"brand new" yo

[GoldenEraMTB]

He's had a bid at $999, but it doesn't match the reserve. We don't know what the reserve price is, but he says it is 'high'. The price on Speedgoat of an Independent Fabrications Steel Deluxe is $1,695.

Which is the better value?

The IF is the better value at this price point, for two reasons, if not more:

First, with the IF, you get a warranty...no dice on the Fat.
Secondly, this 1999 fat doesn't have the vrc value of the Sommerville, Mass ones...the IF has more connection to the old Fats.

 

[Elev12k]

the NY bikes are all there in the craftsmanship

Personally I prefer the NY ones because compared to the Serotta built ones with nicer, more durable paint and nicer welding the Mass ones from the early 90s leave something to be desired.

Paid $720 for my near new Aqua Yo. Complete with XTR, Kooka, Ringle and so on, but already over 5 years ago. However $999 I do not consider poor value for money. If you want a new Yo and have the funds laying around, why not? Finding another for less also involves a lot effort probably. Translated in money pretty quick over several 100 dollars if you have a decent income and/or respect a demanding wife

 

[Anthony]

He's had a bid at $999, but it doesn't match the reserve. We don't know what the reserve price is, but he says it is 'high'. The price on Speedgoat of an Independent Fabrications Steel Deluxe is $1,695.
Which is the better value?

The IF is the better value at this price point, for two reasons, if not more:
First, with the IF, you get a warranty...no dice on the Fat.
Secondly, this 1999 fat doesn't have the vrc value of the Sommerville, Mass ones...the IF has more connection to the old Fats.

Isn't it the case that the last former Fat City employees left Independent Fabrications quite a long time ago and that there is now no link with Fat Chance? I question whether it can really be true that a 2008 IF has more connection to a Somerville Fat Chance than a Serotta Fat Chance does. And it is one of life's little ironies that while it may be a toss up whether a Serotta or an IF is the better built, both are better built than a Somerville Fat, and yet a Somerville Fat is rather more desirable. But then a 1950 VW Beetle was better built than a 1950 Ferrari too.

My own suspicion is that there aren't really that many retrobikers out there, and it's the absence or existence of things like disc mounts and 100mm geometry that support the difference in price.

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

He's had a bid at $999, but it doesn't match the reserve. We don't know what the reserve price is, but he says it is 'high'. The price on Speedgoat of an Independent Fabrications Steel Deluxe is $1,695.
Which is the better value?

The IF is the better value at this price point, for two reasons, if not more:
First, with the IF, you get a warranty...no dice on the Fat.
Secondly, this 1999 fat doesn't have the vrc value of the Sommerville, Mass ones...the IF has more connection to the old Fats.

Isn't it the case that the last former Fat City employees left Independent Fabrications quite a long time ago and that there is now no link with Fat Chance? I question whether it can really be true that a 2008 IF has more connection to a Somerville Fat Chance than a Serotta Fat Chance does. And it is one of life's little ironies that while it may be a toss up whether a Serotta or an IF is the better built, both are better built than a Somerville Fat, and yet a Somerville Fat is rather more desirable. But then a 1950 VW Beetle was better built than a 1950 Ferrari too.

My own suspicion is that there aren't really that many retrobikers out there, and it's the absence or existence of things like disc mounts and 100mm geometry that support the difference in price.

You make a lot of sense. I can't argue with anything you wrote...at least without checking on a few things first

I guess I just don't consider 1999 to be retro, but then I take a glance at my planner and realize it's almost 2009....ah, time seems to move quicker the older I get.

 

[scant]

yo eddys are still pretty common bikes, so its still fairly easy to find original examples for less money.

 

[RockyMountainHigh]

Great points made by all. I think when it comes down the the Somerville Fats your looking at collectability as the original Fat City, nostagia, soul... intangibles only each collector feels and is willing to pay for. I'd have to say the NY Fat's are closer to the Somerville bikes then a new IF because as pointed out IF's vision may remain but the staff as turned over, where as the NY bikes were being made at the direction of Chris himself - thus they are true and real Fat Chances regardless of who was making them. Chris Chance's legacy lives on in many of the mountain bikes we all love.

IMO all bicycles have a soul, the vision of the engineer and the person or person's who built it - that's why I love them.

Just look at what people are willing to pay for any collectable. I've dabbled in old American Muscle cars and it amazed me what some one would pay for a 1970 Hemi Cuda, pure emotion and intangibles at work.

 

[ridevintagemtb]

RMH, where in CO are you?

My $.02 -

I bought my Saratoga Fat to ride the piss out of it. The 1 1/8 headtube attracted me as well as the threaded bb and suspension corrected geo.

I bought my Somerville Fat as a collectors piece to stare at.

 

[RockyMountainHigh]

RMH, where in CO are you?

My $.02 -

I bought my Saratoga Fat to ride the piss out of it. The 1 1/8 headtube attracted me as well as the threaded bb and suspension corrected geo.

I bought my Somerville Fat as a collectors piece to stare at.

I'm North East of you in Fort Collins. I've been down in Durango a number of times over the years as I did the Mountain Bike portion of the Iron Horse Classic every year for about 10 years until they went back to the road race only format. I remember seeing Juli Furtado, John Tolmac, Ned Overend., Rishi Greywall, David Wiens, Travis Brown and other American's battle the Euros over the years in Durango.