$425?
 

I am buying my first road bike. Below is the link to a posting I've been looking at. The seller says the $425 price is firm. What do you guys think about the price and bike itself? Keep in mind I don't know much about road bikes so any advice will help.

Caloi Road Bike Shimano 105 Components 54 cm frame size

I know nothing about this bike except that the welds at rear drop and top of the seat tube look horrible to me. To me, as a generalization, good bikes have good welds.

If you google Caloi you will find that there have been some previous Bike Forums threads on this company's offerings.

It's all about the fit.....Make sure it fits you properly otherwise it's a bad buy.

Hopefully, those with more expertise can offer more advice.

Like okane says, it's all about fit. I'm 5'10" and ride a 58cm, at least need a 56cm. Judging by the setup of offset post and long stem this set up for someone with short legs/long torso body type. For me a full overhaul includes bar tape, if the price is firm see if he will throw it in for you. I don't think the price is bad considering the work, it has STIs and a good wheelset. If I personally was looking for a 90's aluminum road bike with STI shifting I would look for a Trek 12** or 14** for excellent balance of performance v expense.
If you decide to go with this one make sure the fit is comfortable for you.

I am not a big fan of aluminum frames on road bikes. But the thing is that the size seems to be pretty big. Are you a tall person?
I would probably buy this one, and use the remaining money fixing it PEUGEOT LUGGED REYNOLDS 501 ROAD BIKE 700C TO MAKE NICE FIXIE REPAIR

But we all have different minds.

For complete specifications: 1998 Caloi Comp - BikePedia That model came in three versions with the most expensive costing almost $2K. This is the least expensive. Shimano 105 components are decent mid level. You can read some previous comments here: http://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...i-quality.html. It is pretty light when you compare what the same amount of money spent on a new road bike would get you - entry level components and probably quite a bit heavier. That said, half the original price isn't really a bargain for a bike that is already 17 years old. Anything that old nearly always needs a complete going over, cleaning and lubricating all of the bearings, possibly replacing tires just because they may be too old and replacing brake pads for sure. The last item is does it fit you very well? If it is even slightly too big or too small, walk away and keep looking.

IMO, it is not worth the money...but that is just me. I understand that the guy has spent time "restoring" this OLD bike... it has some value to him... but not to someone looking for a first bike.
Do you know what frame sizes you should be looking at? Fit is IMO the most important factor with any bike...again, just my opinion, but if your knowledge of bikes, sizing and wrenching is such that you are asking these kinds of questions on a forum, you should not be buying a used bike on CL or a new bike online...go to an LBS and have them size you up, test ride some entry level road bikes and buy the one that feels best to you. If you are not comfortable and confident you will not ride it once the new wears off.

$425 for a 17 year old aluminum bike and 105 components is high for this bike. The seller did a nice job with the presentation, though. Lots of good info there and it looks like a fair amount of work went into the bike.

Normally I'd say that such a price is too high for that bike- but since it has been updated and overhauled, it doesn't look like a bad deal at all.

And if you could talk the guy down, so much the better....but even at full price, a truly "turn-key" bike is worth it.

Only thing: How tall are you? I'm 5'10" and ride a 54cm- but quite frankly, the way that bike is set up (for a bigger rider) I know I'd feel too stretched out on it, with the long stem and set-back seat post.

If it were me it'd be a big old pass.. I don't like alum frames. The welds are ugly as previously mentioned... and despite being 105 group, it's old 105 which I'm fine with... but not at that price point on an alum frame. Now realistically speaking for not myself, fully serviced is a very good thing, alum is considered a good starting frame material, 105 is actually (even if old) a good group. So if I had to have a bike, and didn't have my current ones I might snatch this up as it is indeed my size. Is it your size? Do you want to get a starter bike or seek out a gem?

I think it has been broken and re-welded on the right side seat stay and derailleur hanger probably due to a wreck. The ugly welds are only on that side and the seat tube is discolored under the weld on that side also probably due to heat. I would pass.

Overhauled, yes, updated, not seeing anything newer than 1998 on that bike,less consumables, no bar tape either.

For the welds/finish that #okane mentions, from the pictures, the drive side chain stay looks messy, although that could just be the picture, the frame has a few issues, mainly round the seat tube/seatstays/toptube area, these looks like the anodizing is wearing, not too surprising given the age of the frame, and not much that can be done, with out major work (re-anodizing)

edit, re #spdracr39 I think there would be much more visible discoloration/damage to the frame if it had been re-welded, still going with annodixing wear, or just the clear topcoat is wearing. Thinking that this is no more than cosmetic.

I'd pass on the bike. Overpriced. Oh look, this new bike costs less. http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...s/mirage_s.htm

Fit aside, for now IMHO, both the Trek and the Novarra bikes you posted yesterday are somewhat better, because they have carbon forks. But in any case, what's your height and inseam? Fit is the most critical determinant among bikes of similar quality.

Try and find a "beater" a bike that doesn't look cool and more importantly doesn't cost much, but works and rides. Then figure out if you even want to ride seriously or not. I know several guys who went out and spent $1k+ on new bikes only to realize it's a tough sport and they really didn't want to work that hard to get back into shape so the bike just sits in the garage for years until it ends up on Craigslist for less than half of what they paid for it. My first road bike was $125 and I rode that thing for a few hundred miles before deciding on upgrading.

I actually disagree - I think he's on the right track looking at serviceable well maintained road bikes with index shifting that cost $800-$1000 when new and are nowadays worth $300-400. That's good enough to keep and use if he likes riding, and also good enough but reasonably priced enough and sufficiently depreciated to not take a bath on if he ends up selling it. A cheap beater might discourage him and be more trouble than it's worth.

"... serviceable well maintained road bikes with index shifting that cost $800-$1000 when new and are nowadays worth $300-400." I think this is a myth. Those MSRP $800-1000 bikes actually had a retail selling price closer to $650-800. So, in today's RAPIDLY changing bike market. Those bikes are worth $250-300.

This bike is overpriced by $125 easily.

If the bike needs a part then what? If the bike needs to be serviced then what? How many people go out and buy their first car that's almost 20 years old and is a restored classic car? It's a huge mistake. If you want a reliable serviceable bike for a beginner get a motobecane.

I don't disagree about THIS bike being overpriced. I was referring to an overall sweet spot that most definitely is NOT a myth - you most definitely can find good 6~10 year old used bikes that are selling for maybe 1/3 the new MSRP, and 1/2 what they actually sold for. Of course, many CL sellers have delusions about what their bikes are worth used, especially initially, but those who are serious about selling them will end up with their sale being near the bicycle blue book range.

When you buy a used bike, you either know what you're doing, or take a friend who rides with you who knows what they're doing. I'm not talking about restored or soon to be restored classics - which is what I personally would buy - I'm talking about lightly used good mid-range bikes - the garage queens that got bought, lightly ridden, and then hung up in the garage for several years before finally getting sold. These bike are much more common than you think. Yes, it takes some knowledge to distinguish these from bikes with significant problems.

I would pass on it. Talk to local bike shop for your first bike for proper fit. Then after you have been riding a while you will know what works for you and check out used bikes to save $$.

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