Bicycle Mechanics - Fix or Buy New? Advice sought!

Noob here, 1st post, please be gentle. Alright, I own 2 bikes, a Fisher Marlin hardtail for fun on the trails, and a Fisher Napa (new in '03 $440) "hybrid/comfort" for tooling down the boardwalk. The Napa took a "fall", OK I had to throw it over a 10 ft fence, don't ask, it's still not funny. Anyhoo, $273 is the shop estimate to make the bike right and I'm having a tough time coughing up that $$$ when I could buy a new Trek Navigator 3.0 for an additional 2+ bills. I am not going to become "bicycle repairman" (think Python) in my spare time (what is spare time anyways? I need to get me some!). I can fix dishwashers and PCs but am inept even tweaking basic brakes on my bikes. So for $273 the shop will replace the handlebars (needed), new cable housing, new chain, new cassette, new rear tire, true rear wheel, "bike shop" clean the bike & other packaged maintenance included in their "standard $134 maintenance package" (which I'm told covers some of the labor to do the installation of some of the parts mentioned earlier). The $274 doesn't include a new shifter which works fine but was cosmetically damaged in the freefall, so I imagine if I wanted to erase all memory of the idiotic fence tossing I'd have to cough up even more $$$ to replace the shifter, and then it won't likely match with the other side, so it's likely total costs would end up over $320.

So, do I trade the old bike in (what's it worth?) and buy a new bike?
Or, do I sink the money into a 6 year old bike?

Thanks!

I certainly wouldn't spend $320 to repair a $440 bike. However, I think you should post pics and provide all details of the sordid incident.

Buy new. The bike isn't worth what it will take to repair the obvious damage. BTW, has anyone checked the frame alignment? It the accident was that bad, it could have bent the frame and then all of your other money is wasted.

As to "trade in" value, it's probably nearly zero. You may be able to sell the usable components on ebay or Craig's List but the shop probably will give you next to nothing.

Everything in the shop's repair estimate sounds like general maintenance stuff (new chain, housing, etc) except for the new handlebars. That suggests to me that the bike is ridable except for needing new handlebars. Since you've considered buying a new Trek, I'm guessing that you've got the new bike itch, so go for it! You can keep the old one around to sell on craigslist for $50 to someone willing to install their own handlebar.

If you truly need to spend $274-$320 on getting your bike into shape, and you don't do your own maintenance, I would say to go ahead and bite the bullet to get a new bike, which will come fully tuned, and may also come with a free tune-up or two...

At least take a test ride to see whether the extra money would be worth it to you.

+1

Buy the new bike, sell the old parts on Craigslist. And do post pics & story. All of us have done stuff similar. Or worse.

You threw the bike over a fence and it needs a new tire from that? Some of the other stuff makes sense, but if you can't do your own work...

Did her husband unexpectedly return home? :D

Funny, badmother! Long story short....got talked into riding through the state park near my house 8 miles away to the Mexican restaurant. Serious downpour delayed our departure from the margaritas, er, I meant restaurant. Ended up riding in the dark over 2-8 inches of pooled water all along the path. Though the park gate is seldom closed and locked when dark, the storms were torrential enough to down some large tree limbs so the state closed the gate on us.

FYI: So the rear tire needed replacing prior to the fencehopping. It didn't need to be true'd though prior...

I had the shop do a 2nd "get it ride-able" estimate, so when I get the bike home, I'll post pics.
Thanks for all the xcellent posts! I'm likely to buy a new fridge next, and wait on a new bike.