FormerBMX'er

I'm all for supporting the local shops; so when I decided I was going to swap my Aluminum Lemond Reno for a steel Schwinn Peloton, Paramount or Circuit, one shop came to mind. I headed to an older shop where the owner is open odd hours and closed on Tuesdays.

As I ride up I see a spankin' new candy apple red Paramount frame/fork in the window...nice. I ask the owner for the size and price..."it's a 52cm...it's selling for $995". I smiled, told him I wasn't looking to spend that much. He told me that in that case I didn't want a steel frame. At that point I looked around the shop briefly, put my glasses on and said "ok...have a good one".

I know the frame was NOS and I'm not sure of the year (1999 maybe) but no way in hell I was gonna spend $1K for it. In all honesty I think guy is just happy holding on to it and if someone really want's it they'll meet his price; otherwise it'll just continue to sit in the window. On a side note, I asked for the price of a carbon fork two years ago. He quoted me something like $400 dollars I think, I hope he had an Easton EC90 SLX in mind .

JeffS

Sounds like he's pegged you as a window-shopper. Sounds like he's right.

55/Rad

How much did you think it was worth?

FormerBMX'er

Not a grand...is that what it's worth? I haven't found any others new so what do I compare it to? I didn't even know it was new until he told me.

recneps

Yeah, we've got a few bikes around the shop I work at that the owner really wants to keep but cant justify keeping it around if the right price were to come up.

FormerBMX'er

uninformed...maybe, bargain shopper?.......yes!

Window shopper...not hardly!

merlinextraligh

Not sure exactly what the frame is. It sounds like its a Tim Isaac designed Paramount built by Match Cycles, (post Schwinn bankruptcy) which would mean it is likely made of 853 tubing, hand brazed, lugged construction.

One comparator would be a Waterford lugged frame, which would set you back well more than $995.

If the frame is older than 1999, and was built by Waterford, pre Schwinn bankruptcy, and its NOS, IMHO, it could be worth substantially more than $995.

This guy has some info on the Match Paramounts.

https://jaybikepage.tripod.com/

JeffS

I just meant from his standpoint - not that you weren't REALLY going to spend the money.

norskagent

plenty of nice vintage steel bikes come up on craigslist, for less $ if you are patient...unless you have to have a paramount.

FormerBMX'er

He may very well think that because whenever I go (not often since I was told to leave my bike outside one day) there I'm riding the low-end Reno or the Beater Cannondale.

FormerBMX'er

That's my plan (I've been looking) as I do want a Schwinn 853. If I was to spend $1K for a new frame then I would just go ahead and build up a new rig altogether. This is suppose to be a replacement frame so used is the route I want to go.

R900

Seems a fair price to me.

FormerBMX'er

I guess so...

wfrogge

Maybe he knew you had that United frame and figured you would buy anything

j/k

oilman_15106

It is worth what the buyer is willing to pay and what the seller is willing to accept. It is called a market. If the seller is unwilling to take less you will have to look elsewhere but since it was made eight years ago the number of choices will be limited. Why would a VW micro bus at auction go for $48,000? Saw it on ESPN. No clue other than someone thought it was worth that much.

FormerBMX'er

Haha...the TU is a collector's item and really nice riding frame I might add. Actually, the TU is what got me thinking steel because it's amazingly smooth. I have 5 bikes total and none of them are steel so it makes sense.