trj

Hi,
Forgive me, but I am a complete noob in terms of biking.
I just bought a Motobeacane nomad for $50, not knowing its worth. And I have been reading this forum all night. (trust me on that). The wheel needs some truing and may be tube as well and a good tune up. Its going to cost me more money, so I am thinking of not wasting any money on this motobeacane and sell it for whatever I bought it for in craigslist.

I found another post. Its a univega, looks in pretty good condition. Its around from mid 80s the owner believes.
He says it is aluminium frame and very light. He says its a 12 speed.

I am yet to go and see the bike, I might go today evening.

I am attaching the pictures he has in his ad, so I can get some inputs before I travel all the way there.
He is asking $110 for it.

Sorry for not gathering more information, but when I called the seller, he was at work and he didnt have the model number on the top of his head.

I really want to buy a road bike but not really going to spend a lot.
I have frequeted thrift stores, good wills. I could find nothing here, even the ones with rust are priced $35.

Please help me identify and decide whether to buy this one or wait or talk to him to take the price down.


Thanks.

Bianchigirll 

I believe that is a late '80s maybe '89(?) Nuovo Tech 450 and I believe there is another thread here about that bike or one just like it.

IIRC they were a Aluminum/Steel bonded like the the raleigh techniums.

if one was near me in my size, in good shape, I might pick it up for that. if I didn't like it it would be easy to get my money back


well I guess it is not the same bike but still may be the same model. can you get better pics?

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ad-Racing-bike

wrk101

assuming it is your size and in good shape, $110 is a deal. Clean, ready to ride, good road bikes from that era start at about $200 (market value). At the $100 price point, there really is not much that is decent out there.

Steel Univegas get the most interest. But again at that price, looks pretty decent.

OutgunRacing

Given that it is a 12-speed instead of a 14-speed it may not be newer than 86. My first good bike was a fuscia red Univega Gran Premio (or something like that). They were a good brand, one of only three Japanese brands left at the time. I went to work for the bike shop that sold it to me. If it has Suntour brand parts, I would only buy it if it had Suntour Cyclone, Sprint or Superbe Pro on it. If Shimano, look for 105, 600 or DuraAce.

trj

Thanks guys for your inputs. Greatly appreciated.
I will go and check it out after work today. And will update about whether I will buy or not.

Sorry, cant get the better pictures, i downloaded those pictures from the sellers online post.

trj

Someone else picked it up before I went there. He called and said his wife sold it to someone else. But he still has a diamond back without model number he is selling. Its a 21 speed and around 8 years old he said. Is it worth going to see it?
It has shimano rx100 he said. Here is the picture of his post of diamond back.

Sorry to bother you guys so much, but I just want to make sure that I get the right one for right price. he is selling this one for the same price as well.

Thank yo so much for all your help

wrk101

Diamondback looks like a decent deal as well. Realize at the $100 price point, anything decent that is not an XMart bike, in your size, in ready to ride shape, is a DEAL. Looks like an early 1990s bike, with indexed DT shifters. Well worth $100 if it is clean and ready (or close to ready) to ride. Better get over there and grab it.

Might be about a 1993 Expert TG. True Temper cromoly frame, 700c wheels, good solid bike if that is what it is. Those bars need to go (easy fix).

trj

Got the diamondback. Its one size bigger, I am 5'9" and the frame is may be 60cm . But it was so light and comfortable, I couldnt resist. I will only know once I ride it long enough to get the feel.

now I need to decode the serials.

I am just going to continue in this thread rather than creating a new thread.

The numbers on BB are BI0262 U11209706. Can anyone help me know the model of this bike?? I have listed the parts it has below.

Yah, the handle bars will go pretty soon(if they bother me too much), they are SOMA tange aluminium.

Its got :

Crank: shimano FC-A550-T
Shifter: shimano SL-A550
De-railers : shimano rx100
Brakes: Exage 500EX
Front rim: Exage HB-RM550(I am sure its not the original wheels that came with the bike, but who knows..)
Back rim: Exage FH-HG50
Pedals : shimano PD-A550

both wheels are shimano quick release ones, which kinda bothers me because I plan to ride it to school and its not really safe to park the bike with quick release wheels.

The bike is in really good condition, ready to ride.

Thanks everyone for all your help.

wrk101

Get the allen key quick release levers. You can find them on line or at your favorite bike shops.

Here's an example from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/BBB-WheelFixed...ies/B000OYG14Q

Or if you want some bling, try these in several colors: https://www.treefortbikes.com/product...n-Skewers.html


Don't waste your time trying to decipher serial numbers. Thay are usually just about worthless. Step 1: Date the approx year of the bike by checking date codes on components. If the bike is 1993 or newer, it will be listed on bikepedia (find the year first, before going to bikepedia). If older than that, start googling Diamondback and find some brochures. I doubt if it is older than about 1990.

I think my guess is close.


Also tell us what the frame is made out of, that will be a lot more meaningful. Model may well be on the top tube. Check every decal.

trj

Thanks for the links. I will surely have a go on those, but not the fancy colorful ones.

I have checked everywhere on the frame, looks like some decals were peeled off, so may be the model number was there.
The shimano cranks have PG stamped on them.
So I believe its 91 July according to the shimano manufacture date website.
And as you said with rx100 and exage components, its getting closer to Expert TG but 91 not 93.

The frame is steel. I tested with magnet .

The only decal I found that would probably hint anything is on the forks. It says "SUPER radius CRMO blades"

I will post the pictures once I get hold of my camera and the weather is nice.



The only thing that I am nervous about is the fitting because I have never rode an oversized bike. But may be its just me thinking about it.