Road Bike Gurus - How much is this bike worth?

[novon]

I'm looking to buy a used road bike for ~$500, Here's the sales pitch from a local guy:

Lyon Sport frame and forks W/Shimano drop outs, 20 1/2 top tube, 24" seat tube, cat eye (needs new cable), Shimano BB, Campi brev breke levers, Cinelli bars and stem, Veleo plush saddle, Control teck seat post, Chris King sealed bearing head set, Campi Avanti cranks, bachs chain, control teck jockey wheels, suntour sprint rear derailer, campi record front derailer, shimano 600 breaks and pads, campi record greasable hubs, mavric rinms. The bike is 58-59cm. I will take and send a photo if this interests you. The bike is blue in color. The bike is 5 yrs old, the orriginal owner paid $1300.00 for the custom lyon frame, and then added on the rest of the components.

Is this worth $500? Will a 58cm frame work for a 6' tall guy like myself?

thanks

 

[LS20]

hodge podge of parts... some of that stuff is farrrrrrrrrrrrr older than 5 years. if he was a serious vintage collector/enthusiast he would have built it with a groupset.. not campy avanti cranks (sux), with suntour derailleur and shimano brakes.. also noboody would touch control tech stuff... i wasnt aware shimano ever had their own drop outs.. 20" top tube and 24" seat tube... either its some touring bike or he measured wrong. this sounds like all kinds of weird... i wouldnt buy it

 

[notfred]

Suntour and Shimano 600 parts sound a lot older than 5 years. It sounds like something he assembled out of spare parts in his garage.

 

[vegetation]

$500 is way overpriced. The components are all junk and obsolete. I would price it more at $200-250, at most.

 

[tommywishbone]

A Suntour Sprint derailer? I'm pretty sure that's oooold school. I don't think I've seen any suntour components since the early 90's.

Edit: I'm not saying Suntour is not out there, I'm just saying I never see it. FWIW, check out Ebay for some killer deals of Pro Road Bikes. The great deals are out there.

Edit II: I'm 6'0" and ride a 58cm center-to-center.

 

[boyRacer]

Performancebike has a $420 K2 road bike. Low-end Sora stuff... but I think I'd rather have a low-end bike that works than an old bike that'll make me spend just as much just to keep it working again.

 

[LS20]

bike parts are so simplistic that this 95% of them will work perfectly given a good day's worth of maintenance ...

the problem is, with this part selection, it seems like the bike was an afterthought to him...

vintage bikes have value when they have componenetry as a groupset... this is like a 67 mustang rebuilt with random junk yard and autozone parts

 

[novon]

Thanks, can anyone recommend a new bike then between $500-$800? What things should I look for?

 

Fuji Bikes are a great bargain. If you can find an '05 Roubaix, it should definitely be in your price range.

Also check out the BikeForums.net Under $700 bike thread. Check the later pages for some more recent posts/bikes.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: LS20
bike parts are so simplistic that this 95% of them will work perfectly given a good day's worth of maintenance ...

the problem is, with this part selection, it seems like the bike was an afterthought to him...

vintage bikes have value when they have componenetry as a groupset... this is like a 67 mustang rebuilt with random junk yard and autozone parts

Well it'll work but probably not as smooth as a new one, even an entry-level bike at that.

 

[boyRacer]

bikesdirect.com has bikes with 105 level parts for ~$800. good buy if you don't care about the name plastered on the down tube.

EDIT: I really shouldn't be recommending buying online if you don't know what size you're comfortable with though. 🙂

 

Originally posted by: bR
bikesdirect.com has bikes with 105 level parts for ~$800. good buy if you don't care about the name plastered on the down tube.

I really want that Motobecane Cross bike, but it was sold out before I even knew it was in stock. 🙁

Word of caution regarding BikesDirect.com, though: most bikes from them come nearly unassembled. If you're not comfortable assembing a bike (including brakes, cables, etc.), you might want to get a bike from a local shop.

 

[Brutuskend]

Some Campy stuff brings BIG $$$ on Ebay.

I would be skeptical of a bike with parts that are so mismatched.

If it's indexed shifting, Sun tour doesn't play well with Shimano and visa versa.

However, some old school parts (Like the Campy stuff) can bring good money on ebay.

Worth $500?

Some frames alone from the old days can bring well over that...

I have a hand made frame from the 70's and I would have a hard time ever selling it!


You could buy it, sell the Campy stuff and some of the old sought after retro parts then get newer matching components for the frame. 🙂