Panasonic PR-6000 bike on eBay. Actual value?

[Baron Blubba]

So I saw a picture of a Panasonic in the Photos From Your Rides thread, and thought, "That's a beautiful bike, I wonder if there are any available in my size somewhere?" Went to eBay and found this.

Granted, it is beautiful, and I'm pretty sure I remember reading somewhere that these were made by a more 'special' fabricator than most other Panasonic bikes, and it comes with a brand new Dura Ace 7400 groupset attached. But the price still seems at least $3000 too high.
Am I wrong, or is this a grail collectible bike that somehow commands that $5700 price?

[AngryScientist]

Such a cool bike. Iconic 90's.

Others may know more, but I think it was just made in-house at Panasonic Japan. If memory serves correctly, Panasonic quit the US market in the very late 80's so not many of the cool 90's models ever made it to the US, which is why they are rare to see here.

The collectors market is very weird, especially internationally. I often see very cool stuff on ebay Japan, but for literally [IMO] crazy money. Certainly the NOS DA group and frame itself make this desirable for a collector, but it's way, way more money than I'd ever spend for a rider.

[Tychom]

The ones that you'd be remembering were the PR6000s.

The ones that were raced by the teams were apparently made by someone in Holland.

I'm not sure if there was a real difference between the two - that info is probably out there somewhere.

The Panasonic in that advert is not a PR6000.

It looks like a FRCC04, which isn't an exact replica of the PR6000.

I can believe the seller's advert is correct - that it's new... because you can still buy them, e.g. easiest would be from Alex's Cycles - for about 1200USD.

The seller is asking a lot.

I had a good option to buy a pristine full DA PR6000 last year in the north of Holland - for about 1500 or 1800EUR, can't quite recall which. But decided it was a bit too rich for my needs (I don't need it at all ).

And I've seen them regularly offered for north of 1000EUR

[saab2000]

There appear to be mismatched components on that bike. All Shimano Dura Ace but from different years.

I think it’s overpriced but I’m also not interested in it at any price. But nostalgia will make people do crazy things.

[Gman79]

Someone is trying to make a profit on an excellent frameset one can procure for much much less: https://alexscycle.com/collections/p...-set-460-630mm

I ALMOST bought one last year but went a different route.

[rccardr]

You can buy a custom sized version of that road frame with a steel fork for about $1800 at current exchange rates. They also sell them with matched carbon forks.

Last DA 7400 group I purchased (earlier this year) was $550 plus shipping including a wheelset, all in exceptional condition including original hoods. Figure another couple hundred bucks for related completion bits. Maybe $2800 all in.

So yeah, you could duplicate that bike for a lot less than the asking price. Even if it's not a genuine PR6000 it will perform & look the same.

On the other hand, you can buy a lot of superb vintage bicycle for $2800, like the Motorola Merckx on BF for about that.

[Tychom]

To expand on this a bit more -

If you want an exact PR-6000 replica directly from Panasonic - you can't get one currently. Their offerings have varied a little year by year, but currently it's not the case.

The PR-6000 had horizontal dropouts, integrated seat-binder in the seat-stay/lug, classic french style pointed head-tube lugs, and a pretty standard fork crown.

The current FRCC04 has vertical dropouts, fast-back seat lug, updated even-more-pointier and webbed headtube lugs (to go with an oversized downtube), but it does have the same fork, and is still made of Tange Prestige (even if that might have changed over time).

Then there's a beefier model the FRCC25 with yet another different set of lugs, a MAX fork, threadless headset. This model used to have a carbon fork option - but it's not obvious if that's still available.

A lower-end model, the FRCC34, does have the correct lugs and fork, but still has vertical dropouts. It also has cheaper tubing.

And finally there's a newer model, the FRCC13, with a fully integrated headset/headtube lug and carbon fork

You can them all (and many other models) with the team colorway, to make it at-a-glance appear to be a PR6000.

[zzy]

Great info above.

I have a FRCC04 in a very large size with 7800 and downtube shifters. Really excellent bike and I love the isostar livery. Crazy they're still making lugged mass market bikes in Japan.

[Baron Blubba]

Thanks very much for all of the excellent and informative posts above. I had no idea about Alex's Cycles or that these frames were still being manufactured. Amazing!
Ordering from Alex's seems a bit convoluted, but I hope to decipher all those drop down menus one day, because these look lovely.

[jet sanchez]

Panasonic still makes lugged frames today, in 2024

Here’s a fun video to watch of the process in their factory

I ride my PR5000 all the time. The bike rides great and the quality of the frame is on par with my De Rosa, Tommasini, Colnago Master and Eddy Merckx bikes of the same era


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=STmZdGNVil0

[GScot]

My sample of one says Panasonic makes great bikes. I have 1988 DX-5000 made from Tange Prestige and in a 53ish frame it is an excellent ride.

[Big Dan]

Great video...!!!

[Tychom]

Originally Posted by Baron Blubba

Thanks very much for all of the excellent and informative posts above. I had no idea about Alex's Cycles or that these frames were still being manufactured. Amazing!
Ordering from Alex's seems a bit convoluted, but I hope to decipher all those drop down menus one day, because these look lovely.

Honestly there's not too much to it - and just send an email with questions and Alex's are very responsive, happy to help.

You need to choose the size here - size is measured center to top (the very very top of the point of the seat lug), and the paint code from here - note the racing team design is under the 'Original Color' section.

That's about the most of it.