to $175 price range. Anybody buying one of those would have probably been better off buying something in the same price range at Walmart, or adding a few bucks and getting a inexpensive model from an LBS.
"I guess it depends on whether you buy a good classic or classic junk."
I'm heading out in about 10 minutes for a 20 to 20 mile ride on a bike whose serial number indicates a November 1980 manufacture date. It is one primo ride, and it cost me (with all extras) less than the cost of a pizza and a movie. I can't believe, however, the number of 3-speed AMF Nimbles I have seen on C.L. in the past few months in the $150 to $175 price range. Anybody buying one of those would have probably been better off buying something in the same price range at Walmart, or adding a few bucks and getting a inexpensive model from an LBS.
#5
The Improbable Bulk
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA
Posts: 8,379
Bikes: Many
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
Does anyone else think that was probably posted by a BikeForums reader/member?
Using the abbreviation LBS on Craigslist seems out of place.
Using the abbreviation LBS on Craigslist seems out of place.
__________________
Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 1,744
Bikes: Miele Azsora, Kuwahara Cascade
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
That dude just sounds confused.
"Don't buy old bikes!"
"Buy them if they're really cheap"
"Buy department store bikes!"
"Department store bikes are set up by high schoolers"
"But they will still amaze you!"
"Unless you accidently get suspension on them"
Really scattered, confusing advice for someone trying to buy a bike, IMHO.
"Don't buy old bikes!"
"Buy them if they're really cheap"
"Buy department store bikes!"
"Department store bikes are set up by high schoolers"
"But they will still amaze you!"
"Unless you accidently get suspension on them"
Really scattered, confusing advice for someone trying to buy a bike, IMHO.
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: New York Metro Area
Posts: 3,863
Bikes: '02 Litespeed, '99 Bianchi Alfana. '91 Fuji Saratoga, '84 Peugeot Canyon Express, '82 Moto GR, '81 Fuji America, '81 Fuji Royale; '78 Bridgestone Diamond Touring, '76 Fuji America, plus many more!
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 181 Post(s)
Liked 224 Times
in
127 Posts
To date, this was the longest posting like this that I've seen on Craig's List. Periodically you see postings that are warnings against other people's postings, or "rants and raves" about unnamed individuals who post items for sale. This posting may have come at the wrong time, however, since things are very quiet right now in the "bicycle" section of New York's Craig's List. I don't know if it a seasonal thing, if bikes are getting harder to come by, or if some of the pricey "junk" being offered lately scared people off. Just glad I cleared out my inventory of under-utilized bikes when I did.