Titanium Panasonic - $90
12-11-13, 06:57 AM
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Titanium Panasonic - $90
Hello again everyone!
My brother just came across an ad for a titanium Panasonic frame. At 90$ I am pretty sure this is a hell of a bargain.
Please could someone enlighten me on these frames? After some research I realize these were sort of rare..
What I want to know is:
1. Does titanium age well? Is it okay to buy old titanium frames, and can I assess it the same way I would assess a steel frame?
2. Should I drive like a madman tonight just to grab it before anyone else does?!
Thanks for any and all responses!
My brother just came across an ad for a titanium Panasonic frame. At 90$ I am pretty sure this is a hell of a bargain.
Please could someone enlighten me on these frames? After some research I realize these were sort of rare..
What I want to know is:
1. Does titanium age well? Is it okay to buy old titanium frames, and can I assess it the same way I would assess a steel frame?
2. Should I drive like a madman tonight just to grab it before anyone else does?!
Thanks for any and all responses!
12-11-13, 07:02 AM
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Still learning
You should be in the car on your way now! A screaming deal. Now that you know that, you won't be effective at work anyway........
12-11-13, 07:11 AM
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Hahaha I tried to get in the car and go, but I called first.
The guy was in a car accident and he injured his hip and can't ride it anymore.
He said he bought it from one of the guys on the South African Panasonic racing team in the late 90s.
He advised me not to come tonight, because with Nelson Mandela's death, Pretoria is a nightmare to navigate today (his body is at parliament i think).
I am rushing there tomorrow, thanks for the quick reply oddjob2!
The guy was in a car accident and he injured his hip and can't ride it anymore.
He said he bought it from one of the guys on the South African Panasonic racing team in the late 90s.
He advised me not to come tonight, because with Nelson Mandela's death, Pretoria is a nightmare to navigate today (his body is at parliament i think).
I am rushing there tomorrow, thanks for the quick reply oddjob2!
12-11-13, 08:27 AM
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Titanium does not corrode and in a bicycle application it has an infinite fatigue life (or at least a fatigue life many times your life span.) So is does not “age” at all; it should stay in the same condition as it was when it was brand new.
Look for dents and bent tubes, drop outs and a bent fork, just like a steel frame. Check for striped threads. If aesthetics is you thing, look for how smoothly the TIG welds are finished.
Look for dents and bent tubes, drop outs and a bent fork, just like a steel frame. Check for striped threads. If aesthetics is you thing, look for how smoothly the TIG welds are finished.
12-11-13, 08:33 AM
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I don't know about the traffic, around here, with reluctant sellers, I gently encourage them to meet now, rather than delay. The biggest problem with any delay is that the seller here will likely be inundated with emails and offers, some offering above asking price. So if I don't grab it immediately, the smokin hot deals will be gone.
I've made up some excuses, one I have used several times before is "I am going to be in your area anyway". OK, I was in their area, solely to pick up their bike, but yeah, sure, I was in their area. I will use a similar line when I drive a longer distance "I am going to be in Charlotte today on business anyway", of course, the "business" is picking up their bike and a couple of others.
I've made up some excuses, one I have used several times before is "I am going to be in your area anyway". OK, I was in their area, solely to pick up their bike, but yeah, sure, I was in their area. I will use a similar line when I drive a longer distance "I am going to be in Charlotte today on business anyway", of course, the "business" is picking up their bike and a couple of others.
Titanium does not corrode and in a bicycle application it has an infinite fatigue life (or at least a fatigue life many times your life span.) So is does not “age” at all; it should stay in the same condition as it was when it was brand new.
Look for dents and bent tubes, drop outs and a bent fork, just like a steel frame. Check for striped threads. If aesthetics is you thing, look for how smoothly the TIG welds are finished.
Look for dents and bent tubes, drop outs and a bent fork, just like a steel frame. Check for striped threads. If aesthetics is you thing, look for how smoothly the TIG welds are finished.
12-11-13, 08:36 AM
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12-11-13, 08:41 AM
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12-11-13, 08:49 AM
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The man is a scholar and a gentleman.
He is a university professor, and he has assured me that he will not sell the bike to anyone else but me. He doesn't seem to be selling it for profit, rather just for the buyer to love and enjoy it like he did.
I think I will take my chances and show him that I trust him by waiting till tomorrow morning!
I am so flipping excited!
He is a university professor, and he has assured me that he will not sell the bike to anyone else but me. He doesn't seem to be selling it for profit, rather just for the buyer to love and enjoy it like he did.
I think I will take my chances and show him that I trust him by waiting till tomorrow morning!
I am so flipping excited!
12-11-13, 09:07 AM
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Its all relative. 50km away is close for me. I live in the boonies, and I have never driven LESS than 50kms one way to get a bike. More often, its double to triple that amount.
When you see a $600 to $750 bike for $90, you pounce. Sellers make promises all the time. But if it is for sale publicly, they will get swamped with emails and calls. They quickly will discover they are selling it way too cheap.
When you see a $600 to $750 bike for $90, you pounce. Sellers make promises all the time. But if it is for sale publicly, they will get swamped with emails and calls. They quickly will discover they are selling it way too cheap.
I trust this seller though, and I have harassed him so much already for this bike. I am going to trust him with this, if I lose that will be a hard lesson but I will learn.
Here in SA, there is a much smaller market. I've been seeing deals all over the place, just last week I bought two Bridgestones for a third of what I saw them going for on eBay. I think there aren't that many people who browse the classifieds as thoroughly as I do, and they completely miss things like Titanium Panasonics. I know this bike is worth a **** ton, but I also know that unlike in the states, there are much less people who look for and buy older bikes. They will only see it is a collectors piece if someone tells them it is.
I will be truly very sad if it is gone by tomorrow, but on the other hand I will have met a truly awesome human being if he keeps his promise!
12-11-13, 10:12 AM
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Beautiful bike, and I bet it rides as nice as it looks. Good luck on the purchase!!
12-11-13, 10:24 AM
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awesome bike !!! awesome deal !! please post pics when you get it !!
12-11-13, 10:33 AM
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Thanks friends! I will definitely post some detailed high quality pics when I have it, I promise!
12-12-13, 05:58 AM
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Hello guys, for those of you who are interested, here are the pics of the bicycle!
The guy said he got calls with higher offers but he kept his promise!!!
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...3#post16323443
The guy said he got calls with higher offers but he kept his promise!!!
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...3#post16323443
