Hi everyone -- I wanted to ask your advice about a Trek 7700FX that I have the opportunity to buy for $550.

One problem is that the guy who is selling it is selling it for a friend. He says he thinks it's a year 2000 model, and very lightly used, but I can't find a 2000 7700FX on the web

The asking price is a huge break from the $1100 new.

Any thoughts?

Also, any thoughts about the bike as a commuter bike?

--Adam

It is a huge price break but it is also several years old and is this a big price brake from the original price3 of the bike or from a new model? To be honest it probably isn't worth $550 unless it is in perfect condition and needs NOTHING to be ridden for many miles. Bike may be worth 40%-50% of it's ORIGINAL selling price.

I don't know about the 7700, but I recently got a trek 7000 FX and it's an amazing commuter bike - a bit slower than my old 12 speed Raleigh, but sure footed and solid - and it was only about $400 (Cdn) BRAND NEW. You may want to take a look at the 7000 FX - it will likely satisfy your commuting needs

What kind of groupo is normally on the 7700FX is it more street or mountain? I am thinking of getting one myself.

"Selling it for a friend?" Are you certain this bike wasn't stolen?

Yep, sounds a little sketch to me, IMO

You read my mind. I'm going to go see the bike tomorrow and size up the guy.

I've thought through the ethical issues a bit. How can I possibly know whether it is or isn't stolen for any used bike, unless I know the person. I mean, anything on ebay could be stolen and resold and you'd never know.

It's not like he's asking $200 -- he seems to have some concept of how much the bike cost new. Also, he lives deep in the suburbs, and I have a hard time seeing a bike theif living next to Ward and June Cleaver.

Here's the ad..

""I have two of these bikes and they are absoutely fabulous (only one is for sale as there is no way I could part with both of them). The bike for sale is in pristine condition (has always been kept indoors and has barely been ridden), has a 54cm frame, Bontranger tires, lollipops and Shimano hardware. Drop me a line if you want to check the bike out. ""


BTW -- what are lollipops???

I think the original seeling price wa about a grand -- so $550 isn't out of the ballpark.

I don't know it is pretty boarderline at the top of the ballpark IMO. If it is in MINT condition it may be worth it but rememebr even at a LBS you can typically get last years model for 15%-20% off, new with warranty and maybe some LBS support. I recently was selling a MTB that had MAYBE 100 miles of road use on it. Bike was pristine and was originally $1000 MSRP and only 2 years old. I was told by several LBS that I would be LUCKY to get $450 out of it. I was able to trade this bike for a roadie for my wife and felt lucky to do so.

I also had a 2003 Marin road bike that was $1100 MSRP which I bought on closeout this past fall for $750 and sold 2 months later for $475 shipped. This bike had several hundred miles on it but was in mint condition as well.

Bikes, especially massed produced hybrids, don't hold their value for any length of time.

I think that tracks -- the LBS buys it for $450 and sells it for $550 -- for a 25 percent gross margin.

This is actually part of my bike purchase strategy -- I'm betting that there are tons of new, underused hybrids out there. I'm looking for a deal on a bike, so I can "invest" the money I save in a high end road bike down the road.

I had the 2000 Trek 7700. It wasn't called the 7700FX, but just the Trek 7700. I bought it when I didnt' know that much about bicycles. I thought I wanted a hybrid, but it turns out that I really wanted a good solid touring bike like the Trek 520.

For a hybrid bicycle that you are going to be commuting on and doing Sunday rides. The Trek 7700 is a good bike, but I noticed that as I got more experienced in bicycle riding my eyes turned to the Trek 520.

I do remember that the Ruby Metro Suspension fork did bottom out after 2.5 years of hard riding. I wasn't happy about this. You can always get a rigid fork for then this happens.

The rear derailleur is great. Very smooth. It was the Shimano Nexave model.

The Rolf wheels look sexy. I quickly replaced the fat (flat prone) Invert 700 x 38 tires with the specialized armadillos. I recommended doing that if you get it. I had the 700 x 26 version. 700 x 28 is great for the the Trek 7700.

Good luck.

I ended up getting the bike today and glad I did. They guy and his story turned out to be legit. I took the bike to the LBS and they has nothing but good things to say about it. The 7700FX for 2005 is quite a leap ahead in terms of components and carbon forks, seat stays, etc. But at $1400, it's quite a bit more.

It's a gorgeous bike (they thought it was a 2002) and really a pleasure to ride. I honestly haven't ridden a quality bike in many many years, and frankly, it was exhilarating. I hope I never lose the incredible sense of freedom and speed I felt today!

Many thanks to everyone for all your advice.

--Adam Anthony

Hey Adam,

Good luck with the new bike! People ask me all the time what I think a bike is *worth*-- here's the answer I've come up with. Nothing if you don't ride it. The world is full of people who buy a new bike and don't ride the darn thing--- and are lucky to half the're money back selling the bike.

On the other hand, almost any bike is worth what you paid for it if you ride it.(that's true of $20 yardsale beaters to custom built $4000 road bikes) The health benfits alone will pay for a bike-- add any reduction in driving due to commuting as a pure financial windfall. So that $550 is money well spent..... if you ride. If not, well you pissed it away.

One last question. Did the guy who sold you the bike seem like he'd help you fix the bike if it broke? Or answer any cycling questions you'd have? If so, that $550 price is really, really good deal.

You bought a cool bike. Although it LOOKS different than a "traditional" road bike, in most important respects, your new bike is rather close to the "classic" road bikes of the 1960's and 1970's. Longer wheelbase and chainstays for soaking up road shock, and greater stability under loads. The capacity to handle fatter tires, which enable this bike to handle reasonably smooth dirt trails, dirt roads, gravel roads, and other places that a "modern" road bike tends to struggle.

It would make a good commuter, and with a strong rear rack, would make a good bike for "light" touring with 20 pound or 30 pound loads. Keep it ten years, and the price works out to a buck a week. Can't buy coffee most places for a buck anymore.

He was really businesslike about the transaction -- I thought a bit too businesslike. What do you want, it's DC.

As I was leaving, he asked me to keep in touch with him and let him know about how the bike was doing, etc. So, there's an opening there.

That is great advice, however. As the youngest of four, I'm used to asking for advice!

AA

That's a really good perspective. Thanks so much.

It's exactly what I hope to do with the bike is commute and light touring. My road head buddy was trying to convince me to take the leap and get a low priced road bike (i.e. $1k). I'd argue that I already have. But one that I can also take on the side of the road, if need be!

I have a 7700 FX and i love it. I paid less than a thousand for a 2004 model brand new.

I have a 2003 Trek 7700FX which I bought new in 2003. I wanted to haggle with my LBS, but since there were none in stock, I paid full price. I am extremely happy with the bike - I have about 800 miles on it now and am using it to commute (Just started commuting). I picked up some Performance Forte paired spoke wheels on closeout to replace the Bontragers if they start to go (I am a250Lb rider). As a finance guy, I also look at amortization on bikes and when I was paying for it, I decided that $1049 over 10 years was pretty cheap to have a good high end hybrid bike to supplant my old Cilo road bike and give me more riding options.

Have a great day!
Rick

Any idea what the 7700FX weights, stock? The Trek site does not list weight.

I just got a new 7500FX and I love it. The guy at the shop said it weighs 23 lbs. Not sure how that compares with yours, but it might be close. I use miine for commuting as well.