henry_hops

I ran across this Vintage Motobecane Mirage Bicycle | eBay (i believe 74') motobecane mirage while looking through the ebays, and i was wondering if you guys though this would be a good deal? I could probably do most of the mechanical work on it (if it needs any), and the paint seems to be in fairly good condition. Ive been wanting a road bike for mostly commuting and occasionally working out. Any sort of feedback would be greatly appreciated!
-Henry

howsteepisit

Note thats is also 80 shipping so the price to you for a mid-seventies entry level bike is over $200, and then parts/labor to get it ready to ride would be 50-100, so looking at near 300. Forget it. you can do better, much better.

oddjob2

The subject bike FMV is $75 IMHO, and certainly not worth the shipping cost on top of FMV.

+1 on wrk101's recommendation on the Cannondale.

henry_hops

I really like that cannondale, well.. Everything except the size. Im 5'4 and expected to be about 5'8. My 17" specialized frame is a tad big for me so i don't thing a 23" would do me very much justice for riding! Thank you for the ideas, though! I'll just have to keep searching! I may have to resort to converting my Trek singletrack to road use

CliffordK

What is your budget?

Are you looking for "vintage" or "cheap" or something else? Personally I'd start with a little more modern 9 speed (or so) "brifters" bike. Maybe 8 speed.

There are quite a few "road" bikes that show in the Norfolk area. Some of the ads are a bit old, so who knows if they are still available.
Sometimes I have troubles judging frame sizes based on OS tubing sizes... so much easier with the smaller tubing in the "vintage" bikes.

Small Women's Trek, $400
Small Felt for $250
Ironhorse for $350
Ancient (relatively speaking) Giant, Lugged Carbon Fiber - Offer
2010 Schwinn Le Tour $250, looks like the head tube may be tall, but perhaps a sloping top tube and shorter seat tube, photos aren't too good
Small Trek 1000 for $400
Small ZR 4000 for $275

henry_hops

Im looking for a vintage bike, preferably one with a handmade frame. they just don't make them like that anymore. I am, as my mom says, an old soul. Old, classical(ish) man, trapped in a kids body. My dad just says that im a collector

oddjob2

You have to drive a little further, but a $50 Peugeot, with standard parts!

Early '80s Peugeot Bicycle

Maybe at $150
https://norfolk.craigslist.org/bik/4907082979.html

henry_hops

I really like that peugeot bike! Looks to be in fairly bad shape to me, but most of it could be dirt. Do you guys think that it could be do-able? Again i think my stubby-leg-syndrome will show through, with the seat tube length being stated as 20"

henry_hops

I may have to resort to converting it to dropped bars. When you say thumbies do you mean downtube shifters or trigger shifters? As it sits, it had suntour x press shifters and i believe a suntour x-1 drivetrain

CliffordK

Anything is doable depending on how much work you wish to put into it, and whether you require a bike that is immaculate.

You might also consider a Mixte.
motobecane vintage mixte 27inch wheel
Although this one appears to be a little on the heavy side.

OldsCOOL

That was my first bike. Forget it, look for a better bike for less money. Dont neglect CL, I found a Super Mirage for 60.00 and in great shape.

RoadGuy

The Peugeot has the makings of a nice vintage bike, but it's too big for you now. It looks more like a 21" frame, not a 20" (look at the space between the top tube and the down tube at the head tube (space is too large for the frame to be a 20"). The photo looks like a 21"/54cm. not a 20"/50cm. One of the problems with CL ads is that the Sellers very frequently list the frame size incorrectly. To find a good deal, you have to read every ad, and look at every photo, and go see the bikes. Don't pick a bike by the ad title.

At 5'4" you most likely will need a frame size change or two from what would be the ideal riding size for you right now. You probably need a somewhere between a 48cm-52cm frame size right now, depending on your actually leg length and torso length. If you have proportional short legs, then you might benefit from a newer generation bike that had a compact frame/sloping top tube.

oddjob2

You're not driving yet I guess, so mid teens. If you're going to grow 2-3" this year, go for it. You could clean it, lube it, take better photos and double or triple your investment. I've picked up much nastier looking bikes, that Pug is practically a cream puff.

henry_hops

So i could maybe flip a couple bikes to build up money for a much nicer one? A nicer one that fits too. And thats what i have found with my Very minimal research RoadGuy

henry_hops

Also, the SingleTrack that i currently own measures up at about a 46cm frame. I find that this bike fits me perfectly as is, probably a good baseline for frame size

oddjob2

Read the threads on frame fit, most take a longer seat tube on a road vs mtb, as the reach or top tube on a mtb is longer.

As far as refurbish and resell, read the posts at the top of this forum thread. More than a few on this forum feed their bike addiction with buying, refurbishing, and reselling. Makes for a self supporting hobby. Every person has their favorites too, whether it be custom builders, mass produced bike boom era bikes, French, Italian, Fujis, Miyatas, Lotus, Raleighs, Treks, Schwinns, and Austro-Daimlers.

Not every bike that you refurb and sell is a winner, but the faster you learn, the better your odds. Most aim for a $100 minimum profit threshold, otherwise it is not worth the 1/2 day or more to redo a bike.

Also, read mytenspeeds.com

henry_hops

Do you think with a good cleaning and complete re-greasing that i could make money on the peugeot?

RoadGuy

Beat decals and paint make the Peugeot a poor candidate for a top price flip, but it would make a nice rider for someone. By the time you get a pair of matching brake levers, replace the handlebar wrap, and the tires, tubes, cable housings and cables (as necessary), you could have over $100 in it real quick. I don't think the bike would be worth more than $150-$175 even during high season, so I don't see enough profit in it to risk a lot of money. Potential Profit? Not more than $75 if you're lucky.

Still for $50 (it's CL, go see it, and if it checks out, offer $25-$30, and settle for $35-$40) you could clean it, fix it, and ride it without risking much. I'd say that it would pay you to go see it, and check the fit to see if you can ride it (size wise).

CliffordK

Early '80s Peugeot Bicycle

You might make a little on it. Hard to go too wrong with a $50 bike.

HOWEVER,
Right brake lever is an MTB lever.
Left lever is "road".
The frame doesn't have head tube lugs... making it somewhat less desirable than older frames, but also more standard for parts.

Replacing tires can easily run you $50... if you are CHEAP.

The bike has some nice features, and some not so nice features. My guess is that it would top out at about $180 in a good market, and $120 in a not so hot market.

Anyway, consider at least $50 in parts and expenses and your profit margin is pretty low.

henry_hops

Yeah, i don't think i see any real point in jumping on this bike, its location is pretty far out of my way aswell, About a 3 hour drive no traffic (i travel up there quite a bit for hockey). This wouldve been perfect if i was in my hockey season, but it just ended sadly. I couldve just swung by and picked it up!

daf1009

One thing that no one has mentioned on the Peugeot...not flipping it...but..."stripping" it or parting it out. On a $50 bike like that, if you are willing to tear it down and work eBay for the parts and frame, you can make pretty decent money...with less work. On this bike, I would think that I could take the parts off, sell the frame on eBay for probably $40 (without shipping)...and then have the parts to make more on. Of course, it all depends on the condition of the parts as well...

Just another thought...

And...welcome!

CroMo Mike 

The round trip from Va. Beach to Fredericksburg and back is 320 miles and almost 6 hours. Factor that cost in at 50 cents per mile and the flip numbers change a bit.

Related topic: I personally wouldn't want to buy a flipper that someone had learned bike mechanics on.

henry_hops

This isnt a bike for me to learn bike mechanics on, im am already decent, i have a fairly good range of tools, and ive already spent a couple years learning and practicing on my own bikes. Ive also repaired/tuned a lot of my friends bikes. I don't let anyone else touch my bikes haha

Stucky

Haha! I've always been the same way! When I was young, while my peers were atching Star Wars, I was watching old black & white movies from the 30's and 40's (And never did see Star Wars- nor do I care to!)

That Motobecane is like something you could pick up in a thrift store for $20. Not worth the 80 bananas to ship it, even if it were free.