CalifKid

I'm new to this forum, and was draw to try to find out information about my bike. I bought a light blue SR Semi pro in about 1982, and rode it for a couple of years. Well, it's been sitting in my garage since then, and I've decided I need to get rid of it. Anyone have an idea of how much it's worth, and the best way to sell it? I'd prefer not to give it to Salvation Army.

Thanks

wrk101

Clean it up and sell it on Craigs List.

Yogurt

We're going to need pictures.

dudeona3V

I had one of these. Great bike for the money. It's a nice blue as I recall (mine was the candy red/black). I donated mine as you're thinking of doing and, while I'm always happy to help out those less fortunate, I find myself second guessing at times. If yours has the original Shimano 600 Arabesque in respectable condition, it's worth listing for that alone. I second the motion on posting photos.

cuda2k

SR is a brand that has virtually no information about online. And what information is out there is very sketchy and unconfirmed. I'm actually considering buying a late 70's SR Semi-Pro, so photos of yours would be greatly appreciated!

CalifKid

The frame is in good condition (with a few nicks from sitting in the garage and being moved several times). The rubber on the brake handles (does that make sense?) is rotting and peeling away, the tape on the handle bars is peeling away. Of course the tires are flat. It's covered with about 1/2 inch of dust. No surprise as it's been sitting in the garage for almost 25 years. All of the components say Shimano 600 on them (I'm guessing they are all the original pieces) and it is a nice light blue. I'm sure it would be short work for anyone that knows anything about bikes. I'll try to take a picture and post it. Any idea as to what I ought to ask?

Thanks

scthomson

I had the exact same model, and I upgraded many of the parts over the first few years of having the bike.

I took the bike on many long-distance tours and it always performed flawlessly. The long chainstays helped make the bike comfortable.

The blue was a metallic, robin's egg or sky blue and the script used for the decals was celtic font.

Mine came with 27" rims, instead of 700c, and when I rebuilt the wheels, I used the original sealed Suzue hubs with a NOS pair of Weinmann Concave Touring Rims. Covered with Conti Top-Touring tires, the wheelset was indestructible.

Post some picks!

CalifKid

I took a picture, but it is too large to upload. Any suggestions?

USAZorro

If the photo is on a web site, right click on the photo on the web site, select "Copy Image Location", then come here and either reply or edit, click on the little yellow mountain, press CTRL+V, then enter, and your picture will magically appear.

Don't feel bad, it took me months to figure it out.

CalifKid

I took it with my digital camera, but when I try to upload I'm told it's too large (it's on my computer). Can I do the same thing into a message? I tried doing it into this message and it didn't work. I think there is a way to reduce the size of a picture (save it as a less clear picture)

Thanks

USAZorro

Make a free account with FLICKR and upload your shots there. Once your picture is hosted on the web, you can follow the instructions I left two posts up.

Bottomfeeder

I too owned and rode the very same bike through college 25 years ago. I recently bought one for $150, which I am in the process of refurbishing - as opposed to restoring. I would say that if the bike is in good shape that's a decent price, as in my opinion, 80% of the 'vintage' bikes on Craig's List are hilariously over-priced. You could sit there all day and flag ads as "Looking of a SUCKER!" And I've done that. But I digress.

If the bike has really been sitting inside all this time, chances are it is in pretty good shape under all that dust, including the wheels. If I had looked closer at the bike I bought ( I only saw it for a few minutes in a dark driveway at night ) I would have offerred the guy a $100, since the spokes were coroded enough to warrant rebuilding the wheels. If the wheels are in truly rideable shape, and you don't mind shining it up and replacing the handlebar tape, you might fetch a couple hundred from the right buyer. The rubber hoods are pricey on Ebay. I decided to fit newer, aero brakes on mine.

A picture would really help. What size do you think it is?

DanO

BikeManDan

It should be noted, last I heard, SR the bike brand had nothing to do with the SR the parts manufacturer (Sakae Ringyo) other than they were both Japanese

Bottomfeeder

True. The SR's aren't classics in the, well, classic sense, or true collectibles. Simply decent bikes, made of decent steel (even Soma will charge you $800 for a similar lugged frame these days) and decent components. As stated, the Semi Pro featured Shimano 600. I also owned a SR Professional, which sported Durace components and nicer steel frame and lighter, although not necessarily better depending on how one rode, wheels. I taco'd that one T-boning a car and gave the Durace groupo to my brother. Boy, do I regret that. But I digress.

SR also sold a few lower grade 'touring' models with the lower, third tier components of the day. Stem mounted shifters are a dead give-away. I would avoid them. But I can't wait until I get my Semi Pro back on the road. I've rebuilt the wheels and all I need is a warm enough weekend to paint the frame.

DanO

dudeona3V

Posting image for CalifKid. On first appearance, it looks like it's in decent shape; just needs some cleaning up. I'll be happy to post more if we can get a driveside, headset, seat cluster, etc.:

Bottomfeeder

Yea. From the looks of the head tube, that's about identical to the one I bought earlier this year. Except mine had brazed on cable guides on the top tube. Big frame... about a 61 or 63 cm. Truthfully, it's a size or two big for me. But I'm riding a 56cm Surly Crosscheck, which I wish was at least a 58cm. So I'm gonna try rolling with a bigger frame, the Rivendell way.

Find a spoke wrench and see if the nipples still turn on the spokes. Like I said, if the spokes aren't corroded and the wheels are straight, or at least in trueable condition, you should be able to get between a buck-fifty and a buck-seventy-five.

Now if you can show that the paint is truly 90 or 95%... well that could be as, or more important than the wheels. Take it from me; nobody likes to consider paying more for a good, single color paint job than they paid for the whole bike in the first place. (That's why I'm going for a rattle can paint job. After rebuilding the wheels, I don't have the budget for even powdercoating.) Righteous wheels and great paint?... clean it up, tune it up and ask $200.

Here's an example from Craig's List L.A.. Surprisingly, it's reasonably priced. https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/bik/629496351.html

DanO

CalifKid

Thank you for the sample add. I'd probably be pretty comfortable getting $150 as-is with a little clean up. Since it is original, isn't it important to try to keep it original? How would I get the tape and brake rubber thingies that were the same style as the original? I live in Southern California, so that add is probably a good comparable. If I find a seller, how do I go about mailing it? Do I go to a bike store and get a box from then, then send it UPS or something?

Bottomfeeder

Personally I don't think so, since it's not a 25 year old Colnago or Bianchi (and even some old low end Bianchi's would be better off with upgraded components!) Save for the odd 'SR enthusiasts', like myself, who are interested because they rode one back in the day, no one is going to bust your balls because you've installed modern, aero brake levers. I'm doing just that myself, because it's cheaper to find a set of newer, better levers than to track down the old gummy brake covers in good to NOS (new old stock) condition.

Again; If we were talking about a bicycle, new or old, which you would be selling for $500 to $1000 or perhaps more, shipping and insurance charges might be in your and the buyers interest to consider. And I know people regularly ship stuff they sell for $10 or $20 on Ebay. But that is usually for small items, adds $10 to the total, and is more profit for the seller, since it usually costs $2 or $3 to send the item. In your case; it will cost you $40 - $50 to mail the bike, plus insurance, and $20 or $30 maybe more for a shop to box it up if you don't. Could be a deal breaker for someone too far away to come pick it up. If I were selling it on Craig's List or Ebay, I would list it as local pick-up only.

DanO

Frankly, I wish I'd seen your bike last year. I might not be looking at a stripped frame wondering how the rattle can paint job is going to go. But one Semi Pro is enough in the stable - even for the odd SR fan. Good Luck.

CalifKid

Why don't you cut your losses on the other one and buy mine? I might have some tubes and things to throw in (if I can find them). Where is Agua Dulce?

Bottomfeeder

Gonna PM Ya.

SR-Rolla

I have a SR but it doesn't have any name on it...my shop guy said it was a semi-pro but mine has full suntour groupo on it (sealed bearing hubs/ superbe front d/cyclone M II rear/ Sakae crank and seat post) here are the photos i have.

DRE

I have an SR Semi Pro Aero that I bought in Seal Beach back in the early '80s. The little bike shop that I bought it from was owned by a bike racer. I now live 200 miles north, but dropped by the other day and he seems to be closed down. My SR is completely stock and I'm thinking of passing it along. Maybe I'll do the Craig's List thing.

chadwebster

this is my SR "pro racing" with full dura ace and tange #2 frame w/chrome drop outs, if your sr is anything like mine im sure its a joy to ride

illwafer

chad, your pro is nicer than mine. mine came with suntour cyclone mkii throughout. still an awesome bike.

chadwebster

thanks waffer, yours is looking pretty classy too, what rims are those out of curiosity?