Turn the frown upside down! Retro goldmine!

[Tootyred]

There seems to be much doom and gloom as to the state of the retro bike market, prices, who, where, where and why to sell!

However, I think we are seriously at risk of a damaging our own hobby and our own enjoyment if we are not careful.

Money aside, I'm concerned interest and enjoyment will be lost, together with the sense of community generated by sites such as this. I know there are several out there for whom this site is quite a lifeline.

Plus..and more my point, surely this is the ideal time to snap up a bargain and get some of the cheapest fun to be had...(with your clothes on).

Just today on evilbay i found several little bikes, that need a good home, would put a big smile on your face and were all cheap as chips!

Is that not something to be happy about?

Have a great day guys and girls.

 

[27motorhead]

Love that 88 Palisades. Would restore lovely and be great to ride and upright position = battered body compliant!

 

[minor_LEGEND]

Well said. I don't think (or hope not) our community is in decline, seems the Malverns had an awesome turnout of retro mountain bikes, to the point the pics looked like it was retro fest.

This is a very strong community, I come & go as motivation takes me & have done since I joined some 15 years ago. Long may it continue. It is a buyers market just now, Tooty' is correct there is some wicked bargains right now on some quite lovely bikes. The survivors in proper sizes are thinning out though.

GROUP HUG!

 

[Betsy]

A retro-paradox at play?.. it's a buyers market yet increasingly difficult to acquire the parts one needs..??

 

[bikeworkshop]

If the value drops, people don't bother selling stuff, and don't look after it - they leave it in the garden and chuck it in the tip.
This happened with loads of lovely 50s lightweight kit in the 70s and 80s.

Eventually good condition quality stuff becomes scarce and desirability increases, and round we go again.

We are where we are - a positive mindset can be applied to any situation.

 

[Betsy]

If the value drops?

I amongst many others here have been bumping wanted threads till our fingers bleed, to the point where price becomes irrelevant yet still no dice .. go back 10yrs and the forum tells me retro-goodies were changing hands on the daily..

 

[Splatter Paint]

If the value drops?

I amongst many others here have been bumping wanted threads till our fingers bleed, to the point where price becomes irrelevant yet still no dice .. go back 10yrs and the forum tells me retro-goodies were changing hands on the daily..

NOS 200GS is becoming rarer, in fact everyone seems to have binned it.

 

[Gtpulse]

I think it goes in cycles (get it!!).

I solved my problem of retro gloom by buying a modern bike and riding it. I don’t think about it or have any emotional attachment to it, as a result I’m really enjoying my riding more than ever. The today’s ride thread on here really helps me with keeping at it.

I still have all the bikes I love, I enjoy my cycling more than ever win/win!

That said, I’m dreading the time when something needs replacing on the modern, it’s a can of worms I don’t want to open as I will get attached to it!

 

[d8mok]

Here’s my view as someone who buys/sells but also collects.

The hobby is very much alive outside of this forum. Times are changing and so are the way in which people communicate/post their builds.

I hope this forum doesn’t die out for whatever reason. Members keep saying the hobby is dead isn’t going to help with the situation and if we want it to last. Please keep posting builds , or even give some feedback to those that do.



The low end and mid level market isn’t great for selling parts on. Some stuff is worthless almost so isn’t worth listing.

The high end / nice condition market is still booming with most items changing hands between friends without hitting the market and still for very good money.

Many people are simply holding onto the nice stuff as it’s getting harder and harder to get now. Everyone who I know who is class as an enthusiast is still building and loving the hobby.



I used to buy a bike for 1 or 2 nice parts to keep and sell the rest. The selling of the mid level stuff effectively used to pay for the bits to keep (or close). Now what happens is you get stuck with all the cheap stuff as the prices have dropped so much you may as well stick it in a drawer rather than use your time to post it.

 

[minor_LEGEND]

I hope this forum doesn’t die out for whatever reason. Members keep saying the hobby is dead isn’t going to help with the situation and if we want it to last. Please keep posting builds , or even give some feedback to those that do.

Of all the forums I used to frequent, this one is a blatant survivor. Seems like social media killed off most of them incl the owners clubs they were associated to. Long may it continue, this is such a wonderful community with a really helpful bunch of people onboard, RB really is one in a million.