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07-09-08, 12:15 AM
Hi, I've recently started fixing bikes as a hobby/new passion of mine. I'm a poor 24 year old going through school so there are no glistening new road bikes or full suspension mountain bikes adorning my garage just yet.
I've goofed around lately starting with a sad little Trek 3700 I bought for $300 which I sadly never use due to my typical hard road commute.
ANYWAYS sorry for the intro, but I am the bike fixer and I have a friend who is the collector of random oddities. He recently found a rusty Raleigh MT500 lying in a garbage heap(I didn't ask any questions but it's pretty rusty... the chain was completely shot).
He let me have it for free and I was surprised to find that in 1994 this bike had a suggested retail price of $1,042.00!!! Solid Deore components and the Rock Shox Mag 10 suspension is pretty decent(for back then) It needs a new chain, seatpost, seat and the shocks need to be pumped(if they hold air)
My Question(finally) is should I invest $50 or so into this rusty bike? Is it worth trying to sell, what would it even go for these days?? Oh and there is about a 1/4 inch long crack near the bottom bracket on the left chainstay. Could I have that repaired or bondo it? lol Primitive I know.
Any suggestions would be helpful..
Summary:
1.) Would it be worth fixing up and selling?
2.) If so, what kind of price estimation should I shoot for? I know it's not worth $1K :p
Thanks in advance!
I've goofed around lately starting with a sad little Trek 3700 I bought for $300 which I sadly never use due to my typical hard road commute.
ANYWAYS sorry for the intro, but I am the bike fixer and I have a friend who is the collector of random oddities. He recently found a rusty Raleigh MT500 lying in a garbage heap(I didn't ask any questions but it's pretty rusty... the chain was completely shot).
He let me have it for free and I was surprised to find that in 1994 this bike had a suggested retail price of $1,042.00!!! Solid Deore components and the Rock Shox Mag 10 suspension is pretty decent(for back then) It needs a new chain, seatpost, seat and the shocks need to be pumped(if they hold air)
My Question(finally) is should I invest $50 or so into this rusty bike? Is it worth trying to sell, what would it even go for these days?? Oh and there is about a 1/4 inch long crack near the bottom bracket on the left chainstay. Could I have that repaired or bondo it? lol Primitive I know.
Any suggestions would be helpful..
Summary:
1.) Would it be worth fixing up and selling?
2.) If so, what kind of price estimation should I shoot for? I know it's not worth $1K :p
Thanks in advance!