Bicycle Valuation Guide
We place a value for all donations on the receipt as (1) a service to donors, who generally don’t know the value of a used bike, and (2) because IRS and the public want to know the total value of donations to Bikes for the year during any given year.  

Please make the appraisals as uniform as possible, based on the guidelines below.  IRS guidelines suggest a “market value”—however, there is NOT a large market for second-hand bicycles hence the values typically are quite low.  The IRS suggests that valuations be in line with what a person would generally receive at a "rummage sale", "flea market", or "swap meet", i.e., linked to realistic fair market re-sale values.

GENERAL

  • Frames: Welded/lighter-weight--higher value, stamped/crimped--lower value. 

  • High-end brands:  Specialized, Fuji, Trek, Gary Fisher, Raleigh, Nishiki, Novara, Performance, Peugeot, Cannondale, Univega

  • Middle brands:  Schwinn, Mongoose (depends on date of manufacture, earlier is better), Motobecane, Gitane

  • Low-end brands: Huffy, Murray, Free Spirit, Columbia (typically worth < $50)

BY MODEL

Children's bicycles:

1-speed--most in $10-25 range, occasionally $40 if new-looking and tires have air.  

BMX type--$40-$50

Multi-speed--$25-$60 if high end (brands include Specialized, Trek, Gary Fisher), new, and ride-able as is.

Adult bicycles:

Older 1-speed (wide-tired) or 3-speed bikes -- $20-30

Most older 10-speeds narrow-tired road bikes --
            Welded -- $30-$150 (most $40-$60)
            Stamped/crimped -- $10-$45 ($50 if really good)

Mountain bikes (wide-tired) or hybrids
            Welded -- $40-$150 (most $60)
            Stamped/crimped -- $20-$60
            Broken/damaged -- $25-$30

Brand new bike: Ask what it cost owner and appraise at 50%