Help a newbie - Bike Prices
 

I'm a total newbie and looking for a bike to ride around the neighborhood with my kids and to venture out on the road a bit for fun. I understand the differences b/w hybrid, mountain, street; not looking for anything technical, just directional for market value. Looking mainly on FB marketplace and the market seems to suggest $300 is the going rate for what I'm looking at. BicycleBlueBook is the only market resource I've found and they all show private sales for these bikes is $150 or so. Seems like the pandemic market is driving up cost as all local bike shops are out of inventory?

Attached are a few listings I'm referring to

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0f796539f3.png
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8cb04ea935.png
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bb34bc2691.png

- Bicyclecluebook is terrible. Its a disservice to buyers and sellers.
- Prices have increased on used bikes this year. On a related note, they often sell faster too.

As for these bikes, I would consider the top and bottom only.
Not sure what is going on with the middle Trek, as the fork contraption is at best a terrible depiction and at worst a really terrible decision.

Thanks. I've noticed them flying off of Marketplace. I struck a deal with the top one for $200, hoping to pick up tonight!

Boy, prices for used bikes have gone crazy with lower priced new bikes being mostly out of stock. Bicycle blue book doesn't list prices for the last 3 years this bike was made (2009, 2011, 2012) but does list the MSRP for 06 and 08. For those years it was $460 and $340. It's entry level with entry level components. Make sure it fits you. Nothing worse that buying a bike that is too big or too small.

Thx for the advice. He said it fit his cousin who used it who's 5' 11", he said he's 6' 5" and it felt small for him, I'm 6' 1". so guessing it's a 20" perhaps. Literally nothing out there so would rather have something that's slightly smaller than nothing for this next year to get out with my kids!

Used is always about supply and demand. Classic cars are a great example. When there is a high demand junkers will go for more than they ever should. When demand is down there are some great deals for cars that a buyer could never replicate him/herself.

On top is the nostalgia that every generation seems to go through. Getting that bike, car, guitar, that someone wanted but couldn’t afford back then that is now affordable for them.

John

Bikes are made to Price Points. the money they charge you in the bike shops.

each brand chooses how they meet a price point in various ways, but to be competitive,
they all try to give you a similar value at that price point..

Location matters.
Blue book is useless.

Yeah ignore bicycle blue book, they calculate value with a decreasing x% depreciation from MSRP per year formula. It has nothing to do with actual street value.

BBB says my 07 c'dale f4 is worth $100. Yeah right. I could probably sell it for what I paid new right now.

It is a seller's market. My last two sales were each completed in less than 24 hours after listing. Full market value, which I had inflated by 15% from where I thought the bikes should sell previous to the pandemic. It's a great time to dump inventory, if one has it.

Oh, and buy the Fuji.