Mountain Bike Forum for vintage bike value?

[Don Plumley]

I have an original 1983 Stumpjumper - I bought it as an undergrad and kept since. This is the second year of production and the first with a lighted frame. Anyway, values seem to be going up, so I’d rather sell it to someone into vintage MTB’s and get something modern that I can hang my clothes from. Before I list on eBay I wanted to get a second opinion on values.

I posted on the MTBR.com “what’s it worth” forum, but it’s pretty quiet. Does anyone know of a more active bike forum where I might get some feedback?

Thanks,

Don

[jorian]

Try this:

https://www.pinkbike.com/forum/vintage-bikes/

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Facebook, ironically... has some pretty devout bike collecting groups. For example, I am a member of (something like) "pre 95' mtb suspension technologies." I'm also a member of (something like) "neo-retro road bike forum"- where people are hanging newer trinkets on older frames. "Old school BMX" "Torker BMX" "Mid school bmx"..etc... etc... There's another one devoted to custom frame building I am on. Stuff like that.

I'm sure there is a retro MTB group or 80's mtb group on there where you could post pics and get some feedback.

[jwasbury]

most vintage bikes, and vintage MTBs in particular are not worth much $ at all.

if you really just want to get it out of your space, put it up on ebay with no reserve and you'll know the value, and be rid of it. Unless someone has a real hard on for that exact bike, I'd wager you won't be able to crack $500. You can buy collectible Italian framed 10 speeds with Campy "Eroica" bikes all day long for $1000-$1200 and that seems to be a much more active collector market than vintage MTBs.

If you like to ride still, an alternative for you is to put some drop bars on it, skinny tires and it will make a good mixed surface gravel grinder machine. That's what I've done with my vintage Breezer MTB.

[Otter74]

Did someone say "vintage Breezer MTB"? (not mine, but I wish it was)

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by Otter74

Did someone say "vintage Breezer MTB"? (not mine, but I wish it was)

I did

I built mine in 1992 and still ride it regularly. Current incarnation is a foul-weather mixed surface machine wearing fenders (on a recent ride):

[Racerbvd]

As already mentioned, do a search on Facebook. I still have my vintage Peak.

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

most vintage bikes, and vintage MTBs in particular are not worth much $ at all.

if you really just want to get it out of your space, put it up on ebay with no reserve and you'll know the value, and be rid of it. Unless someone has a real hard on for that exact bike, I'd wager you won't be able to crack $500. You can buy collectible Italian framed 10 speeds with Campy "Eroica" bikes all day long for $1000-$1200 and that seems to be a much more active collector market than vintage MTBs.

If you like to ride still, an alternative for you is to put some drop bars on it, skinny tires and it will make a good mixed surface gravel grinder machine. That's what I've done with my vintage Breezer MTB.

This for sure. Although I'd add that eBay is going to give you the largest possible pool of potential buyers and will likely wind up with links to your auction on the various forums and FB groups. I'm frequently amazed by how little vintage bikes sell for. That's why people (including myself at times) part them out. Sometimes a few components are worth more than the complete bike itself.

[UROParts]

Like our cars, it really comes down to how popular it was at the time (how many people had or wanted one back then), how few were made, and if there was something special about it.

The ~1992 Schwinn Paramount road racing bike is a good example. If it was made in Waterford, WI it's now worth good money, if made by Panasonic it's worth virtually nothing. The Paramount-brand bikes made around that time all look very much alike, but the serial number tells all. A guy on our team picked up one of these Paramounts for cheap and hoped it was a Waterford, but alas it's just a just a nice old bike that's a breeze riding from point A to B.

[vash]

i wouldnt mind building up a Bridgestone MB-1 or something.

they even make bottom brackets for that vintage anymore?

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

I'm frequently amazed by how little vintage bikes sell for.

^that's why people like me can't help but buy them and hoard them. When I consider thinning the herd, I think of how little money I would get and I'd rather keep them.

my vintage inventory:
'92 Breezer
Late '90s GT Zaskar
'79 Guerciotti (with later 9 speed Campy Record)
Early '90s Vitus 979 (with Campy Croce D'Aune group)
Late '80s Vitus 979 (with Shimano 105 - for the wife)
Early '90s Vitus Carbone 3 (built as a fixed gear urban assault bike)
Mid '90s Vitus 992 Team Lotto (tout Mavic components)

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by vash

i wouldnt mind building up a Bridgestone MB-1 or something.

they even make bottom brackets for that vintage anymore?

Bottom brackets are no problem to source. I know someone with a classic MB-1 who would sell it if you're serious. Its way too small for this guy.

[CurtEgerer]

That's an awesome collection Another example: my brother bought a Team Motorola Eddy Merckx-built bike complete - not a replica, but an actual race-ridden team bike - in beautiful condition for under $1500 a few years back.

[vash]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

Bottom brackets are no problem to source. I know someone with a classic MB-1 who would sell it if you're serious. Its way too small for this guy.

my sister still has her Ex's. i'm gonna give it some time to let things "heal" before i unfold my vulture wings.

[Otter74]

Originally Posted by vash

i wouldnt mind building up a Bridgestone MB-1 or something.

they even make bottom brackets for that vintage anymore?

They have standard British-thread shells and the usual Shimano cartridge BBs will fit, and cup-and-cone BBs seldom have to be completely replaced, so the original can be rebuilt.

[Otter74]

Sweet! but why such small tires?

I still have the '93 MB-4 I bought new, in pieces and waiting for a rebuild and repurpose one day. I have a '92 MB-3 to ride in the interim, but I almost never go MTBing any more. I started MTBing in the late 80s and Breezers first caught my attention I think when one was on the cover of a Smithsonian Magazine article in about 1991.

Originally Posted by jwasbury

I did

I built mine in 1992 and still ride it regularly. Current incarnation is a foul-weather mixed surface machine wearing fenders (on a recent ride):

[vash]

Originally Posted by Otter74

Sweet! but why such small tires?

I still have the '93 MB-4 I bought new, in pieces and waiting for a rebuild and repurpose one day. I have a '92 MB-3 to ride in the interim, but I almost never go MTBing any more. I started MTBing in the late 80s and Breezers first caught my attention I think when one was on the cover of a Smithsonian Magazine article in about 1991.

what color is your MB-4?! that was my first bike. IIRC mine was Bone and purple? with some random pinstriping. man that bike got me into riding dirt big time. i once thought i could outrun the police with it in Golden Gate park..they ran me down with a dirtbike. hahah..

[Don Plumley]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Facebook, ironically... has some pretty devout bike collecting groups. For example, I am a member of (something like) "pre 95' mtb suspension technologies." I'm also a member of (something like) "neo-retro road bike forum"- where people are hanging newer trinkets on older frames. "Old school BMX" "Torker BMX" "Mid school bmx"..etc... etc... There's another one devoted to custom frame building I am on. Stuff like that.

I'm sure there is a retro MTB group or 80's mtb group on there where you could post pics and get some feedback.

Thanks for the suggestion - good idea.

Don

[HardDrive]

I've got a Trek 2000 mountain bike (I believe 1988 vintage). Good condition. Selling it this spring. American handmade aluminum frame.

[gtc]

Retrobike.co.uk has some good forums for this sort of thing. Lots of really cool older parts and bikes get posted there.

Or search for a Specialized-specific forum... i am a member of a small forum dedicated to Schwinn Homegrowns, for example.