Azuki Sebring for $20 worth getting?
 

I found an orange Azuki Sebring like this one at the local thrift store today for only $20:
http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/...iguy/azuki.jpg Other than needing a complete tune-up it appears to be in good shape. This bike reminds me of my brother's old Schwinn Le Tour, and it wouldn't surprise me if it was made in the same far east factory (or the one next to it) as Schwinn had their lightweight bikes made back in the 70's and 80's.

I have a real weakness for these bike boom 10-speeds - especially the ones like this one that have a cotterless alloy crank - because they have so much potential; when you swap in a pair of alloy wheels and decent set of tires it really wakes them up. It would even be tempting to convert this one to 14-speed indexed shifting. Then I think it would make a really nice commuting or light touring bike for someone. It would be sad to see a nice bike like this get parted out and scrapped or be sold to someone that lowers the seat down to the frame, turns the handlebars upside down and uses it to pop wheelies with (which is what some guys seem to do with these kind of bikes in the backwards town I live in).

I was just wondering what peoples' thoughts were on fixing up a bike like this with the idea of finding a good home for it eventually, and not losing out on the deal in the process.

Thread moved from C&V to C&V Appraisals.

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I agree with you, even without the pics. $20 is a great deal.

Will this show up?
http://oi68.tinypic.com/2hoeclj.jpg

I think you did great on this one serviced and ready to ride with some new consumables it should make a nice basic rider worth about $150 or so. As for upgrades on this level bike I doubt you would get much more out maybe $200 with nice alloy wheels and indexing so it wouldn't be worth it.

That's a nice acquisition for $20 but it looks closer to early 1980s than early 1970s. While it has an aluminum, cotterless crankset, the remaining characteristics are entry level. It has stamped dropouts, a nutted rear axle, safety brakes and stems shifters. The frame would be the deciding factor on far I'd want to take this and I suspect it's a hi-tensile steel.

Yea, I know it's no Paramount but it could be made into good reliable transportation for someone, The front axle is actually quick release - the lever on the left side of the bike is just camouflaged by the cedar mulch on the ground. The dropouts do look like they are stamped dropouts made to resemble forged ones, and the tubing of the frame is nothing to brag about. It has a long cage Suntour 7 rear derailleur and a massive rear cluster. It also has Dia Comp centerpull brakes which seem to have been standard issue on these type of entry level lightweight 10-speeds.

I saw the front quick release skewer, which is why I stated "nutted rear axle". Starting in the 1980s, quick release on the front wheel with nuts on the rear wheel was a very common on entry level models.

I am a bit surprised to see those dropouts as they are Kawamura style and by this era I would have expected Taiwanese manufacture.

I don't know your market, but the bike seems like a poor choice for an upgrade-then-flip.
Paying only $20 for it was a good deal, if you needed a bike for yourself, as it might be "good reliable transportation." But I don't see it ever being worth over $100, for the reasons T-Mar listed.
Your market may vary.

It's does look to be on of the last of the entry level Kawamura built frames I would guess from 79/80 based on the components. The serial number off the BB and a pic of seat tube markings would help confirm this since the Japanese built models had different tubing decals and usually said made in Japan just above the BB.

Ditch the drop bars & stem. Put upright North Road style bars & stem, new brake levers, nice cushy foam grips, new brake cables. Leave the stem shifters as is. That's it, that's all. Done deal. It's worth $150. Put a rear rack on it & maybe get $200.

It's pretty clean. I would have picked it up for 20 bucks. If your plan is to flip it, don't change a thing. Just clean it, wax it, and make it ridable. Anything else will lose you money. Could be worth 80-100 bucks if presented nicely. I wouldn't expect more than that from an obscure lower end boom bike.