Hi people
I'm looking for some advice about buying a slightly used Surly Cross Check on CL. Owner wants $1K for it. Bought it in December 2013. Has a rack and original components. All logos/decals have been removed. Thoughts? Thanks, K

That is not a good price for a used Cross Check, in my opinion. That is 20% off retail, which can sometimes be found on a brand new bike at a shop, along with all the support and service that comes with it. In fact, I would say that most bikes listed on craigslist are overpriced, at least in my area.

offer $800

Dec 13 to February 14, 3 months and selling a virtually new bike?
IMHO, I'd want to see the seller's original paperwork- a "hot" bike ?
Not a hot deal?

Good points, people. thanks. here's the listing: https://tucson.craigslist.org/bik/4357150340.html

Especially since the decals are removed. Sounds sketchy to me.

Lots of folks take the decals off their Surlys;they put them on top of the clear coat. Half of some of the decals have rubbed off on my Big Dummy from normal use.

I'd ask for the sales receipt and check with the PD and see if any theft reports , first.

Looks legit to me . . .
I sold a Cross-Check that I got mail order and it was just way too big for me.
I ordered a 58 and it was like some other companies 63 or so . . . Massive
So I can sympathize with the reason for selling. I got 900 for mine, too

Not to step on anyone's pet frog, but I think the best deal on a Cross Check is a Kona Jake.

Fire away. I'll be under cover by the time this is read by anyone.

"Lots of folks take the decals off their Surlys;they put them on top of the clear coat. Half of some of the decals have rubbed off on my Big Dummy"

Close. Surly doesn't use clear coat. And they tell customers how to remove the decals: https://surlybikes.com/info_hole/spew..._on_our_frames

Decals are wearing off my Cross Check, too.

I think it's a fair deal. The bike looks immaculately clean, it's cool to get a rack thrown in. And Surly decals do come off (or scratch off) embarassaingly easily. (and can be replaced for like $5-10 if you want). As others have suggested, due diligence is ask for receipt, if he has it and everything seems on the up & up I'd say go for it (if it fits you!!). Otherwise, you take a slightly larger risk, as always on CL.

FWIW I built my own crosscheck

I haven't tried the Jake, but it looks nice. The Cross Check is pretty heavy to me. So heavy I sold it. Because it was heavy.

Thanks everyone for weighing in. It was legit. Owner works in the bike shop where he bought it, where I went to try it out. Bummer was my feet clipped the front tires when turning. I know that can relate to pedaling skill, but is that normal? He said I could switch out the fork for $100 or so to extend the length, but for a $1K bike I didn't want to have to do anything to it. I'll keep looking or buy new and get tune-ups included . Thanks!

What size is the frame? I have a 50cm Crosscheck and get occasional toe overlap too. However, I have the same problem on my other frames as well. It's just hard to make a small frame with correct geometry and still run 700c wheels without toe overlap.

Toe overlap is common and tends to happen only in very sharp turns in most riding conditions.

Toe overlap is of no concern during normal riding conditions. Bunches of threads concerning it. It happens mostly on smaller frames. I unclip on the Leader if I'm making a u-turn on anything more narrow than a two lane road. Never the first problem at speed during any regular moves.

You DO NOT want toe overlap. Some people will say it is no big deal--some people ride fixies and enjoy stuff on the more extreme end of the bike spectrum-- issues like that dont bother them. But, if you are n average individual and just want to ride and not have to worry about idiosyncratic stuff, be aware you will get bitten when you least expect it. If you are an all-weather rider, I cannot see riding in slippery ice and snow conditions on a bike with toe overlap and being comfortable.
Lots of people will disagree, but arguing like Star Trek nerds are what these forums are all about

Bayonet charges into the face of machine-gun fire. Works every time.

There are a lot of riders that don't ride fixies, although we do ride fixed gear bikes.

My wife is not a bike nerd. She noticed her new bike has toe overlap. She had never heard of it. She thought the tires were too fat. I told her not to worry about it and that some bikes have it. I told her that she will bump her wheel only when going very slowly so it won't cause her to fall. She was satisfied about it, and she didn't get upset. And she gets upset about a lot of things on bikes. She hates most bikes she tries, as they have to fit her very well for her to be willing to ride it. If she can handle toe overlap, I'd have to guess most people can. When your toe hits the tire, pedal backwards or turn the wheel. It's easy. If you're on a fixie, that's not easy, but if you're on a fixie, you're not looking to make riding super easy, you're trying to build skill.

Go with the LHT in 26" wheels or Surly Troll. ' might lessen the toe overlap.

Get REI membership and get it during the sale.

Toe overlap is a parking lot problem. You won't see it happen at any significant speed. It will continue to happen in parking lots and other times you're going slow, so if that bothers you a lot then this isn't the bike for you.

I have a Cross-Check I bought new in December. The toe-overlap is not a big deal. Like has been said, it only happens when you are going very slow (like <5mph) and are turning sharply - like in a parking lot or riding through a crowd of people.
It's never been a problem for me.

I am going to read up on removing decals though - i want to take the FFF off the chainstays and the surly letters off the front/back fork

I bought a brand new Cross Check for $975 at REI last year. I would not spend $1000 on a stock complete Cross Check. Maybe if it has an Ultegra group or upgraded components.

On a side note, I pretty much hated mine. I tried to sell it for $800 on CL and couldn't get anyone to buy it after a few weeks. I ended up parting it out and managed to brake even

you probably got last year's model. while they don't stock the CCs anymore at REI, when they did they sold for nearly $1200, just like at most LBS. It's about what I paid for mine. I'm loving mine. Swapped the weird huge & low salsa bars and stem for a higher stem and smaller, narrower compact bars (kept the bar-end shifters). thing is 10x better now.