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In this Discussion
- Dr_William_Hayward July 2012
- flossy_log_lady August 2012
- freddy August 2012
- Leland July 2012
- lolo July 2012
- MirandaJuly July 2012
- ThickeningAgent July 2012
- YoursTruly July 2012
how do you sell a bike in this town?
hey all, i know there are some serious bike genius amongst us, so please if you can. I am a failed cyclist, trying to sell an almost brand-new condition bike i bought four years ago- i even have the original receipt and manual. i have it listed on craigslist for a very fair price, but haven't gotten a single response. is there a better place to sell bikes other than CL?
Comments
If all else fails, Sellwood Cycle is legendary in this town for their high-quality bike consignment. You will give them 30%, but it will sell quickly for a fair price (which they will advise you on if what you want to ask isn't true market value). They are totally honest and all-around awesome people.
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/3131082038.html
The other key problem is that you haven't included accurate size info. There is no way on god's green earth that you ride a 16" frame. I ride a 21" frame, and I'm only 5'7". So anybody tall who's looking for a bike is likely to think this is way too small for them. If you don't know your frame size (and it might be on your paperwork? take a look), just say, "this bike fits me well at 6'3" and the seat and handlebars can be adjusted to fit people a bit smaller or taller."
Also, that seat is ... really unappealing. I would remove that photo from the set.
Have you been doing routine maintenance? If yes, state that. If not, it might be worth taking it to a mechanic (Bike Gallery might cut you a deal) for a quick safety check & having them walk you through your component wear. Then you could add, "recently serviced, all parts in good working order, mechanic confirmed that no parts will require replacement soon."
I'm sorry, but I can't comment on the price. It seems like a pretty good deal to me, but as I say, you're looking for a buyer who's really tall, doesn't need to go up hills, and doesn't need to carry stuff. That may be a relatively small pool.
Here's my suggested rewrite of your text:
2008 Trek Pure bike (men or women)
Specs:
- 7 speed
- Lightweight aluminum unisex frame
- Large frame (I'm 6'3" and I think it could be adjusted to fit several inches on either side)
- SRAM index grip shifters, excellent action [if this is true, Matt - does it shift smoothly and quickly?]
- Near-new condition, regularly serviced
- $275
I am selling my 2008 Trek Pure cruiser/city bike. This is a light, comfortable aluminum city bike that is lots of fun to ride. It's the perfect bike for mellow summer rides, Sunday Parkways, trail riding, and loaning to visitors.
I am the original owner and still have the receipt and owner's manual. It purchased new at The Bike Gallery for $399.99. The bike is in excellent condition- I am selling it because I simply never use it. It has been stored indoors, see photos below.
for information about this bike visit http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2008&Brand=Trek&Model=Pure&Type=bike
Trek city bike bicycle cruiser Portland
For someone who is looking not to get rid of a bike, but the opposite - to purchase a bike, I need some recommendations.
I am looking mostly for a lightweight commuter type bike. I anticipate riding it mostly in the city. Being able to carry things would be cool, but not necessary. I would like to keep the price around/below $500.
Thoughts? I've been looking at the Trek fx 7.1/7.2 (the latter being out of my price range a bit). But you seem to hate Matt's trek so much I am having second thoughts!
Do you care how many speeds it has? That's the biggest determinant of price.
Also, on the spectrum of sporty (bent-over) to stylish (more upright), where do you fall? Do you specifically prefer or not prefer a step-through (ladies') frame?
Let me know & I'll make some recommendations. But generally, I believe the best way to maximize bike quality for price is to buy a used bike, in which case it's better to just know the features you're looking for rather than a specific make and model (e.g. "I need a commuter road bike with three chain rings that can accommodate a rack & fenders; I prefer straight handlebars but will consider drops" or "I want a classic, stylish woman's bike that isn't too slow and has at least 7 speeds").
As you probably figured out, Sellwood Cycle is my go-to - I've bought nearly every bike I've ever owned through them, except for my custom build, which they organized. But you can also try North Portland Bike Works, Community Cycling Center, City Bikes, A Better Cycle, Portland Bike Shop, and probably some new ones I don't know about. Do NOT go to the Recyclery - they are known for their shady business practices.
I don't know your exact size, but here are some examples of what you can get for $500 or less at Sellwood:
http://sellwoodcycle.com/consign/17-5-trek-7-3-fx-375/
http://sellwoodcycle.com/consign/43cm-gt-series-4-475/
http://sellwoodcycle.com/consign/19-norco-corsa-2-500/ (that top bar is just so you can mount it on a car rack - it's a step-thru)
http://sellwoodcycle.com/consign/15-5-marin-lucas-valley-400/
http://sellwoodcycle.com/consign/17-5-trek-7300-300/
I don't really know about speeds. I think I've been riding a 12 speed? I firmly do NOT like the upright "comfort" bikes but I've never tried the drop handles. My comfort level is in the middle - more toward the sporty end. I have never tried a step-through frame, so I don't care about it.
One thing I would really like is to be able to easily lift the bike to hang it from the hooks on the MAX. My old bike is pretty heavy, and this was always a challenge for me. Lightweight seems really nice.
Anymore thoughts? I will probably just head down to Sellwood today!
Thanks, Freddy!
A GREAT STORE
Which I should have known via their website, but instead drove to Sellwood to find out. Oh well, another day.
Two things you should know about shopping at Sellwood:
1. Super high turnover, especially in the summer. That means that if you see a bike you love, don't delay. It also means that if you don't find the bike for you, head back in a week and you'll have a whole different selection.
2. If you want to browse on their website, call ahead. They try to keep it up to date, but with the aforementioned high turnover, if there's something specific you want to take a look at, it's always wise to make sure it didn't just get sold.
Good luck!
freddy, what is the history behind the step through frame being for ladies? It's pretty annoying to swing your leg over a bar, so I wonder why it's a ladies thing?
skirts not riding up and showing your hoo-ha
that I believe is the history
They are useless selling used bikes, this thread. Admitted.
But they are set up for events the UH community may want to organize.
You can check their vid viewing events like bike races on the web. Tour de? An UH event there would be A-OK.
Flossy, one last thing: it sounds like what you want is a road bike. Aluminum might be best as you want something you can lift easily, though high-quality steel might work; go ahead and test out lifting it vertically in the shop before you rule out steel. But anyway, road bikes generally come with drop handlebars. IMHO, drops are great for touring and long rides where you need lots of hand positions to mix it up for comfort, but I've never cared for them in the city where you need immediate braking from time to time. However, if you find the bike of your dreams and it has drops, never fear - it is super easy to switch them out for straight handlebars. In fact, if you buy used, you can probably just spend a little bit of the money you saved compared to a new bike on that adjustment. Sellwood also buys back used parts if they have any resale value, so you might even get a little discount on the conversion.
I went to Sellwood yesterday and tried some road bikes, but I just did not like the whole drop handlebar thing and they didn't have many good used options that fit me (even if I had wanted to try switching out the handlebars). Also, the guy who helped me (very nice) discouraged me from doing that, as he says it can cause back problems or something.
So I ended up buying a used Trek fx 7.5 WSD off craigslist. It is in MINT condition, a 2008, came with an upgraded seat and a water-bottle-holder, and I paid $500. Don't tell me if that's a bad deal, because I feel pretty damned good about the whole thing (a new 2012 fx 7.5 costs around a thousand buckaroos!).
I can't wait to get out there and start riding! It is so lightweight compared to my old clunker, I can't even believe it. Such narrow tires! So easy to lift up the stairs!
I know we human (American) animals are too focused on consumption, yadda yadda, but buying this practically brand new machine feels SO EXCITING! I understand the thrill of consumption. I worked hard to make this $500 and now I get to ride around on a spiffy mechanism and not break my back trying to get it on the max!
Anyway, thanks y'all for your advice. I think bigmac was ready to break up with me because I was so indecisive about this whole thing. When I left to look at this bike today, he said, "You BETTER come home with a new bike."