Buying Bikes
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 516
From: NW Ohio
Bikes: 1983 Univega Super Strada, 1986 Panasonic DX5000, 1984 Fuji Team 85 Univega Gran Turismo, 1984 Lotus Unique, 1987 Centurion Expert, 1987 Centurion Ironman Master,
Buying Bikes
Does anyone else find a nice vintage bike and tell yourself I can buy this one and sell one of my other ones I have?
It doesn't ever seem to work out that way.
It doesn't ever seem to work out that way.
#2
Senior Member



Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 5,777
Likes: 3,336
From: Los Angeles
Bikes: 82 Medici, 85 Ironman, 2011 Richard Sachs
Sometimes it works. I was about to sell one after a n+1 to return to n but I made the mistake of riding the planned -1 bike and it rode so nicely that I couldn't sell it.
__________________
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs. But I do hate all e-bikes.
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs. But I do hate all e-bikes.
#3
Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 1,691
From: Berkeley CA
Bikes: 1981 Ron Cooper, 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa, 1975 Alex Singer, 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 1, 1986 Miyata 710, 1982 Raleigh "International", 1985 Trek 720
I tell myself that all the time. It works fine.
Oh, are you implying that we should actually DO that? Are you trying to get banned from the forum?
Oh, are you implying that we should actually DO that? Are you trying to get banned from the forum?
#4
Senior Member


Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,106
Likes: 2,757
From: Fredericksburg, Va
Bikes: ? Proteous, '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, 'Litespeed Catalyst'94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster
I made that mistake once. I don't plan on doing that again.
__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
#5
Bikes are okay, I guess.



Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 8,006
Likes: 3,772
From: Richmond, Virginia
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT, Jeunet mixte
It's actually a great plan if you have limited space, maybe the only way to do it.
#6
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 4,628
Likes: 943
From: Ontario, Canada
Bikes: iele Latina, Miele Suprema, Miele Uno LS, Miele Miele Beta, MMTB, Bianchi Model Unknown, Fiori Venezia, Fiori Napoli, VeloSport Adamas AX
I have a couple of vintage bikes that the frames are a bit bigger than what I normally ride. I got them for around $30.00 Canadian each. One is a Miyata Seven Ten that I paid $30.00 CDN for because I wanted the wheels that had brand new never mounted tires. I made the mistake of riding it. Ditto for the others that I should sell.
$30.00 CDN Miyata Seven Ten.




Cheers
$30.00 CDN Miyata Seven Ten.




Cheers
#7
Senior Member




Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,082
Likes: 9,439
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
#9
Bike Butcher of Portland


Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 12,434
Likes: 7,938
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: It's complicated.
My sig:
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#10
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,475
Likes: 4,879
From: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, 86 De Rosa Pro, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
depends on whether the significant other notices ore not
Word to the wise, my wife has no interest in those death traps, but caught a glimpse of de rosa red and asked what the new bike was..... but no notice of team miyata blue . so if you get a red de rosa you can sure it will be noticed....even if you don't want it to be noticed
Word to the wise, my wife has no interest in those death traps, but caught a glimpse of de rosa red and asked what the new bike was..... but no notice of team miyata blue . so if you get a red de rosa you can sure it will be noticed....even if you don't want it to be noticed
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
#13
Senior Member



Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,166
Likes: 5,350
From: SF Bay Area, East bay
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200, Soma double cross 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball, Waterford rs11
depends on whether the significant other notices ore not
Word to the wise, my wife has no interest in those death traps, but caught a glimpse of de rosa red and asked what the new bike was..... but no notice of team miyata blue . so if you get a red de rosa you can sure it will be noticed....even if you don't want it to be noticed
Word to the wise, my wife has no interest in those death traps, but caught a glimpse of de rosa red and asked what the new bike was..... but no notice of team miyata blue . so if you get a red de rosa you can sure it will be noticed....even if you don't want it to be noticed
#14
WV is not flat..

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,446
Likes: 591
From: Charles Town,Wv.
Bikes: 1 away from divorce!
I’ve done this a couple times (like just yesterday). So this means since I sold 4 bikes at a swap meet, I can get the next 4 I’m interested in? The wife has kind of resigned to the fact that I will continue to roll through bikes. However, she does know I am respectful to the amount of money that funds the inventory.
#15
Mr. Anachronism


Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,110
Likes: 291
From: Somewhere west of Tobie's
Bikes: fillet-brazed Chicago Schwinns, and some other stuff

__________________
"My only true wisdom is in knowing I have none" -Socrates
"My only true wisdom is in knowing I have none" -Socrates
#16
Senior Member


Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,106
Likes: 2,757
From: Fredericksburg, Va
Bikes: ? Proteous, '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, 'Litespeed Catalyst'94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster
depends on whether the significant other notices ore not
Word to the wise, my wife has no interest in those death traps, but caught a glimpse of de rosa red and asked what the new bike was..... but no notice of team miyata blue . so if you get a red de rosa you can sure it will be noticed....even if you don't want it to be noticed
Word to the wise, my wife has no interest in those death traps, but caught a glimpse of de rosa red and asked what the new bike was..... but no notice of team miyata blue . so if you get a red de rosa you can sure it will be noticed....even if you don't want it to be noticedWhen she notices, my response will be "You got a cat, I get a bike."
IMG_20200216_221424, on Flickr
P1030035, on Flickr
__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
#18
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,475
Likes: 4,879
From: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, 86 De Rosa Pro, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
LOL, I just pulled it out of the box last week. It is hanging next to the red Langster. So far so good!
When she notices, my response will be "You got a cat, I get a bike."
IMG_20200216_221424, on Flickr
P1030035, on Flickr
When she notices, my response will be "You got a cat, I get a bike."
IMG_20200216_221424, on Flickr
P1030035, on Flickr
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
#19
Happy banana slug

Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,545
Likes: 2,493
From: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
#20
Does anyone ... tell yourself I can buy this one and sell one of my other ones?
I thank the lords and devils for craigs and ebay every day.
#21
2-Wheeled Fool
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 680
From: New Hampshire
Bikes: Surly Ogre, Brompton
Same here. Its a game that I thoroughly enjoy playing. Akin to fishing; we remember equally the big ones landed as well as the ones tat spit out the hook an disappeared into the depths.
#22
Seņor Member



Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,462
Likes: 1,554
From: Hardy, VA
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
#23
Thrifty Bill

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,639
Likes: 1,106
From: Mans of NC & SW UT Desert
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Tip: Find bikes that aren't your size. So much easier to part with those. Also easier to find.....
#24
Senior Member


Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 21,804
Likes: 3,705
LOL, I just pulled it out of the box last week. It is hanging next to the red Langster. So far so good!
When she notices, my response will be "You got a cat, I get a bike."
IMG_20200216_221424, on Flickr
P1030035, on Flickr
When she notices, my response will be "You got a cat, I get a bike."
IMG_20200216_221424, on FlickrP1030035, on Flickr
#25
Senior Member♣️

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 4,075
Likes: 3,004
I have done that before. I bought a 1984Centurion Elite RS for$100 and rode it for 2 years. I actually liked the bike a lot , it was just not the seventies or Euro bike I usually roll with. I listed it on CL for $300(it was like new and all original) and sold it within a couple of days .I put the money in my sock drawer and , wouldn't you know it, a 1977 Raleigh Competition GS showed up on CL for $300 that was in just as good of shape as the Centurion! It wasn't planned , but it just worked out. My wife just resigned herself to my obsession .

1984 Centurion Elite RS

1977 Raleigh Competition GS, I will keep this one!

1984 Centurion Elite RS

1977 Raleigh Competition GS, I will keep this one!






