Vintage or not. Who decides?

[classic33]

Came across this piece in insurance documentation. Left me wondering who decides if a bicycle is vintage and where could you get one valued. Any ideas?

 

[ozboz]

That's an interesting one @classic33 , I am not sure how old it has be Vintage , 50-60 years , more? less? , but I'd say Id have a problem with my Forhergill , it's only got the frame number to go by , and that in itself unless accompanied by original documentation from the Fothergill factory I am sure would not hold up , now all I have is a frame , with a number , it's been sprayed and stands me at £300 before ive attached the forks,so I'd say paragraph e would be my only way of getting a payout ,

 

[classic33]

Specialist auction houses(Vectis) are about the only place I could think of for getting a value, but even they vary on the day.

 

[scarygerbil]

the problem is the word vintage it should be replaced by classic the same as cars. There can be newer bikes that can be worth more because of the manufacturer or provenance ie. a custom build or a race bike.

 

[Drago]

The "suitably qualified valuation expert"?

 

[ozboz]

The "suitably qualified valuation expert"?

Cycle SQVE
Now there's a title !
CC should have one !

 

[classic33]

the problem is the word vintage it should be replaced by classic the same as cars. There can be newer bikes that can be worth more because of the manufacturer or provenance ie. a custom build or a race bike.

Those last parts could fall under "collectability", just leaving the problem of getting a seperate valuation to prove you'd not overpaid or that you'd got a bargain.

 

[mjr]

Eroica events reckon vintage is pre-1987 IIRC. I think you'd stand a chance of appealing to that definition. Of course, it means most local bike shops selling second-hand bikes are therefore vintage cycle retailers... so another reason to be on good terms with them!

 

[mikeymustard]

Eroica events reckon vintage is pre-1987 IIRC. I think you'd stand a chance of appealing to that definition. Of course, it means most local bike shops selling second-hand bikes are therefore vintage cycle retailers... so another reason to be on good terms with them!

When did the organisers of Eroica events decide that pre 87 was the shutoff point? L'eroica Italia was started in 1997 so if they stated 87 from the beginning then it would only have been 10 years!
Is the problem perhaps more about our own "vintage" rather than the age of the bikes? Since most of us on this thread grew up with steel as the "norm" it seems inconceivable that a younger rider might see a 30yr old bike as antique

 

[mikeymustard]

As a rule of thumb, every bike (or pile of components) I've ever owned are classed as vintage by me.
Mrs o classes them, generally, as junk.
HTH

Ah the battle of the spouses!

 

[classic33]

When did the organisers of Eroica events decide that pre 87 was the shutoff point? L'eroica Italia was started in 1997 so if they stated 87 from the beginning then it would only have been 10 years!
Is the problem perhaps more about our own "vintage" rather than the age of the bikes? Since most of us on this thread grew up with steel as the "norm" it seems inconceivable that a younger rider might see a 30yr old bike as antique

Whilst young'un may well view bikes over 30 years old as vintage. How would that same person view the same bike given the wording on the insurance "small print", if they were the ones having to deal with a claim?

When does Vintage become Antique?

It's the first time I've come across such wording on general cycle insurance. Had a few policies "sent" to me with regards insuring the Brox for cargo carrying.

 

[mikeymustard]

Another example of insurance companies trying to wriggle out of their responsibility?

 

[biggs682]

L'eroica is pre 87 but newer steel frames can be used as long as they are built using parts of the pre 87 style ie non aero levers , wheel rims that are less than i think 30 mm tall and the list goes on and on its catered for people who want to pay a silly amount of money to ride there bikes around a set course with other like minded people ....... imho

 

[Illaveago]

Did I read e. Right in that the insurance company would only pay out for the bits of a custom built bike?

I would then expect them to only pay out a small proportion due to wear on the components.

 

[classic33]

Did I read e. Right in that the insurance company would only pay out for the bits of a custom built bike?

I would then expect them to only pay out a small proportion due to wear on the components.

It's how they apply the wording of "value of the insured". The price paid, minus labour.

You have a frame you bought fixed, the frame builder works for free!