I've been watching both CL and a few local free papers lately and keep seeing really nice old bikes listed for near nothing. I picked up a super clean Schwinn Varsity in my size the other day for $10.
I got a Univega with a Chromoly frame, 63cm, which needed only bar tape and tires for $5, and a mint clean Schwinn mountain bike from the early 80's for $20 that looks like it's never been ridden. All three were original owners. I bought a Raleigh Sports 3 speed a few weeks ago at a flea market for $2, it too is in super clean condition.
I can't figure how anyone can buy a bike, know what they spent and then years later basically give it away.

You find the opposite when trying to sell a really nice bike. No one wants to pay more than $20 for a mint clean old bike, and if its not a top of the line model, no one seems to want it period.

I listed several bikes over the past year which I consider upper mid level bikes, one mid eighties Panasonic DX5000, in near new condition for $350, and a '78 Raleigh Super Course that was never ridden in 100% original condition for $400. I didn't get a single reasonable offer or email on either bike. The best offer I got was $100 for the Raleigh. I had one person actually come out to look at the Panasonic and then turn and offer me $20 for it. I ended up parting both bikes out, in the end I got far more than what I was asking but it took a year. To make it worse, the guy that bought 99% of the Raleigh parts was the same guy that offered me $100 for it. He spent more than the $400 I was asking in the first place, and didn't get the mint clean B17 saddle or the Cyclone rear derailleur. Worse yet, he's local, less than 10 miles away and he still wanted everything shipped. He paid over $200 in shipping after winning 11 auctions.

I would have gladly let the whole bike go for probably $300 cash, but he chose to buy it piece by piece.
I had the same thing happen now on two or three bikes, each buyer was local, had commented on it being the same bike they looked at yet won it piece by piece and had it shipped. The one guy paid more for a frame than I was asking for the whole bike, then proceeded to bid and win three quarters of the same bike part by part over a five week period.

people do strange things

I'm in the market for a vintage mid '80s japanese road bike, found two so far, I almost bought a Centurion yesterday and offered $250 (asking price $275) and the seller did not reduce the price. I value them, but I believe that it's not easy to convince the general mass public. I still have the bike on my head and probably will pay the asking price later today. You're correct, the funny thing is that most of these people will buy a new $1,500 bike most of the time with components that are cheaper than the old bike. That's life. The good thing is, more nice vintages for us!

People, in general, do not place much value on an old bicycle. But the vintage bicycle, which is just an old bicycle by a different name, is becoming increasingly valuable, both to the seller and the buyer.

That, of course, is just my opinion.

I've been rehabbing and selling a lot of vintage bikes the last couple years and have found that $200.00 seems to be the point where they get harder to sell, below that they almost sell themselves as long as they're clean and ride well.

There are obstacles to selling C&V bikes, namely older steel road bikes, for more than $200:

1-Steel.
Few bike shops/friends will tell them that it's a better, or even equal, frame material than aluminum or carbon.

2-Components.
Few entrants into cycling want to use DT shifters, or even 7-sp and 8-sp STI's. I hear a lot of "105 or better."

3-Appearance.
Their friends have modern bikes with black components, deeper rims, and colorful graphics, not C&V.

4-Warranty.
Bike shops sell new bikes, service what they sell, and back what they sell.

5-Relative pricing of newer used bikes.
5-year old aluminum and carbon bikes with modern components are $350-$450, and seem a better value.

All that is fine with me. I completely understand.
It appears you have a bonanza going with the parting out of bikes, not a bad thing.

Let us know when people stop valuing Colnagos and Bianchis. Or those Sting-Rays.

Everyone's market is different. I just checked my local CL and found these:

https://huntsville.craigslist.org/bik/2640931228.html
Japanese ladies bike from the 1940's. can you believe it?

https://huntsville.craigslist.org/bik/2640503566.html
he means Lambert

usually, I just see these:

https://huntsville.craigslist.org/bik/2635751237.html

/I hate cell phone cameras and the idiots that think they can take decent pictures with them/

I'd agree that markets are vastly different based on location.

A quick story: We've a local goodwill auction, and they've taken to selling the bikes once a month. In the last few months, we've had dealers from the DC region coming down and buying up the bikes-- at prices above what they would sell for in RVA. They're not getting that many (each month's auction has 2-3 bikes, generally mid range) and I'm having some trouble telling if the DC dealers are getting in pissing contests or not. 300$ for a Miele with Campy Athena, 250$ for an RB2, I dunno.

Here, as in RT land, 200$ seems the local cut-off point. I think I might be one of the few in town who will go higher, but it has to be pretty special at this point. Lesson to me seems to be there are pockets of interest and value in the vintage market. I've long been aware I pay way less than folks in Portland, NYC, and San Fran, for instance.

Not my experience at all this year, I have sold more vintage racing bikes in the $300 to $400 price range than ever before, and fewer in the $150 to $225 range.

While the vast majority of people out there are not ready to spend $300 plus on a 20 to 30 year old bike, it only takes one person, and I guess I keep finding them.

Where are you located? And how are your marketing skills?

Piece by piece usually = selling on ebay, which is a totally different market of course. High end stuff, parting it out usually does yield more $$. Mid grade or lower, I find I can do better selling the bike complete. Of course, it depends on your definition of high end.


Pristine bikes, with attention to the smallest detail, and several full sized pictures sell bikes.


In my experience, most bikes sell for less than market value, due to inadequate preparation and poor marketing. Its actually a lot of work to get "market value" for a bike. The bicycle market is very inefficient, which creates an opportunity for people that can spot a diamond in the rough, with skietchy/no information. I like it that way...

I picked up a few old bikes last year, tore 'em down to the last washer and ball bearing, cleaned, scrubbed, buffed and polished- got them reassembled better than new. Replaced worn or broken bits- got them all fantastic. Spent too much money, waaay too much time on every one. Saved them until spring to sell 'em. Sold a couple of them at a "profit" (excluding my many hours of work and tool purchases).. Some of them are still sitting here, deteriorating. I kept buying more bikes, supplies, tools. I spent two years rebuilding these old gems into great bikes. Now my garage is packed, as well as a neighbor's garage. Probably 30 bikes or so (I lost count). It seems there is very little interest in older Schwinns for fair pricing around here (lugged steel frames, Sugino or Sakae cranks, Shimano or Sun Tour drivetrain components, etc.). Disheartening at best.

I'm almost ready to tear them all down and part them out to try to recoup the several thousand bux I dished out- and call it a day. But I'm not ready to quit wrenching- I'm really good at it, and I love doing it...

well if the person wants to be stupid and not pay a cheaper price for what he coulda got, then let him be stupid, more money for you, i wouldn't complain. I would definitely not mind shipping stuff out if it makes me an extra couple hundred bucks or so.

and as far as pricing goes, i'd have to agree with wrk101. It also depends where you are and what kinda market you have.

OP, I wished I lived in the same area as you. My craigslist is full of hi-ten steel bikes listed for $200+. Good luck getting a good deal on a solid bike around here.

With your permission, I may add this to my signature line.

Don't you think that this is a classic example of supply and demand ?

And yeah, right now the big money seems to be chasing crabon fibre.

As the supply of this stuff decreases slowly (and it will), and the demand
increases (it already has in certain geographical areas), the magic of
free market capitalism at its finest takes over to dictate prices at the
meeting point of willing seller and willing buyer.

Certainly the manufacturing industries that created this stuff are gone
(or going), pretty much tossed into the dustbin of history.

Having said all that, prices for higher end stuff are pretty solid in the
SF bay area. Upside is that the selection from which to choose is
nothing short of Fantasyland.

The experience related above is why I'm not a fan of replacing everything on a flip bike. It is generally a losing proposition for everything but premium or high-end bikes. IMHO.

By all means. Please feel free to do so!

Okay not only do I hate you, but I want to move to wherever the hell you live!

OP, where are you located? Sounds like you live in a place where there's an abundance of bikes, but nobody wants them. Is your terrain or environment bad for cycling or full of aging people just getting rid of bikes?

There have existed in the past guys who made some money
going to Europe (UK, France in particular, Italy) and buying
bicycles that were then shipped to the US and sold at enough
profit to at least pay for the trip.

With the whole exchange rate thing, I don't think it's possible
any more.

You guys know the joke about the Mexican smuggler down
in TJ, right?

Abundance of bikes for cheap with little competition? Maybe someone else lives near Randyjawa in Thunder Bay.

Too late. You missed that opportunity, by about eight years. And, for what it is worth, the old Colnagos and Bianchis are cheap to purchase - today. Wait another eight years and then, like me, you will wish you had scored that Bianchi Specilissima(?) for $102.00 USD eight years ago.

I'd have to throw in a frisky redhead to get $400.

Even then, on CL, you're gonna get some guy who tries to lowball you.

If people do not place much value on older bikes, them I am GLAD. I hope you are correct in your assumption too. Because I CRAVE and LUST over the older bikes.

The 80s vintage racing bikes have me drooling at the mouth. Whereas, the latest and greatest bikes, don't do anything for me...

Just sayin...

+100 Do not over-improve a flip bike. My typical build consists of a complete bike tear down, replace bearings, grease, cables and housings, tires; true the wheels, new chain and freewheel as needed, and bar tape, anywhere from $20 in parts and consumables to $35. Typical time spent: anything from 4 hours to 8 hours. Now as a job, I would make more working at Walmart. That's why it is better suited to be a hobby.

The only time I replace working components is when the bike is a Frankenbike, and I can remove some nice but mis-matched parts, and replace with stuff from my parts bin. So when I picked up a Trek racing bike, that had an odd mix of Campy and Suntour Superbe Pro bits (FD Campy, RD Suberbe Pro, shift levers Suntour, brake calipers Campy, levers Diacompe, Campy crankset and bb, wheels were Shimano 105). Replaced everything with 105, and off it went.

I no longer remove turkey levers. Buyers like them. Sometimes you can put time and effort into removing parts that buyers want. I have learned to curb my personal tastes, and let the market decide.

I also market bikes year round. They sell, but at a slower pace.

You are in a good market (Chicago burbs). Make sure your ads pop (full sized pics, great preparation), and sell, sell, sell.