Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,642
Likes: 1,106
From: Mans of NC & SW UT Desert
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Just about anything at the right price. Even a Huffy can have decent tires and tubes, perhaps a seat.
Most of my donor bikes have had significant frame issues. Some I got for free.
The most I paid for a donor was $30, it had a good complete drivetrain that I needed to complete another bike, and the frame was straight and cromoly. I may just rebuild that frameset later.
Not all of my donors started as donors. Some were purchasing "mistakes", but made at a low enough price that I recouped my investment in take off parts.