I'm in the market for a road bike and want an older one because I enjoy the tinkering. I sold my bridgstone a year ago and miss it.
I have been spending some time on C&V and really got the itch for another old road bike.
this one https://detroit.craigslist.org/bik/594463353.html is on my local craigslist and would like some input from this sub forum.
Thanks
Wayne

A good bike
Price is reasonable, not a "deal" per say but it is an appropriate pricing in my book.

I think the price is good for someone who is not "one of us" the person selling it is "one of us" in that the bike has been tuned cleaned and completely overhaul. This would cost over $100 to have a bike shop do what has been done to the bike.

OK, so it's a nice clean looking bike but, lets face it, it's a used 12 speed. It is way over priced.

You should be able to get a much better deal than that.

Lotus's are very nice bikes, one recently sold for about $1k on eBay. The long lugs and clean lines grabbed my attention when I saw the bike. Actually, the tune up would cost closer to $150+ in a local shop, check at American Fitness or one of the other local shops, and ask what it would cost to repack every bearing (included head set and bottom bracket, true two wheels, put new cables/casings on new bar tape,and clean it up.

I know the seller, his bikes are done perfectly, and he has dozens of satisfied customers. You really can't go wrong.

Gee, my last two used 12 speeds cost me over $1k a piece. I guess I'm an idiot

I'll vouch for the skill of the wrench who rebuilt that bike.Like cyclotoine said, He's one of us, and he know's his stuff.

Listen to the C&V oldtimers; they'll point you in the right direction. While I'm a fairly new member I still view the Lotus as a good deal, especially if you can get "close and personal" with it before you make an offer. Add to that the referrals from BF members and no shipping costs and it's a good deal.

Gee...I only got 10 speeds for my last excessive purchase.

Thanks for the response.
I want a deal but I don't mind the price if its worth it.
It really is clean looking from the pictures and it's and hour and a half one way to look at it.
Gonna have to have a talk with the wife.

Excellent point!

Bike is not a "Catch-of-the-Day", but certainly worth the 3 bills for a well tuned & ready to ride bike.
IF it fits you, that is.

The ad is a classic example of WELL DONE!
I would buy from this eller in a heartbeat!

The pictures are good & clear. The bike looks very well set up, ie; no funky seat position or extranious cable housing. The description is brief, clear and has proper grammar, including punctuation & capitalization. (NO AOLese either) So I can surmise that I'm NOT dealing with a kid or an idiot.

I told a friend of mine recently that the best ad description should ANSWER ANY questions someone might have. That way they DON'T HAVE to ASK!

I agree. I've spent some time looking at this ad.

+1 to all of the above (i.e. good value but not a killer deal; quality bike in that condition wrenched by a knowing hand, beats the $700 you'd pay for an entry level new road bike by a mile ...), with an addition:

That 105 group from that era is incredible. I'd have to see the Shimano date codes to be sure, but it looks to be '86 or '87, and I have that group on a bike. The indexed shifting is good enough that apparently a few pros in that year put 105 on their bikes instead of Dura Ace or 600, because it worked so well (usually, innovation is "top down" i.e. the high end groups get the new technology first, with the next levels following by a year or two, but this was an exception ... the indexing technology in 1986 105 migrated to 600 and Dura Ace in following years). In addition, the SLR brakes have been regaled by none other than the late, and much-missed, Sheldon Brown as being possible the best single pivot sidepull ever made.

Finally, if you get the bike, give the BioPace rings a chance. Sheldon was also a huge advocate of these, and taking his advice, I ride them a lot. My 50 year old knees love them.

Short summary: talk the guy down if you can, but if you ride it and it fits, go for it.

Wow - I just took apart my 85 Cannondale and it has the SLRs. I'm glad I only sold the frame!

My question on this purchase is - if you want to tinker, why not buy something a little more in-the-rough so you can both save money and get to tinkering?

+1 on the niceness of that ride though...

As jebensch said, if you're looking to do a bit of tinkering--don't buy that bike ! It's obviously been lovingly taken apart and put back together again properly.

You want something a lot more beat up that that bike. I do think it's a bit much, but I love the colour .

East Hill

Next time I spend $1000 on a bike, I'm going to demand that I get 13 speeds (insert Spinal Tap smiley here).

Neal

I cheated, & scored a Campy triple off the 'Bay. Now 15 SPEEDS!!!

and well over a thousand bucks total.

If I had the bones Id buy it as its a really nice looking bike If you like it and you have the spare cash plop it up with a biscuit

Just take a little extra cash with you, & take your wife out to one of the many nice resturants in A.A.! That way it is a nice T.Y. for not giving you a hard time if you decide to buy the bike! If you need some suggestions, just pm me & I will give you a few good places to eat.

I don't know the seller, but I know O.F.G. wouldn't steer anyone wrong.

Chris

That is a beautiful color combination!

That bike is definitely worth $300. As a dozen other people have said, it's not an amazing find like the $150 Paramount, but if it fits you, you can't go wrong for the price, especially in a college town like Ann Arbor.

I would like to be contrary and fight the crowd...

But, I just can't in this case. Triple butted chromoly, forged drops, sweet long lugs and very little wear.

You would probably be paying more for the bike than it cost new, but with inflation adjustment, you are getting a great deal.

For comparison, I think a Surly frame tends to run $400, and these are among the best values in affordable frames available new. With this deal you pay less, and get a complete bike.

If I were in the market for a bike like this, I would offer a little less just to take a shot at getting a sweeter deal, maybe $250.

Wow, everybody talking up my bike. I like it. Thanks everyone. The Lotus and every bike I fix up get completely stripped down to the frame. I clean and regrease the headset and bottom bracket always. The entire drive train (front and rear derailleurs, freewheel, crank, chainrings, chain, and sometimes shifters as well) gets completely cleaned up in an ultrasonic cleaner. I regrease the headset and bottom bracket and then start building it back up. Most bikes tend to get new cables and housing as well as new bar tape. The wheels get trued and hubs rebuilt as needed. I just checked one of my Ann Arbor LBS (Two Wheel Tango) websites and their similar repair overhaul costs $250. I usually say in my ads that the overhaul would cost $100 + from a local bike shop, but I don't know why I didn't in this listing.

Hint: Wayne the price is not set in stone. I am open to offers.

Well that basically settles it; email this guy and start negotiating a price already.

Never let it be said that I argued with an 'Old Fat Guy's' choice of words. :-)