Classic & Vintage - Dawes Galaxy

My girlfriend is thinking about buying this bike. Everything looks to be in pretty good condition and the overall bike looks fantastic. Is it worth it?
http://chambana.craigslist.org/bik/300174626.html

My $0.02: The answer would depend on the context. If her riding experience is minimal, I would say that while the Dawes is a cool vintage ride the "primitive" components might put her off of bike riding for good (I recall those push-rod Simplex FD's and my memory is that they weren't the greatest shifting things). For a little bit more she could find a decent modern ride with index shifting, great brakes, etc. Now, if she's got a lot of miles under her (figuratively speaking of course) then for $200 the Dawes might be a fun Sunday-morning-go-to-breakfast rig.

If that bike fits her and it's the sort of thing she's looking for, that's not a bad price. It's equivalent to an early 70s Raleigh Super Course, which goes for about that price with original components.

Some cautions: the Simplex derailleurs are far less special than the seller claims (if not POS), and that substitute front brake doesn't have enough reach--note that the brake pads are at the bottom of the slots and will contact the tire when engaged. I imagine that chrome fork is a replacement, which always makes me worried that the original was damaged somehow. Check the top and downtubes carefully for front-end damage.

Neal

Seems a little pricey, but it is spring and prices are going up. I picked up a mid-80's Dawes last fall for $80 - but it was not a Galaxy. And it didn't have that amazing headbadge.
Or the Brooks.

I agree with nierner except that that IS the original fork, it's just had the green paint scraped off, but not quite all. Also, I made the blunder of comparing a Galaxy to a Gran Prix and the Dawes fans blew up...a Super Course (straight gauge 531) is a better comparison. But in general this is overpriced, if she's in love with vintage English look for a better price either offer less for this or find another Brit Bike for her. Last, the saddle is nice enough but with a B5N the "N" means Narrow, so might not be the best fitting for a woman.

In the UK, Galaxy's get snapped up for good money. That one would make more like $300 on UK eBay. On that measure, definitely worth it.

seller took a lot of photos, dont think he's trying to hide anything. It sure is a nice looking bike. If your woman likes the way it rides buy it.Always offer less than the asking price, you gotta hagle its half the fun.

i beieve I saw this bike (and it's photos) in an ebay sale some time back.
could be that it was bought off ebay and they are just reselling it

regardless...
I own this very model of Dawes Galaxy
My dad and I bought the same bike from Turin Cyclery on N.Clark in Chicago in 1970 or so.
A friend bought another Dawes model, and that year we toured, and his Simplex dearailleur busted a set screw (the plastic broke) and that was that. I switched out the Simplx to Suntour soon enough.

since then, it's become a flat bar cruiser, a fixed gear bike, a wheel-less frame, and now a single speed (freewheel) with 700 wheels, aero brakes, NItto stem and bars. When I shed the cottered crank for a newer one, the bike lost like TEN freaking pounds! As a SS it will make a nice cafe cruiser.

It's an okay bike... not terriply fast, but nice looking. The saddle is a great one, but the components are a bit dated.

An 80's Trek Elance would be much sexier

cool bike and for all their cachet in UK, I'd say 200 bucks is too much

i beieve I saw this bike (and it's photos) in an ebay sale some time back.
could be that it was bought off ebay and they are just reselling it

It was on Craigslist back in Febuary and someone posted the link and photo in this thread (post #4)...
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=268298

Then it went on ebay the next week where it didn't sell (I remember because I nearly bought it).

Now it's back on the same Craigslist as posted by the OP in this thread. I would assume it's always been with the same seller as the photos and location haven't changed. Nice bike but I'm afraid the detailed photos are working against the seller as the bike does have some, er patina.

Thanks for all the advice-- it has been really valuable, especially since then I knew exactly what to look out for and what specifically to ask the seller. He turned out to be just a normal obsessive bike fiend (ha), and was extremely helpful.

So now I am the proud owner! The bike fits me well, and I got it for a bit less than he was asking. He also encouraged me to go back to him for adjustments I can't do myself. All in all a very exciting purchase for me.

An 80's Trek Elance would be much sexier
Hehe, funny you should mention that as my ride is an 87 330 Elance. Also, if it isn't obvious, Philoserine is the girlfriend/owner now.

The paint on those 80's TREKs is just dreamy

The early 80's frames are like eye sex. Beautiful metallic paint jobs....

Since mine's an 87 it doesn't have the incredible metallic finish, but the red stands out life few I've ever seen.

So in a good market how much should a Dawes Galaxy go for?