Found a Bridgstone 500 with SunTour Cyclone II derailleurs, an SR Sakae crank, Custom drop bars and a front pannier rack at a thift store. It had a label, "4130 Chrome Moly...Triple Butted Tube" It was a tired looking bike, needing a real cleaning and probably a new paint job as well as a chain and tires and replacing the rusty headset, but all there. They are asking $129 for it, anyone have a clue these are worth the effort of fixing up a rider?

ANY Bridgestone is worth buying if it's in fairly good
repair, all there and can be cleaned up.

With Bridgestone you think........."Rivendell". :D :D

Damm that is a reach.But maybe if one smokes enough carpet. I have a Bridgestone road frame in the crawl space collecting spider eggs,and all it says to me is overweight POC.I have older vintage Univegas,a Centurian and a Novara that are better.

Hi,
as I remember, the 500 was at the low end.
I'd say $129 is waaay too much. I'd say keep looking.

The bike is prolly pre Grant Petersen (a rather idosyncratic and respected designer). I'd say 129$ is high for that thrift store bike. $50 tops for what you have described, although old bike pricing runs higher in some urban areas (NYC, for example). Slightly later, petersen designed Bstones certainly have a cult following and are worth more. I have an RB2, a mid-level Petersen Bstone, and it more than holds it's own against the expensive Italians some of my ride partners haul around (of course, this difference is entirely due to the sterling engine powering the RB2 ;)). I do like that bike. Well worth the 40$ I paid for it.

Despite Syd's POC comment, by that period you get a bike that is very well put together and prolly would make a very good beater/utility ride. And the Cyclone mechs are real nice, IME. But at that price, I'd keep looking.

The rust on the HS likely can be cleaned off with a bit of brass wool. As long as to the races are okay, the HS is likely good. Can't tell until you look inside.

That's definitely around the price you'd pay here in NYC, maybe even more. So I'd say if it's anywhere else, than it's waaay over price. Don't let the market price go up. That's how prices are so ungodly high here :).

The spiders love the RB2, so sydney will just keep on pedlin the garlic and olive oil stuff.

The thrift stores here haven't caught on.Goodwill prices everything at $15.99, and others re stuck on $6.99. Goodwill is considered upscale.

thanks guys

I am passing this up. This thrift store is hungry, they mark the worst beat-up *Mart bikes at $59 and up.

Presently I am dismantling a rusty Columbus-tubed Schwinn SS to upgrade a plain non-butted seamless tubed cro-mo SR in decent shape that is just my size for a touring bike, luckily I have Mafacs to reach the 700c wheels.

Sad you let that bike go. Those were fine Hand built lug frames. The 500 groups set cyclone is a very light and dependable system. the Top of the line dual channel eyelet Araya 13 mm wide ID is a very much sought after rim for 27 inch rims wheel set is worth the 129.
I have no clue where you got your info on this Japanese built bike but try to buy a nice 4130 lugged frame.
the aluminum seat post and the Selle Italia leather saddle is worth What ?
Give good OldSteele a break.

Welcome to C&V, Oldsteele.

You do realize you are responding to a 4.5 year old post?

How many have been here long enough to remember Sydney?

May he rest in peace.

yes I realize that and I needed to set it right. I feel bikes are like rolling art some are nicer.
That bike 4 years ago was still worth 250 dollars.

You know what this newly-revived thread is really missing? A picture. Here's my 550, as close as I can get to a 500:

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/7cee5bba.jpg

I remember him. It still upsets me when these threads surface. I didn't post a lot in those days (or now), but I always respected him. I still do.