Ok, don't blast me for my curiosity but I am would like to know what make Peter Weigle frames so expensive and collectable? They seem to be quite rare and expensive when found. Is the ride spectacular? Is the craftsmanship unusually high? Education request.

Cheers,

GG

The craftsmanship is remarkable. I've seen examples in person. Wow!

Neal

And the finishes, by ex-wife Betsy, were out of this world.

I have never ridden one but have taken a very close look at a few and they are incredibly well made and the design is sublime. His personal bike from 1973 was THE highlight of the Portland NAHBS for me.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/49353569@N00/876808116/

vjp

He spends time on them, it shows, well to me it does. If you don't "get it", that is fine, do not waste your hard earned dollars.
He also has been a builder in the USA who has copied, understands, (use the term of your choice) of how the French premium makes of the '40 - '50's arrived at their collective geometry and appearance. Sachs should have had him design a set of his lugs.
Some stuff he does is kind of silly to me from time to time, the rivets in Tipo high flange hubs as an example.
Other stuff he does with old lighting housings and LED inserts deserve praise. Mod stuff would look wrong on his bikes.
Would I buy one? No. Am I happy thery exist? Yes.

Craftsmenship. Handmade, the for real kind.

Exactly: unusually high craftsmanship, his work approaches Art (capital "A"). Plus you know each frame comes with the FrameSaver treatment applied. And that stuff is expensive!

Peter is one heck of a nice guy too. If you are heading to New England with French bike parts, call him before you start driving.

He has found a niche with the "French rando style" buyers, but can still build a gorgeous classic racing bike:



There's a few close up shots of this one here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/oroboyz...th/5741204419/

Truly fine work.

He brazed on doodads onto my McLean and repainted it.

To pile on the praise, he is an artist whose medium is bicycles: frames, parts, finishes. Like any fine artist in any field, his work is hugely important to a few, respected by many, and not to everyone's taste. His place in the frame building pantheon is secure: he is unquestionably one of the finest bicycle craftsmen working today.

As to what makes a great hand-built bike, that would be best addressed in another thread.

Please post photos, Tom. I've read about doodads, but never seen one!

+100

I saw one in for repair at the LBS. It was pretty amazing to look at. Same color (or close) as the mink blue Raleigh Pro w/ White head tube and seat tube panel.

I believe I spy my buddy Tom Sanders in the background there.

Ok, now the million dollar question (so to speak). I am having a difficult time coming up with a comp or price for a Weigle frame I am looking at from the late 80s. Very good condition with original paint. There just doesn't seem to be any comps out there on eBay or any site. I find it very difficult to price out what one of these frame's fair market price is. Any thoughts?

GG

A crap-ton?
(Isn't this a question for another forum?)

We've been had

But I don't get why you would want them on your Maclean?

So the OP asks about a custom frame, and then asks about the value to him. Odd - since the frame wasn't built for him (so how can we know how it will ride for him), and the customness (customossity) of a Weigle is one of it's main assets.
They ride great - for the guy (or gal) they're built for.

Does this mean we must ask a slew of questions before we give up any information?
There have been a bunch of requests by folk new to the forums recently that make me think that elsewhere they be known as trolls. I could cite some inquiries that started in the value forum by those who later were not really needing the original question answered at all.
In the future, I will probably answer, but not quickly. Maybe the place here is just too popular at the moment. adieux.

I can only tell you this. I have been in line to have one made for a year now. I talked to Peter last week and he said I still have about 2 yrs left to wait in line. His current frame + Fork are running from $5500 to 7500 depending on what lugs and paint you want.

Weigle's aesthetic is very traditional. I like that

and is that Atmo in the sunglasses?
Customissity? how bout custumissimo?

That's because there isn't one. Like most esoteric things, top-end custom frames are a severely limited market (few objects & few consumers), so prices are extremely volatile, and nearly impossible to gauge. If you plan to ride it, your best bet is to ignore what it might be worth to somebody else and base your price on what else you could have for the same money that is equally desirable to you. If you are buying as an investment or to flip, and you are asking on this forum what a 30 year old Weigle is worth, you are barking up the wrong tree.