chaifilms

I was at my LBS today and found a red Fuji Sports 10 set up single speed with new chain, freewheel-cog, and bars for $75. I guess the bike is from around '76 or so, from what I've found online. It has some rust from some chipped paint mostly on the top tube and bars, but not anything I couldn't sand off. I've been going back and forth on whether I want fixed or free single speed, but riding this around the block I really like it. All it would really need is new tires because the ones on it look relatively cracked and dry-rotted, but the rims are pretty good and recently trued.

I'm mostly just wondering if you folks think it's a good deal.

(This picture isn't it, it's just to show what the frame looks like)

Thanks!

ThisJauntyGent

I'm still trying to get over the fact that you found a $75 bike at your LBS.

Around here, the cheapest you'll see at a LBS, even for something used, is something like $350

chaifilms

Yeah, it's a cool store, they have lots of new stuff, but they also have a pretty decent selection of old beaters and such. I didn't even realize this one was for sale, it was leaning against the wall outside, and I thought it was the commuter bike of someone working there. I think I'm going to get it. What do you think?

ThisJauntyGent

I think that $75 for a beater singlespeed in full working condition is a damn good deal.

Vintage Fujis look awesome, too

chaifilms

That's how I'm feeling about it. None of the parts are fantastic or anything, but I love the bars on it, and could swap out for new stuff (new brake, lever, tires, maybe pedals) as I get the money.

dsh

That is a good deal, you should get it.

I would.

chaifilms

Alright, it's settled. If the bike is still there after the weekend, I'm going to go get it. It'll be a fun project touching up the paint, and upgrading some parts of it, as opposed to buying a new low end BD bike.

Raiden

A shop-built singlespeed for $75 sounds like a great deal to me. I'd spend that much on just a frame, if it fit well.

dsh

I very much doubt it was "shop built", and was probably a conversion some schlub made and dropped off at the LBS after he got tired of it.

Still, if the LBS is selling it chances are they've at least given it a once-over and it isn't likely to explode when you hit a pot-hole.

Surely worth $75.

chaifilms

Yeah, it's not entirely "shop built". The guy at the shop told me they got it in mostly good shape, he'd put only about an hour's work into it, just changing it from 3-speed or whatever to single-speed, getting the chainline straight, truing the wheels, and throwing on a junky front brake and lever.

Still sounds good to me.