Classic & Vintage - I think I passed up a couple of decent old roadies.

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jlvantassel
06-27-04, 07:07 AM
Stopped by this flea market thing outsite Kutztown, PA and there were a bunch of bikes. One an old Trek and the other an old Nishiki. The Nishiki I didn't pay attention to(may have been a mistake not looking at it more too). The Trek was light and the only marking on the frame was the Trek badge on the front. It had Suntour 18 speed and Shimano brakes.
Both bikes were ridable. Neither looked great. He only wanted $20 for the Trek and $25 for the Nishiki.

I think for now on I walk into these things wiht a knowledge of dating bikes with their serial numbers and knowledge of the frame. I have a feeling at $20 I passed up a decent frame to build on.

I did a search here and found the vintage Trek website, thank you someone.

Is there a similar site for Nishiki, Bianchi and any others? I have ones for Scwhinn already

Walter
06-27-04, 01:08 PM
In all likelihood the Trek was a good to very good deal. Their older steel frames ranged from decent to very nice. Sheldon Brown pointed out that their brazing was as clean or cleaner than most of the European work.

Nishikis also run from decent to very nice as well. I don't know if there were bottom of the line hi-tensile Nishiki frames but I know their higher line bikes used very nice quality tubes. They may be there next week if it's a weekly flea market. I wouldn't worry too much if they're not, other opportunities will come.

If you had said something about passing up a Cinelli, Masi or Colnago then I'd have to get on your case....:)

:beer:

P.S. Always look at components. Just about any Campy equipped bike is worth grabbing at a flea market unless the seller knows what's up. Even if it doesn't fit the components can be swapped or eBayed for enough to finance a few more buys. That's how this hobby creeps up on you btw.
lotek
06-28-04, 07:02 AM
Skip Echert runs the vintage Trek website.
Suntour components are probably a 500 or 600 series
frame, not their best, but good none the less.
If the headbadge was "TREK" under a large T the frame
is 1988 or newer.

Marty