Originally Posted by
RiceAWay
Well, you forgot to add the link. However, any older French bikes are a problem. They use French threads on the headset and the bottom bracket. It is difficult to find these any more though there are SOME available. Also the age of these Peugeots means that the bottom bracket grease was generally not properly serviced that the BB typically needs replacement.
On the other hand, French bikes have a geometry all of their own and a lot of people love the way they ride. Particularly the higher end models such as the PX-10 or any of those made with Reynolds tubing. Warning - the saddles on all of them are absolutely horrible and need immediate replacement.
The bike from the ad linked above is not one of those “older French bikes,” at least not completely. It is from right around 1980 and has a modern geometry. It is almost surely made from Carbolite 103 tubing, which makes a nice-riding machine as long as the bike has good wheels. On this one, I note that the wheels are some sort of aftermarket aluminum rims, which could be a good improvement. And if the headset or bottom bracket need to be replaced, it is not at all difficult to find replacement parts even if the threads are French. True, there are not many choices for replacements, but they do exist and are not exorbitant. If the bike fits and rides well, it could be worth a couple hundred in the NYC market.