p1ano

Hey guys, back with another query. I'm searching for a road bike for college and saw this World Sport on CL for $100. What do you guys think of it? What do you usually look for when buying bikes in general? Thanks!!

https://houston.craigslist.org/bik/3498815730.html

Bianchigirll 

oddjob2

First of all, as fit is critical, how tall are you? One of the other bikes you posted was pretty small.
Second, what's your budget?
Third, are you looking for ready to ride or can you do some basic maintenance, like changing cables, housing, tires/tubes?

The Schwinn World Sport is a low end bike. While $100 isn't outrageous, these bikes are often found at garage sales for $35. The components are low grade, the wheels are steel, and the frame is hi-tensile steel. They're heavy and have the ride quality of an old high mileage pickup truck.

If you're in flat hill-less Houston, do you really need ten speeds?

p1ano

I'm trying to find a bike for someone who's 5'10" and currently go to school in Northern California (I'm on vacation in Houston for a little while). My range is under $200 right now and ideally maintenance would be minimal and the bike would be ready to ride.

FastJake

Throughout the 80s the World Sport had aluminum rims, and this one is about '88 or '89. 4130 chromoly main tubes, decent crank with removeable chainrings, aluminum rims, forged dropouts with RD hanger, etc. This is a decent model, not a total POS like many of the Schwinns from ten years earlier.

But it will likely need a complete overhaul, and it's not a very good deal at $100. If you need something ready-to-ride you should pass on this one.

jjhabbs 

I would somewhat dissagree. 100 is pretty normal for a running schwinn.

oddjob2

If the rider is 5'10", the frame should probably be around 56cm, maybe even 58cm in size, about 23".

wrk101

+1 $100 is fine. The problem is it will need a complete rehab, best suited for someone with the time/tools/aptitude/pile of parts.

We have discussed thousands of times what to look for. Why not do a few searches on google of the forum, and you will get more information and opinions than you could possibly use. When buying to keep or ride, then size comes first. After size, my process starts with frame condition and material of construction, then component grade (NOT brand, just about every component manufacturer made bottom end stuff, middle grade stuff, and great stuff.), then price. I am pretty flexible on condition, other than the frame. Of course, if a bike needs work, I am looking for an appropriate discount. I have the tools/time/aptitude/pile of parts. If the frame is in mediocre condition, I then just look at the bike as a donor: something to supply some decent usable parts.

In general, at the $100 price point, you should not expect much in an active market. More like $200 and up is where the decent stuff starts popping up. Your budget is tight for a nice bike in ready to ride condition.

Anything decent in an active market like Houston at the $100 price point will only last ten to fifteen minutes. There are far too many very knowledgeable scoopers out there, ready to pounce on deals. Competing against them is really tough. And the lower the budget point, the more the competition. I find the best deals in my area are in the $400+/- price range, as the scoopers show no interest at that level on vintage bikes.

I still find bikes in the lower price ranges, but I scoop as well. And all of the bikes I have found for $100 or less all share one trait in common: they need work, often A LOT of work.