Worth the price?
 

I'm thinking of getting an English 3 speed but don't know much about them. I found this one on CL but it seems to be priced a little high. What do you guys think?

http://eugene.craigslist.org/bik/692622735.html

On the very high side, yes - but then again, the color (of which I forgot the Raleigh terminology for) is not too common. Worthless if you prefer sizes over 21" though.

That said, the seller is speaking out of his behind on his website - enough for me to already dislike the numbskull. "A bike like this will sell for between $400 and $500 completely rebuilt." Phooey - why is he selling it for $250 then? And why was he asking $400 earlier?

Keep in mind the dented and twisted rear fender.

For that matter, get a load of his bearing repack job - done in the rain :roflmao:

-Kurt

P.S. to the seller: Don't forget to gloat about the price of that cotter pin press ;)

Offer him a quarter of what he's asking, after all he has documented that he repacked the bearing in the rain, put grease instead of oil in the front hub, and merely serviced a nice tidy bike.:D

You should be able to get a english three speed in good condition for much less than that.

Note: He oiled the peddles with Liquid Wrench. :rolleyes: That would not be my choice. I usually use oil to oil peddles and Liquid Wrench to attack rust when I can't remove/unbolt a part.

OH my goodness! How did he take apart the bike and put it back together! I didn't know that was possible! What are all those tiny metal bits? Is that red grease icky feeling on your hands?

I'm going to give this person all of my money. Stand back.

Prices for bikes like that on the left coast are usually exorbitant. I think you would do better on fleabay or possibly scouring yard sales. FWIW I paid about half that for one in similar condition, but it was a Superbe and in the larger frame size. And I had it shipped in from Boston.

Aaron:)

Looks like it is in good shape, but $250 is too much.

Offer him $60. He will say "no", but leave your phone number. If he wants to move it, he will call you back.

Pedals have bearings. Bearings need grease, not oil (unless you use an oil bath, which pedals do not have). So, if he used Liquid Wrench, he rinsed any hint of grease that might have been in the pedals. Plan to re-build or replace the pedals.

Thanks for the feedback, I offered him $75. We'll see what he says.
I just need a cheap bike to leave parked at teh train station but I really don't want some crappy 200$ mountain bike.

the gem here isn't the bike, it's following his thread to see the bikebus and his photography. pretty interesting snapshot of the old hippie days...

If that is the case, I wouldn't suggest this Raleigh then. Find one that looks absolutely horrid, get it ridable, and use that. Something like this:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/1976_DL1.jpg

The rustier the better - particularly if it will be left in the weather.

-Kurt

FYI in Oregon $250 for a properly done bike is probably on the low side. Not that this one has been properly done, but as a comparison. Vintage 3 speeds are NOT cheap bikes here.

--Karl

all that work to repack old original bearings; that he knows were never maintained?...........except for the general cleaning; he didn't do that bike any real service........

that bike does look like it's in pretty good shape. I love that color. no pics of the driveside cup coming out? I wonder why? oh, I know, they never come out. I have rebuilt and sold a few english 3-speeds here in northern cal for 250+ however they were very, very clean and I rebuilt everything, the wheels too. my guess is that is a decent 100.00-125.00 bike considering it's on cl and the guy is trying to make money with his lackluster wrenching abilities. I'd give him 150.00 for the bike and the cotter press. I'm guessing that you'll need it cause he didn't file the new cotters.

I'm reading the webpage know, it's pretty interesting.