Green UO-8
 

I love the color but I am not sure of the price. I talked to the owner on the phone and he told me that he just bought the bike for $150 but he is willing to sell it for $125
He said the bike needs to be overhauled so it sounds like it is in rough condition. Is $125 to much money for A UO-8 in rough condition?

ARed

Hi A-Red -

I am not sure what you mean by "rough" condition. (Any old bike you buy needs an overhaul.)
IME - Some sellers have described excellent bikes as poor, and vise-versa.
If you are buying it for yourself (not to flip) and the paint, frame, fork and the leather saddle is good, then $125 is a reasonable price. (You can fix almost anything else).
Plan on upgrading the rims and front derailleur.

If you are DIY overhaul, price is ok. If you are getting overhaul at an lbs, too high.

I buy and sell a lot of old bikes and yeah, 99.9% of them need a complete overhaul. They may be ridden without one but usually the cables are junk and the bearing grease is hard and useless. Based on what I see in the photo the bike doesn't look to be in "rough condition" but just needing an overhaul.

IMO, $125 is too much unless the bike is in excellent ready-to-ride condition. I'd consider that price top-end. If you are looking to flip the bike, forget about it. If you're looking for something to ride I would still keep looking unless you had your heart set on a UO-8.

+1 For a keeper. Paint looks good. From what I can see, I would not call it rough. (I have seen plenty of rough UO8s), Bike is 40 years old. French bikes have their unique idiosyncrasies.

+1 Assume that plastic FD is not long for this world. If you are resourceful, replacements that are upgrades, are available at a low cost.

+100. (If you're getting your bike overhauled at your LBS, getting it for FREE would be too expensive!)

You have to consider the condition and how much project you can handle.
+ the saddle in good condition is worth half the asking price.

I'm sort'a liking that bike.

If a big clean green one like that pops around here, even I might succumb. (And I already have one in silver :rolleyes: )

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...2&d=1343603570

Everything I buy has to have resale value. I really like the green' I guess the better question is, is this a good price for me to overhaul the bike, harvest the seat and flip the bike?

ARed

No. (Tires, tubes, rim strips, bearings, cables, housing, a front derailleur,chain and FW likely, and you'll be a hundred bucks plus the purchase price into a $150 sale. :( )

I paid that for a brand new one in 1974!

Thank you auchencrow. I need to learn to ask the right questions.

ARed

no way thats worth anything near that. its the same quality as a schwinn varsity. + not being ride ready makes it rediculous over priced.

$20 as is

If you are in a red hot market, and if you are very resourceful, YES. Price is pushing it for a flip for sure. But in red hot markets, it would work, IF you have the time/tools/aptitude/pile of parts to do the rehab yourself. While Auchen's list appears daunting, I usually do that list for $40, depending on tire choice (nicer tires can cost $40 a set or more by themselves).

Pay someone to do the work, pay retail for parts and supplies, and even in a red hot market, no way.

Wouldn't do this for a flip - no margin. After buying parts + your time (min of 3 hours for an overhaul) you'd have to price it at over $200 to break even. Even in a hot market if would sit for a while at that price.

Better than a varsity. But not that much better. But the frame is far better, frankly. You just need to put better parts on it.

Certainly not worth it as a value-added flipper. I like my UO8. I also paid a fiver for it.

Green UO-8
 

Wow. So little UO-8 love. I think they are great bikes. This one has a leather saddle, big plus. To give some perspective, I recently sold my UO-8 for $250. Upgraded with alloy wheels and a well used Brooks Pro. Other than that it was stock, including the Simplex derailleurs.

Sounds like a deal at $125. Make sure it fits you. Really cant go wrong with a UO-8. It is the king of Bike Boom bikes.

Thank you Big C,
I will contact the seller, if he still has it he may be more willing to lower his price.

ARed

I hope you're not serious. In most places that's a decent price. In some places it's a good price. A U08 is a step up from a varsity, and even a varsity can go for $125 in many big cities and college towns.

I am not sure if you read through the thread. I like the bike. I do not need a UO-8 but there is not much meat on the bone if I flip it. I am thinking about transferring the parts to another frame that I would like to build and then selling the frame.

ARed

I assume the other frame is French threaded too, and if you are building it for yourself consider replacing the steel rims at the same time.
The frame is a nice color and desirable size, but I am still afraid the sale of the frame won't do much to defray the costs of the build.

Then again, if you are a fan of classic cottered cranks, leather saddles and Mafac centerpulls, then you could have a lovely French ride for not a lot of money.

Thank you auchen, I don't know why I cannot walk away from this bike. I am afraid I will fall in love with it and it will be a part of my personal stable and I cannot afford that. I have a PX-10 frame 1968 that I could transfer the peaces to and sell the frame. What would a UO-8 frame sell for? It may not be worth blowing up an in tact bike. I will either work it out or I can walk away from the UO-8 all together.

ARed

Putting U-08 parts on a PX10 is like hanging Fiat Spyder parts on a Ferrari. They may come from the same company, but commodity vs. flagship.

I am sure your right. I am pretty sure that the PX-10 did not come with campy parts. Not to change the subject her but what would you hang on a PX-10?
The U-08 is a good bike but not much resale value.

Thank you OddJob

On a PX10, my preference is clinchers, so for rims, I'd go with any decent, polished, vintage looking, narrow, eyeletted rim, sich as Mavic Moodule E's, Araya Red labels, Wolber Gentlemans, Super Champs or even the new Sun M13-II's.

Stem - French Pivo or Philippe - (or an AVA death stem if you're feeling lucky.)

Saddle - Preferably a black Brooks Pro. A B17, Ideale 80 or even the Agda would be OK second choices.

Seat Post - Preferably a Simplex. (Expensive). Alternatively a good (but not period-correct) micro-adjust.

Hubs - High Flange Normandy Luxe Competitions , or Campy record, or any smooth running FW hubs you can lay your hands on. (I have Maillards on mine).

Crank - Stronglight 93 or 49-D

Derailleurs - Simplex - Criterium if in good shape but preferably SLX 410's or Super LJ.
I'd go with a Suntour up front.

Brakes - Mafac Racers or Competition

Black tressostar bar tape.