do bikes depreciate?

Callistus Valerius said:

Is there such a thing as a blue book on used bikes? I have a 2000 Trek
5200 triple 9sp, with no crashes or problems, with 22,000 miles on it, that
I paid $2200 for in 2000. These are the changes I made on it.

1. Replaced stem with a longer, forte stem 4 bolt (didn't like the 2 bolt
it had originally)
2. New Shimano BB (2000 miles on it now).
3. Replaced the original ultegra FD, and replaced it with a 105 FD.
4. Fairly new OP wheels, rolf junk removed.
5. Seatpost replaced with a forte two bolt.
6. Size 58

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are just
astronomical at $5000+, so I'm thinking the bike I have has gained value, am
I wrong? What's a ball park figure of the value of this bike, knowing that
there are no issues, like cracked frame etc.?

Check ebay and the classifieds section of www.roadbikereview.com to get
an idea of what they're going for. From a resale perspective, you have
not made any significant upgrades to your aging 5200, and so it's
probably worth around $1000. You should have a higher asking price, of
course.

The new Trek carbon bikes have some kind of satellite technology carbon
that somehow makes the new bikes three times more valuable than yours.
I'm not a Trek marketer, so I can't explain it any better than that.
Sorry.

-Vee

Callistus Valerius said:

Is there such a thing as a blue book on used bikes? I have a 2000 Trek
5200 triple 9sp, with no crashes or problems, with 22,000 miles on it, that
I paid $2200 for in 2000. These are the changes I made on it.

1. Replaced stem with a longer, forte stem 4 bolt (didn't like the 2 bolt
it had originally)
2. New Shimano BB (2000 miles on it now).
3. Replaced the original ultegra FD, and replaced it with a 105 FD.
4. Fairly new OP wheels, rolf junk removed.
5. Seatpost replaced with a forte two bolt.
6. Size 58

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are just
astronomical at $5000+, so I'm thinking the bike I have has gained value, am
I wrong?

Nothing too unique or 'collectible' about a 6 yr old 5200..if it's 'as
new', start at 1/2 of the new price, and expect it to go down. For a
bicycle to appreciate it has to be 'in demand', ya know, supply is much
less than demand for that 'thing'. A 5200 is the Toyota of bicycles.

What's a ball park figure of the value of this bike, knowing that

Quoted message said:

there are no issues, like cracked frame etc.?

In article <[email hidden]>,

Callistus Valerius said:

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are just
astronomical at $5000+

Trek still sells carbon bikes for around $2000. Only their Dura-Ace models
are $5000.

Callistus Valerius said:

Is there such a thing as a blue book on used bikes?

<snipped>

Do bikes depreciate?

Usually, the value sinks, as they say on those Chevy commercials, "Like
a Rock!"

On Ragbrai this year (10,000 riders) I noticed lots of new treks with
the discovery colors, but very few of the oclv treks from 5+ years ago.
All those solid color models, brown, green etc. I assume most have
broken or the owners didn't like them enough to keep riding them.

22,000 miles on 1 bike is much more than average. I'd say you got your
money's worth out of it.

Rick

Ozark Bicycle said:

Callistus Valerius said:

Is there such a thing as a blue book on used bikes?<snipped>

Do bikes depreciate?

"Like a Rock!"

Callistus Valerius said:

Is there such a thing as a blue book on used bikes? I have a 2000 Trek
5200 triple 9sp, with no crashes or problems, with 22,000 miles on it, that
I paid $2200 for in 2000. These are the changes I made on it.

1. Replaced stem with a longer, forte stem 4 bolt (didn't like the 2 bolt
it had originally)
2. New Shimano BB (2000 miles on it now).
3. Replaced the original ultegra FD, and replaced it with a 105 FD.
4. Fairly new OP wheels, rolf junk removed.
5. Seatpost replaced with a forte two bolt.
6. Size 58

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are just
astronomical at $5000+, so I'm thinking the bike I have has gained value, am
I wrong? What's a ball park figure of the value of this bike, knowing that
there are no issues, like cracked frame etc.?

From the cover of an early '80's Lickton Bicycle Shop catalog:
"The only way to beat inflation is to invest in quality bike parts!"

Mark J.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are
just
astronomical at $5000+, so I'm thinking the bike I have has gained value,
am
I wrong? What's a ball park figure of the value of this bike, knowing
that
there are no issues, like cracked frame etc.?

Quoted message said:

The new Trek carbon bikes have some kind of satellite technology carbon
that somehow makes the new bikes three times more valuable than yours.

Must be a pretty screwed-up satellite. We've been selling 2006 Trek 5200s
for $1999.99 for some time now; the non-sale price at the beginning of the
year was only $2429.99. Not even close to $5000.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

"Vee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Callistus Valerius said:

Is there such a thing as a blue book on used bikes? I have a 2000 Trek
5200 triple 9sp, with no crashes or problems, with 22,000 miles on it,
that
I paid $2200 for in 2000. These are the changes I made on it.

1. Replaced stem with a longer, forte stem 4 bolt (didn't like the 2
bolt
it had originally)
2. New Shimano BB (2000 miles on it now).
3. Replaced the original ultegra FD, and replaced it with a 105 FD.
4. Fairly new OP wheels, rolf junk removed.
5. Seatpost replaced with a forte two bolt.
6. Size 58

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are
just
astronomical at $5000+, so I'm thinking the bike I have has gained value,
am
I wrong? What's a ball park figure of the value of this bike, knowing
that
there are no issues, like cracked frame etc.?

Check ebay and the classifieds section of www.roadbikereview.com to get
an idea of what they're going for. From a resale perspective, you have
not made any significant upgrades to your aging 5200, and so it's
probably worth around $1000. You should have a higher asking price, of
course.

The new Trek carbon bikes have some kind of satellite technology carbon
that somehow makes the new bikes three times more valuable than yours.
I'm not a Trek marketer, so I can't explain it any better than that.
Sorry.

-Vee

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are
just
astronomical at $5000+, so I'm thinking the bike I have has gained value,
am
I wrong? What's a ball park figure of the value of this bike, knowing
that
there are no issues, like cracked frame etc.?

Quoted message said:

The new Trek carbon bikes have some kind of satellite technology carbon
that somehow makes the new bikes three times more valuable than yours.

Must be a pretty screwed-up satellite. We've been selling 2006 Trek 5200s
for $1999.99 for some time now; the non-sale price at the beginning of the
year was only $2429.99. Not even close to $5000.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

Haven't been keeping up on your Trek jargon, Mike? I'm referring to the
full page Trek ad in the Oct. 2006 issue of Cycle Sport. There's a
Madone 6.9 floating through black and purple gas clouds, and a
hippie-looking astronaut gazing up at it. "The first carbon bike to
use satellite technology to build a lighter, faster bike." Open your
wallet... wider... wider... wider...

-Vee

"sally" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Callistus Valerius said:

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are

just

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

astronomical at $5000+

Trek still sells carbon bikes for around $2000. Only their Dura-Ace

models

Quoted message said:

are $5000.

$3000 bucks for a Shimano grupo???

Chas.

"Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Is there such a thing as a blue book on used bikes? I have a 2000

Trek

Quoted message said:

5200 triple 9sp, with no crashes or problems, with 22,000 miles on it,

that

Quoted message said:

I paid $2200 for in 2000. These are the changes I made on it.

1. Replaced stem with a longer, forte stem 4 bolt (didn't like the 2

bolt

Quoted message said:

it had originally)
2. New Shimano BB (2000 miles on it now).
3. Replaced the original ultegra FD, and replaced it with a 105 FD.
4. Fairly new OP wheels, rolf junk removed.
5. Seatpost replaced with a forte two bolt.
6. Size 58

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are

just

Quoted message said:

astronomical at $5000+, so I'm thinking the bike I have has gained

value, am

Quoted message said:

I wrong? What's a ball park figure of the value of this bike, knowing

that

Quoted message said:

there are no issues, like cracked frame etc.?

Do bikes depreciate?

It's the old 30/30 rule.... 30 feet or 30 seconds (out the door)!

I buy things that I like because I like them. DOH! After a I've used
something for a while and I've lost interest in it, if I can sell it for
1/3 to 1/2 of what I paid, I'm happy.

Chas.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Callistus Valerius said:

Is there such a thing as a blue book on used bikes? I have a
2000 Trek 5200 triple 9sp, with no crashes or problems, with 22,000
miles on it, that I paid $2200 for in 2000. These are the changes I
made on it.

1. Replaced stem with a longer, forte stem 4 bolt (didn't like the
2 bolt it had originally) 2. New Shimano BB (2000 miles on it
now). 3. Replaced the original ultegra FD, and replaced it with a
105 FD. 4. Fairly new OP wheels, rolf junk removed. 5. Seatpost
replaced with a forte two bolt. 6. Size 58

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are
just astronomical at $5000+, so I'm thinking the bike I have has
gained value, am I wrong? What's a ball park figure of the value of
this bike, knowing that there are no issues, like cracked frame etc.?

The price is what the market will bear. You can look at eBay to see
what bikes like yours go for, but value for a used bike is dimes on the
dollar. They just don't hold resale value.

In article <[email hidden]>,
"Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Sorry I missed this bit in my other reply.

Quoted message said:

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are
just astronomical at $5000+, so I'm thinking the bike I have has
gained value, am I wrong?

Way wrong. Closer $500 than $5000.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

Callistus Valerius said:

Is there such a thing as a blue book on used bikes? I have a 2000 Trek
5200 triple 9sp, with no crashes or problems, with 22,000 miles on it, that
I paid $2200 for in 2000. These are the changes I made on it.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are just
astronomical at $5000+, so I'm thinking the bike I have has gained value, am
I wrong? What's a ball park figure of the value of this bike, knowing that
there are no issues, like cracked frame etc.?

Dear Cal,

You could try using that sales logic on prospective buyers, but . . .

Quoted message said:

Look at eBay (preferably completed sales, not starting bids) and
craigslist for a nearby city. Then advertise it. As a friend who's a
realtor likes to say, it's not rocket science--if no one buys it, try
lowering the price.

Hope springs eternal. At least you've made a better start than the
person that recently put a nondescript 15ish year old (pre-brifter)
Bianchi on the Vancouver craigslist for C$800.

That certainly got the peanut gallery going...

http://vancouver.craigslist.org/bik/251870494.html

"value $2000"

This is known as "crazy-guy pricing," and not in a good way.

I can't show you the "responses", since half of them got flagged down
instantaneously.

Admittedly, I tend the other way, having walked away from a reasonably
priced low-end tandem a few weeks ago, more or less on $50 and the
burning desire to somehow stay close to my imaginary idea of what I
could get the bike for.

But then, I paid $10 for my Bianchi,

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics
to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are

just

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

astronomical at $5000+

Trek still sells carbon bikes for around $2000. Only their Dura-Ace

models

Quoted message said:

are $5000.

$3000 bucks for a Shimano grupo???

The $5000 bikes are quite different beyond the choice of group. Trek does
offer a DuraAce-equipped carbon bike for around $3500 (the Madone 5.5). But
even that has an improved frameset over the 5200. The $5000 bikes will have
lighter wheels, carbon handlebar & stem, etc.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they

are

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

just

Quoted message said:

>astronomical at $5000+

Trek still sells carbon bikes for around $2000. Only their Dura-Ace

models

Quoted message said:

are $5000.

$3000 bucks for a Shimano grupo???

The $5000 bikes are quite different beyond the choice of group. Trek

does

Quoted message said:

offer a DuraAce-equipped carbon bike for around $3500 (the Madone 5.5).

But

Quoted message said:

even that has an improved frameset over the 5200. The $5000 bikes will

have

Quoted message said:

lighter wheels, carbon handlebar & stem, etc.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Thanks for the clarifications.

Chas.

Quoted message said:

Sorry I missed this bit in my other reply.

Quoted message said:

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are
just astronomical at $5000+, so I'm thinking the bike I have has
gained value, am I wrong?

Way wrong. Closer $500 than $5000.

-----------
Then the market is wrong. It's worth more to me, as even as a commuter
bike, than to give some stranger a gift. I wouldn't even go below $1800,
because the bike is better than when I bought it. What you are saying, is
that a top of line Trek Carbon bike in 2000, is worth less than the Sora 8
sp Trek Aluminum 1000 that they are selling today. That's crazy, the
market is crazy.

It kind of reminds me though of old cars. I drive old cars, that aren't
trashed, look like new, have been maintained, and drive and look, almost
new. I have to put a steering wheel lock on them, because if they were
stolen the insurance company would only give me 1/3 of what an equivelent
replacement cost would be.

Mark said:

Callistus Valerius said:

Is there such a thing as a blue book on used bikes? I have a 2000 Trek
5200 triple 9sp, with no crashes or problems, with 22,000 miles on it, that
I paid $2200 for in 2000. These are the changes I made on it.

1. Replaced stem with a longer, forte stem 4 bolt (didn't like the 2 bolt
it had originally)
2. New Shimano BB (2000 miles on it now).
3. Replaced the original ultegra FD, and replaced it with a 105 FD.
4. Fairly new OP wheels, rolf junk removed.
5. Seatpost replaced with a forte two bolt.
6. Size 58

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they are just
astronomical at $5000+, so I'm thinking the bike I have has gained value, am
I wrong? What's a ball park figure of the value of this bike, knowing that
there are no issues, like cracked frame etc.?

From the cover of an early '80's Lickton Bicycle Shop catalog:
"The only way to beat inflation is to invest in quality bike parts!"

Mark J

They and other MO places haven't changed their mantra either for the
21st century. I get such a giggle out of a bike frame, pretty good one,
and how people spend more for 'better' components, when they oughta
just get the low end one, same frame and fork, and get less expensive
'consumables' on it. NO reason to get Record over Chorus or DA over
ultegra or even Force over Rival.

[email hidden] wrote:
<cut>

Quoted message said:

22,000 miles on 1 bike is much more than average. I'd say you got your
money's worth out of it.

<cut>

Surely you're joking? My new bike has only got 18000 miles on it so
far, but as it's still quite new (3 years old) I'm expecting a lot
more. The older bikes I ride must have a lot more (some date back to
the 1970s, but I only got a cycle computer in 2000, so I am lacking
data).

Replacing parts as they wear out I'm expecting all my bikes to last
more or less indefinitely (or until a nasty crash at least).

Why would you expect anything different?

In article <[email hidden]>,

Callistus Valerius said:

Quoted message said:

Sorry I missed this bit in my other reply.

Quoted message said:

I've looked at the Trek carbon road bike prices today, and they
are just astronomical at $5000+, so I'm thinking the bike I have
has gained value, am I wrong?

Way wrong. Closer $500 than $5000.

-----------

Quoted message said:

Then the market is wrong.

LOL. This is like economists complaining when the economy doesn't
conform to economics theory. "It's not the theory that's wrong, it's
the market!"

Quoted message said:

It's worth more to me, as even as a commuter bike, than to give some
stranger a gift. I wouldn't even go below $1800, because the bike is
better than when I bought it.

Putting the Performance or Nashbar house brand parts on a bike doesn't
really qualify as "upgrades" in my book.

Quoted message said:

What you are saying, is that a top of line Trek Carbon bike in 2000,
is worth less than the Sora 8 sp Trek Aluminum 1000 that they are
selling today. That's crazy, the market is crazy.

It's a used bike, and you have to understand what that means in the real
world. A bike is a toy for most people and a tool for some. Most
people buy bikes for recreational purposes (e.g., a toy). Used toys
don't hold much value until they are old and rare. The people who buy
bikes as tools (e.g., their only form of mechanized transport or as
something for work purposes such as a bike messenger) aren't buying
carbon fiber Treks, generally speaking.

And a 6 year old used bike is considered obsolete. With the "newer is
better" obsession that most toy buyers tend to have, your bike is just
outdated and inferior. New bikes have 10 speed cassettes and integrated
headsets and yadda yadda yadda (to make an obsolete pop culture
reference).

Quoted message said:

It kind of reminds me though of old cars. I drive old cars, that
aren't trashed, look like new, have been maintained, and drive and
look, almost new. I have to put a steering wheel lock on them,
because if they were stolen the insurance company would only give me
1/3 of what an equivelent replacement cost would be.

Me too. Volvo 240s to be precise. I buy them for cash and they tend to
last a long time with reasonable maintenance. But I have no illusions
that these vehicles are maintaining market value, because they aren't.
I buy them because it's cheaper to maintain a good quality old car than
to buy a new car ($1000/year in maintenance vs. $4000 or more per year
in new car loan payments).

Your notion of how the world ought to work is at odds with how the world
does work.