Mountain bikes as an investment? If you look around classic bike forums online, more and more bikers seem to be taking a liking to the idea - because of the low interest rates or because it's hip at the moment. Die-hard collectors have been focussing on cult bikes since the early 1990s. Mostly out of love for the bike, but often also in the hope of a strong increase in value. "However, it's difficult to really predict the demand for classic bikes," says collector Marco Dreher. Nevertheless, some classic bike forums are currently offering old, almost unusable tyres that have quadrupled in value over the years. However, there are also such examples on the stock market. Here, too, there is always a risk. Anyone who collected telephone cards in the 1990s knows what we are talking about.
INTERVIEW WITH COLLECTOR MARCO DREHER
Does it make sense to buy old bikes as an investment?
As an investment, there are certainly more promising and safer investments. You have to know your way around and know what is in demand - that's the only way to make it work. However, it's similar with other investments.
Which bikes are particularly popular?
One-offs are ideal. It is best when it has been used to achieve historic victories. But these are rare. Bikes from 1984 to the mid-90s generally increase in value. For example, a Klein Adroit Mc1. If the bikes have not been ridden, you can get them today for roughly the same price in euros as the D-Mark shop price at the time.
That's not exactly a top return.
There are also examples of this, but they are rare. You can make more profit with components than with complete bikes. There are examples of cranks and tyres with an increase in value of up to 400 percent.
How predictable is future demand?
Not at all. Märklin model trains were long regarded as a safe investment. Now the generation of collectors is beginning to die off - with the result that demand is falling. This could also happen to us bikers.
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