dweenk

I went to the local university police auction today. They always have lots of bikes and BSOs in varying stages of disrepair and decomposition. On occasion you may find a really decent bike just needing TLC. I met a mechanic from my LBS there along with his mother and her dog. The mechanic bought a Panasonic Deluxe Sports (sans wheels) for a dollar early on. I watched a very nice Jamis road bike go for $60.

Then a 1993 Paramount PDG R-50 came up for sale. It had issues: 1) Fork and bars were separated from the bike 2) Tires were flat 3) Fork had been replaced by a Bone Deth suspension fork 4) Both wheels had been replaced - the front with a cheapo, the rear with a decent Mavic 5) The threadless headset is missing bearings, top cap, and bolt.

I bid $1.00. My LBS friend bid $2.00, and then he realized that he was bidding against me. I got it for $3.00. It is too small for me, but when I get it finished, I'll let my wife and son give it a spin. If they don't want it I'll sell it. So here are the "as bought" photos after putting the fork and frame back together.

attylah

I love Miyatas, and needed a bike for the trainer. This '87 Alumitech 6500 was on CL for $150 firm, I came home with it for $60. It has been upgraded to an 8 speed 105 group at some point. Love the old Scott DH aerobars, just gonna lay into them and spin spin spin.

noglider 

@toavii, you're right, that Lambert is basically the same as my Viscount. Lambert was the real name. At some point in the 70's Yamaha started importing them to the US and labeled the Viscount. It's a funny name for the American market, since Americans don't know how to pronounce that word.

I like the bike. You're right that the components are middling at best, but they're interesting. Ditch anything you don't want, because you're not missing any quality. I find that the brakes are entirely adequate and leaving nothing to want. The chainring is super cool with its round cutouts.

The so-called Death Fork was made of aluminum, back when the material wasn't understood well enough in this application. Your fork is a replacement made of steel, so you or the next owner won't die from a fork failure. For that matter, I don't know of any reports of deaths from those forks failing.

I like the Lambert/Viscount because it's very light for a bike of that price range. The ride is unremarkable but also likable. I've been riding mine a lot on my commutes between home and work.

Belg-Ital Steel 

Not bike related, but I found this half buried in the brush on backside of our property today (the PO did some dumping many years ago). First I thought it was an old fender, then saw that it was a hood. Flipped it over with the tractor and noticed this really neat hood ornament on the hood. Seems that it is from a 1950/51 Nash and is called a flying goddess. Just started cleaning it and it appears that it should clean-up at least half way ok, despite sitting out/partially buried for the last 50+ years.

rekmeyata

WOW, that is super cool, what a fantastic find and to find it in the condition like it is, dang!

Crossthreaded88

In the back of a truck headed for the metal masher. I chased the guy down and asked if I could buy the bike in the back. I don't know what it is but it's fun to ride after some TLC and new blue tires!

GordoTrek

does it rock you? i would find a sweet scorpion headbadge for that..

Narhay

Does that paramount have a bent chain stay?

upthywazzoo 

Yes it does, by design. Schwinn apparently thought that bending the chainstay like that would reduce incidents of the chain doing damage to it.

dweenk

No, the stay is not bent. If you take a look at the 1993 catalog on Trfindley's site it clearly shows the stay is as it was when new. I'm now scrounging parts for the Cane Creek Aheadset (manufactured by FPD). I'm going to use the Bone Deth fork for now, and scrounge or buy a new one when I can catch a sale. The frame is nice - Tange Prestige.

exmechanic89

That's areally sweet bike. I'd definitely ride it.

smontanaro 

What size is the headset?

dweenk

The headset is 1 1/8".

sloar 

Saved this Sears 3 speed from being scrapped. Whats the odds of finding a free match to the freebee my wife rides.

holden west

I saw this 1984 Apollo Club Sport at a yard sale this morning and couldn't pass it up, even though it's much too small for me. I bought it for $30. It shifts poorly and the pedals are almost seized but I think I can fix it up so someone else can enjoy it.

The condition otherwise is excellent. It looks like it was cared for and put away some time ago although it looks like it has a lot of miles on it.

Components: Shimano 600
Rims: Araya
Tubing: Tange 900 double butted
Tires: Specialized Touring II
Seatpost: SR Laprade
Colour: Brown sparkle

Sorry for the faded pink Benotto tape. I think it's horrible, too. I'm thinking a natural tan for the wrap, any suggestions appreciated.

69tr6r

I have a 2008, which was the ugly grey version. I just repainted it over the winter.

Sixty Fiver

Looks great.

censae

hi guys i found this old sears bike last year in august at a garage sale for $5. the chrome was really rusty looking and everything was seized up. i tore it apart cleaned everything put it back together and my fiance has been riding it since. it's a fun bike and rides great and looks great. try not to pay attention to the front tire to much i am in the middle of trying to make a white wall and it's not finished. i know i didn't find this today but i just joined this forum a couple days ago and seen this thread today and wanted to show it off. if anyone could help me with finding the year and model of this bike it would be greatly appreciated. i know it's not worth much because it's a sears but as i already said it looks and rides great. i will try to find some pictures of it before i gave it an overhaul. sorry for the poor quality of pictures i had to compress them to upload them.

curbtender

Some of Sears bikes were made by Steyr. Start a new thread on it and see what comes up.

Shp4man

I just bought an old Schwinn World Sport at a swap meet last weekend- super low mileage, original, flaking sidewall 1989 Schwinn tires, not worn (low miles!) and a bunch of cool accessories for $44 bucks.
So I'm not the only crazy one!

dweenk

That is a Steyr made for Sears. The head badge should state that it was made in Austria. The shell of the rear hub should also tell the story. You did a great job cleaning it up.

SJX426 

Well IDK. This may have been saved from the dump but I am wondering why! Tires still hold air and they are original
[IMG]P1020849, on Flickr[/IMG]

TimmyT 

Merriam-Webster Pronunciation

noglider 

Surprised?

For those who can't hear it or won't click on the link, it's "VYE count." It does not rhyme with "discount."

curbtender

May be why I had so much trouble 'splainen my problem with the kane-crick headset...