What do you do with your extra Rats?

[Bigcam59]

I've called it builders syndrome. You make a bike or two or maybe three and each time you build a new bike it gets closer to one you want to keep. At one point it gets harder and harder to sell them because they're closer to what you believe is your perfect bike. I've built and sold a bunch in the last few years, and I'm now at the point where I have less than a dozen. The problem now is that unless I'm building a bike to sell, I will have to sell one of the "cream of the crop" to make room and money to do any new project. However, I'm always up to building a bike to flip so at least I'll keep busy when I'm not riding.

 

[Jaypem]

Good replies!
I've been involved in other sorts of collectible stuff for years and finally figured out at one point that collectors need to learn to be sellers as well...
Pretty obvious statement, it's just that some collectables are easier to sell than others
Bikes are less liquid than some other things, but maybe easier to sell off than some stuff people collect, I don't know, but I do know that they take up a lot more room than a bunch of comic books or baseball cards....could be worse I guess, at least it's easier to tuck a couple more bike projects in somewhere than a couple of new boats or airplanes....

 

[Phil Fink]

Did anyone mention "gifts" to relatives.
That way, sometimes, one might be able to borrow them back when needed, or to visit one's creations... err - relatives.

 

[pholTmonx]

They know... It takes effort trying pawn my hobbies of on friends...
That or they fear contamination and catching the rust bug.

 

[franconuevo]

hmmmm.I don't think I have any rats...a couple of bikes that I made..like the Long Tale longbike for the last buildoff...I may sell because it takes up a lot of room ...but have no idea what to ask...

But...I do sell a lot of bikes...on C'list.
Flipping bikes ...oh yeah, it's about patience...and..you have to have inventory And of course your location too . Here in Florida. the beach cruiser is king....second to that is any decent bike that you can just do a quickie convert. to a single speed. Terrain is flat as a tabletop
After I lube them up, and make sure the tires are ok and holding air...I spend a good deal of time on cleaning and detailing the bike...that's key.

Around this part of Florida...a nice clean cruiser or maybe even a 3 speed,, usually goes around $ 85 - $ 90 bucks.
Dept. store mountain bikes...most people don't really want them...but I can usually get around $65. College kids and 'hipsters' seem to like the mountain bike thing.

BMX...cheapies..make them look good..they'll go for around $35.00
Same with the in-betweeners..like 16" kids bikes.don't overlook them if you want to make a quick buck..they seem to go pretty fast. Lots of parents out there with little kids who are way past the training wheels, but not yet ready for a 20" BMX type.

A nice clean, detailed semi refurbished true vintage bike...forget it...I don't think people really 'get' the vintage thing, especially if they're looking for bikes on Craigslist.

But have several ready to go. just last week I had a guy come over to buy a bike for his wife...he was looking at one particular bike I had up...an older 70s Spalding Blade, nice bike, good rider...so I parked four womens bikes out there in a row...now, he had a choice...and ended up buying an old Free Spirit 10 speed that I was shining like you read about....$90 bucks.

And..back to the patience thing. I had two little BMX bikes that were looking good & rolling nice... on CL forever...like two months...was just ready to either tear them apart for some parts. tires , rims, seatposts, etc. (OR..sometimes I'll just put them out by the main road with a 'free' sign.) But bam..they both sold in same day. You never know.

franco