TheManShow

So this whole Craig List -E-bay thing is new to me, but yesterday I drove an hour to look at what I believe to be a vintage "X" brand bike. Circa 1993- 1996ish.

So in route the owner tells me he used it as a road trainer, and he did some mountin bike racing. Now he tells me it was road raced once. Then he say bike has sat maybe eight years as he had "C" spine surgury.

Inspection tells me it is the era I suspect with "gray 600" components. There is a clear cover missing on one of the shifter STI but that could have come off from heat & time. The shewer on back wheel is gawaled like it was rubbed against cement. Frame has a couple of minor scratches, but decals are like 99% ok.

Honestly the bike it drity, grity, and all I can do is feel to see if there are any obvious crack or chipsin paint, and near lugs that could show sighs of stress from crash or abuse.

I did ride the bike a short distance, but not fast and it felt good. I honestly and debating pulling the trigger. Having the bike stripped down to frame & fork, and doing a rebuild with 11 speed ultegra.

Suggestions, as I am considering a second look**********

Bianchigirll 

"X Brand" and Gray 600? Did he use the road bike for mountain biking? Remember to a lot of people any organized ride is a race. If he raced it he may have a done a local citizens race or just a MS type ride.

"Having the bike stripped down to frame & fork, and doing a rebuild with 11 speed ultegra." You can't do the work? If not figure $100ish more to the purchase price of that 11 spd.

IMHO unless something is really broken and needs replaced/upgraded what is the poit of buying a vintage or in this case semi vintage bike and then rebuilding it with a brand new component group? That is like buying a '66 Stingray and stripping it down and rebuilding it with all the anti pollution crap from a 2014 'Vette.

DMC707 

93-96 era --- hmmmmm. Not really "vintage" to a lot of us ---- Regarding re-building with 11 speed - why bother? Just buy a new bike with 11 speed --- The '16 models are right around the corner, you may be able to get a greeeeat deal on a '15
-- Its how i bought my daily driver a couple years back - (Cannondale carbon bike, 105 spec , for $700 less than the newest model year bike - but it was still a current model bike - )

If you want something from that era though, the 8 and 9 speed STI stuff works well if its in good shape and spares/replacements are readilly available through ebay/nashbar etc

It depends on what brand of frame we're talking about though --- Oh - and its entirely your business what you do - a lot of C&V is personal expression of what we want our bike to be like and ride like --- so while many have no problem putting modern 10 and 11 speed drivetrains on the older stuff, - I strive to keep them at least period correct
Some of the guys' on here would not be caught dead on modern carbon either, even if they got a deal on it

Murray Missile 

In other words, cool as Hell!

DMC707 

There is a market for a bastardized Corvette with a modern drivetrain and suspension -- its usually reserved for people with more money than sense as a '66 Corvette, - assuming no damage - is usually worth much more bone stock than tricked out

Difference is, -- once you close the hood - no one's the wiser --- with the bike, its harder to hide the ugly black 16 spoke deep section wheels and cumbersome looking cranks that are de-rigeur now among other things

TheManShow

Well I look at this frame as a foundation for something to ride that will not beat my old rear end up. The frame is something I have lusted for when I was working, and never bught because I was on call and a slave to self employment. 24 x 7 x 365, never want to say no to a client, because I was afraid they would not call again.

So it is buy this semi vintage for a special steel lugged frame, or buy a new steel lugged frame for twice the price to start a new build. I want steel with luggs, and no plastic bicycle for me, no carbon fibre, or composite.

Being some what frugel I am leaning toward this pre owned buy as I siad have a tad bit of reservations. Just don't want any surprises pulling bottom bracket. Yes the Group including Headset is Shamino STI 600 Circa 1993, 1994 like I have on my old bike.

DMC707 

Pull the seat post and shine a flashlight down there --- feel the underside of the downtube under the shift lever bosses to make sure it hasnt been curbed --- after that - its a bicycle -- they get grimy sitting around in garages for 2 decades ---
- what is the condition of said garage? If its a regular garage and not a leaky storage shed - probably be fine

Also depends on purchase price and what your buying --- If "Brand X" is a Merckx, Colnago, upper tier Bianchi or one of the other usual suspects (most any Italian bike- some American bikes - PAramount, Waterford, Serrotta ) and it is priced accordingly , might make me be a tad cautious too to make sure i got a decent deal ---- but if it is something else in the $500 and down range and it is what you wanted and most importantly - fits - drop the cash or somebody else will

TheManShow

It is one of the brands mentioned above, and the story is has been sitting 8-10 years. Home is in a good area, garage is like mine is in order, and clean. But your other two tips above will put put into use should I make the return trip to snag it.

I have little intrest to restoring it to circa 1990-1995 vintage with old parts. I have a vision if I was the original owner of said frame & fork, or found it hanging in some bike shop today because no one wanted a steel lugg frame. I would outfit it with new eveything, and ride it like it was made to be rode back when it first let the factory years ago.

3speedslow

That's what we are all about around here, Working with second hand frames and forks !

repechage

Just buy a new frame. There are a number of new lugged frames around, even custom made for reasonable cost.

inkandsilver

Check as carefully as you are able, including the tips above. Give the fork a close look to make sure it's not freaky-deaky. Then buy it! It sounds like an excellent project.

"The frame is something I have lusted for when I was working, and never bought because I was..."

Seems like it will be more meaningful to you than a new frame. And it's the frugal choice!

TheManShow

Well the LBS's out my way want FULL LIST for Special Orders. Trust me I have done a lot of searching.

3alarmer 

...until you actually take one of these apart and clean and inspect it carefully, there's no way on earth to guarantee this. I've done a lot of bikes, and i still end up with surprises. Since you've already said your bike might have been raced, this increases your chance of encountering something strange.

...I think maybe you'll be happier with this course of action.

Steve Whitlatch 

If the frame is a good one, build it up with whatever you want. Sell off the old parts. Tricolor stuff still gets a decent price. Have fun. It is not like your taking an old 70`s classic and ruining it.

All of my bikes are pre owned.

TheManShow

The funny thing is my Tri Color 600 looks newer or almost brand new then thie group on this project but than I am anel about taking care of things.

Spaghetti Legs 

I think your concerns are pretty standard for the first time, prudent, used bike buyer. Every bike will have a story and you have to judge how much of what you hear is actually true, just poor description, or just the owner doesn't really know or care. Nice thing about steel is that it's harder to ruin than aluminum or CF. if the bike is really dirty and looks poorly cared for, that would warrant at minimum pulling the seat post (for starters to make sure it's not stuck) and a look and feel around the inside. Even better would be a look at the bottom bracket shell as that's where water will collect and wreak havoc. If the bike is dirty but otherwise in good condition ,use that as a bargaining chip for a better price, ( "good bike man but looks to be in rough shape").

I have only bought one new frame out of the 15 or so bikes I've bought. I'm all for getting used anything, but especially steel.

xiaoman1 

pics and asking price would help....did you take any while there? sounds like your are interested and want to give it a second look.....did I miss something?
if you left it the first time maybe there was a reason. your time is worth something.
JM2C's, Ben

run what you brung...modify your bike as you like, its your bike

Murray Missile 

What makes a '66 Corvette valuable? People with more money than brains. They handle like crap compared to a 2014, they are horribly slow compared to a 2014, they ride like a hay rack and get crappy gas mileage. The only thing they have going for them is they are damn sexy looking and they became a status symbol so people with money will pay ridiculous prices for them.

As to the mods on a vintage bicycle frame. How long would it take to change the 16 spoke deep section rims and cumbersome looking crank back to something more appropriate, 15 minutes if you took your time? Does it permanently alter the bike for future collectors?

eschlwc

i've bought over twenty c&v mid-level bikes so far, and none was i forced to part-out due to frame damage.

stuck stems? check.

stuck seatposts? check.

stuck crank bolts? check.

stuck cartridge bearing hub cones? check.

spoke nipples that don't turn? check.

derailleur anchor bolts that were stripped? check.

bars that were crooked? check.

bent shifters? check.

bent rims? check.

i'm batting 1000 so far on correcting these issues and building some fantastic bicycles. you just have to pull the trigger and figure it all out.

.

oh ... i would check for stuck stems and seatposts pre-purchase, though.

RobbieTunes 

You and miyatalover need to connect.

There is a lot of vague information in your posts.
Sounds like the bike is "tricolor" Shimano 600. Good.
Sounds like the bike is dirty, not wrecked. Good.
Sounds like the bike is lugged steel. That can be awful (All-Pro from K-Mart) to outstanding (any number of makes and models).
Sounds like it's either "this one" or "buy new?" And why? No other bikes in the area? I understand if you have to drive.

What you've given us is less than one picture would indicate.
You have 400+ posts, and you should know a bit better.
Welcome to C&V, but try to get specific information, so assistance can be accurate.

DMC707 

im just taking a wild guess that the OP doesnt want another CV'er in his area possibly to snatch the bike out from under him until he takes a second look

i am guessing its a big name big dollar frame and if it was a steal, he'd be posting pics of it now from his own garage- so likely has one of those borderline asking prices


i know you didnt mention this Robbie, somebody else did above, but all these folks saying "Just buy a new frame"
My question is where? Sure there are a small handful out there, but unless you go with a small custom builder, lugged frames are getting rare unless some NOS is found
The widespread use of newer air hardened steel means there are some TIg bikes, sure (Or maybe its been so long since i looked that i really dont know whats left)
I saw a nice Waterford last week on a group ride - Tig welded. Same with a Steelman i encountered yesterday

Bianchigirll 

In generally we are for the most past a honorable bunch of crooks. We don't usually scoop bikes mentioned here.

rgver

I would do what I and many others would do. You should also do this, as it really works. Just work it until it is done.

the vague BS really helps no one.

It sounds like you want perfection, in an older bike it costs. You just need to buy a new frame.

Kobe 

A new lugged frame will be over $2000, an excellent quality frame from the 90's stripped and repainted should be less than $1000. If the 90's frame is the same size as if you would order a new custom the choice is easy.

CV-6 

As long as the OP has dithered about, it is likely the bike is already gone. Snooze ya lose is my experience.