2018 Salsa Journeyman. Looking for a bike to ride on roads as well as gravel trails for longer cardio rides, as I have an orbea occam for my trail bike. Bicycle Blue Book says value is $300, but I believe this bike is in better condition than most, as the tape looks new and the guy couldn’t even figure out where the size sticker was (i had to tell him so he could let me know what size the bike is). Thanks!
by Sensitive-Row-9376
6 Comments
If it fits you and seems to be in as good a shape as you describe, I’d go for it if I were you. Looks like a good deal.
If it fits, yes. The journey man is basically the previous version of the now “journeyer”. It’s a really great frame that was well ahead of its time in 2019 with 50mm clearance and mounts for everything. Very progressive geometry for the time too. I don’t need a bike, but if I saw that I’d buy it just to have it because it can really do anything.
Blue book is a BS site that no one should take seriously, there’s no real basis for their numbers so I wouldn’t put much stock in it. Sometimes their numbers are in the ball park of mine and sometimes they are laughingly low. I do like looking at that site to see what the initial MSRP was, in this case, $945. The way I personally try to price bikes is 50% of msrp if only a year or two old, 1/3 the price if more than that but still using current standards. That would put it around $315, so I guess in this specific case, I agree with the BBB.
Then you have to account for any wear/tear, if anything needs replaced. Slap a new chain on and you might discover that it needs a new cassette and chainrings right off the bat… or it could all be fine. If it’s not fine, then I’d expect a more off. I can’t tell the condition of those things from the photo but since the seller says “like new” I’ll assume it’s a non issue here.
Then you account for supply/demand of the local market. I don’t know your local market.
So, all that said, yes I think $345 is probably reasonable. Not good, but reasonable. Sorry for the novel, but I wanted to lay out my reasoning rather than just throwing up a number.
I like these frames a lot, so if it fits, it should work well for you.
I literally have this exact bike and yes, that is a good price for a very capable bike if it fits you and no major mechanical issues.
I’d say so. I just upgraded from one of these and had no issues with it except that it didn’t really fit me. Big tire clearance and room for lots of mounts.
Great bike. I have a 650b journeyer that I bought for a Ragbrai Bike. I love the thing and feel bad I don’t ride it all the time. Mine had the sora setup when I bought it. Now it’s running a sram apex setup.