What !!!!!??????? !!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Shimano-Deore-XT- ... 240%3A1318

Like madness or what ? (though am going to watch this one out of interest and think about welding mine onto my bars)

But why is it, why is this happening, bits of old MTB junk commanding such high prices ?

To the others here, those who have been here a while a year or two, was it always this bad, was the interest always like this, or is this a recent phenomenon ?

Y know, I found my way here after deciding to get an old hardtail as a commuter and light off roader since the road bike was not liking the poor state of the tarmac around here.

The theory was that I could find a bike that I lusted after 15 years ago dirt cheap, after all it would be 15 or more years old. Even though outdated I figured the old stuff would be no worse for having been superseded so I didn't mind looking a bit old. It might sound stupid now, but I actually thought I might find a Yo Eddy or similar for less than £100. First one, frame only, I tracked on ebay went for over £400! I was a little shocked to say the least.

Everytime I think I;ve got used to the retro scene someone goes and does something like bid over £80 for some old thumbshifters!

That's a shill bidding extravaganza as someone here has said.

These would normally go for around £30-40 on a very good day.

True, those shifters are a scam, but I think a lot of old bikes command silly money nowadays. And it can't be good for people who are getting into the scene.
I'll never forget seeing an advert a couple of years ago for a mint Ritchey at the same price I paid for my On-One Inbred. I decided to go for the Inbred, 'cause it was new and that had to be better, right? :evil:
Ebay has a lot to answer for.

Xesh":13x37ydv said:

That's a shill bidding extravaganza as someone here has said.

These would normally go for around £30-40 on a very good day.

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Yeah, I agree, and thirty to forty is not too bad, seeing as back in about 2003, my local dealer had a new, unused set of XT thumbies going for 45 quid. That is , if you manage to get a set of good second hand units, as most of them that have been in use are pretty well worn by now. They develop a detent on the bearing seat and the lever becomes sloppy, with a bit of side to side movement on the indexed lever, (the most used one).

My reason for getting them again, is because thumbies are the only shifter I have ever used, and am used to them, it's a natural reaction to move the thumb over the bar looking for the gear change, the rapid fire things I did have, did'nt work for me. But I would have got LX shifters if they had come up first.

I've been watching these since they were at £50. Was considering bidding but they are now near the price I paid for the bike I'm rebuilding it's a big no-no!

Craziness!

Lucky seller. some people must really want them :roll:

chris667":1tii2l0a said:

And it can't be good for people who are getting into the scene.
.

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its the increase of people getting into the scene, bigger demand thats driving the prices up!

silverclaws":ihrclgwn said:

Xesh":ihrclgwn said:

That's a shill bidding extravaganza as someone here has said.

These would normally go for around £30-40 on a very good day.

Click to expand...

My reason for getting them again, is because thumbies are the only shifter I have ever used, and am used to them, it's a natural reaction to move the thumb over the bar looking for the gear change,

Click to expand...

your thumb is "naturally" tucked under the handlebar, moving the thumb above the bar isnt natural, its something you've learnt. thumbies may last for a very long time, but the ergonomics of both sram & shimano are waaay better.

I just wonders why the big demand for these things, I mean I know they are good, but is it that because they are supposedly the iconic shifter, everyone must have them as if nothing else is an equal.

Myself, if I had all those years ago started with rapid fire units or gripshit, maybe I would wonder what all the fuss is about, as I do believe that what one seeks is what one feels most comfortable with.

I recently made useable and somewhat prettier ladies MTB style cycle, an old Raleigh from the early eighties, though it only had six gears, the old Shimano friction shifter thumbie was surprisingly very good, and gear changing was a breeze for non indexed gears. Pity though the chainset, BMX style single piece crank and 52 tooth ring, that will be hard work down here, I have two rings smaller than that.

But, the positive of it all, is that it is recycling, the using of second hand parts, something supposedly good with the world the way it is and us being told constantly to recycle.

Hey, thats a good name for a retrobike, recycle, hmmm, I wonder, Saracen recycle elite