Ok, here's the story (if anyone cares):
I have a really nice Cannondale that I ride on weekends (dura ace+ultegra, blah, blah, etc.), and I have another Cannondale I use as a commuter. The thing is, I would never leave these bikes anywhere besides the inside of my home or work, as their color alone (red, orange) makes them vulnerable IMO. SO... I need a bike to commute to school, so, I decided to check craigslist for a nice steel bike that won't break the bank and won't break down on me. I've owned steel bikes before and I love them... apples and oranges if you're comparing to aluminum. I find that steel "rolls" whereas aluminum "floats". Anyway, I find a posting for a Fuji.. tried to do some homework on the web... but nothing came up really. The guy indicated the tires and tubes were flat, needs some TLC, etc. So I went to take a look in person and the bike looked like it just rolled out of an LBS showroom... total time capsule (even if it doesn't appear to be THAT old. I gave the guy the money and went on my way, got home, put air in the tires (I noticed the presta valves were open) Here's my question... My college campus is kinda shady (i see lone front wheels on the bike racks from time to time). Do you think this bike will get stolen? It's not the $40 I'm worried about, it's the fact that it's a really nice bike IMO. Although I know it's not top of the line. Also, if you have any info on this bike... please share! Thanks.

This is what I know about the bike:

Frame/Fork: 4130
Crank: Sakae SX
Hubs: Sansin SE
Rims: 700c, They look like mavic MA3's... possible?
Handlebars: Hsin Lung
Pedals: AR-8 model... (brand is 3 letters, initials.. I forget exactly)
Brakes: Single pivot Dia Compe

Btw, the color is a real cool purple. Unfortunately it shows blue in the pics Flash I guess). I tried to show the color in the first pic with little success.

Do thieves care what they steal?

Yes you may be less vulnerable but still vulnerable. on the bright side your only out $40

It's all relative. If you park your bike near nicer, newer bikes, with less protection, yours won't be the one to disappear. As I see it, you have a couple options. Take adequate precautions and don't sweat it, find a trashier bike, or take other measures to make your bike less of a target (oh - and I suppose you could transfer to a school with less crime )

Since you've only got $40.00 into it, get a nice secure lock, use it, and try not to worry.

just park at the largest bike racks with the most bikes and make sure you park close to flashy bikes. Mountain bikes are the most commonly stolen bike around here. Go to a hardware store, buy say... 1.5 ft of the heaviest chain they have and a good pad lock. Cut an old bicycle innertube and feed the chain through it. You'll need an MTB tube for a big chain. No one will touch it and you have the best lock for value money can buy. No one will touch it. As long as you're not leaving your bike on campus over night... Those lone tires are there because morons lock up bikes by the wheel only (these are usually really cheep bikes too). EVentually they abandon them and then scavengers looking to make a buck recognise this and snach them to make a buck.

I have lost only two bikes to thieves, and both were junkers, including an early 1980s Free Spirit.

I have lost only one automobile to thieves, and it was a 17-year-old Ford Pinto station wagon.

Always park next to a better-looking bicycle with a cheaper lock.

LOL the only bike I ever lost to thieves was a very old curved top tube Huffy like cruiser bike. I left it parked close to a security office near an office complex.

Security "never saw it."

The bike cost me $65.

Speaking of cheap locks... I just got this Nashbar lock for $2.95... reduced from $29.99.
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=
Does anyone else have it? The plastic encasing the cylindrical lock feels hard and hollow. I hope there's some meat underneath... I'm not sure if I trust it...