masi61

...parts (by the previous owner).

I have a really nice Klein Performance that had the Klein pressfit bottom bracket removed and the owner pressed in Phil external BB bearings to run a Shimano HT2 crank. I think he decided to sell when he realized that the BB shell would have to be faced to the correct spec in order to run the HT2 cranks.

Or the early 1990's Merlin titanium that also has press fit "grease guard" bottom bracket and has to be run only with a square taper crank.

I get a bit overambitious and take on some of these and yes, they get stalled in the pipeline while I temporarily forget that , yeah - the thing that stalled the prior owner is messing with my completion of the job.

anyway...just wondering if others have taken on challenging mechanical jobs in order to get a desirable or even a "grail" level bike for a good price? Are you motivated to service it properly to keep it in a stock configuration or did you try to restomod it?

PS, I also have a Cannondale Silk Tour 800 and find that while it is pretty cool, the local Cannondale shop has already said they don't want to mess with any Future Shok issues...

nlerner

I had one of those Merlin Ti bikes with the odd SunTour BB. Fortunately, it spun fine, and I found a crank that worked well. Unfortunately, it was a bit too small for me, so I moved it on at a bit more than I paid (via eBay).

I'd say most French bikes have less interest because of all the odd Frenchness they come with.

52telecaster

The Motos are almost always a deal because of the bb. I love em.

Lattz

I street picked a 69' Gitane tandem with bent fork, already brought a few older bikes bikes back on the roads from the grave I thought its way too nice just to leave it there for the trash car. Now that thought on the ins and outs of 1., French stuff are "special" 2., tandems are "special" 3., the combo of the two is "extremely special".

Needless to say even after years of search my original thought of "bah, Gitane was huge, I'm sure I can get a fork in no time, even in the orig turquoise" failed big time so far.
Other than that I buy dirt cheap classics (minus the recent Cannondale CAAD4) and get them running on whatever I have or can afford. No budget to go for Pebble Beach Concourse state...

masi61

My tendency is to not aim for the "Pebble Beach Concours state" so much as just properly updating the bike to accept the best functioning, and best looking components and make it relevant and a go-to daily type commuter or club rider again. I am a bit disappointed that there isn't more of a "home shop machinist" contingent to the classic and vintage crowd. I could almost fabricate my own Klein BB installation tool, but would like it even more if some other enthusiast would build up a kit from premium materials and offer up a small production run of them over Bikeforums at a fair price.

Lattz

Oh yeah, although given the country you are in, these people might exists somewhere and they are most likely on BF as well, but spread all over it a bit. You know what I miss (specially since I'm an expat for years now)? I grew up in post socialist Hungary, where on every corner there was some old dud who spent his life on one or the other industry. The soc. life taught people not to throw away things but to repair them, or find one of these "dudes" who can repair "everything".

So in a 20km area you could find a specialist, no matter if you needed a custom forged screw or chrome plating something, engraving whatever... They might not even be able to count more than 15 or spell their names, but their work was pristine, since that was their life, and their prices were rally low.
Now the world changed even there, and these people disappeared, or the younger ones lived up to the modern market, made some school, calling themselves professionals, since now they have papers not only knowledge and ask you exorbitant prices for everything - since they are still rare on the market - but if they know your stuff to get repaired is a valuable one, they don't hesitate to ask twice the price assuming if you have an expensive xyz, than you should have extra money for their work as well (partially this is right). Here in Germany people get a fair salary, so everything service related is quite expensive.

merziac

Yes, bring me your poor, tired, weary, broken, cobbled uh, bargains.

I'll sort em out or back burner them like there's no tomorrow.

Dylansbob 

I prefer to just buy grails from people who have no idea....

The $160 Pinarello Montello had been inherited by a nephew, who put new tires on and tried to train for the STP in the early '00s. It was covered in at least a decade of dust before I happened to catch the OU ad 5 minutes after he posted it.
The $100 pawn shop Klein Attitude that "didn't have suspension", so it was priced at a third of the BSO Mongeese.
The $20 nickel-plate Mongoose bmx that was "just another junk kids bike"

RustyJames 

Not really a grail bike but my rod brake Bianchi had a snapped steerer tube so it was cheap-ish. Old but never used Brooks Flyer was included so that sweetened the deal. Many $$ later it is almost ready to ride. 😬

wrk101

1. The Juvela I picked up was missing a lot of original parts, replaced by doggy RSX bits. Got it as a package deal with the Stout bike I wanted.


2. The Mikkelsen Criterium I picked up earlier this year, that had garbage wheels on it and was not rideable. Also had some crap hybrid seat post crammed into the seat tube. But it still had Campy brakes, crankset, and headset. Sat on Las Vegas FB marketplace for over TWO months. I guess there aren't many knowledgeable bike people in Vegas.




Came with a crap front wheel and a cushy saddle.

SJX426 

Not sure I understand the title but here is my attempt to address it.
Picked up Pinarello that was used for commuting. The purchase was negotiated with a 50% reduction (<$175) in the asking price. It was a frankenbike of components. Most were hight end like DA hubs. Paint was far worse than one would expect.
Pinarello Vento- as purchased on Flickr

Example of condition
P1000949 on Flickr

This frame was strippped and is planned for my daughter. I twill be decked out in 740x parts. Here is a build with Suntour Superbe Pro.
Pinarello Veneto on Flickr

Another one is a 1984 Trek 760. The problem was that this was a mid-project bike picked up for <$125. The fork was a Giant uniicrown, ugh.
1984 Trek 760 60cm as acquired on Flickr

Although this is a rattle can paint job, the original decals were masked off. A bent '85 fork was found on the bay but local and acquired with subsequent repair (more bending but in the right way). Currently it is a "mule" for trying one or two comfort related experiments. The components now on it are the indexed Superbe Pro that was intended for the Pinarello originally. This actually brings it closer to original configuration. Although there are Superbe Pro hubs in the inventory, it currently has Mavic 501 hubs on GL330 rims that were sourced from the Colnago. this is an older pic. the stem is now on the De Rosa and the bar tape remains as it is used as a temporary HB tape until a final decision is made. This is a very nice ride with exceptional braking with the Super Pro hidden spring calipers/Kool Stops.
P1040796 on Flickr

Kabuki12

I have posted many times about the deals I have gotten. Even though I have ...uhmm.... a lot of bikes , I still look! There are deals out there .

Lattz

No doubt those are walking hand in hand wit the "someone gave me" for the best title. But ultimately its the same. If the owner doesnt know the bike or he doesnt know or care that the repair would cost peanuts are not that far from each other.

Lattz

The '85 ALAN frame I bought for EUR25 with the usual head lug crack BUT already welded fits here. Since it's the black alu model, it is kind of rare among the ALANs.
Kind of weird but also fits here is the Rossin triathlon bike. EUR 140, because the Grip Shifts and the connecting rod on the Syntace tria HB were broken (not that I wouldn't show them the trajectory to the neighbors garden), plus the whole HB was covered in guano. It got a horribly long 3T Mutant and a Moscow bar, a dirt cheap FIR Aria rear wheel, plus changed the mix of Shimano parts to a mix of Campy.
Most possibly a one-off from the days when Rossin still offered custom (until someone comes and says its a custom made bike by xyz builder, but many traces show its a Rossin) made to order bikes, built in the rare Columbus EGO aero tubing. No serial no or whatsoever.