francophile 

Inspired by @jeirvine in this reply over here.

Have you ever bought a bike out of the "Craigslist eBay finds" thread? We'd all love to see it and a short write-up about it! I'm talking about this thread, this hot-link will take you to the end of the thread: eBay / CraigsList finds - "Are you looking for one of these!?" Part II

When posting, if you have it handy, please include the reply# from the top corner of the post where you found the bike. Or right-click that number and "copy hyperlink" to paste it. Talking about this number at the top of each reply in non-mobile version (maybe mobile version too, I forget):




I'll start it off. Found this $100 Campy/DuraAce equipped Viner Professional Special. Posted it, then no more than 5 minutes later realized the seller is only a couple miles away and reached out. I know, not quite "the norm" to go buy your own stuff, but ... I couldn't help myself. Here's a pic from the ad:



It was reply 53721, direct link here: eBay / CraigsList finds - "Are you looking for one of these!?" Part II

Here's the bike once I got it home. It had no shortage of issues, a lot of under-paint rust and a gnarly whack in the non-drive-side chainstay as you see here. It'll take a lot of work to get back healthy again, but I think it's worth it!

orcas island 

I’ve picked up a couple of bikes posted on that thread; one is a Gitane Tdf from 4 years ago that is still in the stable, the other was this Follis more recently.

1972 TDF

1953 Follis

curbtender

What about your Bob Bob Jackson? Or was that already on the radar?

jeirvine 

I've bought maybe a half dozen from that thread over the years. One is a keeper, and one is in the queue to sort and sell.

In the queue is a GiEsse from 50991. A little small, but a cool bike and gruppo worth keeping together. I may take it to Westminister in Feb.

The keeper is the '73 Colnago Super from 44956. As shown in the ad:



As built, after a Franklin Frame re-spray:

cb400bill

Similar to francophile above, back in 2010 I posted about a bike that I later purchased. Post 5028.



IIRC, I got it for $80. It needed a full overhaul but is a great bike.

Bianchigirll 

I've bough several off craigslist, sadly most were passed on, but this I believe is the only one I bought from the ebay thread

seedsbelize 

I bought this one, from here in Mexico, with the help of a facilitator in Youngstown Ohio. I then rode it across the state. Near the end it started breaking spokes, and it was discovered that the spoke protector had been added after the chain drop, to hide the damage. 1980 Trek 414. And the rack was purchased from the For Sale thread.

PilotFishBob 

My 1963 P-13 Deluxe, on OfferUp which I was unfamiliar with at the time it was posted Sept. 2018 in the "Ebay / Craigslist" thread. The affair proved to be a somewhat risky adventure that fortunately turned out very well in the end. It's a wonderful bike.



The OfferUp ad main pic.


The end result.

big chainring

Listed on ebay, this Viking was brought to my attention by a post by smontanaro (Skip), I decided to throw a bid in and see what happens. I was the only bidder at opening bid of $350. Has some interesting features and components. No patent NR derailleur, 177.5 crank arms, 40/32 spoke wheels(not pictured on the bike here). Classic Viking red, with the sailing ship headbadge.

jiangshi

I once posted a De Rosa with 50th Anniversary on a different forum as a heads up because it didn't fit and I'm not a fan of 50th.

I came to my senses and rushed down to a flea market in a not nice part of town and bought it from the very nice lady that got it in a storage unit.

I made a profit of over $2k.

Never share what you may want, or ask a question about a CL bike. Someone will swoop in and take it.


Proof:
https://goo.gl/photos/kHW3nh3ffwU4wRjo8

https://goo.gl/photos/RpX8qSU5t4z3pxp78

tyler_fred

Bought the frameset for $90 from a gentleman in western New York state who had abandoned the project. Post# 48069.

Drillium Dude

I've only ever bought two bikes from CL, and my very first fits the thread requirement. In fact, I did it in the same way as you! Yup, I found it, posted it - and within a couple days of doing so decided to snap it up for myself

**EDIT: Page 1622, Post #40543. The seller's original pics are gone, but I did save one. The bike as-purchased:



The arguably-improved version today:



DD

Drillium Dude

Beautiful!

"Somewhat risky adventure"? Do tell

DD

cqlink 

Got this one for $80 on CL

$100 later:

francophile 

Sadly, I've done it more than a few times.

I can't link to the post on this one because I deleted my reply after this thing didn't sell for 2-3 weeks and I decided to work on facilitating through a BF'er near Austin. Figured it'd be a bad idea if I kept it live and had someone snatch it up while I was trying to score it from halfway across the country. It was a Motobecane Pro Mark I (aka Prolight here in US market) one of the really sleek looking Vitus 979 Ai frames. More info on the bike and pics is over here. Awesome find for a Vitus 979 frame in what turned out to be near-mint condition.



More recently, I'd posted about this Claude Butler in reply 52655. Was listed at $125 and got no bids the first auction cycle. So I eyeballed it for the next several days of auction and hunted a facilitator north of Denver. Seller was cool with dropping it off at the shop of a BF'er a couple miles from his house, and by post 52705 it was boxed and on its way to my door. (a few more pics here)

I had started to work back through the Butler last Saturday, then the a Specialized Epic Comp Carbon popped up for $100 (about to donate the frame to the co-op), and then the Viner popped up for $100, so I had to move it to my temporary project stand to tear those down.

francophile 

I distinctly remember balking a bit critical of the initial price on this one, wasn't it first listed at like $120 or $140? I'll say it again, you did one hell of a job on it.

PilotFishBob 

Turned out the seller was in financial straits, had a air of the desperate. The ask was only $400 but I offered more to ease my conscience, and I still got a great deal in my opinion. Transferring funds and getting the bike shipped was the twitchy part, cash and Western Union (which always makes me nervous) with part up front and the rest and fees once the bike was in possession of a local bike shop and I could confirm its condition and set transfer terms. There was a small glitch in between the down payment and the bike shop, a bit nervous-making. But she got it there (by bus!). In the end it worked out for us both so a good deal all around. She said she had more bikes in storage to sell and I offered to help get the word and pictures out, but she sort of faded away and I never heard back.

ascherer 

My International would be on this list if noglider hadn't tipped me off first!

CAT7RDR

I just purchased this 1999 Schwinn Peloton off of Ebay but it was not on the other forum post unless I missed it and/or it does not qualify as being vintage.
I will receive it in about a week and give a full report on the bike. Probably overpaid $595 but damn it looks fine. Have a Brooks B-17 for it and will put some quality 28mm tires on it to smooth out the ride. Hopefully, that is all that is needed for now. Also have a Dura Ace wheel set ready if needed.

jdawginsc 

Did you paint it? Rattle can or other?

tyler_fred

Rattle can enamel and 2-part urethane.

jdawginsc 

Brands used? Absolutely beautiful job by the way.

toavii

I’ve bought a couple, only one has stuck around.

Clang posted this at post 40445 4/23/17 for $100. Was bummed I didn’t see it in time. Figured what the heck, I’ll call the guy offer $150 and say I can pick up now to jump the line. Original add pictures are gone so I’ve added my as purchased and finished.





I also picked up this since long gone Bridgestone RB-T but I can’t seem to find the add. Before and after:

gomango

Such a great bike for the Twin Cities paths and trails.

Looks so comfy.

I'd be tempted to add a Tubus low rider rack, some decent lighting and maybe a Swift Paloma.

I would do this to my ParkPre Catalyst, but it's a touch small.

Maybe I'll stumble onto one of these or something similar.

cb400bill

I received a PM from a forum member thanking me for posting a small Ironman 12/7/2019 in post 53317. He had it shipped for his wife from St Louis to California.