How much is my bike worth?

How much is my bike worth?

Author
Discussion

jezrider

Original Poster:

261 posts

212 months

Tuesday 22nd January 2008
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Hi all,

I purchased a 18" Klein Pulse about 8 years ago now, did a few little mods to it, rode it gently a few times and then put it in my shed. 8 years later, i am still a lazy ba%$rd, but a lazy ba£$%rd that is getting married ! So, looking round my house at various items i could use to raise some cash, i stumbled across the Klein, i cant find any on ebay, so have no idea as to what it may fetch and if its worth selling. My friend seems to think its worth about £20, it cost approx £700 at the time, is a hardtail with cheap rockshox, and cheap groupset on it etc. but in very good condition.

Anyone got any ideas?

mat205125

17,790 posts

220 months

Tuesday 22nd January 2008
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Frame might be worth something to someone. PICTURES!

neil_bolton

17,113 posts

271 months

Tuesday 22nd January 2008
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He's not far wrong really - its rather out of date.

However find someone who really wants one (i.e. a Klien), and the price goes up.

The 2nd Hand bike market is really odd like that.

Bear in mind that this Klien is from the Trek owned era, and so not 'quite' the handbuilt masterpiece Klien at that time would have had you believe...

mk1fan

10,648 posts

232 months

Tuesday 22nd January 2008
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Realistically, what does the bike owe you? The money is long since speant and you didn't have any interest in riding it so I would say it owes you very little.

Yes you want to get the best price but is getting rid more important than recouping money?

I'd adverise it in the classifieds on Singletrack world / Bike Magic / and mtbr websites as open to offers and sees what comes in.

Alternatively, eBay it on a 10-day auction and list as many alternative product names / bike manufacturers in the listing to catch the greatest number of searches. Start it at £20 and see what happens.

WildCards

4,061 posts

224 months

Tuesday 22nd January 2008
quotequote all
Have a butchers on www.retrobike.com. I've got two Klein Mantra's and always keep my eye on old Kleins I see for sale to see what they go for on various sites.

It's value will depend greatly on the condition/originality and paint scheme (Kleins came with some weird, wonderful and some rare paint schemes). The nearer to mint condition in original spec it is the more it'll be worth, but even then only to the right buyer.

sjg

7,530 posts

272 months

Tuesday 22nd January 2008
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The strong market for Kleins really only extends as far as about 96, when Trek bought the company. You might be surprised by what it'll go for on ebay though - give it a good clean, take loads of pictures and start it low.

tjdixon911

1,911 posts

244 months

Wednesday 23rd January 2008
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I sold a 10 year old Carrera on ebay for £85 recently, that was quite well used. I had loads of interest in it too. I didn't list alternative names in the title, just include mountain bike and it should get some interest.

Sold my parents CBR Full Suspension bike which must have been of similar age for similar money.


pdV6

16,442 posts

268 months

Wednesday 23rd January 2008
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mk1fan said:
Alternatively, eBay it on a 10-day auction and list as many alternative product names / bike manufacturers in the listing to catch the greatest number of searches. Start it at £20 and see what happens.
I fecking hate that! If I'm looking for an xyz frame, why do I want 100's of results for abc, def, etc.?

crap annoying eBay ad said:
marin mount vision mountain bike, not kona ,specialized
curse

Scho

2,479 posts

210 months

Wednesday 23rd January 2008
quotequote all
tjdixon911 said:
I sold a 10 year old Carrera on ebay for £85 recently, that was quite well used. I had loads of interest in it too. I didn't list alternative names in the title, just include mountain bike and it should get some interest.
make sure you also include the word RETRO and maybe throw in 'old school' for good measure!

i read that somewhere on an ebay tips page. tru in your case and makes a positive out of a negative ;-)

also be sure to add a load of other stuff like NOT trek and NOT orange just to pi55 people off.



mk1fan

10,648 posts

232 months

Wednesday 23rd January 2008
quotequote all
pdV6 said:
mk1fan said:
I fecking hate that! If I'm looking for an xyz frame, why do I want 100's of results for abc, def, etc.?

curse
I was refering to the listing details not the title. Yes it can be annoying but it is a useful tool to use when selling an item from a specialist manufacturer (like Klien) rather than a main stream manufacturer (like Specialised).

From a buyers point of view it is a bad thing because it leads to more viewings and higher prices but this is a good thing for sellers.

I'd agree with including the term 'Retro' in the title.

jezrider

Original Poster:

261 posts

212 months

Wednesday 23rd January 2008
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Cheers for the advice guys, you have given me some great ideas there and i think this weekend i will dig it out of the shed, dust her down and take some pictures. Then try the retrobike/ebay route.

Again, thanks all for the great response - thats why i use PH !

pdV6

16,442 posts

268 months

Wednesday 23rd January 2008
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Not sure a 2000-ish era bike is quite the target market on Retrobike, but it's worth a punt I guess?

Morpeth

666 posts

202 months

Friday 25th January 2008
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I picked up a pulse comp in 1998 (blue), the bike below it was red and came with RS indys or similar... is this the one?

Quality frames, for £20 i'd keep it, for £150 i'd let it go.

jezrider

Original Poster:

261 posts

212 months

Friday 25th January 2008
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yeh thats the kiddie, its a metallic red.. i chavved it up with a yellow crankset and a yellow Kore stem, Flite saddle, some fancy bolts etc ... I will get some pics this weekend..

like you say for £20 , i would rather keep it and use it when i can

drewcole81

342 posts

213 months

Tuesday 29th January 2008
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Go with eBay, i just put my 1995 Kona Firemountain on there and got £280 for it, it was fairly well upgraded though to be fair but still it was not worth that much..... that is the wonder of eBay.