vintage87

https://corvallis.craigslist.org/bik/1436663774.html

Any info appreciated guys. Awaiting reply from seller.

wrk101

Looks decent, but not enough information to really know much about it.

vintage87

OK guys the seller e-mailed me back finally saying there is a lot of interest and I basically said I would take it for 150. It is a late 80's Nishiki Modulus with Performance Equipe. I need index DT shifters....does this have them? What re the components, etc. He said it is Tange Double Butted Chromo...NOt sure of condition but it looks pretty good.

Would this be a good flipper? Please let me know asap!

Thanks all.

miamijim

$150's an OK price. It should have indexed shiifting.

wrk101

Funny the ad says it has an aluminum frame. Seller is clueless. Buyer beware. Not a good flipper aroung here. You will only be able to tell if it has indexed shifters in person. Not enough information for me to tell. And given lack of awareness by seller (which is typical, so I do not mean to dish him), I would not believe the description anyway. Even if a particular model came with indexed shifting originally, it still might not have it now. Many of us "borrow" good components from one bike, and put them on another.

If the guy has truly had a lot of interest in this bike, it would have been sold by now. The lower end flippable deals around here last less than a day, sometimes less than a couple of hours (like the two I bought off C/L to flip last week).

Sometimes I have been positively surprised when inspecting a bike versus the sellers description, most of the time, I am not.

Bike is probably worth $150, but not as a flip. Bike would sell around here for about $200 in top notch ready to go condition. Average parts cost for a rehab are from about $25 to $50. Then there is the value of your time. The basic rule of thumb is the bike when complete needs to be worth at least $100 more than the parts and acquisition cost. This covers your time, and mistakes (at least I make mistakes).

On flips, I look for bikes where I can add value. That means I am looking for good bikes that have been neglected for a while (sometimes, a long while) and are priced accordingly (cheap). As long as the frame is good, you can bring those types of bikes back to life, and pass them on to the next user. If a bike is clean, pristine, and ready to go, chances are it is either priced higher than what would support a flip, or is gone so fast that it is no longer available. Neglected bikes draw less of a crowd, but they still go pretty fast if priced low.

roccobike

Keeper? Maybe, Flip? No, no way. A Modulus is a pretty decent Nishiki. I'm fairly certain that bike had index downtube shifters when it was new. But that's way too high a price for a flip bike.

EjustE

+1

Assume that you need at least about $60 in tires and tubes, $15 in cables, and a 3-4 hours of work plus shop supplies (tools, lube, etc). This is assuming the wheels are true, the bike is not abused, all components are working well, there is not stuck seatposts and stem, the tape and the saddle are in decent condition... and the cost goes to $225 + labor. Minimum. If it is a keeper, it's one thing. But at that price, flipping does not make much $ sense

cb400bill

Most flippers don't spend near that much on tires, tubes or cables.

EjustE

Most bikes need new tires, tubes and cables to be ridden quasi-safely. There are flippers and there are flippers. And you cannot get any tires less than $15 a piece and tubes less than $3 a piece. 4 cables are about $15 (if you go wholesale and you build your own housings). Anything less is practically irresponsible... but I know that there is a wild world out there...

wrk101

+1 Your parts pricing is high if you are buying in quantity off the web. But if you just go to your favorite shop, or buy them piecemeal off the web, you are right on the mark. And any surprises drive the cost up (like a toasted bb, or damage you didn't spot).

I buy tubes at $2 each, stainless cables at $1.60 each (galvanized for 71 cents each), 50 feet of lined housing for $6, and new tires from $5 to $10 each. But I buy in quantity, and load up whenever there is a good sale (like the recent Pricepoint free shipping deal).

cb400bill

Bingo!

EjustE

but here is a big question:

would YOU ride on those tires?

(as I said, there are flippers and there are flippers. I know that one can put junk out there to 'complete' a bike; but there is more than than, including the safety of the people who may ride it and your reputation)

something's gotta give and, frankly, if cannot feel safe (or I am worried about) riding a particular bike, I would not give it away or even more sell it.

But that's me...

prathmann

Sure, just rode today on tires that I bought recently for $3.70 (rear) and $5 (front). Went down a nice 15% grade at 40+ mph too. They're almost new so I expect they'll still be on the bike for my next camping tour down the coast in the spring.

And tubes are almost free. People leave them lying by the side of the road when all that's needed is a $0.20 patch to make them as good as new.

vintage87

I appreciate the responses but I think I will pass. I think he sold it anyhow. Oh well, I will keep truckin!

miamijim

This really isnt the sub-forum but......

Tires: I regularly buy name brand tires for ~$10 ea.
Inner tubes: Aside from saying 'a tube is a tube'....well, a tube is a tube. $3
Cables: $2-2.35 each w/ housing is reasonable. The only to do it cheaper is to use un-lined housing which I do NOT reccomend.

I just paid (with shipping) $14 for 100 feet of lined housing. Thats 14 cents per foot.
I just paid (with shipping) $35 for 100 of Shimano index housing. Thats 35 cents a foot.