Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Is this a decent bike???

Im looking to buy a road bike nothing expensive.
Only willing to spend up to $200.
i have no clue about road bikes.
is this something decent for the amount of money im willing to spend?
just need something to get around on.yeah sometimes very far.
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/1284274373.html

Not sure what the bicycle market is like there in Sacramento, but I'd say $185 seems high for that particular bike.

It's a low end bike, but it could be a lot worse.. I am assuming the frame is hi-tensile steel, the rims look like steel too which is probably the biggest downfall. It's probably on the heavy side but should still be solid. The biggest value in it is that it has been cleaned and tuned up. I still think the price is high. 185.00 can buy you a whole lot of vintage bike, it's just a matter of being competent enough to do your own work.

I don't know how hot the bike market in Sacramento is, but I would say that is a 100-125 dollar bike in Ohio in that condition.

thanks for reply's.
Doesnt sound to good,ha
so im going to keep looking,

Good thought......Keep looking. I think you could find a bike in similar condition with alloy components like rims, bars and stem.

Yeah, pass on that one. You can do better. Look for a name brand in case you want to resell it, and there are lots of used Japanese bikes from the 70s and 80s that were mid-to-high quality: Univega, Centurion, Fuji, Miyata, etc, etc.

Check out this list from Sheldon Brown:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/japan.html

^ +1 to that.

Here are some traits that all usually add up to a decent bike:

-Forged dropouts. This (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30894973@N04/3564900762/) is what a forged drop out looks like. This (http://www.boxdogbikes.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/img_1806.jpg) is what a stamped dropout looks like.
-Alloy components
-Good frame tubing. Look for a sticker on the frame, cro-molly is good and hi-ten is not so great. If there is no sticker assume hi-ten
-Alloy rims. They make such a huge difference, one of the most noticeable of all.

There are lots of other signs, those are just some generic guidlines.

I live in davis, so I check the sac craigslist often, you can do a lot better with $200. Check the ebay/craiglist thread at the top of the page, I'll be posting things that look promising in our area

Is this a decent bike? No.

junk, pass dude