deeks

hello, can anyone tell me if this seems to be a good deal? and more about the bike itself the frame would fit me and the price seems low for the area i am in where cheaply built fixed gears sell extremely high here.
https://fresno.craigslist.org/bik/2585789573.html

CACycling

Definately a low end bike (suicide brake levers and stem shifters are the giveaways) but it looks pretty clean and could be a nice riding bike. Can't tell from the pics if the rims are chromed steel or not. If they are, I'd stay away. Chromed rims, aside from being heavy, are not good for braking especially when wet. You want alloy rims.

randyjawa 

Vintage Bicycle Value is a difficult thing to determine since the final value often times is dictated by things that have nothing to do with the bicycle itself. In this case, $135 for a Raleigh Grand Prix is not unreasonable, as far as I am concerned. I would, however, try to get it for around $75.

The Raleigh Grand Prix is close to entry level quality but will still offer a nice recreational ride quality. The bike will weigh close to 28 pounds and be fitted with 27" steel wheels, rather than lighter alloy units.

Check the bicycle over very carefully. Old road bicycles are fragile and can often experience frame or fork set trauma during their life spans. Trauma? Bent!

Hope this is a help.

deeks

thanks guys its a definite help! i was actually curious about converting it to a fixed gear or something since i have my miyata 1000 as my road bike for commuting.

thinktubes 

I owned one of those - the worstest POS I ever put my arse on.

lostarchitect 

Don't hold back, tell us what you really think!

deeks

wait owned the miyata?! :O haha or the Raleigh

brian3069

I have a Nishiki Tri-A frame, same size as the Raleigh. If you're interested, I'm in Fresno

deeks

tell me more! haa i can't PM you.

wrk101

If you want to convert it to FG/SS, I would just buy one of the myriad of new ones on the internet instead. It will cost you a lot more to convert this bike, it has oddball bb threading, was a bottom end bike, back when bottom end was really low end. Why not buy a new one, get the size you want, the color you want, the style and handlebar type you want, with standardized parts sizing and 700c wheels, etc.? Pass.

deeks

I was thinking this as well. just out of all the choices what would be some good frames to look at?

wrk101

I'd take that question over to the SS/FG forum. Nashbar has their line on sale pretty cheap right now, there's always bikesdirect, and many others.

Price out the parts to convert, and you will find these cheap new bikes will cost you quite a bit less. Myself, I don't care for bikesdirect, so I would be seriously looking at the Nashbar choices, probably one of their Nekkid bikes.