Balance

Why do people restore old bikes for the money? I really don't understand this. First of all, why would someone want to spend some rediculous amount for an older bike, that _usually_ won't perform as well as a newer one. Second of all, why someone would want to spend all the time lovingly restoring a bike just with the mind to sell it. The bikes I've restored for myself were because I wanted a mid 50s english three speed for hot stuff cruising. I restored the raliegh twenty because it had a lot of spunk, would fit with the rest of my bikes in the apartment (folds) and handles well for winter riding and bike polo. I've restored a lot of other bikes for friends who needed bikes. Old bikes are free! Garbage day hunts, the dump, cheap from garage sales, handmedowns, etc. I suspect it's all these people who want nostalgia for something they never even lived. They want a bike from their childhood/youth, but they never worked on bikes when they were younger, so they don't know how to do it now. It seems to be make believe and about image and a might bit of self delusion. Why not just find a garbaged bike and fix it! What am I missing here?

Gurgus

Preaching to the choir, here.

TechJD

How does restoring all those bikes make you feel ?
Pretty Good, I'd say, a feeling of self-accomplishment
Well others get the same feelin and then to find out what you restored isnt a pile of garbage
makes the feeling even better cause it has value

LittleGinseng 

Balance, your profile says you're in love with bikes. Well, that answers your question.

Restoring a bicycle to its former glory is a labor of love. And those who do it well are appreciated by others. If I were to see an old Schwinn in someone's trash heap, and I had the means and the know how to get it back on the road, an affinity for cycling would be all the motivation I would need.

Whether the restoration is for profit or personal satisfaction, who really cares?!

BTW, nice troll.

phillybill

It's a hobby like anything else. There is no great profit in it, just something that can be fun to do. Making something old and forgotten useful again. Half the fun is the journey getting there.

dafydd

unless you restore bikes professionally, you're never doing it for the money, unless you like losing it. even professionals rarely do well on such endeavors. it's all for love.

H23

Well, bicycle technology really has not changed in a significant way in 30-40 years-- especially when it comes to frames as they are ridden by mortal humans.

I mean, a frame that was good in 1975 is still good by today's standards.

As for cost--- in most cases a nice old bike is cheaper than a new mid-range bike. Add some clipless pedals and aero brakes and you have something that is arguably as good as or better than a run of the mill new bike of comparable cost.

I'm not into the "period correct" thing, so I won't defend those enthusiasts that are into only NOS nuovo record, Binda straps, and super thin bartape, but hey, its a hobby. There are more expensive hobbies too.

Bikevato

I restore vintage bicycles for a living? It started as a hobby now it's a full-time job. I enjoy what I do? I have ten vintage/classic bicycles that I'm restoring for customers. For past time a memory of their childhood is priceless. That is something amazing?

I have had people emailing me that have a real nice collectible bike and want to know the value. I respond "what is the bike worth to you" You will be surprise the respond that I get most will say "well, nothing".

I really enjoy what I do? Most people collect as a hobby that is great. Just have fun!

Thanks,
Juan
www.bikevato.com

lotek 

Sorry, you are not preaching to the choir here. the above statement is B.S. what performance improvements? 10 speed? Ergo/Sti? High tension wheelsets that weigh more than a mid level racing tubular (and if you break one of the spokes you are screwed)?
Its the engine that will determine performance, not the latest whizbang doodads that you
hang on your bike frame.
Why do it? because we love old bikes, because its the bike we had/lusted after when
we were younger. Because Eddy rode one, because it stirs something in you and you
can't resist it. Because retro is cool, (gee I never knew I was cool all those years ago)
because they are works of art and deserve to be restored, loved, ridden.
Why sell them? money, share the dream, or one just likes tinkering with old
bikes.

Marty

Nightshade

Balance, Me thinks there is a good deal of sly tongue in
cheek humor in your post. What better way to explain why
we fix old bikes than to wrap it in subtle humor.

Good on you ,mate.

lotek 

Ok, maybe I'm a little cranky this morning woke up late and
only got to do an hour on the rollers. . . .

sigh, I hate when that happens.

Marty

Poguemahone

Heck, lotek, you're entertaining when you're cranky.

I myself have yet to figure out how index shifting is superior to a pair of simplex retrofriction shifters.

I need a hobby, because my work is too much fun, and I need some occasional frustrations. Thus, old bikes, which I like 'cause they're usable, I can understand the mechanics, and they shore is purty. Especially nervex lugs. Not in it for the $$$, though I do okay, because I have very little to start with in the first place, find a fair amount of cool old stuff, and sell off some of it so I can buy other stuff.

John E

I may have spent more on a CyclArt paint job on my Capo than it is worth, but the result is stunning. I would not put that kind of money into either of my Peugeots, but I do spend enough to keep them running well.

My biggest problem is that I cannot cost-effectively replace one of my older relaxed-geometry road bikes with anything new. The few new road bikes which are not optimized for flat-out criterium racing (at the expense of general transportation practicality) are very expensive.

redfooj

older bikes are prettier

schiavonec

Long time lurker (infrequent poster) thankful for the good info on this site

Not sure if it is a troll job or humor, but I've collected and sold a few bikes (albeit not many) and have NEVER made any money. Just a hobby. Get a good find/beater and tinker a bit. Ride it for a while and enjoy the smile, sell it to someone that wants it and then move on to the next project. It actually feels good selling a rehabed older bike or converted fixie to someone else that is into it and has that same look of excitement and smile on the test ride.

I do, however, get a bit irked (without real justification) at profiteers that have all the sources, etc. Some folks just gobble up all the 'cool' finds and seek to make $$ while driving up the price for the hobbiests.

Overall, I spend less in year on projects, than my wife at the salon or spa. I guess we all have our own therapy.

mswantak

The most practical reason for wanting to ascertain a bike's value is that if it's significantly higher than what you bought it for, you can use that info to justify all the money you're spending on it to your wife...

johno

If anyone knows how to restore old bikes and make money on it, I'd love to hear how it's done. It isn't necessarily a cheap thing to do. Right now, I'm putting a 1972 vintage racer back together. Paid $225 for it, will put another $200 in parts into it by the time I'm done, and near as I can figure, probably 50 - 60 hours of work. If I'm lucky, I could sell it for $600 when I'm done. Comes out to somewhere between $2 and $3 an hour. I could make better money flipping burgers at McD's. The bike didn't need that much done to it, but price up old logo Cinelli Giro bars, a Regina Oro chain, or if you're really rich, a new set of brown Campy gum brake hoods. I went for Dia-Compe instead, look the same and a whole lot cheaper.

Fortunately, I have no plans to sell it. I'm restoring that old bike because it's what I used to ride almost 30 years ago, and a lot of great memories are coming back. Plus, when I saw it, encrusted with baked on dust after 20 years of hanging in a garage, I just couldn't stand to see that old beauty in that condition. Just offends the eyes, it did.


--John

24" Falcon San Remo 76 (under restoration)
22" Falcon San Remo 76 (mint)
98 Trek Y-Foil (whiz kid)
91 Cannondale RT1000 tandem (station wagon)

mswantak

I think the only way to make serious money restoring any kind of vehicle is to do it the Bill Harrah did: Do only complete, frame-up remanufactures, and target a clientele with disposable income larger than most third-world nation's GNP.

I feel about any profit I've made from refurbishing bikes or motorcycles about the same way I feel about being a graphic artist: It beats workin'. Getting money for doing something I'd probably be doing anyway is pure gravy.