Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Newbie here!

I am a true novice at this. I was going to buy a bike to get into shape but as luck would have it I think I have found a gem...for free!!! I saw a bike at the end of a drive way with a "FREE-PLEASE take" sign...so I did. It turns out that I have a mint condition Puch Meteor Luxe. I am beginning to understand this is a good thing. It seems all I need are new tires and I will be on the road. Can anyone tell me about the value of this bike? Basically I want to know if I did good. Thanks:)

Without some good pics and description of components, can't tell if it is a $25 bike or a $150 bike. Regardless, either figure is higher than free. Steel rims, cottered crank, stem shifters, needs significant rehab = $25. Alloy components, down tube shifters, three piece alloy crank, mid grade derailleurs, cromoly frame, good tires, ready to ride = $150

Thanks for the reply but you might as well be speaking a foreign language to me!!!HA HA. Guess I should make a trip to the local bike shiop and let them take a look. As you said though any $$$ is more than free and for now it will get me where I want to go!

Taking good pictures doesn't require learning another language ;)

-Kurt

Thanks for the reply but you might as well be speaking a foreign language to me!!!HA HA. Guess I should make a trip to the local bike shiop and let them take a look. As you said though any $$$ is more than free and for now it will get me where I want to go!

If you take it to a bike shop that understands and works on vintage bikes, you may do well and you might not. You might walk out with the shirt on your back, but your wallet might be substantially lighter. If they don't work on vintage bike you can expect to hear something like this: "That bike is outdated. They don't make parts for it anymore. We can't replace the tires. You need new wheels, why don't you just replace the bike with this new one over here for $800."
Trust us, parts are available, new tires, used shifters, derailers etc. If you post pics, we will help you for much less than many bike shops and we'll help you keep your bargain, a bargain.

+1 Depending on the shop, be careful. You can take a good deal (free bike) and turn it into a loser deal by having them rehab it for you. Its not that they will take advantage of you (they won't). Its that a full rehab of a basic bike like most Puch models will quickly exceed the value of the bike. If you are going to enjoy an old bike, and control your expenses, you either have to do the work yourself, or sell the Puch as is and use the money as a down payment for a ready to ride vintage bikes. There are bike flippers all over, and the good ones will sell you a nice vintage bike for less than the cost of fixing your Puch. They might even take your Puch in trade. How do they do it? Simple, they charge a lot less for their time (no expensive bike shop overhead) and they shop carefully for parts.

I'll save you a trip to the bike shop and echo the comments already made.

The Meteor Lux, while a nice enough bike, was on the low-end of the Puch line. 1010 steel frame and fork, steel cotterless crank, steel rims, stem shifters, suicide brake levers, some decent suntour components. It may not be the Confente you were hoping for, but it's not bad for a driveway find. If it fits, ride and enjoy it. If not, pass it on to someone who will, but I don't think you'll be able to fetch more than $100 for it, even in mint condition. About the only money I would put into it is $20 on a Big Blue Book or Sutherland's and learn to work on it yourself.

+1
If it's in good shape and you want to learn bike mechanics, find another junker with alloy wheels and ligher cranks, etc, then swap 'em over. You'll learn a lot and have a decent rider.

If not, clean it up, find some cheapo tires and tubes, and ride it. It's not a bad bike, and if you get the fever, you'll be ahead of the curve on your next one.....there's always another one...

I dunno... does the bike fit? If so, great find. If not, see above advice for flipping.

+1 on the above comments on shops and repairs.