Oh God. Have I made a mistake?
04-12-12, 06:46 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 19
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Oh God. Have I made a mistake?
I just purchased this bike from a guy I was stationed with in Washington. I am in Texas now and he just said he had an old road bike he didn't need anymore. I paid 175 bucks for it sight unseen because that's what he was asking and I worked with him so I trusted him. I just spent $100 to box and ship the bike here to Texas and this is what I pull out. I'm into it $275. Did I just get screwed?! I was expecting a ridable complete bike and I get this monstrosity. Is it worth fixing up and riding? or should I just scrap it and call it a loss because of my stupidity?
04-12-12, 06:53 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Metro Detroit
Posts: 858
Bikes: Bertoni Corsa Mondiale, Bridgestone T-700, Miyata 700 GT, Trek 600, Trek 560 Professional Series, Chrome Panasonic DX 2000, Peugeot PH12, Peugeot PX10, Schwinn World Voyageur, Schwinn Circuit, and Schwinn Voyageur
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
There are people more knowledgeable than me, but I think you did well. I'm looking forward to what others have to say. When it is all said and done, I think you will be very happy with your purchase!
04-12-12, 07:01 PM
#3
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,627
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3870 Post(s)
Liked 2,563 Times
in
1,577 Posts
Looks like you just need to put the front wheel and seat post on. Nothing to freak out about, unless those parts weren't included. And then some bar tape and the pedals of your choice.
Next time, don't buy a bike sight unseen.
Next time, don't buy a bike sight unseen.
04-12-12, 07:09 PM
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 19
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It did come with the front wheel and seatpost/seat. Both tires are flat and wont hold air. The tires are cracked and made up of 3 different rubbers for some reason. Ugh Why didn't I just stick to what I know, motorcycles. Yeah I guess that was my bonehead move but I needed to start training for the Hotter than Hell Hundred and haven't gotten my tax return yet. I rode it last year with no training and that was a mistake. I finished but was dying the last 15 miles.
04-12-12, 07:11 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Beautiful Long Beach California
Posts: 3,589
Bikes: Eddy Merckx San Remo 76, Eddy Merckx San Remo 76 - Black Silver and Red, Eddy Merckx Sallanches 64 (2); Eddy Merckx MXL;
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 143 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
You could get this up and running in no time. Set of tires and tubes, pedals and a little tune up and you're good to go.
04-12-12, 07:15 PM
#6
Constant tinkerer
04-12-12, 07:18 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,141
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
well, first off, i love the colors. fit my personality perfectly. makes me happy.
second, love the bird on the bb.
i can't make out the brand/model. ?? (not that i know anything about values anyway)
i wouldn't be ashamed to take it on a bike ride date with a babe. they like colors, too.
it shows them you are creative, imaginative, don't take life too seriously, like to have
fun.
that being said, you might not want to park it somewhere you don't want your wife to
see it as she drives by. she'd KNOW it was yours! and THENNNNNNNNNNNN, lucy,
you'd have some s'plainin' to do, wantin' to know who you were being creative, im-
aginative, etc with.
clean it, love it, ride it.
second, love the bird on the bb.
i can't make out the brand/model. ?? (not that i know anything about values anyway)
i wouldn't be ashamed to take it on a bike ride date with a babe. they like colors, too.
it shows them you are creative, imaginative, don't take life too seriously, like to have
fun.
that being said, you might not want to park it somewhere you don't want your wife to
see it as she drives by. she'd KNOW it was yours! and THENNNNNNNNNNNN, lucy,
you'd have some s'plainin' to do, wantin' to know who you were being creative, im-
aginative, etc with.
clean it, love it, ride it.
04-12-12, 07:19 PM
#8
Shimano Certified
The tires I almost assume need to replaced anymore. You don't know the age of the rubber and they hold high pressure(110 psi usually). I have had "decent" used tires blow out when pressurized on a hot day, which was miles from the car. Comparatively new tires are cheap(not free) and you know them. Same with grip tape. It can collect bacteria and other crud, so it's just as well to get new. The frame looks sound and the wheels look decent from the pix. I'd say for a decent bike that wasn't so bad of a deal 
04-12-12, 07:22 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Minnesota- the frozen tundra
Posts: 1,946
Bikes: 1977 Raleigh Super Grand Prix, 1976 Gitane Tour de France
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I don't know the brand but I think you did well at $275.00 all in at this point, tires can be had fairly cheaply and that looks like a high quality frame with very good components.
04-12-12, 07:23 PM
#10
Decrepit Member
It's a Zunow. For $175 you stole it! Seriously.
04-12-12, 07:23 PM
#11
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 19
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'll snap some more pics to better identify and judge whether I should sink any real money into it.
Last edited by Johnsoee; 04-12-12 at 07:23 PM. Reason: can't type worth a damn
04-12-12, 07:25 PM
#12
Full Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 253
Bikes: 1988 Specialized Rockhopper Comp, 2012 Goodrich Randoneuse, 2016 A-Train, 2022 Wilde Dream Engine, 2022 Salsa Mukluk
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 61 Post(s)
Liked 88 Times
in
36 Posts
Definitely don't scrap it. I don't know much about Zunow, but I have heard they are very very nice bikes.
04-12-12, 07:40 PM
#14
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 19
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hmm Both of those are different from mine. Mine has 2 complete tubes for the seat stays. and my front fork looks like the one in the first pic but all chrome.
04-12-12, 07:42 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 57
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
+1 you got a great bike and a great price. It also looks like it's in great condition - taking really close pics of a few spots of normal grime doesn't change that. It does need a few wear-and-tear items but that is very common on a vintage bike.
04-12-12, 07:59 PM
#17
weapons-grade bolognium
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Across the street from Chicago
Posts: 6,344
Bikes: Battaglin Cromor, Ciocc Designer 84, Schwinn Superior 1981
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 984 Post(s)
Liked 2,374 Times
in
890 Posts
Not bad for a shot in the dark. You've got nothing to worry about.
04-12-12, 08:14 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 307
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Like others have said, you have a Zunow. One of the most desirable Japanese frames. Maybe as desirable as a 3Rensho. Opinions may vary. The value of your bike is on the frame. Not the parts. It looks like you a mish mash of parts but I will more than happy to have just the frame and fork
04-12-12, 09:16 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,305
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3464 Post(s)
Liked 2,827 Times
in
1,995 Posts
It is not nice to take advantage of friends.
04-12-12, 09:27 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Fairplay Co
Posts: 9,512
Bikes: Current 79 Nishiki Custum Sport, Jeunet 620, notable previous bikes P.K. Ripper loop tail, Kawahara Laser Lite, Paramount Track full chrome, Raliegh Internatioanl, Motobecan Super Mirage. 59 Crown royak 3 speed
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 789 Post(s)
Liked 1,739 Times
in
630 Posts
I don't know much about the brand ZUNOW but that is a very nice frame and fork. Obviously very nicely lugged top end chro-mo with great detailing and campy dropouts. Complete with with some bretty OK components. You did not do bad on this bike at all it should fix up into a great road bike to ride worth well more than you paid for it.
04-12-12, 09:37 PM
#21
You gonna eat that?
Sorry you got tricked into such a substandard bike. Since I like ya, I tell ya what.... just you can cut your losses, I'll give you $30 for it.
Seriously, that is a sweet score.
Seriously, that is a sweet score.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
04-12-12, 09:52 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 307
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Is anybody else cringing when looking at the Zunow resting on the tile floor by the point of the seat lug?
04-13-12, 05:16 AM
#23
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 19
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
After reading that I promptly moved it to carpet and turned it over. I think the first thing I need to do is take all the components off and give it a thorough cleaning. There are 2 rust spots that I need to address quickly. Looks like I get to learn how to build bicycles now. Atleast thats one good thing coming out of my mistake of buying it sight unseen.
04-13-12, 07:49 AM
#24
Decrepit Member
You're hooked already. 
I'd look at it as a gift, not a mistake.
I'd look at it as a gift, not a mistake.
