Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Azuki Vinatage Road bike..Help Pleassse!

Hey, Im not really informed about bicycles or the brands since Im just picking it up, so I was wondering what you guys would think about this deal. Their offering this bike for $60. Is it a good deal? What do you think I would have to buy extra and how much would it be to make this bike look more like a finished bike.Thanks!


http://images.craigslist.org/3k13o33lfZZZZZZZZZ97m45152d1eeca01482.jpg
http://images.craigslist.org/3nc3md3p3ZZZZZZZZZ97m55c2315fa5d11193.jpg
http://images.craigslist.org/3ka3p13o5ZZZZZZZZZ97m4dd56d50c3091ab1.jpg

Can you do the service work all yourself? If not, this bike will cost more to rehab than it is worth. People ready, willing and able to do service work will buy project bikes in this price range. Take it to a shop to have the work done, and you would be way ahead just buying one in a ready to ride, recently serviced condition.

I am selling a bike right now that recently had $150 service done by a bike shop. I am asking $145 for it. Do the math on that deal. Even if the bike were free, it would be upside down. And it still needed additional service work! $150 in service (including parts) on an old bike can be relatively superficial. It is not hard to spend $250 or more on a thorough service on a bike that has been sitting.

I see stem shifters, I see some minor rust, pictures are really poor. Are the rims steel or alloy? What is the frame made out of (looks like low end hi ten steel, but hard to tell). This appears to be a relatively low end bike in the "needs service" category.

If you buy this bike, make sure the seat post is not stuck. Search the forum on stuck seat post and you will see all kinds of trials and tribulations on stuck seat post.

It's best to take pics from the drive side, (more visual cues as to what you have) and they are a bit small, but what I see doesn't look too bad. Do you know the model of it?

Up here a decent bike starts around $100 so cashwise I'd say good too.

Bar tape, either remove or straighten out the rack, while I can't see it clearly, I'd change out that seat. Then clean and lube the rest and it should make it a nice looking bike.

I have an early 70s Azuki, don't know the exact model, but it rides nicely

Ken.

Unless you are over 6' tall, that frame may well be too tall for you, which immediately makes the bike a bad deal. Assuming you can fit it comfortably and properly, then buy it only if you are prepared to some of the overhauling yourself. Are there any CrMo, Tange, Ishiwata, or similar tubing pedigree stickers on the frame? At least it has aluminum cranks, although I suspect low-end ones (drive side picture, please, with a closeup of the chainrings). Are the rims aluminum, and do they spin straight and true without much lateral or vertical variation? If they steel and/or bent, you are looking at new wheels or a wheel rebuild, which could put the whole project over budget.

Thanks for the replies guys. These pictures is from the seller on craigslist. I've been looking for a good solid bike for around $100, Im on a tight budget. Well I guess my bike hunting will continue!

Thanks for the replies guys. These pictures is from the seller on craigslist. I've been looking for a good solid bike for around $100, Im on a tight budget. Well I guess my bike hunting will continue!

With your budget, to get a good bike, you are going to need to hit the garage sale/thrift shop circuit. It is rare to see something decent in your range on Craigs List, and when you do, it will be snapped up immediately. So there will not be time to post: What do you think of this one? It will be gone.

And if your budget includes any repairs and any gear, it is really, really tight. One challenge with garage sale bikes (and thrift stores too) is that they are rarely ready to go. They are usually those bikes that have been sitting neglected/ignored for years (or decades). So unless you are ready to do some work yourself, your budget isn't enough to cover a rehab by a bike shop.

And then there is the whole challenge around getting the right size. You might find a smokin' deal, but most of the time, it won't be your size.

Your best bet is to find a good brand/good component rigid frame mountain bike. I routinely see good ones in your price range, in many sizes. But in your price range, even the decent brand mountain bikes go fast.

The way to get the great deals is to spend a lot of time looking (I look just about every day!) and be ready to do the work yourself.