Is this bike worth my time/money?
 

I ran upon a 80's model Royce Union - Savoy - Jade (a fancy way of saying bright lime green) Mountain Bike and I am wondering if it is even worth the little ammount of money it would take to get it rolling. It is an 18 speed, Shimano SIS index shifting system and it looks as though it has been garage kept for it's life. There isn't a single chip on the paint and all the components work fine. I got it for free, but would need to put about $45 into it to make it road/trail worthy.

Here is what it needs:
Tires $0 ( I have an almost new set I took off another bike laying around)
Saddle $0 ( I have several in the parts box I can put on it)
Tubes $10
Brake Pads $10-15
All New Cables $25

My main concern is that this bike is HEAVY.. and I mean heavy. It has to weigh at least 45-50lbs with tires on it and I am not sure I could break even by selling it.

What would you all do?

Do cables cost $25? I'm not being a smart aleck, I literally don't know. I've always re-cabled my bikes at the local co-op for a $5 donation. Either I'm ripping them off or you are getting ripped off.

In any event, I would either donate it to my local co-op or strip any usable parts and take the frame to a metal recycling plant. To me, this would not be worth it. I believe that Royce Union is similar in quality to Huffy...typical department store crap-ola.

^ you are ripping off your coop.

brake cables are generally $1/ft, shifters $2/ft, and housing $3/ft.

edit: to the OP. get some air in the tires (new tubes) and sell it.

+1 $25 for cables is outrageous. I spend about $4 or less replacing all cables on a bike (OK, I buy in bulk). But you can get the $6 cable kit at Walmart.

+1 Unless you really need a mediocre bike to do some basic riding, I would aim higher. Your time is valuable too. Shop around, and you will find a lot nicer bike, half the weight, more worthy of your time.

Whenever I get a bike free of that caliber, I take it directly to my favorite thrift store. I have donated dozens of such bikes (no co-op around here). Definitely should not go to a landfill, but not worth my time to work on either. The few bikes I have put in the recycle bin have been so picked over (everything/anything of value stripped off first), its hard to tell it was a bike.

I didn't even consider Wal-Mart as an option for cables, good call. I usually replace everything with Jagwire stuff, but if I am selling it then I don't really care what goes on it.

I think you all are mistaken, I have several nice bikes (see my other posts) and I never considered keeping this one to ride. I was just wondering if I should try to make some money off it or just send it to the scrap yard. I would never ride this tank!

Most of the Royce union bike I have seen are bottom of the barrel. GOOD mountain bikes like midline Trek and Cannondale hard tails you are doing good to get $150 for. Cheap bikes like Next Magna etc are $20-30 at best.

I bought one at the local Thrift for $13 to steal the tires off it and then gave them the bike back without tires...they threw it out. LOL

to the OP. get some air in the tires (new tubes) and sell it. [2]

Are we talking cables or cables and new housing? Cables are a few bucks each, but the housing cost adds up (since it is by the inch) --- especially if it is one of those bikes that have the rear brake cable completely enclosed.

It you are just getting cables at the coop, I would up the donation by a few bucks and call it good.

I just got done putting all new cables on it (thanks for the Wal-Mart tip) for $5. I am going to put the tires on it sometime this weekend and post it on CL. I will post some pictures of this ugly beast once it is ready to sell.

Thanks All.

The Royce Union MTB I have is not that bad......mine has cantilever brakes , SHimano derailers, aluminum wheels. I picked mine up for 4 bucks put used tires I had on it and it rides decent. If somebody steals it.......I'm not gonna cry......LOL.

I have replaced the cables, chain, three spokes, and bought new tubes..... grand total = $15.

If I can get $30 for it on CL, I will be pleased. If not, it won't bother me to use it occasionally as a winter bike.

Pictures comming soon.

Update - I sold the bike on CL for $65. Pretty good flip.


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=172742

it photograped well for a poj. like some of my old girlfriends