Reduced market for used older bikes?

[Eric Myers]

I've been working on selling off my older bikes and there just doesn't seem to be any buyers out there.  Riv content is that these are decent steel bikes, from the 80s-90s, still comfortable to ride, with new parts like cables/housing/brake pads, and tuned up so all the remaining older parts work smoothly and reliably.  Most recently I had an early 90s Specialized Hardrock on Craigslist for a month.  When I wasn't even getting any interest calls at $80 I just gave it away instead of dropping the price any further.

Is anyone else experiencing this, or have ideas about what is going on?  Is the economy doing too well for people to buy inexpensive used bikes?  Is there less of a market due to Jump and other bike share companies?  At this point I may just donate some of the bikes to the local Bicycle Kitchen instead of tuning them up to sell myself.

Curious in Sacramento,

Eric

[Reid Echols]

Seems to vary a lot by market. In Austin I can do pretty well with a functional bike, but it’s a college town. Figure almost any bike that works and has a decent story to tell will fetch at least ~$180 around here.

[Coal Bee Rye Anne]

I’ve personally debated this same topic... not because I’ve been trying to sell without success but because I’ve had limited time (due to various factors) and have considered whether I’d be better off just loading up the car and making a bulk donation to a local co-op with misc stuff not otherwise worth any consideration of shipping costs vs delaying a greatly desired purge to potentially recover some costs but at the additional expense of time trying to do so. I’d put an end to craigslist surfing a while ago to avoid temptation and rid myself of the habitual flippers re-listing the same stuff over and over so I’m not aware of any current trends. So I basically remain in limbo just wondering what to do every time I survey my bike stash.

Brian Cole
Lawrenceville NJ

[S]

Here in the PNW, the used bike market is all over the place. I see $80 mountain bikes and I see touring bikes with rusty parts that the owner won't sell for less than $500. The market for higher-end bikes such Rivendell, Gunnar, etc., seems fairly strong, but I wouldn't be surprised if that changed in the next few years. My guess is that many people these days want disc brakes and hence older bikes with rim brakes are falling out of favor. Also, cycling seems less popular in general.

[Joe Bernard]

Also, ebikes. People like 'em and the depreciation is atrocious (ask me how I know). First time buyers looking to test the electric waters are finding unbelievable deals out there.

[S]

I forgot about ebikes. When I go riding, I see only a very slight uptick in, eg, gravel bikes, but a relatively large increase in ebikes.

[Ed Carolipio]

Used bike sales are seasonal so that may be a factor in what you've observed. I've found the best time to sell bike stuff is in early Spring as folks are taking stock of their stables, thinking about what kind of riding they're going to do through the fall, and reading up on the new models released by the big brands. Winter is the worst time to sell, with fall a close second. (There's a small spike around Thanksgiving and early December when you can get lucky catching the eyeballs of some wayward Christmas shoppers.) If you've got the room, probably best to stash the bike today and wait until late Feb/early March to list it again. If it's slow going then, I think at that point something else bigger is going on and maybe it's time to drive down to the co-op.

I like the point others made about e-bikes as well, though I think the impact on the used (non e-bike) market is that tinkerers would be searching for models that are easy to convert it into e-bikes. If the used bike or frame your selling is conducive to such a conversion - like an old school MTB or a Clem L- and it's still not moving, that may also indicate something bigger is going on.

--Ed C.

On Saturday, August 31, 2019 at 7:49:54 AM UTC-7, Eric Myers wrote:

[Eric Norris]

I have found that the prices for used bicycles drop like a stone whenever I get ready to sell a bike. Works every time.

--Eric Norris
campyo...@me.com

@CampyOnlyguy (Twitter/Instagram)

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[Joe Bernard]

It could be worse, you could be selling a recumbent! I recently paid what I thought was a low/fair price for one, then decided to turn it around so I could buy different one. Oops! There is NO market for 2-wheelers out there, everybody wants a trike. I'm going to end up fire-sale-ing this thing as a partial donation to someone who'd like to get into 'bents for cheap. You win, you lose! 🤷

[Ian A]

There are definitely buyers, but the keen ones are looking for the high end of the product range. The Hard Rock is a great bike, but not a dream bike for most people. The Stumpy by contrast will gain lots of attention. Basically, if the Internet forums aren't raving over the bike model (e.g. 90's Kona Explosif etc.), the only market left over are the shrewd commuters, who tend to buy a used bike once every few years.

IanA
Alberta Canada

[Mark Roland]

I think in general right now, the market is soft. Especially for bikes that are not marque, and are not in top condition. Certain models, years, components, etc. are all factors. Vintage Stumpjumpers are going to bring more than a comparable Hardrock, all other things being equal. Some local markets, especially on the West Coast, are good most of the year. But if you have something worth something, best bet is eBay.

Specialized Hard Rock Completed listings

Tip: Do not sell bike parts or bikes in Auction mode unless you have something very rare. You will get creamed. Find the average price, and do a Buy It Now a bit higher or lower, depending on condition or how bad you want it gone.

I've been thinking about this too, because I tend to build up bikes with a lot of beausage on the frames. They ride great and, to me, look awesome. But they have little value as complete machines. And once I part them back out, the frame might as well go to the scrapyard, cause nobody will pay enough to make it worthwhile to ship it.

My first problem is deciding what bikes to keep and what to let go. A lot of my bikes overlap. But they all have a different ride, and they all make me happy. But lately, having so many is creating clutter in my brain. I also have a bad habit of starting a project, then picking up another bike, and now I have two projects, plus a bike that needs a repair.

I sell on craigslist, IBOB, and ebay. By far ebay is the best bet. I will usually list low on iBOB. Maybe half the stuff sells, usually high-recognition parts, or Campy. Rarely bikes. With those I will sometimes get quite a bit more than what I offered on the list.

While I wait to try to snag a Clem L frameset, I have been on a bit of a vintage Mt.Bike binge, picking up an early 90s GT Karakoram, a 1984 Trek 830, and a mid-eighties Peugeot in the last month. I always buy bikes I can fit, and my intent is to at least try them out and see if they are something I can use longer term.

For sale. To the list, $275 plus shipping. All original down to the "GT" stamped buckles on the toe clip straps. 33" standover w 2" tires, 23" top  tube.

I think the solution is to just let go of stuff. What's a good number? Five? Plus the tandem, of course.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=vintage+specialized+hardrock&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=0&LH_Complete=1&_udlo=&_udhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=15&_stpos=12508&_sargn=-1%26saslc%3D1&_salic=1&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=100&_fosrp=1

[Joe Bernard]

I have three at the moment and my upcoming Riv Custom will be four, at which point I'll sell one of the others. A friend an I have been discussing this topic lately, and I've come around to her view that having a bunch of bikes is - as you say - cluttery for the brain. I think I'm done with the clutter.

[MCT]

Joe. If I were close, I would buy the x-stream while it was on fire. I sold two recumbents and both times to new riders trying out recumbents.

[Ryan M.]

I’ve noticed Klein bikes and Barracuda bikes from the 90’s going for large cash...the only reason I even looked them up was because those were the bikes I listed after back then. I wound up with a Specialized Stumpjumper which I still have and still occasionally take out. Modern mtbs are better in almost every way but the nostalgia is still strong with these 90s bikes.

[Mark Roland]

I would not say modern mtb bikes are better in almost every way. It's really an apples and oranges, as modern mtb are more like motorcycles without engines designed to dominate the landscape. Old school mtb are designed to ride along in the landscape. Here's my mid-eighties Peugeot from a ride earlier today. Direct lineage to the upcoming Rivendell Hillibikes. (Nothing could be better in any way):

More photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/XJ25K5V6DEaaafym7

On Sunday, September 1, 2019 at 5:25:18 PM UTC-4, Ryan M. wrote:

....Modern mtbs are better in almost every way but the nostalgia is still strong with these 90s bikes.

[ctifusion]

Mark,

I totally agree, and I'm also tempted by the tall 80s MTBs all the time. All three you got recently would be hard for me to pass up, but a tall '84 830? Pretty cool.

More garage ceiling hooks. Problem solved!

Brynnar
Indy

[Mark Roland]

Hi Brynnar. First I need the garage.

Yeah, the 84 Trek is one size down from the largest, but the jumps are big. Still perfectly doable for me, especially as a Hillibike, since I am just shy of 5' 11". I'm thinking of a dirt drop stem and some version of Albatross style bars. Cosmetically it is the most challenged. I'm not usually a big fan of touch up, or a repaint, but this one has many open scrapes that are rusticating.

The other issue, of course, is, too many bikes. While I realize that is not technically possible, it does become a factor. Especially with no garage. And plans to reacquire a Clementine. Which of course is also a refined and improved descendant of the vintage mountain bikes.

[Dave Redmon]

I enjoyed your pictures. Looks like joyous times!

Dave in Kansas

[Mark Roland]

Thank you, Dave. Riding with my son, who will be 10 in November, is definitely joyous! I need to put together an album of Mack & Dad over the years one of these days. He has become, in addition to a cyclist, a bit of a photo bomber.

Mark in Beacon

[Dave Redmon]

Ha!  Lucky all around!

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[Fullylugged]

have found that the prices for used bicycles drop like a stone whenever I get ready to sell a bike. Works every time.

--Eric Norris
campyo...@me.com
@CampyOnlyguy (Twitter/Instagram)

You thinking of selling anything soon? :)