I agree, but I think there are very good reasons why one can part out most bikes for more than one can sell them for complete. I think this will apply to all collectible items, like bicycles, motorcycles or automobiles, which are assembled from a large number of components, especially when those components were also found on many other complete items of different brands or models.
The usual situation is that there are many more buyers who have an interest in a given component than in the complete item. Not only may a component buyer not be interested in the complete bike model, but even if he is, the bike may not be his size. But the component may be just the bit he needs to complete a pet project.
A collector in need of that last key bit to complete the project is often willing to pay a big premium for that one component. He would not pay such a premium for all the components, but other collectors may be willing to pay up for those.
So I think the greater profitability of parting out bikes is a natural and inevitable result of supply and demand and human psychology. We may not like it, but it is the truth. So the only way we save classic bikes from being parted out is to act against our own strict financial self-interest. That is, either a seller must take less for the complete bike than he could part it out for, or the buyer must pay more for it than he would expect he might eventually be able to get a similar bike for on eBay if he waited a few months.
Ironically, laziness is a positive factor when it comes to preserving classic bikes. Many sellers just don't want to hassle with tearing down a bike, and some buyers will just pay the asking price for a bike they want rather than wait and hunt for a better price. Economics sometimes transforms vice into virtue and vice versa.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big Spring, Texas
DTSHIFTER@aol.com wrote: John,
Couldn't agree more! It has happened to me several times and the ironic thing was, with two bikes, I ended up selling the frame only for nearly the price I was asking for the complete bicycle!!
I also don't like to part out a bike, especially after I have taken the time to build it up (which often, with 'classic bikes' requires much searching, thinking and experimenting than many folks realize).
Good Luck....
Chuck Brooks Malta, NY USA
************** Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.
(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)