Donor Bikes
10-09-09 | 08:20 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 604
Likes: 115
From: Charlotte, NC
Donor Bikes
What bikes have you used as parts donors? I've gotten 27" alloy wheels, pedals , alloy handlebars,and bottom brackets from 80's, step-through frame Schwinn Travelers and World Sports I got for $10 at thrift stores.
I recently cannibalized a Japanese Bianchi Strada I'd upgraded to get parts for a Lotus build-up. I felt bad about de-commissioning the spunky Bianchi and will be watching out for suitable parts to get it back into the rider fleet.
I recently cannibalized a Japanese Bianchi Strada I'd upgraded to get parts for a Lotus build-up. I felt bad about de-commissioning the spunky Bianchi and will be watching out for suitable parts to get it back into the rider fleet.
10-09-09 | 08:30 PM
#2
Thrifty Bill
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,639
Likes: 1,106
From: Mans of NC & SW UT Desert
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Just about anything at the right price. Even a Huffy can have decent tires and tubes, perhaps a seat.
Most of my donor bikes have had significant frame issues. Some I got for free.
The most I paid for a donor was $30, it had a good complete drivetrain that I needed to complete another bike, and the frame was straight and cromoly. I may just rebuild that frameset later.
Not all of my donors started as donors. Some were purchasing "mistakes", but made at a low enough price that I recouped my investment in take off parts.
Most of my donor bikes have had significant frame issues. Some I got for free.
The most I paid for a donor was $30, it had a good complete drivetrain that I needed to complete another bike, and the frame was straight and cromoly. I may just rebuild that frameset later.
Not all of my donors started as donors. Some were purchasing "mistakes", but made at a low enough price that I recouped my investment in take off parts.
10-09-09 | 09:40 PM
#3
Super Course fan
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,720
Likes: 9
From: Lost on the windswept plains of the Great Black Swamp
80's Schwinn's make great donors, 80's Raleigh's too.
__________________
I have a white PX-10, a Green Dawes Galaxy and an Orange Falcon, now I'm done.
I have a white PX-10, a Green Dawes Galaxy and an Orange Falcon, now I'm done.
10-10-09 | 03:41 PM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,918
Likes: 316
From: New York Metro Area
I've gotten tires, tubes, cables, brake pads, reflectors and all types of stuff off of old Huffys, Murrays, and better bikes that had frame damage.
"Penny saved is a penny earned" - Ben Franklin
You can sometimes pull some good stuff off the carcasses of free junk bikes.
"Penny saved is a penny earned" - Ben Franklin
You can sometimes pull some good stuff off the carcasses of free junk bikes.
10-10-09 | 04:52 PM
#5
Dolce far niente
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 10,710
Likes: 33
From: Southwest Idaho
A fortuitous find - the Viscount really, really needed new brake pads and a saddle.
__________________
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
10-10-09 | 05:30 PM
#6
feros ferio
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 22,397
Likes: 1,864
From: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
I have used a couple of lower-end 1970s Motobecanes and a 1980 Peugeot UO-9 (10?) as donor bikes, as well as a ca. 1990 Fuji with a tiny frame. I bought the Fuji for $10, salvaged the Sugino crankset and Cyclone II derailleurs for myself, and donated what I couldn't use to a local bike shop, which reciprocated with a $20 credit.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
10-10-09 | 05:37 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,766
Likes: 7
From: Cleveland,Ohio
Picked up a few bikes this weekend that were donors. One was a 3 speed All Pro that I paid $3.00 for and thought I could flip it -- tires were good and it had decent alloy side pull brakes. Got it home and the back wheel was dented beyond hope.
Pulled off the 26 1 3/8 tires and tubes, the Shimano 3 speed shifter, the handle bar with alloy levers, north road bars and the front chrome fender.
The other bike was a Huffy mountain bike that gave up a set of tires (already on another bike that is getting flipped), a set of great condition hand grips, 6 speed thumb shifters and brake levers.
Pulled off the 26 1 3/8 tires and tubes, the Shimano 3 speed shifter, the handle bar with alloy levers, north road bars and the front chrome fender.
The other bike was a Huffy mountain bike that gave up a set of tires (already on another bike that is getting flipped), a set of great condition hand grips, 6 speed thumb shifters and brake levers.
