Vintage Ritchey frame: what is it worth?

[Bikebuster]

Just bought a GT RTS frame and the seller also has this old Crmo Ritchie frame available. I have other priorities but if I can make a good deal from it I might buy it anyway. But what is it worth as it is now with components; I know nothing about Ritchey and their frames so I copuldn't even make a wild guess. How old is it actually? Anyone got any clue? Thanks in advance!

 

[DM]

I know nothing about Ritchey and their frames so I copuldn't even make a wild guess.

They range from "decent" to "rideable work of art".
That's no Ritchey.
And that outer cable section is too long. :roll:

 

[rumpfy]

What makes him think thats a Ritchey?

 

[Bikebuster]

I'm just repeating what I've been told, personally I don't have a clue.
I've been doing MTB since 1989, but I have never seen a Ritchie before here in Belgium. In the 'old days' the local offerings were quite limited here and I have yet to immerse myself in the lore of Retrobike. If it isn't a Ritchie, any to clue to what it is then?

 

[novekili]

that looks a rocky mountain made in ritchey tubes, and looks terribly pretty, too....

 

[Bikebuster]

Well, got the frame in my hands and it's definitely a Ritchey, both ends of the rear fork have Ritchey stamped in it, serialnumber is YC940070016. The ex-owner said that it was handbuilt and cost more than 1000£ when he bought it. I'll see if I can make some detailed photo's later on. To me the frame resembles the 1997 Softtail, but then of course in a hardtail version. Did that ever exist?

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

Probably just means that the frame has Ritchey dropouts. It does look a good frame though.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

Well, got the frame in my hands and it's definitely a Ritchey, both ends of the rear fork have Ritchey stamped in it

Ritchey-branded dropouts and tubing were used by a lot of other manufacturers. For example, my '90s steel Rockhopper has Ritchey dropouts and a Ritchey Nitanium tubing label, but it's still a Rockhopper.

 

[speedplay]

ill give you 5 quid for it