Real selling/purchase price for vintage steel bikes in 2018?

[JSH]

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I think you’re right. Rarely do I get anywhere near my money back when I out a bike. I do get pleasure though in rescuing a steel frame. I did pay £1900 for a complete bike this year but it did have a 50th group and I’ve sold a couple of restored Rourkes for £800 ish. I had a Pinarello Montello SLX for sale with a complete Record Ti 9 speed group restored to A1 condition but couldn’t sell it. I’ve started listing stuff with low start auctions and letting the market find a level - it ain’t pretty

 

[M-Power]

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Seems the same thing is happening in the whole retro market. Brexit and fear of economic woes has put the brakes on sales of a lot of high end stuff. DT seems to depress many of our cousins across the pond, so much so, there has been a massive drop in social activity on FB groups. So much palpable apathy atm and understandably so. I am holding off selling a few nice things until next year maybe. Not prepared to take any more big hits on super nice rare stuff, that took a painfully long time to find. I paid stoopid $s for two NOS rare items recently but they rarely come up for sale in decent condition. There seems to be a definite trend towards interest the very early stuff though.

 

[Woz]

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Do you had the price of the bottles and tins consumed in the man-cave? I mean a good few hours can be spent pondering.

 

[Peachy!]

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Do you had the price of the bottles and tins consumed in the man-cave? I mean a good few hours can be spent pondering.

Oh no no no, they’re a completely separate item for accounting purposes, that’s “subsistence” and come out of the household food & drink budget........

 

[spitball]

Would it stand to reason that there is a limited market determined by age, as we get older we either have a nice collection therefore not really spending decent money on bikes/bits. Or, decide not to bother (could be due to health reaesons)with any more bikes, and as for the next generation they won't bother with steel or old Dura ace/Campagnolo because they didn't grow up with it, their TDF heroes rode modern bikes so they prefer carbon and 11 speed stuff, then you have people born in the mid 80s/90s who remember a Raleigh/Peugeot their friend had, made of gas pipe and will pay stupid money for it because they have no comprehension of quality and then the price for crap goes up I have seen it happen on here, there have been some cracking bikes for sale on here that haven't sold or take ages to sell at reasonable prices then some overpriced piece of crap sells quickly.

I live on a popular cycle route out in the sticks and I have never seen a steel bike go past I always ask randomly " don't people bother with steel anymore" they either laugh, don't know what i'm talking about or say I can't be bothered with that old stuff it never works. That tells me they have never ridden a decent steel bike. And the age range of the cyclists range from 18 up to 50s. You will always get collectors and the odd buyer but in 5-10 years I think it will be a very very small market

 

[M-Power]

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^^ Agree mostly...its a generational thing.That being said plenty of yoof are getting into classic cars, fashion, furniture and music gets rediscovered. Amazing tech can get a bit soulless and boring, bit like modern music. We all use it, its just a tool but so many of the originals have some ‘soul’ to them.

 

[allenh]

I live on a popular cycle route out in the sticks and I have never seen a steel bike go past I always ask randomly " don't people bother with steel anymore" they either laugh, don't know what i'm talking about or say I can't be bothered with that old stuff it never works. That tells me they have never ridden a decent steel bike. And the age range of the cyclists range from 18 up to 50s. You will always get collectors and the odd buyer but in 5-10 years I think it will be a very very small market

I ride pretty much only steel, have lots of them and see quite a few out around me being ridden when I'm out riding mine, but no nowhere near as many modern alloy or carbon bikes so yes it is a bit of a niche market like any old thing.

I do have one Carbon but it's not exactly modern being a Look KG96 and a couple of modern alloy framed bikes which I absolutely hate because they are just uncomfortable, I must have a 1970's steel framed shaped body and I don't think I'm alone in that.

Sadly I do have to sell one or two of mine to make room every now and then but I have to work myself up to it as I have abandonment issues about letting them go. Like others I rarely get back what I invest in them but making money out of them has never been the point in my case.

There are some though that try to get eye watering prices for some of this stuff and these bikes do tend to hang around for a very long time but that of course is up to the seller and they have every right to ask what they want for their bikes, and any potential buyer has a similar choice when it comes to paying for one of these bikes.

And I'm liking Peachy's costing method very much so will be employing the same in future, can I ask though does tea and custard creams count in the subsistence budget as well?

 

[Peachy!]

can I ask though does tea and custard creams count in the subsistence budget as well?

Of course!

And another thing....
WD40, chain lube, 3in1, wash off, etc all come out of her “Garden machinery maintenance” budget

MAAS metal polish, scritchers, paper towel...”household cleaning”

 

[Stump28]

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Some good points but have to disagree completely with the view on the young, way off the mark!

 

[Woz]

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I'll add something a bit more sensible; this thread is developing nicely with some interesting input.

I've always taken the idea it's cheaper to buy full bikes, then strip and mix, match, etc. etc. and sell off what is left or not needed.

However, when I see stunning builds and sellers have actually priced above the sum of all parts and starting to factor in manhours or fashion prices then it does not entertain me.

I am prepared to pay a little more for an interesting project, but not silly amounts for off the peg(potential) riding enjoyment or showing off points.