They're worth what someone will pay. The parts will depreciate the same whether they're on a Bombadil or a Clem, but the frames are a different story. Selling a Hillborne, sure, the 50-60% of new makes sense (though the resale of Rivendells is high in large part because they're designed to be timeless and long lasting, moreso than most bikes). But as soon as the frame is "out of print", it's up to perceived value. And if people would rather a used Bombadil frame than a new Appaloosa, the Bombadil frame is worth more than the Appaloosa. If you disagree, you're not likely buying a Bombadil frame is all.
On Wed, Apr 8, 2026 at 9:43 AM Adrian <[email protected]> wrote: > Seeing as how a brand new hunq with paul, nitto, IRD, rene herse stuff > sold for 5.4k from Rivendell - I highly doubt a used complete is fetching > anywhere near $5,000. > > I agree with Bill on the 50% pricing structure. Maybe 60% for more sought > after models, but it's all subjective. > On Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 5:36:58 AM UTC-7 Josh C wrote: > >> George, >> Sure, I see your point, if you're trading in a high-mileage family car, >> or the like, but these are desirable frames that'd be more comparable to >> selling a classic car. They are no longer available, will not be made >> again, have a cult following, thus demand always sets the market >> price...not simply 1/2 the new cost. That's obviously been proven. Now, a >> used Hunq complete may not be worth $4-5K to some, but is to others. >> >> On Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 2:19:37 PM UTC-4 George Schick wrote: >> >>> IMO what Bill says about pricing second hand or used, if you prefer, >>> frames applies to any parts offered to the group for purchase is spot-on >>> and I price any components I offer for sale here at his level or less. I'm >>> often amazed at the high amount of money people ask for when they sell a >>> bike, frame, etc. Try selling or trading-in an automobile you bought ten >>> years ago for the kind of money frequently offered by posters here and >>> you'd be laughed at by the dealer. >>> >>> On Monday, April 6, 2026 at 2:25:29 PM UTC-5 Bill Lindsay wrote: >>> >>>> Captain Conway asked : " So, what do folks value hunqs at? " >>>> >>>> Who are "folks"? Is "folks" the readership of the RBW Google Group? >>>> Or is "folks" the wealthiest impulse buyer out there who is going to give >>>> you the most money? Or is "folks" the poorest Rivendell fan who could get >>>> the lucky treat of inheriting your Hunq for a price they can afford? >>>> >>>> I think of the Hunqapillar as a $1500 frame set. My personal interest >>>> level on buying a second hand frame that gets offered is half-retail. So >>>> for me to consider impulse buying a used Hunqapillar frame, $750 would get >>>> my interest. Realistically, $750 would also likely make it sell fast >>>> before I did anything about it. Hunqapillar frame sets are so rare on the >>>> second-hand market that if you offered it at "retail" and asked $1500, I >>>> likely wouldn't buy it, but maybe somebody would. If it's a complete >>>> build, then many people would message you asking "how much for just the >>>> frame set". If it was a $5000 build, and you offered that for >>>> half-retail, $2500, that would probably sell. If it was a $7500 build and >>>> you offered it for $3750 it may take a while, because that's still a >>>> premium price. If it was a $3000 build and you offered it for $1500 >>>> complete, that would get snatched up quick, I'd wager. >>>> >>>> Bill Lindsay >>>> El Cerrito, CA >>>> >>>> On Monday, April 6, 2026 at 8:21:33 AM UTC-7 Conway Bennett wrote: >>>> >>>>> Tangentially related, I've been contemplating selling my Hunqapillar >>>>> and downsizing in general to the extent that I picked up a new-to-me Clem >>>>> Smith Jr. H Saturday that may be a better fit physically and in life >>>>> >>>>> So, what do folks value hunqs at? Mine is the final iteration with >>>>> 650b wheels and has regular beuasage of a daily driver but no dents or >>>>> damage. >>>>> >>>>> This isn't an invitation to bombard me with requests. I'm just >>>>> thinking about getting ready to make a plan as I'm a little emotionally >>>>> attached to the bike. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Fair winds, >>>>> >>>>> Captain Conway Bennett >>>>> 239.877.4119 <(239)%20877-4119> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 10:08 AM R Shannon <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Drew, >>>>>> >>>>>> Congratulations on acquiring a Riv classic! Nice color too. This >>>>>> might be "the one” for you. My first Rivendell was an Atlantis painted >>>>>> Hunqapillar Gray. I would have gone for the Hunq but the top tube was >>>>>> longer than I wanted so the Atlantis was a better fit. I hope have the >>>>>> chance to see your Hunq. >>>>>> >>>>>> Best, >>>>>> Rich in ATL >>>>>> >>>>>> On Apr 5, 2026, at 10:16 AM, Drew Fitchette <[email protected]> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> <IMG_0601.jpeg>In what feels like almost the most ironically poetic >>>>>> thing that could’ve happened, Riv posted what might be the last of the >>>>>> new >>>>>> (now extinct) Hunqapillars last week on their web specials >>>>>> <https://www.rivbike.com/products/54cm-hunqapillar-web-special> >>>>>> page. >>>>>> >>>>>> I(like many) have pined for one of these bikes since going down the >>>>>> Rivendell rabbit hole, and have gone through more than my share of frames >>>>>> trying to find “the one”, if that’s even a thing… >>>>>> >>>>>> I’d recently posted here that I was after a 54 Hunq or 56 Bombadil, >>>>>> and that my 58 Saluki and 56 Atlantis would be up for trade if someone >>>>>> wanted. I received interest in both bikes if I was willing to sell them, >>>>>> and the Saluki went to someone who’d been dreaming of one for years, >>>>>> while >>>>>> the Atlantis is still here… for now. >>>>>> >>>>>> Then… the universe said here’s a bike built essentially how you’d >>>>>> want, and the money goes to a good cause… >>>>>> >>>>>> So I bought it, and will inevitably post a ton of photos of it when >>>>>> it’s here and in use. >>>>>> >>>>>> - Drew in ATL >>>>>> >>>>>> On Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 2:44:29 PM UTC-5 maxcr wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> In case you missed this, here are a couple of beautiful Hunqa's from >>>>>>> the Radavist: A Visit To The Nutmeg Country Cycling Museum Part 2: Troy >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> Jen’s Stable of Bikes. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> https://theradavist.com/nutmeg-country-cycling-museum-bikes/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAab50lXXmeCXyX7uVSDDM4GaaSsBs8jOZAu0YbsTes_ADxa7hxsRsbddU3I_aem_fHbZEdOdx98jl1LNhKndiA >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Max >>>>>>> >>>>>>> [image: 2024_Nutmeg_Country_Museum_Bikes-74.jpg] >>>>>>> >>>>>>> [image: 2024_Nutmeg_Country_Museum_Bikes-104.jpg] >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 1:09:40 PM UTC-4 Bill Rhea wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [image: D82489DA-D437-4E5E-8DB9-192D50D1B61D_1_105_c.jpeg] >>>>>>>> This is from last year, touring the Oregon and NorCal coast on my >>>>>>>> 62cm Waterford Hunqa, which I believe I got in 2010 or 2011 as an >>>>>>>> "early >>>>>>>> adopter" >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I'll never sell this bike, ever! It always puts a smile on my face >>>>>>>> when I ride it >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -br >>>>>>>> On Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 7:16:08 AM UTC-8 [email protected] >>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> It seems the Bombadil and Hunqapillar frames are beloved. They're >>>>>>>>> stout, beautiful, and sometimes have intricate additional tubes and >>>>>>>>> lugs. >>>>>>>>> While I've done a lot of reading about Rivendell I was a bit unclear >>>>>>>>> on the >>>>>>>>> origins and intended uses of these frames. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I wanted to start a thread where we could share and dump info >>>>>>>>> about these bikes along with pictures of builds. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Joe and Jim were helpful in laying out a bit of background in another >>>>>>>>> thread >>>>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/mkxv02ciCM4/m/KqWZOIMQAwAJ>, >>>>>>>>> there's >>>>>>>>> some great info there. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> The original Hunqapillar catalog is up here: >>>>>>>>> http://notfine.com/rivendell/Brochures/Rivendell%20Frames%20Hunqapillar.pdf >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> The first mention I can find of the Bombadil is in RR 41, sometime >>>>>>>>> in 2009. Excerpted pages attached. As a few members might recall I am >>>>>>>>> very >>>>>>>>> into raw frames with brass spilling out of the lugs! I know that many >>>>>>>>> Bombadil owners have had their frames repainted like Jason Fuller, >>>>>>>>> whose >>>>>>>>> absolute stunner shows up here from time to time. By the way, the >>>>>>>>> picture >>>>>>>>> below is one of my very favorite Rivendell images. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> [image: Jason Bombadil green.jpg] >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> There's also the butter-banana Bombadil that recently sold on >>>>>>>>> eBay. I believe that one was purchased by John Watson of the Radavist >>>>>>>>> (and >>>>>>>>> he's got a Hunq) so we might see some nice pics of that bike sometime >>>>>>>>> soon. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> [image: s-l1600-2.jpg] >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> And speaking of, here's John's Hunqapillar, more images and >>>>>>>>> write-up here >>>>>>>>> <https://theradavist.com/rivendell-hunqapillar-review/>. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> [image: Johns-Rivendell-Hunqapillar-29er-Klunker-76.jpg] >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Are both of these frame names borrowing from Tolkien? I understand >>>>>>>>> RBW had to stop using Tolkien names. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in >>>>>> the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/8k2ulNQVpUk/unsubscribe >>>>>> . >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>> To view this discussion visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/909cbe94-5b8d-4f86-819f-6bb542e60d5an%40googlegroups.com >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/909cbe94-5b8d-4f86-819f-6bb542e60d5an%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>> . >>>>>> <IMG_0601.jpeg> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in >>>>>> the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/8k2ulNQVpUk/unsubscribe >>>>>> . >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>> >>>>> To view this discussion visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/5022AC86-A8EB-4F35-AB68-D9594473F70D%40gmail.com >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/5022AC86-A8EB-4F35-AB68-D9594473F70D%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>> . >>>>>> >>>>> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the > Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this topic, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/8k2ulNQVpUk/unsubscribe > . > To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to > [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/1639bd91-595b-4d54-ac7a-f060e75c2848n%40googlegroups.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/1639bd91-595b-4d54-ac7a-f060e75c2848n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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