Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - '86 Chromoly Meile - $225?

Do you think this is a fair price if the bike is in decent shape? I sent him out an email asking for better pictures, but it looks like a nice bike. I think these are canadian and Meile was a framebuilder? Not positive. Edit: added the pictures he sent. It's Ishwata 022.

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/1250828380.html

"In very good shape, not used much and always stored inside, Campy; hubs, seat post, cranks bottom bracket, brakes, stem, handle bars. Shimano; 105 brake levers, LX sport rear deraillure (7 speed), SIS down tube shifters. Matrix rims with newer tires. Seat tube lug broke free and had welded. New handle bar tape just put on."

http://images.craigslist.org/3k03m03l3ZZZZZZZZZ97238aa3e2121d013a3.jpg

Edit: better pictures

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3593/3682937151_994910e097.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2480/3682937165_9136d9a942.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2660/3682937171_9f9c7c360c.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2474/3682937173_ee931fd249.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3618/3682937175_2264977f59.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2629/3682937157_a651fbf872.jpg?v=0

Key words are "seat tube lug broke free and had welded". I would value this bike for its components, inspect the frame carefully, and maybe it is OK. Any welding will likely mean paint is a mess as well.

I thought that might be the case. How would someone uneducated in welding be able to recognize quality welds? No file marks and an even line that follows the original break?

I thought that might be the case. How would someone uneducated in welding be able to recognize quality welds? No file marks and an even line that follows the original break?I would just value the bike for its components, or find a better one. I have been looking at welds for 30 years, hard to describe inspection by email. I would certainly look at it, see what he did about the paint, and ask who did the work.

But the safest bet is to just buy it cheap enough that you will be OK regardless, or pass on it and find something better.

I checked it out, and inspected the weld as suggested. When he said "seat tube lug broke" he meant to say "the seat tube came free from the bottom bracket and visibly moved around and I had some guy fix it" You can actually see the shape it's in in the picture second from the bottom. It's that mass of rust on the BB. He said he doesn't know why it broke. It makes me think perhaps it wasn't mitered properly or something in the first place?

I passed. I wanted the bike because it is otherwise in good shape, however I don't think I'd ever trust that bike to be ridden as it is. I don't know enough about the value of the components to say what a good price would be. The seller was nice enough, though.

I see it now. That weld (poor picture) looks terrible. Good pass.