gnappi

I have a U.S made aluminum Cannondale Criterium 600 (1993 or so) and a an older US made Schwinn Paramount 564 aluminum (1984) I am the original owner of the Schwinn and other than tires, handlebar wrap, seat and pedals its all original. The wheels are aluminum but the spokes are carbon steel and are prone to rust.

The Cannondale was bought from the original owner but it has had many mods including race wheels.

So, my question(s)

I'm being told that the Paramount bikes have collector status and I think mew wheels are in order will it hurt the value of the bike? For me I don't care, I would like to pass it on to my Son if it has any current or collector status.

Now the Cannondale, it appears to be a great bike, I'd do NOTHING to it but WHAT makes a bike get classic or collectible status. Country of origin? rarity? Correctness versus age? Chronological age?

Thx,

Gary

operator

And your goal is what? Maximizing return on investment?

mazdaspeed

Depends on the bike and what you plan to do with it. I wouldn't hesitate to modify either of those bikes. I wouldn't stress about the originality of the paramount since the older lugged steel ones are the more collectable ones, and the more recent ones like yours are good for hot rodding. You can always hold onto the original parts if you want to convert the bike to stock later.

unterhausen

you might want to ask again in the C&V forum. Some people collect those old cannondales and get all bent out of shape if they are modified.

wanlogan

Aluminum Paramounts weren't made in Waterford, I think. So frankly, it's not going to be worth much more than the Cannondale. Very few vintage bikes are going to sell for more than their original MSRP. The Waterford Paramounts might increase in value, but pretty much all bikes devalue as soon as the bike leaves the shop.

I bought an 80's Pinarello w/Super Record for $400, then repaired/sold it for $1200 (all original parts). Original MSRP was $2000ish. Counting inflation, the bike lost at least 50% of its value, despite its collector's status. That's mainly how people make money off bicycles (and most things): Buy low, sell high. Few actually sit on the bike and wait for its value to increase. Few bikes, save for Eddy/Lance's TdF/Record bikes etc., will actually increase in value over time.

Myself, I'd just pass on the bike and get it ridden.

tFUnK

i know what you mean. putting modern parts on an older frame just doesn't feel right, even if it's for a performance/function benefit. the drivetrain on my 1993 cannondale 2.8 is nice but wearing out, but the cost to replace/upgrade seems not to be worth the effort, and i don't really feel that great about putting newish parts on a 17 year old frame.

AngryScientist 

i feel sorry for a 1984 bike with all original parts. clearly this bicycle was not ridden enough.

my personal take on it is, just ride the bikes and replace parts as necessary. unless your son is really into either of the bikes, dont worry about "passing on" collectors items, he likely wont want or have room to store a mediocre 80's bike.

buy a rolex if you want an heirloom.

botto 

the cannondale is certainly in a class of its own when it come to uncomfortable bicycles.

sced

This is really the answer. Very few classic bikes are worth real money anyway and the aluminum Paramount, however fun to own and ride, isn't likely to ever be one of them. I believe that the most desirable Paramounts are pre-80's all chrome nervex-lugged 531 db steel, and they might sell for a couple thousand when built up with top-end contemporary parts.

BTW, you can respoke the wheels with stainless for less than $50.

Doohickie

Did Schwinn make aluminum bikes in 1984? I couldn't find any aluminum in the catalogs until almost 1990. There is mention of "Paramount Design Group" in the catalogs; I think this marked an expansion of the Paramount brand to include more than just Waterford-produced bikes, including the aluminum roadies. Not being produced in Waterford make them less collectable than the steel Paramounts.

As an aside, I noticed that the 1985 catalog in the collection was from the LBS near my parents' house. It was literally in the guy's garage behind his house, and he sold Schwinn and model train stuff (Lionel, etc.) out of it.

canam73

FWIW, a Schwinn 564 is a 1989 bike. I got one new for my first bike and still have it. And no, they are not worth much (maybe $200 in good shape) or I would have sold mine already. As mentioned previously, it is not a Waterford bike but a PDG bike built in Greenville, MS. The original parts are Exage (think Sora/Tiagra level) 7sp with biopace rings.

That said, mine is mostly original and the parts are holding up well and the frame is wickedly stiff in both the good and bad way. I toyed with upgrading it at one time, but the rear is 126mm and aluminum shouldn't be stretched or cold set. I keep it around as my rain bike and use it on the trainer.

One of these days either something will break that I'll deem not worth replacing or my wife will win her battle to actually park a car in the garage and my 564 will be gone.

ridethecliche

If upgrading a bike makes it get ridden, then it's worth it.

I have 2 1984 treks, a 760 and a 520. Neither have original parts. I would say both get ridden, but I had to leave one at my parents house when I moved. The other is a commuter. I 'moderned' the 760 and raced it, and have since rebuilt it as a single speed. The 520 is a commuter.

Retro Grouch 

My feelings exactly. Did you buy the bike to ride, as an investment, or for wall art? Honestly, I'm thinking that bikes are a pretty lousy investment. How much is one of those "keep it original" guys willing to give you for it?

Doohickie

This reminds me of an issue in my city where they want to tear down a mid-20th Century theatre to build a bank. Preservationists are trying to prevent the building frm being torn down, but I don't think they're going to find a group of "keep it original" guys that are willing to may more than the bank will for the property.

Nachoman

+1.