bres dad

I've been eyeing this on CL for a little while thinking it might be a good cyclocross build, given the V brakes. What is it? I've done a little research and it looks like a early Lotus Excelle and closely matches some of the photos on vintagelotusbicycles.com (https://www.vintagelotusbicycles.com/...e_Bicycle.html) but the components are different (this one has Campy down tube shifters and Shimano Deore components, obviously changed out at some point) and Excelle or other road bike photos I've seen don't have the V brake mounts like this one does which is what has me puzzled. Decal on the frame says Mangalloy 2001. If I can ask here, what would be a reaosnable price for this (mods: feel free to move or edit if needed) Below are some photos from the ad.

r0ckh0und 

Looks like a Lotus Eclair touring rig. It has the Deore touring cranks with the funky large diameter pedal threads and the cantis................

r0ckh0und 

https://www.vintagelotusbicycles.com/...us_Eclair.html

r0ckh0und 

It's being offered at a good price too. Been up for 15 days now. The cranks and pedals alone are worth the price of admission. I would!

bres dad

perfect (I must have skipped over that one when looking on the website.) owner is asking $145. Might see how much he'd come down. It may be priced right, but that is beyond my bike budget right now (in process of finishing another build that takes priority of any new projects.)

CbadRider

Moved from C&V to Appraisals.

zukahn1 

Not a real high end bike likely an Eclair as said looks like it would build up to make a fine Touring or Crossbike not a whole lot of work. For a small touring frame with nice paint and cantis, with some some nicer parts the $145 is a real good price I'm surprised it hasn't sold. It isn't unusual to see similar bikes with slightly better presentation and set up sell in the the $300-400 price rang in a lot of makets.

bres dad

since posting this thread the bike has evidently sold or at least the ad has been pulled. Perhaps this thread gave him some free advertising... lol

zukahn1 

This is pretty common nicer sought after road bikes at really good prices typically disapear off CL within a couple of days of showing up hear in the C&V forums.

oddjob2

As wrk101 says, "buy now, ask questions later." Another Thrifty Bill saying is, "be informed or be taken."

With google it takes about 5 minutes to figure out whether you should part with a few Grants or Benjamins.

bres dad

It wasn't in the cards... I had started to mention this to my wife and was met with a HELLLL NO!