Cause for concern?
 

I came across this bike and I have considered bidding on it but based on past experience, new paint on an old bike on eBay makes me suspicious of what's underneath. If its hiding rust I likely won't know until its to late.

I am curious to know what others think.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/54cm-BASSO-r...item19d7c93376

I don't see any red flags. I would, however, ask the seller for a close up of the plated surfaces and a close up shot of the inside of the bottom bracket housing. Ask also for some pictures of the frame when it was "way ugly".

Other than that, I can't think of much else to set your mind at ease. Perhaps wait for just the right unpainted one to come along.

Not sure, but I think one of the forum members has a drop dead gorgeous Basso, with chrome lugs and all, for sale. Perhaps he, or she, will chime in.

I'd second Randy's advice, but would add that a repaint always raises suspicion, as you yourself have indicated.
- That is just one of the reasons why repainting a frame devalues it so significantly.

(Frankly, I would prefer to buy a bike in the "WAY too ugly" state and decide how to proceed with it, than to pay someone else for their repaint.)

100% positive feedback, looks fine. Like posted earlier, ask for details.

Maybe its just me, but I couldn't see putting in the money and labor to do such a nice repaint on a Frameset like that and not fix any problems and just hide them.

My only comment is that seems alot for a 20+yo Basso. I suspect more than half the price is the seller recouping the cost of paint.

Otherwise it looks like a nice frame.

I would have no qualms about buying this frame. That resto looks simply beautiful. Paint and decals are perfect IMHO.

It looks like a Loto model, which was their very best, so it's not a cheap frame. Many were SLX, although the seller say's it's SL. Still very good. I ride a Basso Gap and I really like it alot, and I've heard nothing but good things from Loto owners also...

I agree with Randy about asking the seller if he has photos of the bike in its "way ugly" condition just prior to the repaint. Most knowledgeable owners planning to repaint a decent quality frame will take detailed photos just prior to the repaint to show its condition before painting. Here's an example (I also took more detailed "before" photos):

Before

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7...ntStandard.jpg

After

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7...ramountmed.jpg

+1.

There again though, if I was going to cough up the $ for a repaint, I'd prefer to choose the color myself.

As a guy who has had bikes repainted and even bought some that were to various degrees of effort, there is almost always a surprise hiding under the respray, of concern? Sometimes. This is why resprays in general are worth less. As an owner of bikes that needed respray, I document the frame before and when its bare, that way I can show the potential buyer what was and why. Also, for reference of proper transfer placement. This from my perspective is what I wish others would do and when I have sold frames does bring a better price upon resale.

From the starting bid, it looks like the seller wants to come out with no net gain or little for his investment. If he had images of the frame before paint that would make me open my wallet enough or more.

$695 for an SL repaint? Not happening. Plus $88 shipping? For a smallish frameset? WTF?

At that price point, I would expect to get an SLX frameset, with original paint, in pretty nice condition, with some nice extra parts. Its complete bike territory price wise.

He may be using this listing as a way to sell framesets outside of ebay. I know a few sellers that do that. They use code phrases like: "I have been restoring bikes for 15 years and now focus exclusively on Classic Italian Steel Frame-Sets. Many other brands and sizes available.", hoping to get a PM: "what else do you have?"


It avoids ebay fees and some other issues as well.

To answer your question, it's a matter of trust. Do you trust the seller? If you don't, then stay away. If you do, then don't worry about it.

As to the price, though, I agree with those who said it's a lot to spend for a refinished 25-year old Basso. For comparison, only this month I picked up a 1993 Gap frame on ebay, for a $150 buy-it-now price plus $50 shipping. Nothing wrong with the frame, some chips and scratches in the paint. And the color: it is purple and green :eek:.

That said, "way ugly" is a matter of opinion, and I won't be making any decision on that until I've got the bike built and done some serious riding on it. For $200 I have the luxury of deciding whether the frame is worth a repaint. If I decide it is, I get to pick the color and even have the option of having the frame modified before springing for paint should I chose to go in that direction. And if I do, I am pretty sure I'll spend less than $580 doing so.

If you are 100% convinced this Basso is the bike you want, that it's the size you want, that it's the color you want, &c, then maybe the price isn't too bad. If you have any doubt about any of this, then I think the price is too high.

Looks nice, but quite a bit overpriced. For that price you could get a complete Basso with nice original paint (and probably still have some $$$ leftover).

As far as that seller's feedback? Its meaningless. Seller has exactly ONE feedback from a sale, all the rest are from purchases. We all know buyers cannot get negative feedback, so its one out of one so far. Not exactly reason to give great trust.

The feedback is for one rear hub.

In buying from others on ebay, I always look for positive feedback on sales of similar items. Is the seller capable of properly packaging a bike frame? No idea.

Maybe the size is wrong, but here is a complete Basso for $650 obo. Not affiliated....

http://images.craigslist.org/3G53J53...5e22b813f4.jpg

Sorry, I disagree with most of the posters here.

Everyone here knows that a quality paint job will run you anywhere from $400 - $600 or better, and this really looks like a very nice paint and decal job. This was also Basso's finest frame for many years, and I think it could actually be SLX, as most Loto's were, not SL. And besides, even if it's SL, I've seen plenty of them go for this much, and even much more(think Colnago, Pinarello and DeRosa)The bike JPZ66 pictured above is a Gap, not a Loto, and is therefore alittle cheaper, so I wouldn't count that.

All-in-all, this looks like a very nice, high-end, Italian frame from a reputable builder for a decent price. IMHO of course...

The point here is spending money on a known quantity vs. taking a flyer. If you pay the asking price, you'll be the one taking a hit if you ever want to sell the bike.

I sent a message to the seller:

"Hello, do you have any other photos of the frame? Do you have photos of the frame before the repaint? I would like to see a shot of the rear triangle from the rear to discern that everything is straight. I would also like to see pictures of the bottom bracket and fork threads if possible. Also a view looking down the head tube and seat tube would be very helpful. Can you specify what the rear triangle span is?"

His reply:

"Thanks for your interest but I don't have additional photos of the frame at this time.
Questions about the frame's appearance prior to refinishing, rear triangle trueness and threads are out-of-line since its addressed in the ad and questions the trustworthiness of the advertised description. Perhaps purchasing face-to-face will better suit such concerns.
Rear stays are original 126mm and may be easily cold-set to 130mm if desired."

The last frame I bought on ebay had a crack hidden beneath the paint. After discovering it I removed the fork and looked down the head tube to find a band of rust inside the head tube that followed the crack.

This might be a fair price on a good, solid frame but based on his response and past experience, it isn't for me.

No doubt that is pretty poor wording on his part. No question should really be out-of-line, especially when asked in a cordial manner like you did. He should also be able to provide more photos. The ones he provided are good, but not really detailed. He's asking a for a pretty hefty price tag here, so he should go out of his way a little. I'm also 99% sure that the frame is SLX and not SL also, which makes me think he might have just thrown a Columbus decal on her.

That answer would probably make me stay away as well...

Don't give up looking for a Basso though, they are great riders IMHO and well priced in the Italian bike lineup...

That response will automatically place him on the list of sellers I *will* *not* buy from. His response was almost over the top. That guy is a total d0uche! Let me make sure I have this right: The seller is 1945ford. Correct?

I, like you, ended up with a damaged frame from an eBay seller who didn't disclose a dented top tube. Ultimately, we worked it out, but it was a hassle and the guy's stated comment that 'he didn't notice the dent in the top tube' is disingenuous at best.

BTW, you can find good deals if you look. I just scored a late 80's Alpine built by Fred Kelley and with a Mavic Starfish crank and SSC groupset for a really great price.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8212/8...7f6715a1_b.jpg
Alpine Bicycle - 3 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr

I simply don't buy repaints at all. And I'm not sure why anyone would....

Not just because of the paint hiding damaged frames or that it decreases the value unless done "right", but it also could be hiding the real identity of the frame builder (congratz on your new Next frame), or be painted to disguise and to sell a stolen bike.

A little over-the-top IMHO.

It's always good to be a bit wary, but you have to trust a little, don't you? The re-spray on this frame looks "right". It's certainly no rattle can job. It looks deep, clear coated and the decals are proper for the era. Could he be hiding something? Of course he can. But so can an original frame using lousy pictures. I'd have no qualms buying this frame, although the sellers attitude is a turn-off.

Throw that baby up on the hot or not thread.

She's sizzlin' hot.

Thanks Grady. Once she arrives on my doorstep, I'll do just that. It's being packed for shipping at the moment.

I think the answer from the seller would push me to look elsewhere, it may be fine, it may not, the confidence meter does not go up that the transaction will go smoothly with the seller's reply.

These don't come up that often, but are not so rare as to not find another that will probably be in original paint.

Photogravity's bright green machine is quite Racer.