Classic & Vintage - Fuji at Goodwill

For the first time I saw a decent bicycle at the local Goodwill store. It was a Fuji Super Tourist IV in what I would call fair condition. It had mid-grade components, the decals said Quad-Butted Chromemoly Tubing, and Made in Japan. Unfortunately someone was already looking at it, he bought it for $20. I talked to him a bit and I would say it went to a good home. I did tell him about Bike Forums.

The only bikes I have seen there prior to that one, were kids bikes and the sort of stuff you buy a a small Walmart usually in pretty poor condition to boot.

that is what is known as a near miss.

Every once in awhile I'll find a good one. Last week I found a 1980 Fuji America. Looks to be 100% original (down to the leather pedal straps!) from what I've been able to find online and it's in great shape. I bought it mainly for the leather saddle and nice Blackburn rack on the back but got home and realized it might be worth a tad more than the $20 I paid. It's a small frame at 52cm but I figure if I don't sell it my wife can ride it or I can try to find a longer stem & use it myself for casual shorter rides.

Others that I've found are a Shogun 1000 in great shape with Shimano 600 components for $15. It's also small and was originally bought for the wife it will be sold if she decides to ride the "ugly" Fuji. An as yet unidentified road bike for $15 with an older 105 drivetrain and brakes. This one was painted plain gray at some point and has no markings other than a serial number. It's super light, fits me great and will probably become my first fixie at some point. Last but not least a Mango Beach Cruiser for $15 which was stripped down and painted lime green to use as a beater when cruising around the beaches :).

I've run across others that I didn't purchase for one reason or another but my rule lately is if it's in decent shape and in the $20-$50 price range I buy it and figure out what it is later.

I got an '85 Espree for 25 bucks and an '87 Pulsar for the same amount. Espree is much nicer but they're both cool. I gave both away as gifts. $50 would be my overhead as well unless it was something far too nice for goodwill.

+1 I grab anything decent as soon as I get into the door. I can study it later. I have picked up about a dozen this year, but only with frequent visits. They don't last long.

Hence the sub-moniker.

Guess I'd better go grab that bike from VOA today.

Elad63, jgedwa - you guys hear me? I'm claiming it. :)

<edit - got it. It's nothing special... yet>

Had a friend at work say "aren't you into old bikes?" He mentioned seeing an old all chrome schwinn at a second hand store that he was at the other day. I found out it was 15 minutes from work. I drove over and scored an all chrome 1977 Schwinn Super Le Tour 12.2!

scored an all chrome 1977 Schwinn Super Le Tour 12.2!

Doesn't exist without pics. :)