American Eagle bike - serial #KS86409 - want to restore but is it worth it???
06-25-14, 02:36 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
American Eagle bike - serial #KS86409 - want to restore but is it worth it???
I recently picked up at a yard sale for $10 a early 70's American Eagle touring bike. From what I gather it is not a bad bike and would be fun to bring back to life. The rear wheel is realllyy out of true (missing two spokes), no pedals and needs a good cleaning/tune up. I am a complete novice but think it would be somewhat fun and very rewarding to try and do the work myself. I have a spoke wrench, chain lubricant and other general tools. It has a front and rear light "generator" style system that comes on as you pedal. Sun Tour GT (rear) and Spirt (front) and Shimano components, Compe neck, Maxy crank...serial number is KS86409 and has a Kokusai frame?
Don't want to spend alot of money but think it would be a classic commuter and maybe a touring bike. any help is greatly appreciated! Ben
Don't want to spend alot of money but think it would be a classic commuter and maybe a touring bike. any help is greatly appreciated! Ben
06-25-14, 05:18 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Port Angeles, WA
Posts: 7,922
Bikes: A green one, "Ragleigh," or something.
Mentioned: 194 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1627 Post(s)
Liked 630 Times
in
356 Posts
If get enough of the parts and needed tools cheap enough, sure it's worth it, for a fun project. But not for a profitable 'flip.' Find your local bike co-op for hands-on advice if you're a total noob.
Here, your project will get various levels of encouragement and advice based on the size and quality pictures you post of it. No pix means very few comments.
Here, your project will get various levels of encouragement and advice based on the size and quality pictures you post of it. No pix means very few comments.
__________________
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
06-25-14, 08:09 PM
#3
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 9,193
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1565 Post(s)
Liked 1,295 Times
in
865 Posts
This bike is the earlier version/name of the popular, competent Nishiki International, which is considered a touring or sport-touring model.
These bike's frames have "slack" or "relaxed" frame angles, around 72-degrees.
Effect of this is a bike which may feel a little smaller/shorter when being ridden than it does when straddling it in the garage, so it might be best if your bike feels large-ish on first inspection, relative to your height and arm reach.
Because of this, I chose a large 62cm frame size for my average 5'9" height, though I still can straddle it at traffic stops just fine.
Some photos of your bike will allow forum members to give opinions as to it's worth in justifying varying levels of "restoration" or just "conservation".
Here's what a year of ownership did to the Kokusai that I found, was more of an evolution than a one-time restoration:
These bike's frames have "slack" or "relaxed" frame angles, around 72-degrees.
Effect of this is a bike which may feel a little smaller/shorter when being ridden than it does when straddling it in the garage, so it might be best if your bike feels large-ish on first inspection, relative to your height and arm reach.
Because of this, I chose a large 62cm frame size for my average 5'9" height, though I still can straddle it at traffic stops just fine.
Some photos of your bike will allow forum members to give opinions as to it's worth in justifying varying levels of "restoration" or just "conservation".
Here's what a year of ownership did to the Kokusai that I found, was more of an evolution than a one-time restoration:
Last edited by dddd; 06-25-14 at 08:25 PM.
Likes For dddd:
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
marius.suiram
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
5
08-14-18 07:07 PM
Zigarten
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
5
06-24-18 08:23 PM
PaulSimoleon
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
7
01-25-16 12:33 PM
flippinsweet
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
2
06-18-12 08:09 PM
