Do the Clem Smith Junior stepthrough bicycles have a used value?

[Brian Oldham]

I am surprised that in a month of listing my Clem for sale that I have not had one serious look or offer.  Does that mean that this bicycle has no market value?  It is the good bicycle that we all know and love, well made and superbly designed.  Apparently while is is a good bicycle to have it is not a good one to sell.   

I've added over $1,000 of upgrades and paid $1,600 to purchase.  It has treated handlebars, Cork grips, upgraded Shimano pedals, Nitto racks in front and back, a large Wald basket, Brooks seat, double kick stand, and a generator hub and light system.  I have asked for $1,500 thinking all the upgrades for free would be attractive.  

So what suggestions do you have for finding new homes for your used Rivendells"  Mine was new last October (2020).  Craigslist only works with an 80% discount on the purchase replacement value,  same with local ads.  Pro's Closet is looking for fancy road bikes so not an option for this transaction.  I've considered returning it to Rivendell so they could find someone who would appreciate it.  I know I can give it to a bike collective or charity and that might be the best option.  I have done that in the past. Ive given bicycles to Bike East Bay and Silicon Valley Bike Coalition.  Trying to show repect to the bicycle and the waiting time to find one of these.

Just wondering.

[Patrick Moore]

You have a nice bike, but to the average schlemiel browsing want ads it doesn't fall into the high price (anything over ~$300) categories of road bike or fulls suspension mountain bike. It looks (to said schlemiel) as if it should sell for $300. You belong like the rest of us to a very peculiar and small cycling niche that appreciates both quality and comfort. Heat treated handlebars, cork grips, Nitto versus Pletscher racks, Brookses, dynamos, etc. just don't enter into the weltanschauung of most people looking for a "cruiser" bike (and in this case, that's an honorable term). Most people hope to find these at Target.

Me, I'd try to find other vending outlets. Off the top of my head, if you belong to a church in a high-rent neighborhood, post a FS sign explaining the quality -- "this is not your average $300 cruiser" even if to unpracticed eyes it looks like one. Ditto at work, if you work in an office, or belong to a gymn, or attend wine tasting events; you get the idea. You'll have to find people with means who want a comfortable bike and can also understand as well as afford one that is top quality. Otherwise, again, people will associate quality with cf road bikes and full susp mountain bikes, or e contrario, look at comfortable bikes (all sorts of qualifications here, but you know what I mean) as low cost items.

#2: If selling on-list, the secret is to wait. I've listed what I thought were bargains only to get deafening silence in response. Then in a month or 2 or 4, a similar item is snapped up. I think in particular of my upgraded Sam Hillborne that went begging for weeks; but later, other SHs were snapped up with alacrity.

The last option is to keep and ride it! Curious: Why are you selling?

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[lucky...@gmail.com]

Another option is consignment, I went this route on a couple bikes that weren’t selling through the usual channels and with patience I got quite close to what I’d hoped. 

On Feb 25, 2021, at 19:57, Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Brian Oldham]

This is a good reply and thank you for it. Practical. Patience is often a powerful quality. I’m also now able to spell schlemiel. Thanks. 

Brian O

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Brian Oldham 916-712-1609

[Joe Bernard]

I think you need to update the original FS post with pics of the bike with Nitto racks, the one you show only has a Pletscher rear. The new pics may have the new pedals, too, but be aware that most folks have their own favorites and may not be into a Shimano pedal if it's clipless. 

Joe Bernard

[Philip Barrett]

I'm not sure I saw the original listing. What size is this?

[Roberta]

Where does one do consignment? 

[Roberta]

52cm. https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/ekTmhSz7_Nc/m/xtDuJpWHAwAJ   It’s a great deal. 

[Philip Barrett]

Sent you a text Brian...2 threads going here :)

[lucky...@gmail.com]

There’s a lovely shop not far from me that offers it. I’m not sure where you’re located, however.

You obviously pay for the service but the advertising via social media, word of mouth, and eyes on made the difference I believe. 

On Feb 26, 2021, at 06:20, Roberta <rcha...@gmail.com> wrote:

Where does one do consignment? 

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[Michael Morrissey]

Don't speak about my man Craig like that! Craigslist has come through for me so many times on good deals - my car, motorcycle, a job, a Spot single speed bicycle, my Lambretta (TV175 - holy grail of scooters). 

You need a full list of bike parts to get your price. You need to have the size listed there. I think Clems and most Rivendells have a high resale value.

Also do contact The Pro's Closet. Their office is like a mountain bike museum. They have the most amazing collection of vintage mountain bikes and have sold Rivendells before. I think they'd be into it.

I am passively looking for a Clem Smith Jr. in the 45 cm / 26 inch size for my S.O. on the East Coast. 

Good luck! Your bike is nice and it will sell.

Michael

[Lyman Labry]

Hi,  What size?  More photos would be great.  Thanks

Lyman ATX

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[Brian Oldham]

Thanks for this. I’m not on Facebook. Maybe this thread is. 

Brian O

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Brian Oldham 916-712-1609

[Philip Barrett]

I'm not on Facebook either but sent you a text & an email on this bike.

[Brian Oldham]

Yes. I’m not on any social media and wonder if that’s bad. 

B

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Brian Oldham 916-712-1609

[Philip Barrett]

Not sure how else to say this? I'm interested in buying your bike, if you're still interested in selling.

[Doug Van Cleve]

Just a few thoughts, in no particular order...  Patience is a virtue selling anything like this.  If you have time, just update your sales post(s) and wait.  Fancy-ish parts are always worth the most separated from the bike.  If you have the original parts, putting them back on and selling off the upgrades will almost certainly net you the most moolah.  I sold a nicely built ~58cm Saluki (predecessor to the AHH, I think) on this list years ago for something like $1500 and purchased a Joe Appa with a dyno hub but no saddle a year or so ago for about the same.  My $0.02 would be to return it to stock configuration if you can and sell off the upgraded parts.  Set the price at 3/4 or so of new and I bet it eventually sells...

Doug

On Thu, Feb 25, 2021 at 8:34 PM Brian Oldham <brianma...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Philip Barrett]

I’m now worried that my messages are not posting on the group feed? Maybe ending up in some internet dungeon somewhere?

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[Brian Oldham]

It needs a new home and you are Rivendell qualified. Where are you located ?  I’m in San Carlos. On the Peninsula south of San Francisco. Can you come get a test ride?  

Brian Oldham. 

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Brian Oldham 916-712-1609

[Philip Barrett]

Dallas, TX - so buying long distance - would love to see some more pics of the bike as she is built up now.

[Anthony Coffin]

I'm not sure where all you have listed it but there are a lot more people shopping for Rivendells than just the folks on this forum. I would try other bike forums as well as ebay. I know ebay takes a big cut, but it's also the biggest audience and Rivendells don't usually last a long time.

Selling a high end/relatively expensive can often take a lot of patience, especially when your talking about a niche market. Also, if you want to get the most out of your investment it's usually more profitable to part everything out. There are a lot of us that enjoy the hunt for parts and building up a bike just the way we want it to be. However you want to sell it the key is patience and reaching the broadest market within your boundaries of reason.

I hope that's helpful, and good luck with your sale. There are buyers out there for Clems, I promise.

Anthony

Saint Louis

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[Eric Floden]

I check pinkbike.com regularly for Rivs. Currently there is a Roadini for $US1200

[Philip Barrett]

FYI - I tried call the 916 number & left you a text.

[Brian Oldham]

More proof that the value of the Rivendell is the owners group.  Real bicycle knowledge including the world in which we ride.  Thanks.

Brian O

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Brian M. Oldham

916-712-1609

It is just as easy to ride there on a bicycle

[Philip Barrett]

This lurker just became an owner - thanks Brian! 

[Patrick Moore]

I followed Brian's posts with sympathy and Phil's increasingly anxious posts with trepidation, so I am very glad that extremes met, and that Brian sold and Phil bought. Hallelujah!

On Fri, Feb 26, 2021 at 2:07 PM Philip Barrett <philipr...@gmail.com> wrote:

This lurker just became an owner - thanks Brian! 

[Joe Bernard]

Right?? The apparent disconnect continuing to transpire there was starting to stress me out! I'm glad it resolved well. 

[Philip Barrett]

When you find the perfect match you gotta make your move! As Beyonce said, put a ring on it.

It's the not-so-secret with being successful on Craigslist too.

[Brian Oldham]

 

Bikes need to be ridden and I know this one will have a great productive life now.

Brian Oldham

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[Philip Barrett]

Once the Texas summer gets here she'll be nasty-texting you about sending her to the 5th circle of Hell!

[aeroperf]

Would this be worth a dedicated “How to sell a Riv” thread?
I’ve seen a lot of people selling, a lot of people looking to buy.  This is the first thread I’ve seen with discussion about How To.

List in a lot of places, list on other groups, be patient, consider consignment at an LBS.
To which I could add “Spend a day cleaning with a toothbrush, soapy water, and apply a good show car polish like Zaino’s, and you’ll get an extra $100”, unless you are selling it sight-unseen.

Also a few other comments, but this thread doesn't seem the place.

[Joe Bernard]

I think the biggest mover is lots of pics, which I put in a linkable album so folks here can get to them. If I'm buying and there's only one pic I'm pretty reticent to jump, there's not enough there to grab my eye and suck me in. People like to browse for hours and look at every nook and cranny, it feeds the "gotta have it" lobe in the old brain. Suck em in! 😁

Joe Bernard

[Philip Barrett]

I think some very good points were made above in that you have to be able to appreciate what you're looking at to understand the value. I'm sure most people look at the Rivendell range and think "Target bike" or at best "Linus bike" (which incidentally my wife rides happily) so you're not going to attract the casual bike buyer looking for something to run around the park with. 

Location must be a huge part of the equation too? Dallas (my domicile) is a very popular cycling city BUT local riders are almost exclusively weekend/weeknight warriors counting grams on their carbon framesets. That's not a criticism, but the idea of them spending $1,000s on a bike guaranteed not to work with their Strava KOMs is optimistic at best. So that being said, I'm surprised this one hadn't sold being in a location(NorCal) that is much more open & friendly to bikes as transportation. In Texas I would add Austin to the "better likelihood for sale" locations, nationally the obvious ones are the PNW, NorCal and NYC area (doesn't Bikesnob ride a Riv)?

Joe is 100% correct on the pictures. I've had a lot of success on Craigslist and I'm sure that's mostly due to sensible pricing and lots of pretty pictures. Of course the absolutely crazy best buying deal I ever got on a motorcycle was accompanied by one lousy cell phone photo taken in a dark cellar at midnight!

[Michael Morrissey]

Lol what motorcycle did you get?

[Philip Barrett]

Husqvarna FE501S - no less, guy had owned for a year, put 500 miles on it & was upside down on the financing. Ad appeared late Sunday evening, he was about 40 miles away & I told him I'd be there at 9am in the morning with cash.

Got it for a price that even my motorcycle wholesaler friend couldn't believe!