Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,645
Likes: 1,109
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
+1 Buy a sweet Japanese bike from the 80s, one with a top tier frame. You should be able to find one in the $200 to $250 range (market price). Or find a mid to late 80s steel Trek, same price range. They really made some nice bikes.
Either of these choices will give you a bike with standard sizing, easily upgradable at any time in the future.
And the harder you look, the better the deal you will find.