Outdoor
Trek 820 mountain bike, 21 inch frame, 1990s
A rigid steel Trek 820 from the 1990s, the entry-level mountain bike that turns up in a lot of garages. These have a following as cheap commuters and build donors, so a clean frame and working gears matter more than the badge. Rust, seized shifters and shot tires pull the price toward the low end.
Estimated resale range (used)
$80 – $180
A ballpark, not a quote. Condition moves this number a lot, and so does who turns up to buy it. It isn't an appraisal and it isn't a dealer's offer.
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What matters when you check it
- Measure the frame from the bottom bracket to the seat clamp and confirm the size - a 21-inch frame fits a tall rider.
- Ride it and shift through all gears; seized or skipping shifters and a rusted chain are the usual expensive fixes.
- Check tires, brake pads and wheel rims for wear, and look for rust inside the frame tubes and at the dropouts.
Where the number comes from
Watching what these go for, not a record of sales. The range is a judgement call from what the same thing fetches secondhand. When an item has real sources behind it, they'll be printed here with the date they were checked.
Before you sell anything, look at sold prices rather than asking prices. Asking prices are wishes; sold prices are evidence.