I'm feeling lazy today and don't feel like posting a big response so I'll just say that I agree with BBM and Miamijim. I have much respect for the way they do their flips and I've tried to reflect that in my builds:

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...ldSport002.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...ning/007-2.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...ioning/023.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...geotU08003.jpg

Thats why you need to be very carefull about what you buy. I always do a quick expence summary in my head before I buy. Usualy I'm looking at $35-45 on top of the cost of the bike.


MS...very nice bikes and thanks for the comlipment. Others should note that your bikes have good 'eye appeal'. They look good and have a flow to them at first glance which is extremely helpfull for a good profitable sale. Your handlebars, seats and brake levers are all properly positioned and you align your crankarms with the frame. Very nice work!!

All the bikes you see were taken down to the bare frame and fork, all bearings on all bikes were repacked and all other parts were replaced as needed. All of them had the fork ends, dropouts and rear derailleur hanger properly aligned and I checked the wheel dish on all bikes. Some bikes like the Raleigh R300, Miyata 310 mixte and Tomassini needed nothing. Other bikes like the black Cannondale needed alot of work, its lower headset cup and fork race were loose along with a few other issues. the bright blue SS was bult up from spare parts.

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/r...DSC02276-1.jpg

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/r...DSC02464-1.jpg

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/DSC01979.jpg

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/r...DSC02195-1.jpg

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/DSC02424.jpg

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/r...h/DSC01966.jpg

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/r...a/DSC02310.jpg

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/DSC02598.jpg

:thumb:

Thanks for your compliment. You do very good work too and I like to do the same as you and BBM. I strip the bike down to the frame, rebuilding it with new components as needed; repacking the bearings. Every bike gets at least tires and tubes, cables and bar tape but usually more as I like to "upgrade" components. I like adding aero levers or a lighter alloy crank if I have one. And sometimes I replace the derailleurs for lighter, better functioning units.

I am certainly not up to the MS or miamijim standards, but here are some of my recent flips:

1986 Nishiki Prestige and a 1981 Trek 412:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/...c4faaced_o.jpg

1981 Voyageur 11.8 (I really liked this bike):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3600/...b34a8c45_o.jpg

On the modern front, a 1997 Schwinn Passage:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3318/...bb0a0e9a_o.jpg

The 1980's road bikes are 90% of what I work on. But occasionally, in hunting for good vintage bikes to work on, you will find something more modern.

You do very nice work too, don't sell yourself short. And yes, that 11.8 Voyager is beautiful.

Ya know, I'm all for saving time - the old saying that "time is money" rings very true on flips.

Here's the deal, though - it is actually faster for me to strip and rebuild a bike than it is to try to clean and repair it while it is still in one piece on the stand. Plus, it is easier to spot problems, it is easier to clean the nooks and crannies, it is easier to do the adjustments, and the bike looks better when done - no little lines of grease, no flecks of rust in the creases, and no little dark spots of grunge in the corners that you can't get to.

This, of course, assumes you have the right tools and the expertise. But the tools come from flip money, and the expertise comes from tearing them down. After you've done 5 or 10, it is pretty much autopilot from there.

That being said, every once in a while I come across a bike that just needs to be cleaned and tuned, so that's all I do. But the vast majority of the bikes I come across are in a pretty advanced stage of disrepair, and they get torn down. It's just easier for me that way.


Oh - and thanks for the compliment!

You're welcome. You were very kind and helpful to me when I started doing this and I haven't forgotten. :thumb:

And I agree that it is quicker to do a complete teardown for the very reasons you stated. Having most of the bike specific tools now is the biggest time saver. It's most satisfying for me to redo everything on the bike and when it's done, sit back and admire the fruits of my labor. I enjoy the picture taking session almost as much as I enjoy the rebuild. :)

It depends. Huffy and Murrays, and any bikes with the paint really bad, usually get the bare minimum to get them working. But classic bikes, or higher quality rides get more attention.
But I'm a sucker for hard luck cases. Old classic, rust-covered three speeds I usually snap up, because I just can't stand to see such old beauties rusting away. I can't help but see what the bike will be when I'm done with it. So, I've taken (or bought) some real sorry looking bikes and redid them from the bare metal up. I usually sell them without too much trouble, and I don't intend to make tons of money - it's really a hobby, a labor of love. But that's just me.
My current offering (a redo from the ground up) - a ladies Western Flyer, single speed with coaster brake, for $120.
Before and after:
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...G/IMG_0072.jpg
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...G/IMG_0276.jpg

http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...G/IMG_0074.jpg
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...G/IMG_0275.jpg

It depends. Huffy and Murrays, and any bikes with the paint really bad, usually get the bare minimum to get them working. But classic bikes, or higher quality rides get more attention.
But I'm a sucker for hard luck cases. Old classic rust covered three speeds I usually snap up, because I just can't stand to see such old beauties rusting away. I can't help but see what the bike will be when I'm done with it. So, I've taken (or bought) some real sorry looking bikes and redid them from the bare metal up. I usually sell them without too much trouble, and I don't intend to make tons of money - it's really a hobby, a labor of love. But that's just me.
My current offering - before and after:
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...G/IMG_0072.jpg
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...G/IMG_0276.jpg

http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...G/IMG_0074.jpg
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...G/IMG_0275.jpg