redgie

amateur here. never owned a road bike. is this a fair price? if I go to inspect it, what are dealbreakers I should look for?

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/bik/3122215862.html

thanks

zukahn1 

The price seems OK if it's your size and it is the type bike you want. At least it isn't overpriced like most of the SS conversions I see listed on CL.
+

Bianchigirll 

Hello Redgie Welcome to the forums. I am no Motobecane expert but, I believe that is a lowerend model from the late '70s. Personally I would not pay $50 for it since it does not have derailleurs.

Are you looking for a Road bike, or a "Fixie"? A road bike (albiet it a lowerend) would have been how this bike left the factory with 'drop' style handlebars and front and rear derailleurs with either a 5 or 6 speed freewheel. This bike has been turned to a rather useless singlespeed which is impractical for doing much other than trying to look cool and hip while running a few close by errands or cruising on the multi use path.


I'm moving so i have to sell my single speed Motobecane road bike. I have only used it for 2 months (bought it for 200 dollars) and have upgraded it a bit since I got it.
The bike is a perfect city bike, the gearing is very good for both flat ground and hills. The breaks works perfectly and the wheels are straight.
Call or email for more info
919-381 0731

jyl

Vintage road frames turned into single speeds with cheap, modern and sometimes hideous or non matching wheels and components are common here in Portland. $150 would be neither a good deal nor crazy overpriced. $100 would start to be a good deal. You're basically getting a frame and wheels. Figure the frame $30-40, the wheels $20 each, then the other bits at $5-10 each plus tires. That what it would cost to put that bike together from the bike co-op parts bin.

Not sure from the blurry pic but looks like a early 1980s Motobecane. The brakes, maybe the seatpost and bottom bracket, are possibly original. Nothing else is. The bike may have a Swiss thread bottom bracket, there are inexpensive (like $40 ish) new replacements, but running across a used one is unlikely.

Remember it is a single speed. A lot less versatile than the derailleur bike it used to be. What do you plan to use it for? I wouldnt actually call it a road bike.

It won't be fun on hills and you'll be walking on any semi-serious climbs. You won't be keeping up with group road bike rides. The straight handlebars will be tiring on long rides. Basically this is a cheap bike for tooling around a flat, small city and not worrying much about theft.

redgie

Thanks. I wouldn't mind trying out a fixie; this just looked like the best inexpensive frame in the area. How much would a conversion allowing coasting / multiple gears cost, roughly? I'm looking for something noticeably faster/lighter than my mountain bike; will this do it?

jettore

What size do you need? This is a better option.
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/bik/3198270281.html

zukahn1 

+1 Good points with the current gearing and stem/bars. Which aren't really right for this bike even as a single speed it would be better with the original drop bars and the gearing looks iffy like the owner didn't want to spend the money to get it right and just used whatever parts they had. It is really likely on good for shorter distances on flat ground.

oddjob2

I think its an Moto Mirage and it appears it has chromed steel wheels, which is consistant with a 1970's mirage. While some BFer's abhor steel wheels because the chrome rims are too slick when it rains, I think they really detract from a fixie/ss because of weight. Also, the chain is slack on that setup.

IMHO, that bike is about $100-$115 in your market area.

Cheers!

FastJake

I like SS/FG bikes but this is a hack job. Slack chain, toe strap on only one side, goofy huge QR skewers that should in no way be capable of holding the rear wheel in place... This looks like a parts bin build. I'd keep looking.

zukahn1 

I have nothing against bin builds I have built and sold a few. But you are right on closer inspection this one isn't a great job. Here are a few binjobs I have built and sold in the same price range.

FastJake

The difference is that you did a good job on yours! Those all look really good.

I should clarify that I don't mind parts bin builds either. Almost all my bikes get built this way or end up completely modified as because I can't seem to leave them alone. My point was that the bike in the OP looks poorly built.

randyjawa 

The SS of interest would definitely be faster than a mountain bicycle - some of the time. The SS would always be lighter, however, as others have mentioned, hills would not be much fun when up is the target.

The price of $150 is not outrageous if the bicycle was converted properly and proper conversion looks something like this... How To Build A Single Speed.

The results look like this and all of these bikes sold for approximately $150.00 USD...