shipwreck

Was yard sale hopping today, and stopped a place where a guy has been telling me for a couple of years that he has a box of old parts somewhere in the back.
Finally, today he led me into the warehouse and pulled out a bike box with a new frame and fork in it, a 59 or 60 cm Davidson, with three sets of bottle bosses, lugs, beautiful metallic gray paint, canti lugs, internal cable routing. He says that he has a box with all the parts in it that has the price he wants for everything on it, of course he could not locate that, said he would look tonight. On pressure he says its probably in the two hundred dollar range.

Regardless of whats in the box, my question is that this was probably a custom frame for someone. Bicycles | Davidson Handbuilt Bicycles What is the general opinion on getting something like this, probably made for someone specifically? I plan on taking a tape measure and ckecking it out with more detail if he finds the box of parts.

Its probably worth the risk of getting and building up, I have no idea what year it is, so don't know the rear spread, what tubing its made of, or anything. But I have been looking for a classic and pretty tourer for a while, and this could be it.

bikemig 

If the bike fits you, buy it and ride it. If it doesn't it, buy it and sell it to someone on this site or flog it ebay. Touring bikes command a premium. Zero downside to buying a custom bike not built for you unless something really weird was done to fit the original buyer. I own three custom bikes; none of them were built for me and they all ride great.

non-fixie 

If you like it, and it's your size, buy it.

jmeb

If it isn't your size, buy it and ship it to me.

eschlwc

davidson commands a steep price in these here parts.*

* seattle

cyclotoine

$200?! Buy it. There are no questions at that price. get the money in his hands and the bike in your house ASAP. If he can't find the parts give him $100 (note $200 is a steal for frame alone) for the frame and tell him to call you when he finds the parts.

rootboy 

Two hundred bucks for a Davidson…and you're hesitating? Man ….

Is this a troll?

shipwreck

No, not a troll. And the price is not set at two hundred, that was the ballpark he thought it might be.
Im not super loaded, but this almost like finding a cool car in a barn. Don't think that I can pass it up, if he does not jump to high on the price. This is a local wheeler dealer.
A sixty cm frame is a handful of seat post on me, on the top end of size, but it's my prefered because of torso length.
Honestly I won't be able to sleep without dreaming about this all night. He pulled it out of the box and I tried for my best poker face. I asked on the c&v forum because I knew you guys would tell me to get it. Over in touring there would have been some naysayers.

Wish me luck!!!

bikemig 

Cool beans, I hope it works out for you. A few years back I picked up a Davidson racing bike in my size with a full campy SR gruppo and an extra set of wheels for $200. This stuff happens sometimes.

due ruote 

Good luck. Think positive - maybe you and the PO have identical measurements. Stranger things have happened I'm sure.

miamijim

The key here is turn over...

Because you know there's some what of demand or general interest in the frame itself you know that it'll have a quick turn over if it's not for you for whatever reason.

Depending on what's in the box I think $200 is a safe turn over price....if the box has Campy goodies maybe up to $400 or more. Old components are hard to valuate so be cautious. $200-250? Go for it!!!

non-fixie 

Good luck!

rootboy 

It's a handmade frame from a very well known builder. Buy it whether it fits or not. I do wish that it does fit you though.

My question about a troll was said in jest. Hence the winking eye, etc.

ish

I would have bought the frame on the spot and left him my phone number for when he found the parts.

photogravity

If it's a Davidson and is at a reasonable price snag it before someone else gets it. Davidson bicycles are very nice. I'm speaking from personal experience here.

shipwreck

Holy crap. The box was so worth waiting for.
Someone tutor me on posting pics from Flickr.
Starting a new thread on the bike and all the nos sun tour parts.

pamaguahiker 

I look forward to some pics. Sounds like a real deal! Congrats