word_nerd

Found an old Roddy Magna on Craigslist for 15 dollars. Can anyone comment on these bikes? Would it be worth it to pick up for parts, or to fix up? Obviously, it's not high-end, but if the frame is decent, i may offer 10 bucks or something. Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated.

here's the link:
https://hartford.craigslist.org/bik/1850528393.html

peace.

wrk101

Its junk and its broken. Junky parts as well. Pass.

roccobike

The frame is not worth it. The parts are not worth it. Magna = crap.
I'll mess around with Wally World bikes like newer Schwinns or Mongoose even the occaisional RoadMaster or Huffy. But I stay away from Magna. If someone gives me one, I donate it to my church group. When the church has bike Ministry day, and we get together to fix up beaters for underprivledges kids and adults, I let someone else work on the Magnas.

BigPolishJimmy

After a quick look at google, I'm getting a vibe that Roddy may be the brand and Magna is the model name. I don't know if this maker is in any way related to the "Magna" brand of xmart bike that is so reknowned for really bad bikes. But looking at the different bikes that pop up with the Roddy name, it doesn't seem to be a well made bike, or in other words, it looks to be cheap dept. store quality. Have a look at it, if the wheels are strait--spin the wheels and look at the gap between the wheel and the brakes to see if there's much wobble to the rim as it spins around--it it's not a taco and the freewheel is good, it might be useful to have a cheap set of extra wheels around. Also if you're new to working on bikes, this sort of bike is great to learn how to do things on like packing bearings or putting new cables on. You don't have to worry about messing up a good bike, and when you're done you can give it to someone who can't afford a bike.

BigPolishJimmy

Oh, just want to ad, be careful and see if the tires are still good. It's easy to buy new tires/tubes/rimstrips, etc. and spend well over $50 and still have a bike worth only $35.

amadorbiker

I know this thread is old but seeing "Roddy bike" I just had to respond with my $.02. Set it by your garbage can and forget it. I had a Roddy in high school and throughout college because by parents were too cheap to buy me a Varsity (and they could afford it).

Roddys came from Roddy Auto Parts stores. They were made in China out of possibly the world's worst components and heaviest scrap metal frames. Mine slipped gears on me at some of the most inopportune times (like standing pedal above the cross member-guys you get this one) and having a rear brake come completely out of the clamps while rolling downhill all while only about a year old.

Roddys are good bikes if you replace the gearing, brakes, wheels, handlebars, headset, seat....etc. and then put a good bike in its place.