856 - value on the second hand market

[sammydog]

I've been offered this 856 but been told to make an offer, to be honest, I have no idea what these are worth or going for now.









Any suggestions of the current market value for this as a complete bike, and as just a frame/fork?

The owner says its a 16" (although they claim it feels bigger)  and has a 200lb spring for the front and a 250 for the rear.

[dcarr1971]

A complete 856 recently went ebay for $250.  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=140284012371

Then another for $300 + $50 s/h didn't receive any bids... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=200280493847

I'd think twice about spending that much on this bike unless it's really in spectacular condition.  If you're patient you'll run across some really crazy deals eventually.  I picked up a 3000 in great shape for less than $225 including shipping.  That said, if you really like this bike then $200 probably wouldn't be an unfair price.  (Sorry, I'm pretty poor, so I'm cheap.)

[shovelon]

I agree. I bought an 856 for $250 or so. And a 956LE frame with carbon swingarm and carbon vector for $100.

[jeffgothro]

That bike looks like it needs a little work, but I really like it (SEXY) - assuming the frame, fork, and swingarm are tip-top I (personally) would give 300.00 and not a penny more.

[rapiddescent]

it has homemade springs on it too - they're not COR Springs.  Some sort of elongated rear spring setup - never seen that done before.  Also, is the shock connected tot he strut squarely.  Hard to tell from the picture.

it's a medium sized frame.

callum
rds

[Colin]

Yep, that's a Medium, so 16", which is the size I ride, I'm just 5' 8" tall and I like a small framed bike. I don't think they feel "bigger".

The Brass Cable ferrules are missing on the rear swing arm, so you either need to replace them or do a through cable housing to the rear derailleur, I prefer the former option. Maybe he has still got them laying around? Rethread the cable through the swing arm using an unbent wire coathanger.

Where are you? US or UK? (or elsewhere) quoted dollar prices seem about right and would be about the same ($=£) for the UK, maybe a little less........pitch in low and he can only refuse!

The rear swing arm graphics look very good, which could imply that it hasn't had much heavy use, (heel of shoes often scuff the swingarm).

Front spring is the right value , but the 250 on the rear is very light, 300 to 350 is about right for most people (depending upon what you weigh).

Are they ODS (gold) or Noleen (silver) shocks? Look like ODS to me.

Col.

[shovelon]

There are a good amount of upgrades on the bike. I see specialized cranks, which I think would fetch some good money on the Retro market. I see gripshifters, which are not stock. And I see that there is an XT rear derailleur.

The rear shock def does not look like a friction damper, but also looks odd for an ODS. The front is still hard to tell, but I know from my friction damper that the elastomer cup sits right on the edge of the body and does not have a screw adjustment on the body.

Maybe the shocks are some mysterious aftermarket type?

That bike's color scheme is nice.

[orange]

both are ODS to my eyes, you can see the concentric rings around the top of the shock body

[sammydog]

The guy said it is a 16" (I think my other two proflex's are 17").

Definitely ODS units, the springs are two springs he had lying around. The quote is from an email he sent me.

Interested in a red '96 856 in medium?

The MCUs melted all over the frame so I had to remove the goo with solvent which affected a piece of one of the '856' decals, otherwise it's very tidy. I've replaced the (melted) MCUs with coil springs.

Bike has seen very little use (has 'Factory Test' on the top tube) and has XT (M737) derailleurs, brake levers and V-brakes, Grip-shift X-Ray shifters (with goretex cables), all mint, brand new Specialized S-Works cold forged cranks (with original Girvin chainrings), original bars, stem & seat post. I have the bike built up with a cheap-ish pair of wheels (deep section Alex rims, STX-RC rear hub and Joytech front hub).

Colin,

I'm in australia, so proflex's don't pop up very often on ebay.