Advice on how to sell my Nomad

[gma]

I could do with some advice from those of you who know about these things – what's the best way to get a fair price when selling a Thorn bike?

It's a large Nomad Mk2 (X590M) with all the trimmings. I'm just not getting enough use out of it (it's done just over 1000 miles, total) and I could use the space in my bike shed.

I've seen the dedicated "Bikes for Sale" forum; what I'm after here is advice on how best to use it.

Firstly, if I list the bike on eBay is it considered good etiquette to list it here too?

If I list it here and suggest a fixed price, how would you choose a fair price? It's got some nice upgrades on it (e.g. a SON hub and Schmidt Edelux headlight, XTR V brakes, Thorn's CroMo racks, etc), cost over £3000 new, and I'm not sure how much depreciation is "fair" (to both me, and whoever buys it).

I've also got a new Magura Menja suspension fork (which I've never fitted or ridden), which I'm thinking I should perhaps sell separately.

There aren't many other bikes like that on sale (especially with such low milage), which makes listing it on eBay (so the market can decide a fair price) appealing. I'd like to share it here too if I do that though, because, well, you're Thorn people!

Thanks in advance…

[jags]

Give it to SJS cycles to seel it for you.

[in4]

I'm sure we would all love to see a photo. We see very few Nomad Xs and they were around for such a short length of time.

[AndyE]

I've seen the dedicated "Bikes for Sale" forum; what I'm after here is advice on how best to use it.

Post a "for sale add" with a photo would be a good place to start on this site  or on the CTC for sale section, with or without link to e-bay.

Firstly, if I list the bike on eBay is it considered good etiquette to list it here too?

It is your property your, how and when you decide to sell your Nomad is entirely your choice.  Look at our for sale section, you will see many an add that has been posted by members with links to e-bay. They will usually state if it is theirs or not. So I don't see any problems there!

As for the price, will be what you are willing to accept for your Nomad. There is no "Auto Trader" for bicycles that I know of with used prises!

One possible solution to your dilemma, get a bigger shed!

Andy

[gma]

I'm sure we would all love to see a photo. We see very few Nomad Xs and they were around for such a short length of time.

I'll take some more (with close ups and no panniers) before I list it, but this should give you the gist:



I never did chop the top of the steerer tube off, so there's scope to raise the bars higher if required.

Post a "for sale add" with a photo would be a good place to start on this site  or on the CTC for sale section, with or without link to e-bay.

Thanks – I wasn't sure whether using eBay as well would be an issue.

As for the price, will be what you are willing to accept for your Nomad.

Yes, perhaps I should give it some serious thought and do some research into how bikes tend to depreciate. I'll call Thorn too and ask what they think.

One possible solution to your dilemma, get a bigger shed!

I like the idea, but this is one of the problems with rented accommodation!

Cheers.

[AndyE]

If I could wind back the clock a year, I would be giving your Nomad some serious consideration. You have a wonderful bike, with a good spec and in my favourite colour too.  Good luck with the sale.

Andy

[gma]

You have a wonderful bike, with a good spec and in my favourite colour too.

Thanks Andy!

I called Thorn this afternoon to ask their advice. They suggested I list it on eBay and then post a link to the listing here, and on the CTC forum. I'll start the bidding at 99p. Could be nerve wracking!

Thorn also mentioned that they haven't been able to get any good suspension forks with fittings for V brakes for a couple of years, and that there are likely to be people on this forum who've got a compatible Thorn and would like a pair. My (new and unused) Magura Menja's will be no problem for me to store until somebody who could really use them comes along, so I'll just take some photos and then offer them for sale in the Bike Bits forum.

Thanks for your help folks. Now I've got some photos to take…

[jags]

Crackin looking bike someone gonna get a gem.

anto

[Danneaux]

Crackin looking bike someone gonna get a gem.

Got that right, Anto!

Best of luck, G, looking forward to seeing this on our For Sale board.

Best,

Dan.

[jags]

expensive panniers as well .

[in4]

Salivate! That is a real joy to see. Ian heads for a tape measure and Dan's mega archive!

[John Saxby]

Nice bike, G, nicely spec'd & turned out, and I hope you get the good price it merits.  18 months ago, I looked long & hard at buying a Nomad X590M frame, but ultimately decided it was a bit more bike than I really needed.  I chose a Raven instead, and that's been just the business, so I doubt I'll ever be looking for another bike.

[in4]

There is a brochure with Nomad X details here:  http://www.frankrevelo.com/hiking/special/ThornRavenNomadBroLoRes_Fall2011.pdf

Other sources are clearly available!

[gma]

Thanks everybody – all very helpful.

I started getting the bike ready for its eBay listing photo shoot yesterday, and the first job on the list was to find and fix a light clunk from the transmission when under significant power (e.g. when climbing). I've spoken to Thorn about it a couple of times on the phone, and it sounded like it was likely to be either a pedal, the bottom bracket bolts, or a stack bolt on the chain ring.

I tightened everything up and tried different pedals, but it's still doing it. I won't be listing it for sale until I've found and fixed the problem, which probably means I won't be selling it this year as demand will drop off as we head into Autumn.

In the meantime I've realised I can solve my "bike shed isn't big enough" problem by taking the pedals off, turning the handlebars round, and sticking it up against the back wall of the bike shed. No longer will it take up half the shed! :-)

Apologies to anybody who'd been sharpening up their eBay sniping skills in anticipation… :-(

[geocycle]

Thanks everybody – all very helpful.

I started getting the bike ready for its eBay listing photo shoot yesterday, and the first job on the list was to find and fix a light clunk from the transmission when under significant power (e.g. when climbing). I've spoken to Thorn about it a couple of times on the phone, and it sounded like it was likely to be either a pedal, the bottom bracket bolts, or a stack bolt on the chain ring.

I tightened everything up and tried different pedals, but it's still doing it. I won't be listing it for sale until I've found and fixed the problem, which probably means I won't be selling it this year as demand will drop off as we head into Autumn.

In the meantime I've realised I can solve my "bike shed isn't big enough" problem by taking the pedals off, turning the handlebars round, and sticking it up against the back wall of the bike shed. No longer will it take up half the shed! :-)

Apologies to anybody who'd been sharpening up their eBay sniping skills in anticipation… :-(

I spent yesterday on a v enjoyable ride that was only marred by an irritating click when putting weight on the pedals ie every hill!  I tried backing off the chain, checked the frame and prodded various things en route to no avail.  So when I got home I stripped the pedals, cranks, eccentric, checked the chain ring bolts and even removed the bottom bracket from the eccentric.  There was quite a bit of fine dust/light rust on the crank/BB interface and on the BB cups.  Greased everything, reassembled and had blissful silence on way to work this morning. If I had to guess I would say removing cleaning, greasing and refitting the cranks did the job.