darb85

https://nmi.craigslist.org/bik/2305259508.html

Can anyone help me with this bike? Im going to look at it tomorrow, and just wondering if its worth that and if anyone can give me some history.

Thanks

Brad

frenchbikefan

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-Humber-Sports

a little outdated but some good background info

cudak888 

Play hardball and offer $200 or 250, for it needs to be polished up.

-Kurt

rhm

Looks like a pretty old one; but there's a date on the rear hub that'll tell you exactly how old it is. While you're at it, check whether the hub is an AW or SW (or something else). SW hubs appear on some '58 and '59 bikes and have problems.

The Humber was one of Raleigh's alternate high end brands, and I understand one of these cost as much as a Raleigh Sports. Some of the other marques were relegated to cheaper models --Triumph, Phillips, Hercules, Norman, etc-- but not Humber. The unusual fork design is there mainly to distinguish it from a standard Raleigh frame; Rudge had a different fork crown. Inside that chain case you may also have a Humber chain ring, which is pretty cool looking but wasted in a full chain case.

Looks like you have a 21" which is the common size; 19" and 23" also exist but are less common.

I think the price is at the upper end of reasonable. If I were selling this bike, I'd probably go for that much. It's pretty hard to find a men's frame high-end three speed with full chain case. I think that would justify such a price in my area. I don't know if it would sell, though.

David Newton

The price seems outlandish.
I've never heard of anyone commenting on the ride characteristics of the twin tube fork, they were certainly unique.

ColonelJLloyd 

I'd pay more for a bike with a twin tube fork and bi-plane (?) crown just because it looks cool. I don't consider myself a particularly savvy buyer. I buy bikes for my own satisfaction.

sailorbenjamin

Polishing is the fun part. I'd love to spend a friday evening with the lemon oil and Scratch-X. That thing would be beautiful by Saturday morning.
The lube job is less fun. That's several evenings of greasy hands. That bike probably has oil ports for every bearing. That makes it a lot easier if it's been kept up but i still like to take it all apart and clean it all out before I trash a bearing cause the seatpost has been dropping rust into the bottom bracket.
Oh, make sure the seatpost isn't stuck.
If it fits you and you're in love with it, it's a reasonable price. If you aren't sure, it's pretty high.

cudak888 

Agreed - but it's always a bargaining point.

-Kurt

sailorbenjamin

Good point. The seller almost never knows what a beauty he has under all the crud. Ask him when he last had the bearings apart for a good cleaning. Then explain to him that he should have been doing it about once or twice a year (or 3 or 4). Just as his smile has faded to minimum, hit him with your lowball.

Amesja

Now THOSE are forks -not just a "fork."

nlerner

I sold one of those in that size about five years ago on eBay for a shade over $300. It also had full chaincase, twin-tube fork, and was from the early 50s.

Neal