I would have walked away......$90 it took to acquire plus another $60 for parts plus 10 hours of labor = $150 minimum for a $175 bike.

+ 1 Yep, my thoughts exactly. Easily worth what the OP paid.


Johnnybee.

I have picked up my share of losers over the years. I try to keep the $$ I pay for it low enough that I have a chance of surviving the transaction without losing a ton. I typically will part out a bike with a sorry frame. 90% of the time, I can get a stuck seat post out (10% of the time, not).

I drove 3 1/2 hours one way to pick up this gem. Oh yeah, and to get it, I had to buy five bikes including a Mongoose, a Rollfast and a couple of other crappers. I was able to resurrect this Fuji, the rest of the bikes were parted out. I too had committed to buy, so I stuck with the deal.

+1 If you are going to chase after bike deals, time to start reinvesting flip profits into tools. I don't remember a single deal I have picked up that did not require work. Bikes in project condition tend to last longer on C/L and enjoy a healthy discount.

I would not say you got burned, rather, consider it tuition in bike flip school.



I love this creative cable routing. How to negate the advantage of an aerolever...




After a lot of time with OA, tossing several parts and pulling replacements out of the bin, the bike came around.

I made a "profit", if you put my pay at about ten cents an hour.... Note that the chrome on the fork crown came around, thanks to OA.

I would likely have passed on this bike, but this is a good opportunity to learn some wrench skills. Eventually, you'll need to remove a stuck post or stem from a De Rosa or Serotta or something, where you actually need to/ want to save the bike. Go for it. You might be out seventy bucks, but you'll be in some knowledge.

What would it hurt for you to try to learn about fixing a bike? At this point you have spent the $$$.

Also at this point, everything is a plus! You have already written off the bike.

Go on and learn something about fixing, or at least taking apart C&V bikes.
Who knows, it may do you some good down the road, or just Maybe on this bike.

Looking at that bike, my first thought would be "Hanover Powder Coat". And for a 531 frame I'd have happily done it. Finding the proper decals might be a bit of a bother, though.

I don't think OP got burned at all. If I needed a good bike, I'd be thrilled to pick that up for $75. It needs a lot of work, and I respect that OP doesn't want to do it. Fine: it's not the bike for him; but I think it has plenty of potential.

+1

- There's '531 under there so it's worth a PC job.
- It has quality 105 components.
- Provides an opportunity to get steeped in bike mechanics.
- Rescuing a forlorn bike is always a satisfying (if not profitable) experience.
- Would be a very good rider.

... Would make a great fixie! ()

OP, Not so bad, IMO. I've shelled out that much cash just for a 531 frame that had about as much rust. Hey, for me, it's a hobby, not a living. I'll pick it up from you for $20! But by the looks of the height of your spring front lawn grass, you're likely further south than I am.

I also just had to comment on the between-the-spokes-only rim wear on the rear wheel of this resurrected paramount from page one of this thread:

Pretty wild!

There is something to be said, however, about putting $150 worth parts/components on a $150 bike results in a $150 bike.

When life deals you a lemon, make lemonade!! Not much to say about this one other than you have to take the bad with the good sometimes, and you have got some outrageous deals in the past for sure!! Don't be sad, turn it into a learning experience (if the wife is ok with it that is!) ...Tons of people here to ask questions and learn how to put that puppy back in to shape. Its not that hard. You might even enjoy it!! Looks like a great project for rainy days when you cant ride... Just my opinion...

I'd be glad to take it but you are at least 4 hours from me and i don't need a project THAT bad!! Still trying to get the Schwinn back togeher for my boy. Heck it took me 6 months to replace the wiper motor on my vette to get it inspected!! it just sat and sat... Can you tell i love to ride my bikes??!!

andy

I found an old SuperCourse Frame in pretty bad condition and used it as a learning experience as well. It became my first opportunity to powdercoat, and completely build a bike. Here are the frame and fork before:

You can't see real well in the photos but the chrome was bubbling and peeling at the dropouts, and there was rust around the bottom bracket. Someone had started to rattle can the fork.

Here's what it looked like after the sandblasting and powder coat.

At that point I was just over a hundred bucks into the bike, and after it's buildup it's one of my favorites.

It really isn't that bad. Shiny paint don't get you one yard further down the road. Phil grease, new brake pads, cables, new chain and a few hours with a toothbrush and some Simple Green and you'll be back on the road. And Mother's polish works great to clean up white hoods.

Yeah, huh! Putting $150 worth of parts/components into a worthless bike still results in a worthless bike. I've seen it done.

From all the feedback, I will make a go of it. Even the wife has stopped laughing and told me she would help me clean it up. Got a mini-vaction this week. When I get back, going to take it to one of those self-service car wash place, and blast it with some hot soapy water. There is a guy close by that knows about bikes, see if can get him to show me a couple pointers on dismantling this thing..There is about 10 out a 100 that I make it with this bike. Would love to get it powdercated red.

Couldn't walk away. The seller had told me that he would hold it for me. To return that jesture, I told him no matter what, I would get the bike. And that is what I did..I live and learn...

It's quite rare for me to be speechless.....but...Wow!

Throw it in khatfull's tumbler.

I'd be down to take some parts off that rustbucket...if they are able to be removed. Lol. I could use a few things.

If the cable guides are gone and it needs a repaint anyway, having a couple of new cable guides brazed on is a really, really simple fix for anyone with an acetylene torch and would probably make a big difference in resale value of the frame later. If you dont want to deal with a welder, even some JB weld epoxy would probably work OK for affixing new guides to bare metal.

ouch

btw never hand over the money until you see the merchandise mang...

If I lived closer to you I would help you start to finish. The toughest part would be that stuck seat post. It will take a lot of patience with a hacksaw blade on a sraight handle but it can be removed. Just think about how good you'll feel after it all done and YOU did all the work. You can paint it any color you like, and upgrade any part you like.

oh well, guess you won't be buying "sight unseen" anymore huh?

Thats pretty bad but still better then the Dave Scott I had. The seat post lug was Swiss cheese as wall the cable stop on the chain stay.

I paid $20 for it sold the frame for $20 to a guy that was wanting to learn brazing and was going to try to repair it. Sold the wheels for $20. Kept tte 42cm Nitto 155's for one of my other bikes. Have the derailleurs, they function but ugly. Swapped the 105 single pivots for a set of double pivots on a bike I was flipping. So I was actually able to make a few bucks on it.

Your bike if there is no structural issues I would get it functional and make it a beater. Wouldnt be pretty but may ride great. Maybe a rattle can paint job but the patina is kind of cool if you can keep it from becoming a safety issue.

Go to your library and rent the Bicycle Maintenance and Repair book, keep it for 3 weeks and then photocopy the pages you need. Its pretty informative and you'll figure a lot of stuff out on your own. That bike would be a great summer project if you're in no rush to get it done...