Old Kid's Bikes?

Originally Posted by JunkmanDan

I'll have to check him out. On a side note I also found an old Panasonic (believe it or not) mountain bike in a trash pile in my neighborhood, needs some TLC but it may command a decent price, I'll see if he'll buy it from me...

Heh, this thread is right in my field. I'm a cyclist, and collect older bikes. I'm also a member of the bikeforums. It's actually what got me into scrapping, every time I took my cans to the yard, I always saw guys with bikes in the back of their trucks.


Anyways, Panasonic is not a "popular" name these days, but they made above-average quality bikes (and they still make very high quality bike tires). As long as the frame isn't a train wreck, you can easily get well above scrap value. Even if it's just the bare frame.

the posts above by Brasscatcher and Wolfwerx pretty much cover the used bicycle three headed monster that scrappers will come across

first and best is the desirable and currently popular models, whether road bikes or mountain or whatever. these are generally abandoned/put curbside if and only if there is something broken, and the owner is a college student or on the move or otherwise can't be bothered with it. These can be sold quickly and quite profitably on CL but you really have to be an avid bicyclist like Wolfwerx to know what's what. Also find them on govdeal auctions, they're the ones that the bicycle enthusiasts will outbid you on.

second is the collectable aspect Wolfwerx mentioned, here again you have to know what's what...everybody thinks their rusted out hulk is a vintage classic, but most are not, most are just rusted iron...and it's easy to spend a lot of time on a worthless old bike that would be better in the shred. A lot of people think everything marked "Schwinn" is a priceless collectible, when in fact it's a $45 bike IF it's repaired to good working order.

third is the biggest and most likely item you're going to find, the Huffys and Magna Invaders and Pretty Princess mass market junk. Condition ranges from pristine to basket case. As Brasscatcher mentioned there are guys who fix and deal used bikes, if you live anywhere near a populated area they are relatively easy to find in the spring and summer. They cater to families looking for cheap bikes for their kids, usually have ads tacked up on library bulletin boards and often on CL. Tend to be retired guys who have a standalone garage or workshed where they can escape the ornery woman they've been in love with for 40 years. A lot of them will buy bicycles, so if you can make a connection with one of them, it can be a lot more profitable than shred.

Used bicycles are a lot like used skis, used golf clubs, any other sporting equipment. You have to really get into the sport and be passionate about it, otherwise it's hard to know what has value and what doesn't. The nice thing about bikes is, worse case scenario, they're at least worth the current shred price.