Schwinn Traveler - 84 or 85
08-29-13, 08:59 PM
#1
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Schwinn Traveler - 84 or 85
I bought an made in 83' traveler off of CL for $40. It's a Taiwan made by Giant frame according to what I've been able to research.
I'm not looking to keep this bike, I just want to know how best to re-sell it.
I'm planning on re-greasing bearings, cleaning it up, new tubes and tires, maybe new cables though they seem okay. The bike was pretty well cared for, though it hasn't seen much riding in the last 10 years or so.
The bad thing about this bike is it was poorly repainted. For a flip, is it worth doing a repaint? I wouldn't mind the experience and I've been reading up on some decent methods of using rattle can engine paint. With a crappy layer of paint on it already, I'm afraid of the possible sanding involved.
Since it was repainted the bike has no head badge or stickers. I've seen vintage Schwinn stickers online, but nothing for an early 80s Schwinn. Heck, even if I could just get the badge, that would be an improvement over nothing.
If I went all out, nice paint, stickers, badge, everything re-conditioned and greased what could I expect to get for this bike. I live near Chicago, so I don't think that will hurt things.
Here are some photos for reference (sorry for the bad quality).
I'm not looking to keep this bike, I just want to know how best to re-sell it.
I'm planning on re-greasing bearings, cleaning it up, new tubes and tires, maybe new cables though they seem okay. The bike was pretty well cared for, though it hasn't seen much riding in the last 10 years or so.
The bad thing about this bike is it was poorly repainted. For a flip, is it worth doing a repaint? I wouldn't mind the experience and I've been reading up on some decent methods of using rattle can engine paint. With a crappy layer of paint on it already, I'm afraid of the possible sanding involved.
Since it was repainted the bike has no head badge or stickers. I've seen vintage Schwinn stickers online, but nothing for an early 80s Schwinn. Heck, even if I could just get the badge, that would be an improvement over nothing.
If I went all out, nice paint, stickers, badge, everything re-conditioned and greased what could I expect to get for this bike. I live near Chicago, so I don't think that will hurt things.
Here are some photos for reference (sorry for the bad quality).
08-29-13, 09:17 PM
#2
Constant tinkerer
Even with nice original paint, in good ready to ride condition, I'd be happy to get $150 around here.
So I think your best is to clean it up, regrease, make it rideable, replace the tires, and sell it as is. Don't waste your time/money painting it. Not worth it unless you want to do a better rattlecan job than what's on there now.
So I think your best is to clean it up, regrease, make it rideable, replace the tires, and sell it as is. Don't waste your time/money painting it. Not worth it unless you want to do a better rattlecan job than what's on there now.
08-29-13, 09:35 PM
#3
Thrifty Bill
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Painting and decal work would be a waste of time and MONEY, and you could end up upside down by the time you are done. Instead, do a quality rehab, bearings, grease, etc. and control your spending carefully. It will be a $100 bike when you are done. Profit potential? About $25.
Or spend $50 on paint, $40 on decals, and lots of time and effort on a repaint, and you might get $150 for it. Profit potential? A loss of $15
Third option is just air up the tires, sell it as is (don't pretend its perfect and "ready to ride"). Someone might give you $75 for it as a project. Profit potential? $35.
Option 3 is the best one financially and the least RISK.
Or spend $50 on paint, $40 on decals, and lots of time and effort on a repaint, and you might get $150 for it. Profit potential? A loss of $15
Third option is just air up the tires, sell it as is (don't pretend its perfect and "ready to ride"). Someone might give you $75 for it as a project. Profit potential? $35.
Option 3 is the best one financially and the least RISK.
Last edited by wrk101; 08-29-13 at 09:38 PM.
08-30-13, 07:14 AM
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Yeah, I guess option 3 probably is the most logical thing to do. I guess there is some part of my nature that doesn't like to let things be. I'm leaning towards cleaning it up, re-greasing everything and seeing what I can get. Thanks all!
08-30-13, 08:51 AM
#6
Thrifty Bill
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I picked up a donor bike for $20 once. I got it home and realized it did not have a single part that I could use, everything was low end. So I sold it as a project and moved on.
Part of successfully flipping is knowing when to walk away. Of course, I have a large enough backlog (almost 2 years worth of projects) that I just pull out something else to work on.
Part of successfully flipping is knowing when to walk away. Of course, I have a large enough backlog (almost 2 years worth of projects) that I just pull out something else to work on.
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