FastJake

Usually I am answering posts on here, but this bike is $800 and I don't want to screw it up. I didn't want to link the ad in case of scoopers, which doesn't matter because it contained no useful information. I'm pretty sure those are Campy Delta brakes, and the cheapest sold auction I found on ebay for a pair was $200.

Basically, is this bike worth the asking price of $800 or best offer?

Thanks

thinktubes 

Not titanium, (bonded) aluminum. Made by SR.

Not worth it.

FastJake

Wow, good eye. Thanks for the heads up. It's at least an hour drive from me, so now I won't be wasting my time.

FastJake

Well, the seller got back to me. I asked him about it being aluminum and he admitted that he inherited the bike and knows nothing about it. He also said the price is flexible.

So I don't know whether to show up with cash today and make him a low offer, or if I should wait a couple weeks. It's an hour drive for me, but that's probably good because it's in the middle of nowhere.

thinktubes 

Here's a bit more info on the frame: SR Litage

The parts would have to be in excellent condition and the price would have to be under $400 to get me interested in flipping this.

b dub 

Do you have knowledge of any of the other components? It looks like the crank is a triple so not likely Campy.

FastJake

I have no idea what the rest of the parts are. I see a triple too, so that worries me a little. But with Delta brakes surely there are at least some other gems on there? I'm not going to bother asking, as I don't see that as productive (if the seller can't get the frame material right...)

HOWEVER, I told them what I found and they are willing to take an offer in the $300-400 range, depending what I think of the bike in person. I'm checking it out tonight after work.

I have no problem parting out, and have sold a decent amount on ebay with good results.

thinktubes 

Yeah, definitely worth looking at if you can get it in that range. Parts condition would be the key decider here.

lotek 

I can't tell if those are Record Delta's or Croce d'Aune, if CdA they are worth much less.

thinktubes 

Yeah, I was wondering about that too. I would almost expect that, given the other parts.

Still, probably worth picking up if you can get it for around $350.

Dave Mayer

Bonded alu. Of course the picture is the obligatory useless non-drive side pic. This must be mandatory for clueless sellers.

Make sure the tubes are still bonded into the lugs. Disbonding was real risk of this type of construction, especially around the bottom bracket. You'll want to ride this bike hard (hill sprints to test for flex or creaking) before buying.

The C-Record brake levers were some of the worst I ever used. Weak and uncomforable, and featured an absurd cable routing. I have ridden Record Deltas. In terms of braking they were somewhere between some modern dual pivots and the old single pivot calipers. So in terms of actual performance, a set of $50 Campagnolo Veloce brakes are better. Or $30 Tektro's. They were also very heavy, a major pain to set up, and they tended to fill up with road crap. So the Tektro's win all around.

Bottom line: a big-brand entry level road bike ($700) is superior in every way, in terms of weight, braking, stiffness, gear selection and shifting/comfort/ergonomics.

Finally, assume that the entire drivetrain is pooched. Chain certainly, but also likely rings and cogset. Of the hundreds of older used bikes I've worked on, this is true for all but a handful. So in your budget allow for about $300 of contingency funds to replace everything.

FastJake

Got it for $300, how'd I do? Please excuse the terrible pictures, it's dark out and my camera is worthless in low light. Overall the bike is in fantastic shape, only ridden a few times but dirty and needing an overhaul. It's my size so I might even fix it up and ride it before I strip it down!

Headset: Mavic, looks sweet
Crankset: Mavic triple, also cool
Stem: 3TTT
Bars: unknown, funky extra bend
Hubs: Dura Ace 7-speed Uniglide
Rims: mystery clinchers
Shifters: Campy Synchro? They're indexed.
F/R derailers: Campy, which group?
Brakes and levers: Obviously Delta, can someone confirm these are C-Record?
Pedals and seatpost: Campy
Saddle: Selle Italia Flite Titanium in nearly new condition. I'm keeping this one!

I'm more of a Shimano guy so I don't know what groups the Campy parts belong to. It would be nice if they told you!

SteveSGP

I'm not an expert in Campy bits but at $300 I think you did well.

b dub 

Wow, how exciting. That's quite a mix of stuff. The triple is so cool and probably worth some dough. The brakes and front derailleur are both c-record. The rear derailleur I think is Chorus. This must have been a fun evening for you.

Edit: I think the rear derailleur is a Campagnolo RD-13OR, Record OR (Long Cage)

The front brakes are Athena

What a score!

bargainguy

Those look like Scott h-bars. Kind of an early TT bar so you could go extra low.

FastJake

Yeah it was kind of exciting! I've owned dozens of bikes but I don't think I've ever had a Campy Record part in my possession. I never expected to have Delta brakes either. The whole bike weighs 22lbs flat which doesn't impress me much but isn't bad considering what it is.

Looks like the crank is worth ~$100 on ebay. Haven't checked much of the other stuff except the brakes which are about $200 from what I could find.

bargainguy

Ha! You're like me....Campy comes later in life!

Nice score, Jake.

thinktubes 

Very nice score!!!!!!!

bars are Scott Drop Ins. Rims might be campagnolo omegas.

FastJake

So how would you recommend parting this out? This is what I was thinking:

Brakes
Brake levers
Shifters
RD
FD
Crank + BB
Pedals
Seatpost
Bars

I will be keeping the stem, saddle, possibly the wheelset, and might try getting rid of the frame/fork on a local sale, but would like to keep that Mavic headset... I don't have enough parts for it to be worthwhile building up with cheap stuff and selling the bike whole.

thinktubes 

I love how this score evolved. A classic case of the person armed with the most knowledge winning. Well done!

I'm sure the frame would sell fast with a $149 BIN. Might have to wait for the season.

oddjob2

Man, terrific score. I'd like to learn how to knock 2/3 off someone's asking price.

FastJake

THANKS ALL for the help. You made this buy possible, and made it a good score for me. The frame is starting to grow on me... I may keep it and put an Ultegra tri-color group on it.

Until this I had no idea it was possible. The only reason I responded in the first place was because I saw Delta brakes and figured if it was actually titanium it would be worth it. After finding it was Al I explained to the seller I could only offer around half the asking price, and they said sure! He had no idea what it was worth, and just wanted it out of his garage.

The story was that his brother-in-law (who passed away) bought it new and after riding it a couple times hated how it "hurt his butt" and left it in the basement for 20 years. I believe it because of how little wear the parts have.

Chombi

Yes, you did good at 300 bucks, I think even if those brakes turned out to be CdA's....
As for weight, Campy stuff from that time especially were much heavier than what other component makers were selling. The Delta Caliper could easily weigh more than double the typical high end sidepull caliper from that time and sometimes even more than double, if you campare them to weenie calipers like the ones from CLB. The first brifter style levers from Campy were so heavy that it felt like you were picking up a small hand gun when you lifted them......

Kidd69

You done good, I'd buy that all day long. Most of the time the problem is finding something to buy. I got the money.

gioscinelli 

Really nice score! Keep the Campy delta's! The current market on Campagnolo is soft, but as the global economy improves so will the collectable market as well as Campy.