Fair price for a Raleigh Twenty?
 

It's a three speed in very good condition. He's asking 250.00. Is this a fair price? I have no idea what they usually go for.

Any help you can give this newbie would be greatly appreciated.

I am in the Puget Sound area (Washington). Early last spring, I posted an ad on Craigs List that I wanted to buy a Raleigh Twenty folder. My intent was to rebuild it. Within a couple days I received an email for a 3 speed R20 in good to very good condition, with no parts missing (it has the original everything, including rack, pedals, handlebars, fenders, etc.). The original SA3 hub was made in 2-1973, so my best guess the bike dates to spring/summer 1973. He sold it to me for $100.

I do not know what they should sell for, but $250 seems high to me.

By the way, I have since rebuilt most of it, except the bottom bracket/cranks, to include: I built up new wheels with a SA8 hub in the rear, new headset, stem, neck, front brakes (v brake), chain, pedals, tires, handlebars, etc.

Enjoy!

Ah, thanks, hopperja. That's very helpful. From my years in the used and rare book business, I know that people frequently overestimate the value of items just because they are old.

However, she sure looks pretty in the picture. (Can you tell I'm tempted?) I need a bike to tide me over until my Tikit gets here, and I've been blown away by the pictures of the Twenty restorations and modernizations I've seen. I'd be very interested in that kind of project in a year or so, as I attempt to bring up my bike mechanics skills.

Btw, your Twenty sounds great! Have you got pictures on the net?

This one is for sale in Vancouver BC
http://vancouver.craigslist.org/bik/382955425.html

From last month, I lost biddings for about 5 Raleigh Twentys on Ebay. They sold between 150 to 250, not including shipping. If it's perfect with no scratches and includes the pump, $200 would be good, if not $150.

A good used but not abused Raleigh Twenty should go for about $100.00 to $130.00 plus shipping. I bought one in Jan '07 for $120.00 and only put new tubes and tires on it. The bike was in very good condition with original everything and just a few minor scratches on the frame paint. I don't ride it much and am considering selling it, but that another story. PG.

I just payed $150 for a Twenty from a long time Raleigh dealer. He even took my Raliegh Sports on consignment. Very nice condition except a few scratches here and there. I replaced the original tires with a cheap Kendas for safety reasons. I also replaced the post and seat with a 400mm post and an extra seat with rails I had laying around. Continental Kool-stop orange brake pads are on the way. However I'm torn between keeping the bike stock or starting down the upgrade path!

I paid $145 for mine, after it lingered on CL for a while at $175; I later missed another one that lingered on CL for a while at $100 and then sold immediately at $50. This is in Portland, where prices for bikes tend to be on the high side.

Here in the UK I paid £70 GBP for my first one ($140 USD) in reasonable condition, then £29 ($58) for one I thought I needed spares from in better condition (sold on for a wee profit in the end) and just the other week £5 ($10) for a non-folder, admitedly in a state where pretty much everthing beyond the frame has to go. Come to London and pick one up cheap while you're here!

Here's one just posted on Craigslist in the Seattle area ($95): http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/bik/398043452.html

Enjoy!

You're welcome. Sounds like $100 - $150 is the range for decent condition R20s in the United States (may vary slightly by area), but certainly not $250!

My R20, in my opinion, is perfect! I still have yet to figure out how to put pictures up on the web, however. If I figure out a way to get pictures onto my computer, is there anyone here who would be willing to host a page for me?

You could just open a photot bucket account (free) and post your pics there. I could provide info on how to then display them here, it's quite simple with photobucket.

www. photobucket.com

Thanks for the info, as always. I've taken some pictures and am in the process of attempting to upload them to my computer.