Vintage Bottecchia - Gem or Ham? (Pics included)
12-19-07, 07:59 PM
#26
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I don't think that bike with those components even in good condition would garner $400. In the condition of this bike I would not even go $100. You'd basically need to replace most of the major parts. I'd pass - you'd be into $600 or more in parts. You can buy a much nice near-mint vintage bike on eBay for $600-$800. recently some nice Merckx with SL or SLX tubing have gone for less than $700.
Big Boss Man is right - in clean, ridable condition, I could probably sell that bike for around $300 shipped. But not this bike in this poor condition.
I'd pass on this bike.
Big Boss Man is right - in clean, ridable condition, I could probably sell that bike for around $300 shipped. But not this bike in this poor condition.
I'd pass on this bike.
12-19-07, 08:12 PM
#27
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The real question is whether you are willing to put in the time into fixing and cleaning up this bike. Do you have the tools to do it?
If this was my bike, I would start by totally disassembling it and cleaning everything. I don't necessarily mean that I would take it all apart at once, but everything needs to come off at some point. You are probably looking at 40 hours of labor, including the time spent reading the Park Tools website.
You will also need to grease the hubs, bottom bracket and headset. That is probably 10 hours. The main costs will be buying the tools to do this.
You will need to replace the cables and housing. This is probably about $30 and 1 hour. The tires and tubes will need to be replaced. $60 and up. The chain will surely need to be replaced. $20
Then there are a bunch of small things like bar tape, brake pads etc. $50
If you don't have any of the specialized tools to work on the hubs, bottom bracket and headset, you will probably need to budget another $100 or find a bike co-op, that will let you use theirs. This will add to the time it will take to get the project done however.
I am fairly confident the wheels will need to be trued. The freewheel and chainrings may need to be replaced.
Don't forget, there is always something unexpected that needs to be fixed.
I like doing this kind of work after the kids go to bed, when it is quiet and there are no distractions.
Are you willing to put in that kind of time and money for this project? I am sure you will be rewarded with a good unique bike.
If it was the right size, I think $100 would be the most I would pay. That is taking into account that I already have all the tools and a lot of the parts.
If this was my bike, I would start by totally disassembling it and cleaning everything. I don't necessarily mean that I would take it all apart at once, but everything needs to come off at some point. You are probably looking at 40 hours of labor, including the time spent reading the Park Tools website.
You will also need to grease the hubs, bottom bracket and headset. That is probably 10 hours. The main costs will be buying the tools to do this.
You will need to replace the cables and housing. This is probably about $30 and 1 hour. The tires and tubes will need to be replaced. $60 and up. The chain will surely need to be replaced. $20
Then there are a bunch of small things like bar tape, brake pads etc. $50
If you don't have any of the specialized tools to work on the hubs, bottom bracket and headset, you will probably need to budget another $100 or find a bike co-op, that will let you use theirs. This will add to the time it will take to get the project done however.
I am fairly confident the wheels will need to be trued. The freewheel and chainrings may need to be replaced.
Don't forget, there is always something unexpected that needs to be fixed.
I like doing this kind of work after the kids go to bed, when it is quiet and there are no distractions.
Are you willing to put in that kind of time and money for this project? I am sure you will be rewarded with a good unique bike.
If it was the right size, I think $100 would be the most I would pay. That is taking into account that I already have all the tools and a lot of the parts.
12-19-07, 08:30 PM
#28
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Man, I NEVER get tired of hearing that. 
That's my perspective, as well. I know I could clean it up and make it shine, but having done one or two restorations/builds in my time I know full well what OFG so succinctly points out:
"There's a lot of hand numbing work to be done on that bike before it's worth anything".
Translation - every single piece of this bike needs considerable attention or replacement. Every single piece. Inside and out. And, you'd be very wise to make sure you can move the seatpost and stem before you talk seriously about any amount of money. Just sayin'.
That is a great project bike, assuming you have the tools, time, and knowledge. But as it sits, it is a clunker and has little value. You WILL need to strip this one down to the bare frame and clean/build it back up piece by piece. Wiping up around the edges ain't gonna do it.
Originally Posted by CardiacKid
The real question is whether you are willing to put in the time into fixing and cleaning up this bike. Do you have the tools to do it?......If it was the right size, I think $100 would be the most I would pay. That is taking into account that I already have all the tools and a lot of the parts.
"There's a lot of hand numbing work to be done on that bike before it's worth anything".
Translation - every single piece of this bike needs considerable attention or replacement. Every single piece. Inside and out. And, you'd be very wise to make sure you can move the seatpost and stem before you talk seriously about any amount of money. Just sayin'.
That is a great project bike, assuming you have the tools, time, and knowledge. But as it sits, it is a clunker and has little value. You WILL need to strip this one down to the bare frame and clean/build it back up piece by piece. Wiping up around the edges ain't gonna do it.
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Last edited by bigbossman; 12-19-07 at 08:35 PM.
12-19-07, 09:33 PM
#29
il grande ciclismo
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Thanks for all who've posted here and shared their knowledge and experiences. I live in Singapore, not USA, and vintage Italian frames are quite rare here, so I am really excited at the prospect of owning such a bike.
First of all the bike is in a very bad condition, although cosmetically unappealing, but I took it for a quick spin and I loved the ride feel of it.
I certainly am not going to be paying much for this bike, probably I'll offer around SGD$200 for it, turn it into my commuter bike. That will have to depend on whether my colleague is actually going to sell the bike in the first place.
First of all the bike is in a very bad condition, although cosmetically unappealing, but I took it for a quick spin and I loved the ride feel of it.
I certainly am not going to be paying much for this bike, probably I'll offer around SGD$200 for it, turn it into my commuter bike. That will have to depend on whether my colleague is actually going to sell the bike in the first place.
12-20-07, 09:20 AM
#30
Unique Vintage Steel
Personally, I like the process of cleaning and restoring from top to bottom, but even this one looks like a major job. $150 tops is where I'd say, start with a bid of $100 and wheel and deal from there. If you spend a lot of cold winter hours cleaning it up and end up with a bike less than what you're really looking for you should be able to sell it off for at the very least more than you put down at the beginning and have the experience of doing the work to help the next time around.
12-20-07, 04:52 PM
#31
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QUOTE: "Also, would appreciate much if you guys could roughly estimate how much this bike could fetch. Thanks for looking."
Currently, I'd say it will easily fetch one water bottle. Add a second cage, and you can fetch two bottles. Beyond that, you'll need to spring for some racks and bags.
Currently, I'd say it will easily fetch one water bottle. Add a second cage, and you can fetch two bottles. Beyond that, you'll need to spring for some racks and bags.
03-25-09, 09:07 PM
#32
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I have a Bottecchia similar to this one that I am trying to restore, does anyone know off hand what the name of the wheel set is? all I could find was Campagnolo Record on the hub and an HR 22 on the rim (black). anything helps, thanks.
03-25-09, 09:12 PM
#33
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^
A Record hub with a HR-22 rim. I've seen HR-22 marked on a Benotto badged rim before, don't know who made it for Benotto.
-Kurt
A Record hub with a HR-22 rim. I've seen HR-22 marked on a Benotto badged rim before, don't know who made it for Benotto.
-Kurt
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03-25-09, 11:05 PM
#34
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Look at all the rust on the bolts and chrome. $100 max. The amount of time and money to sink into this bike, you might as well wait for good one on ebay or CL.
03-25-09, 11:34 PM
#35
Steel is real, baby!
QUOTE: "Also, would appreciate much if you guys could roughly estimate how much this bike could fetch. Thanks for looking."
Currently, I'd say it will easily fetch one water bottle. Add a second cage, and you can fetch two bottles. Beyond that, you'll need to spring for some racks and bags.
Currently, I'd say it will easily fetch one water bottle. Add a second cage, and you can fetch two bottles. Beyond that, you'll need to spring for some racks and bags.
$150 as it sits. Beyond all the grime and rust, the condition of the frame & fork is unknown. Might need a bit of tweaking....
03-25-09, 11:59 PM
#36
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Wow - another old thread rises zombie-like from the grave.
I wonder if the OP ever bought the bike, and if so - what kind of grief it gave him when he overhauled it?
I wonder if the OP ever bought the bike, and if so - what kind of grief it gave him when he overhauled it?
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03-26-09, 12:14 AM
#37
Steel is real, baby!
Gracious! I never look at dates...
03-26-09, 12:42 AM
#39
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Yeah it has some nice parts, well had, the hardware is ALL rusted, not a single component with steel hardware that is important to it is not destroyed. the calipers, the FD, the stem.... you might consider a brush plating kit for this one but I don't know if it is worth the effort.
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03-26-09, 05:59 AM
#41
Disraeli Gears
Wet dishrag mode [on]:
Why wasn't this thread redirected into "vintage value inquiries"?
Why wasn't this thread redirected into "vintage value inquiries"?
Last edited by Charles Wahl; 03-26-09 at 06:05 AM.
03-26-09, 06:09 AM
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03-26-09, 07:36 AM
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03-26-09, 08:35 AM
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03-26-09, 09:00 AM
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The other sub-forum didn't exist previously. The thread was resurrected, but the new conversations seemed to not be headed towards, "how much is this worth?" or "how much would you pay?". If it did, it would have been moved already. If it does, it will get moved.
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03-26-09, 09:04 AM
#46
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I wonder how much it's worth?
03-26-09, 09:08 AM
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I'll give $3.50 for it.
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03-26-09, 09:09 AM
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Here's the reasoning.
The other sub-forum didn't exist previously. The thread was resurrected, but the new conversations seemed to not be headed towards, "how much is this worth?" or "how much would you pay?". If it did, it would have been moved already. If it does, it will get moved.
The other sub-forum didn't exist previously. The thread was resurrected, but the new conversations seemed to not be headed towards, "how much is this worth?" or "how much would you pay?". If it did, it would have been moved already. If it does, it will get moved.
03-26-09, 09:12 AM
#50
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I take it back: I'm just as funny now as I was in '07.