Cannibalization - touchy subject?
 

Is it our right to strip bikes and sell what we can't use (frame too big, keep the parts)?

Any guilt in doing this?

I had a '79 Paramount that I tore to pieces until I couldn't find the right size socket to remove the crank bolt. Put it back together and sold it complete.

Discuss...

(I have not done this to a bike ((yet)), but I have done this with vintage speakers where the components bring more than the whole. In my case, one was faulty, offered as-is on ebay and it didn't meet reserve - but I had dozens of emails asking for the parts.)

To a degree I have no problem with this.
Where I do have a problem is the current spate of
morons on e-bay selling dropouts cut from a frame
(unless they can document the frame being damaged)
ever since the NOS campy dropouts sold for big bucks.

As long as the frame stays intact sure, why not.
If the bike as is has some historical provenance
(i.e. a documented bike from TdF etc.) I would
leave it as is.
Good topic
Marty

last edit: sometime today. Reason: I need to learn english

Absolutely IS our right. (if you're the owner) Someone else put the pieces together to start with; right? I often buy old bikes to pick one or two parts from, then sell off the rest.... Just as people might have done when the bike was current. Then again, I've picked up cool bikes wishing all the original bits were still on them...and I get to search. That's part of the hobby, and part of the fun.

I've seen this question lots of times... You need to decide for yourself.
On something fairly common, what's it matter? We all perceive art and value in different ways. On a truly rare bike with real history, real provenance , I'd say leave it alone. I guess it's like the old question "who is to say what is art, and what is not?"... I try to see each part of the bike as art, as well as the finished package...Heck; I don't know...I might paint over the Mona Lisa...

"Heck; I don't know... I might paint over the Mona Lisa... "

Ha - that's funny, but about right for an analogy.

Like that Paramount - it was a track, perfect and complete, just too big. I dreaded taking a wrench to it, as my mech (for difficult jobs with $$ tools) said it was one of those bike like you describe.

Yet sans frame, I had a '70's Campy Pista grupo with like 10 miles on it. Never again will I have a set like that. Nor will I need a set like that, but gosh it was purty.

I feel better knowing it went to a collector who'll use it as art. Ride an IRO, admire the Pmount I say.

You know what? You should have pulled the group. While some collector might think '70s Paramounts are rare, the truth is they were as common as death. No disrespect to Paramount owners intended (I have a loved '72 P-13, correctly built up from a frameset), but they made LOTS of them. An easy bike to find components for too... Not cheaply these days, but Campagnolo made TONS of '70s Pista parts. No provenance in that track bike? It wasn't raced by Eddy; was it? No problem to part it out. EXACTLY as a racer might have done in the '70s with that same bike. Frame 2 cm too large or small?...swap it for another & keep the group for the one that fits. Easy decision.

True. If it happens again (it will, maybe) I'll not think about it as much. I did my good deed, now all bets are off so to speak.

I don't know why I get so wrapped up in this.

If you own it, you can pound it flat and use it for fishing lures if you like. Whether it's right or wrong is kind of a strawman - it's yours, do what you wish with it.

Your question is a good one, and comes up in all hobby/collectable arenas. Should I hot-rod the Chevy Nomad? Should I sporterize the Springfield 1903? It comes down to how you, the owner, derives value from the object. In terms of resale? In terms of a place in your collection? In terms of an "un-messed with" original?

Also - is what you have truly a rare highly sought after and prized example, or just another example out of countless others like it?

Personally, I go both ways. I generally won't strip something that is substantially original and functioning, but I have ripped apart one bike to get several working and out the door. Realize, though, that I've yet to find anything truly special. Were I to stumble a nice top end or collectible bike, the decision would hinge on the condition and how much effort/expense it would take to salvage it.

John D.

If they're unscrupulous enough to chop it up, they certainly wouldn't have any qualms about closing the garage door on it and then take pictures "proving" it was damaged before they chopped it.

Does your wife know? :eek:

Too much information...

Cannibalization is NOT a touchy subject for me; I just do it. However, if one has a valuable bike with most or all of its original parts, he/she would be a fool not to keep everything together, for possible future collectibility.

There is a similiar discussion on Classic Rendezvous currently about
dropouts being cut out of frames. The lastest is a set of nivex dropouts,
when asked what happened to the rest of the frame the seller responded
with
"We destroyed the frame (Reynolds 431 1950's) because here nobody was
interested in."

Sad, very sad.

Marty

I'm with the if its mine, its my business crowd. I understand that someone else might feel different. But these arn't lives we are talking about if the dropouts have more value to me cut from the frame then its up to me to decide what to do with them maybe I badly need the money or perhaps its a frame that fits me really bad etc. To call them morons is a little strange

I think stripping a bike for parts to be used elsewhere, and cutting up a good frame for drop-outs are two very different things... At least to me. I'm a frame lover. I've got more frames hanging up than I'll ever build and ride, but I just like to look at 'em for their beauty (yes, I'm nuts...). I'd never want to see one cut up that can be readily restored....
Then again, lots of poorly built frames were made years ago, using good drop-outs...
Is it really such a bad idea to recycle some of them into fine art like a new Toei...? Just food for thought.

BTW- I like the little green guy...

I really wanted the little green guy with the eyes
and flaming . . . . to be used for "special" posts.

The thing is for me, when someone gets $2k+ for a set
of NOS campy dropuouts, and then everyone with a frame
starts hacking them up for the dropouts (Even e-Richie did it :D )
then alot of good frames are lost to those of us who love old bikes.
crappy bike with nivex dropouts? trashed frame? sure.
good condition frame? leave it alone.

Just my .02 cents worth

Marty