Team Wicked Lite - ebay

[AB]

Just in case some of you taller riders are interested - looks to be be in very nice condition and reasonably priced:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-team-fat-ch...d=p3286.c0.m14

Cheers!

[bonsaii]

Super-cool color! It look a bit sun bleached..?


I have one of these in S/M. It is not for sale, though....

-bns

[jbrannsten]

Originally Posted by bonsaii

Super-cool color! It look a bit sun bleeched..?


I have one of these in S/M. It is not for sale, though....

-bns

It does look very sun bleached indeed.

BTW: This is a Wicked, Bonsaii's is a Yo. First time I have seen a Wicked in this color.

[DC]

This bike just got reposted, first time it had very little description calling it a Yo with one pic. Now it is a Wicked with a slightly better posting.

[AB]

I emailed the seller and suggested the description change after a closer look at the photos. Color fade would be reasonable considering the location - So.Cal, but no rust! Steel may be real, but rust never sleeps.

[Ranxirox]

Does anyone know if ths is actually a "Wicked lite"? I have never heard of a Team Fat being a Wicked Lite. Please help.

The serial # according to the ad is 02409. But this bike has all top tube cables and if it is a wicked that would make it a 93,94 or 95. and by then FC had adopted the ###,model,year,size format. I.E. 123WL4ML= number 123, Wicked Lite, 94, Size Medium/large.

I am Cornfused!

Is anyone near Sants Monica to check this out? At the very least it as a YO Team. If I can swing the bucks I will bid on it. Or, if it doesn't sell I will make him an offer.

I don't think it looks faded (well maybe a little) I think just fat Pepto Bismol colors + bad photography.

OK, Now he has a Shock-A-Billy up that is a 96 Chris Chance design from New York.

I'm going to send some mssgs. to him. I'll be back.

[smittylube]

Try Jeff. Settemarche he lives an hour south. Problem Is he might snatch iT up himself

[AB]

By "Team" I meant that it has the fairly rare Team jersey paint scheme - not a Team issue bike.

Serial numbers can be confusing, but when the Wicked Lite replaced the Wicked in 93 I'm pretty sure Fat still only used "W" in the number and I wouldn't be to sure that the serial number listed was read correctly. Obviously this guy liked Fats so he should be pretty helpful with any inquires. Good Luck

[Doug Carter]

I asked about the bike, and he wasn't much help. More photos haven't been forthcoming, either. He also refused to acknowledge the fact that $150 to ship a bike was insane and more than triple of what it should cost. He is basing the number on how much it cost him to recently ship a bike to Hawaii, as if that is a similar comparison.

I would have bought it already if he was even mildly helpful and his shipping numbers weren't completely whacked out. It's the bike I have been searching for since this site was started 5 years ago.

[AB]

Sorry to hear that he is less than helpful and not very reasonable, but one solution might be to buy it and have an accommodating member simply pick it up in person then ship it out at a more normal cost. Just seems like you may want to take the chance since these don't come up much at all as you know.

[smittylube]

once again Jeff is a very nice guy and very into and active FC cult member. he might be kind enough to Pu and ship 4/2 you..

Sorry Jeff, dont get mad at me for volunteering you.. but you know us fat chance people are like family right? Heck if it was close to me I would want to see it.

steve

[settemarche]

Smitty,

no worries. we can go up for an inspection. from what Doug mentioned this guy does not really seem to interested in being helpful...

i will in town until the 20th.

Sette

[rthomer]

I work in Santa Monica, could check it out if Sette can't. Sette's far more knowledgeable than I but if you list your questions I'm game to swing by and inspect. And I won't buy it, have plenty of incomplete projects.
Robert

[AB]

Plus it looks like he may have come to his senses about the shipping:

"ground shipping will be alot cheaper than airfreight quoted"

[rthomer]

In response to the question about this being a Yo or a Wicked, I see eyelets for fender mounts on the seat stays. That would make it a Wicked right??
But the serial number still seems strange.

[colker]

it's a wicked. either that or a custom. check the geometry, the chainstays.

[bonsaii]

Could it be a Fat Chance or Wicked that was re-paintet in 1992 in Team Jersey colors?

I have a 1989 Wicked (and original sales card) with SN 00149, but the Wicked was also produced in 1988 with SN format ex. 00740W. (So, mabye when the Wicked was introduced in 88/89 the first frames was Fat Chances with Wicked decals?)

It's definitively not a Yo Eddy, but very interesting! Hope you get it, Doug!

-bns

Originally Posted by colker

it's a wicked. either that or a custom. check the geometry, the chainstays.

[AB]

Originally Posted by bonsaii

Could it be a Fat Chance or Wicked that was re-painted in 1992 in Team Jersey colors?

-bns

Nope - IMO Top tube cable routing + drop out eyelets = Wicked Lite

[bonsaii]

Oki, but isn't it something strange with the S/N, then??

[Doug Carter]

I was seconds away from throwing in a last minute bid to take this thing, and a major risk, but thought better of it. The listing and re-listing, not knowing anything about the bike (could you even get a Wicked Lite in a M/L?), his incomplete thoughts when answering my questions, and his general lack of interest in answering anything or providing better photos led me away from this one.

As much as I'd like it on my way to my house at the moment, I didn't feel like throwing away $700.



Maybe if someone here sees it and vouches for the condition, I'd do it, but he refused twice to answer if it had rust, dents, scratches, if it had been repainted or anything else you couldn't gather from 3 blurry photos.



Meh.

[AB]

Understandable - In 1993 the WL was listed in inch sizes not S,M,L etc. I would guess this frame to be a 19.5" or 21". Ebay can be a frustrating place and probably best to err on the side of caution with unresponsive sellers. Plus his Shock is over priced so I wouldn't be surprised to see these bikes up for sale again.

Quite an interesting bike nonetheless

[rthomer]

I emailed the seller, he said he's reposting today...we'll see if the pics and price are any better.

[Doug Carter]

The bike is listed again, for $100 less starting bid, but the seller is still refusing to answer any questions about rust, dents, chips or major issues, and he won't provide any better photos. I have asked him 3 times, so buyer beware.

[AB]

To Be honest if this were a smaller bike I would have bought it. Just going by what I see in the 3 photos I can't see any signs of hard use, abuse etc. The outer chainring still has the original sticker (shimano) on it and all the decals look to be in good shape. I would guess this to be a low mileage bike and as I mentioned before So. Cal bikes are normally not rusted if thats where they have been all there lives. I certainly agree that it would be a risk and most people don't have a lot of "extra" money these days.

Also there are some pretty major inconsistences:

First listed as a Yo even though seller claims to have all the original paper work.

Serial number doesn't make much sense seller calls it a M/L.

It has what looks to me like an older late 80's style seattube collar.

BUT since Fat City did a lot of unsual/cost saving things I can't rule anything out.

[bonsaii]

I totally agree, AB! The frame looks to be in good shape, all tho I thought it looked sun bleached until the two other pics came into the add. Now I think the frame actually looks very nice!

I also guess the frame size to an 18 inch, based on comparion to my Wicked.

I say go for it, folks! 550 bucks is a good deal... If he would ship it my way I would have bought it.

-bns

[colker]

Originally Posted by bonsaii

I totally agree, AB! The frame looks to be in good shape, all tho I thought it looked sun bleached until the two other pics came into the add. Now I think the frame actually looks very nice!

I also guess the frame size to an 18 inch, based on comparion to my Wicked.

I say go for it, folks! 550 bucks is a good deal... If he would ship it my way I would have bought it.

-bns

it seems like a 19.5. how can you be sure about it's structural integrity from looking at those pics?

[Doug Carter]

Consider it a huge lapse in judgment, but I have the high bid on it now. If I get it and it's a giant pile of flaming turd, feel free to say, "I told you so."

Cross fingers for me. We'll see... I don't like how this guy has gone about the auction communication, but the bike is too much to pass on, even with the gamble involved.




d

[bonsaii]

I'm not saying anything about structural integrity, do I? That's a chance to take independent of the sellers answers to buyers technical questions. My comment went for the paint and that the bike looks nice and not abused...

-bns

Originally Posted by colker

it seems like a 19.5. how can you be sure about it's structural integrity from looking at those pics?

[bonsaii]

I'm sure you will be very happy with this one!!

XX XX - Fingers crossed!

-bns

Originally Posted by Doug Carter

Consider it a huge lapse in judgment, but I have the high bid on it now. If I get it and it's a giant pile of flaming turd, feel free to say, "I told you so."

Cross fingers for me. We'll see... I don't like how this guy has gone about the auction communication, but the bike is too much to pass on, even with the gamble involved.




d

[rthomer]

I emailed the seller again to take a look at it, no response. I'm in Santa Monica today and again tomorrow, would love to see it with camera in hand.

[Doug Carter]

GULP.


Whelp, now we wait. I'm hoping for the best. We'll see.

[smittylube]

Ah that was you. Good luck
It looked great to me- hopefully will be good up close as well

Steve

[Doug Carter]

Yeah, I won it. HUGE risk in this one. I didn't appreciate the communication given by this seller, but the potential for this bike IMO outweighs the chances taken. At this price, unless the bike is dented, rusty and unsafe to ride, I can afford the risk. It'll be ridden, so I don't need a piece of artwork.

I guess we will see when it gets here. More to come soon, and hopefully it's good news.

[jbrannsten]

Congrats Doug, let's hope this is really what you have been looking for. Keep us updated on the condition and better pics than the seller provided in the auction. If this is an original paint job it must be rare....

[yo' djblu]

SUPER STOKED U GOT THAT FRAME DOUG! cant wait to see REALLY snaps of it. One of my FAVORITE paint schemes! Once again KUDOS!

[Doug Carter]

Am I the only one that calls this Team paint scheme "Zig Zag?"



Donno if I can say I have ever seen it on a Wicked Lite. I'm guessing it might be a repaint, but with anything Fat, who the hell knows? Nothing they did ever made sense or followed any predictable pattern. The sizing, the serial number, the paint... bobbing for apples with your eyes closed.

[bonsaii]

Good news! Congratulations!


-bns

[yo-Nate-y]

Personally, that paint scheme always reminded me of Easter eggs.

Neat bike---the latter pics he put up didn't look half bad. I have the feeling it will be in much better than average shape.

[AB]

Congrats Doug I think we are all pulling for you on this one. Hope it's as good as I think it is. I've always like the team jersey paint scheme (have one myself). It should be interesting whatever it turns out to be - hope it's packed well and has an uneventful trip.

[yo' djblu]

DONT for get pics!!!!