clubman 

1/2 naked is not always incomplete too. Not all models came with chainguards.

EddyR

They just don't get any nicer than this. Mine for a few years but in a weak moment I sold it.

sailorbenjamin

Size is the most important factor. After that, color.
Don't rule out the Schwinns. They made some nice frames with SA hubs. Tire size is a little funny but you can get them.
Never tried a Columbia 3 speed. They don't seem to come in my size.

JohnDThompson 

I think that was the problem. Why sell a customer a bike they only need to buy once?

Sixty Fiver

It was a good business model for a time... to sell a bike that was designed to last 100 years. We had not embraced the throwaway society we now live in and a bicycle was a serious purchase and something you expected to last decades.

My oldest Raleigh 3 speeds are 60 and 64 years old while the babies are 31 and 33.

RALEIGH_COMP 

here's a pair of the Austrian Sears 3 speeds for sale on my local CL.
https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/bik/4314146429.html
[h=2]Vintage Original 60's Sears Made in Austria 3 Spd His & Hers Bikes - $325 (Riverside)[/h]

mnmkpedals 

Those are sweet. I take back what I said about Sears! I'm actually headed to Riverside in 3 weeks, unfortunately taking Amtrak down, flying back.... had it been the other way around, I could easily see myself calling the family to buy em and I'd drag them cheaply on the train home with me! thanks for the heads up.

RALEIGH_COMP 

Ya I never gave them much of a look. But just reading this thread made me want to do a quick search. The brakes look much better than the Raleighs, and that chain wheel is pretty classy too. too bad your plans couldnt work out to grab these, they do look pretty sweet!

werwer2012

Do you know where I can find the thread that you mentioned ( "For the love of English 3-speeds." )
. I cut and paste it into the search but nothing came up.

arex

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...glish-3-speeds

Fair warning, it's a huge and old message thread. However, it's well worth it to slog through all of it...there's some amazing information in there.

werwer2012

Thanks for the information, much appreciated.

mnmkpedals 

I've really appreciated all the info and that thread on 3 speeds is certainly packed with info. I've begun my hunt for a bike, and I hesitate to even ask this since I know from numerous other threads that price is all relative (market location, condition, scarcity, etc...) but as I am surfing through listings for 3 speeds, the price range seems staggeringly wide out there. Likely because I don't know what I am looking at (features, age, etc...). BUT, I am wondering what if any sort of price benchmarks there are for fair value on say, a Raleigh Sports? I know you can find them at flea markets and garage sales, but I guess I am asking, if you had one to sell in average but not great condition, all intact/original, maybe serviced, what would you sell yours at for fair market, meaning not trying for top dollar?

Is there any sort of expected fair range? By era maybe? Like, and here I am merely making this up as an example, would it be like $100 for one from the 70s, $200 for the 60s, $300 for the 50's, etc...? Again, those are just made up numbers, but you get my point, and since I'm in the Northwest, I'll round up for the market here. Just trying to have a better idea of what's a reasonable price range to expect.

rhm

On the price, it really comes down to what the seller thinks he can get. So the best place to buy is where the seller doesn't expect someone looking for a bicycle. The best deal really is at the yard sale. From what I've seen, the age of a bike does not influence the price,, but condition does.

Salubrious

1970s Sports, $200 is fair if in good nick, here in Minnesota on craigslist.

Older ones often take more.

rhm

But then there's also stuff like this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-West...item19e92dd92e

which is a very fine bike, though a girl's model; my guess is it won't sell, even for $28, on account of the shipping problem.

mnmkpedals 

thanks, that was the general impression I've gotten for these in most good sized markets. Though, of course, as I know from buying vintage road bikes in the past, there are plenty of deals and steals lurking too. That western flyer is nice looking!

So I'm kind of targeting $100, give or take $50 for the right bike, if interesting, appealing, and in good cosmetic/working condition. Have my eye on a couple prospects here locally. Need to see them up close. From pure visual appeal, I'd love to find a 50s model.

noglider 

That Western Flyer is gorgeous!

But in my mind, most English 3-speeds are closer to each other in value than the market says. I've sold quite a few at around $150.

I bought my Rudge and a ladies 3-speed at the same time, at an estate sale. I paid $30 for the pair of bicycles!

Do you know how much you're willing to spend? I'd say if you're willing to pay $150 to $200 for the purchase plus another $90 to ship it, you could have one in no time. One of us here in the northeast can pick up a bike for you easily. They are common here. They are a lot less common in western states.

In fact, there is a pair in the basement of my building, owned by a married couple. They don't ride them any more. I spoke with the husband and offered to find new homes for the bikes. He doesn't even remember owning them! So he said he doesn't care. He's tall, and his bike is has a 23" frame. How tall are you? The couple now has a pair of more modern bikes.

RALEIGH_COMP 

Here's my rear hub dated '54 sports. Still in pieces, as I have a hard time deciding on how much I really want to spend on it. My main dilemmas are the wheels and brakes. Philips brakes and peeling chrome on the rims. Just not sure if how often I end up riding it will justify getting new parts, but I tell myself I will ride it more if it had modern wheels and brakes on it... seems like a pretty common decisions people make with these bikes. "just ride it" seems to have a lot of joy and merit to it as well though.

michael k

Next to Schwinns english 3 speeds seem to be the second most common around here.(Or maybe its when you own one you notice them more)

The DL-1's rarely come up for sale and typically go for a good price.

crank_addict

No collector and bottom end bargains. A few years back found two Taiwan 'English styled' 3 speed roadsters at a garage sale. Basically giveaway for $10.00 the pair! Clean bikes that just sat and probably never ridden. Mild corrosion but with some TLC they turned out nice. Served as the perfect around town rides. My only regret was giving them away to my BIL for his boat bikes.

noglider 

RALEIGH_COMP, my Rudge has chrome peeled off the rims, and I have realized this is a feature. Braking is better than it would otherwise be.

I say put the bike back together with the original parts that work. Replace the parts that don't work. I have Kool Stop pads on mine. Brake in dry weather is outstanding.

If you ride it, you will make a more informed decision on whether you should pour more money into it. If the rims are round and true and without dents, I say don't replace them, as aluminum rims won't improve the ride much. However, if they are beat up, then do replace them with CR-18's.

Salubrious

Its not that hard to set up the bike with Sun CR-18 rims, which are available in 26" with 40 holes for the rear and 32 holes for the front. This will cause the bike to brake better, and with less rotating mass it will also accelerate easier. You can also get an alloy seatpost (Kalloy) easily enough but if I were you I would avoid the temptation to change out too many parts. Its a good idea to change out the brake pads though! The originals are probably as hard as a rock by now, not good for much. Koolstops seem to be the preferred brand. With a little bit of lubrication such a bike will be well-prepared for its second 50 years.

RALEIGH_COMP 

I will likely just slap it all back together and ride it. I wanted to try and get it all nice and polished up before I rode it again, but I think a clean n lube will be good enough for a while. some rough edges and peeling rims will go well together. but i have to admit some of the bike has held up ok.

mnmkpedals 

That's very gracious of you to think about my interests like that! Yes, I'm just under 6' with short legs-- I think can go either way on 21 or 23.

And here, fresh from someone's basement and now the trunk of my car, is mission accomplished for part of my search. Just bought this 74 (I think) bronze green Sports for my wife, complete with cockeyed fender instal. Aside from pedals, all seems original, and is in rideable condition with only a little surface rust.



Will get to work on bringing it back in time to be a Mother's Day present. Now to find mine....Have my eye on one, we'll see!

kickstart

That's very true,
I looked for a classic roadster, but the few that came up locally were north of $1k. I ended up settling for a Flying Pigeon, fixing the quality issues and upgrading to a SA AW. Up close you can see the difference in quality, but it rides as good as I remember my fathers did.

Yes, it's a "knock off", though it does have its own unique 64 year history.