I’m in the process of buying a used bike frame. Not a particularly valuable model, but this one was the personal bike of one of the designers who is pretty well known in the industry. Do you think there is a chance it will eventually acquire additional value as a collectable? Would it be unusual to ask for some written proof/documentation that says it was his bike, and if not, what exactly would I ask for?
In case you are curious, the bike in question is an Avatar 2000 recumbent bike owned by Dick Ryan. It is considered to be the first modern American recumbent bike. Not only is it a rare and historic bike, but it should be a practical bike for a reasonable price.
If you’re looking for collectibles, then stick with beanie babies. Bike frames rarely have much in the way of resale value. There are expensive used bikes out there, but the value is usually in the components. After all, a well kept steel frame should last indefinitely, but leather saddles and rubber tires tend to degrade pretty quickly.
You might try asking folks at sites such as http://www.cyclerecycler.com/ or www.thecabe.com for an opinion, but seeing as Dick only started out in 1979, there is really little chance that the frame will be worth more than $200.
Also, you say that you are buying just the frame. I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into. Building up a normal bike is pretty straightforward, but even most decent bike shops would find building up a recumbent a time consuming and expensive job.
Be about like buying a 57 Chevy body. The potential to be valuable is there but unless the bike is complete, it will never have any collectible value. Even today, a bike has to be at least 30 to 40 years old to have any value and only those in complete original condition. Restored bikes only bring about 50% in price as an average original. And from what I can tell, that same basic bike is still being made a sold today.
Thanks guys, that’s about what I figured. As I said I’m buying it primarily to use, not as a collectable, but I was just wondering. I rather enjoy old machines too.
As for building the bike, I don’t see why it’d be particularly difficult. It should take standard bike components. I already own a couple of recumbents and do most of the maintenance and upgrades myself, so I think I know what I’m doing.
Anything is collectible as long as someone will buy it. Nothing is collectible if no one will buy it. I collect (read: buy) Star Wars figures and people claim certina ones are “worth” >$100, but they’ll have a hard time getting anyone to pay that. Your bike frame, along with your copy of Youngblood #1, your Snuffles the Pig, your Alpha Orcish Oriflamme, and your Slave Leia on .0002 card - all are worth only what someone will pay you for them, regardless of what it may say in a magazine somewhere.
From what i’ve seen, recumbents are very much enthusiast bicycles, and if the model is well known and no longer readily available, you can probably find a buyer. I know several people out here who would turn their noses at a Lightspeed or Bianchi, but would gladly fork out the $$ for a Bridgestone XO-1 or Raleigh 20. I imagine this’d be the same kinda thing.
