Just bought a titanium road bike for $100: it needs some help.
02-10-20, 07:23 AM
#1
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Just bought a titanium road bike for $100: it needs some help.
I saw an ad on Nextdoor for the bike. It was 1/4 mile from my house. The next thing I remember is putting on my work stand and taking things off to clean.
no labels on the frame (I'm guessing it's a 58 cm). The frame seems straight. Ultegra 6600 with ksyrium elite wheels.
the front wheel needs to be trued. It may need a new headset (it has significant play), the shifters are broken and the chain and cassette are rusted.
I'm thinking of getting dura ace 7800 shifters ($175). I think the chain, cassette and cables would cost a little over $100.
This was obviously an impulse buy and I'm now wondering if I'm spending too much on my $100 purchase.
FYI I haven't bought a bike on 15 years. My last bike was used with dura ace 7700.
Any advice is welcome
Thanks
Dwayne
no labels on the frame (I'm guessing it's a 58 cm). The frame seems straight. Ultegra 6600 with ksyrium elite wheels.
the front wheel needs to be trued. It may need a new headset (it has significant play), the shifters are broken and the chain and cassette are rusted.
I'm thinking of getting dura ace 7800 shifters ($175). I think the chain, cassette and cables would cost a little over $100.
This was obviously an impulse buy and I'm now wondering if I'm spending too much on my $100 purchase.
FYI I haven't bought a bike on 15 years. My last bike was used with dura ace 7700.
Any advice is welcome
Thanks
Dwayne
02-10-20, 07:33 AM
#2
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Any intact Ti frame (of correct size) is well worth a rebuild. I would either reduce costs by going with 105 equipment or cheaper yet find another used bike and strip it for the needed parts. Just me, but I'm cheap and usually stick with the older stuff.
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02-10-20, 07:51 AM
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I would consider a $100 investment in consumables to be almost mandatory on any used bike, especially if it needs it. I wouldn't give it a second thought.
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02-10-20, 08:02 AM
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Ti for $100....you got a great deal. I'd toss the old junk if they are not serviceable and agree with gray above about doing the new 105 if you are on a budget.
02-10-20, 08:27 AM
#5
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you didn't buy it unless you post pictures.
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Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
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02-10-20, 08:35 AM
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$100.?
any stress fractures?
02-10-20, 08:42 AM
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Nope.
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02-10-20, 10:14 AM
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If you spend 500 in parts, you'll have a 600 dollar investment. You'd be hard pressed to find a Ti bike in good working order for anywhere near that. If you're planning to ride it, put the best parts on it you can afford.
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02-10-20, 01:18 PM
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get 10 posts so we can see it. I hope you did steal a TI frame for $100 that is what dreams are made of!
02-10-20, 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by zarbog
A copy paste troll
02-10-20, 02:32 PM
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Thank you for making me feel better about my impulse buy. At the very least I will have fun building up a bike.
Sorry about starting two threads. The general consensus is that I got a good deal and spending $400 to $500 would not be a bad investment. This may be a bad question: older dura ace 10 sp or newer ultegra/105?
So far the only issue I see with the frame is the clear coat is peeling (I thought you couldn't put anything on a titanium frame).
I think the guys wife got fed up with seeing the bike and forced him to get rid of it.
...and in 6 months my wife may be selling a titanium bike for $50
.
Sorry about starting two threads. The general consensus is that I got a good deal and spending $400 to $500 would not be a bad investment. This may be a bad question: older dura ace 10 sp or newer ultegra/105?
So far the only issue I see with the frame is the clear coat is peeling (I thought you couldn't put anything on a titanium frame).
I think the guys wife got fed up with seeing the bike and forced him to get rid of it.
...and in 6 months my wife may be selling a titanium bike for $50
.
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02-10-20, 03:05 PM
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Personally I'd go with a donor bike and swop parts. You'll probably be able to find something cheap with relatively light use. Also I wouldn't have a problem with fitting Claris to the bike its a perfectly fine groupset that is probably the sweetspot in value.
02-10-20, 03:08 PM
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@Dalvis's Album:
https://www.bikeforums.net/g/user/512232
https://www.bikeforums.net/g/album/16740395
One more Chainstay Photo:
https://www.bikeforums.net/g/user/512232
https://www.bikeforums.net/g/album/16740395
One more Chainstay Photo:
Last edited by CliffordK; 02-11-20 at 02:21 PM.
02-10-20, 03:45 PM
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Strip it down, get some ScotchBrite pads and scrub it. Once you've restored the frame you'll have no problem justifying spending money on the build. Or sell the frame for 200$ and be done with it!
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02-10-20, 03:48 PM
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I see no issue with that older model Ultegra stuff. There may be compatibility issues with that flat handlebar though. (If it is indeed flat. It's hard to tell.)
More importantly, the gearing ought to match where you ride. 130x5 bcd means a 39 tooth front. If you live near hills, you might be wishing for smaller rings. Likewise on the rear. If that's a short cage derailleur, a 34 or 36 big cog is not going to be something you can do.
In anycase for $100 you got one heck of a good blank canvas.
More importantly, the gearing ought to match where you ride. 130x5 bcd means a 39 tooth front. If you live near hills, you might be wishing for smaller rings. Likewise on the rear. If that's a short cage derailleur, a 34 or 36 big cog is not going to be something you can do.
In anycase for $100 you got one heck of a good blank canvas.
Last edited by base2; 02-10-20 at 03:53 PM.
02-10-20, 03:53 PM
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That drive-side chainstay looks really bent.
02-10-20, 03:57 PM
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I think it's worth it an investment and 100 dollars was a good deal. If it were mine I would find a good set of used wheels on Craigslist. Something nice but sturdy, like a Fulcrum 5. And I would go hunting for some 9 speed DA downtube shifters (I think they're neat and I hate how the STI shifters of that era have weird cable routing out the sides and not under the tape) and some new but cheap and functional Tektro brake levers. New chain, new cables, good tires. You'll be in it for maybe 300 and have a really nice, light bike.
02-10-20, 04:31 PM
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I like it...for $100 I think you did fine assuming the frame is true and not cracked or dented. Strip is out, clean it up as suggested and see what you got. the brakes and such are just fine, the rest might need to be updated though. Looks like a great project bike, it looks like a really big frame though!
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02-10-20, 04:53 PM
#22
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Originally Posted by Dalvis
I saw an ad on Nextdoor for the bike. It was 1/4 mile from my house. The next thing I remember is putting on my work stand and taking things off to clean.
no labels on the frame (I'm guessing it's a 58 cm). The frame seems straight. Ultegra 6600 with ksyrium elite wheels.
the front wheel needs to be trued. It may need a new headset (it has significant play), the shifters are broken and the chain and cassette are rusted.
I'm thinking of getting dura ace 7800 shifters ($175). I think the chain, cassette and cables would cost a little over $100.
This was obviously an impulse buy and I'm now wondering if I'm spending too much on my $100 purchase.
FYI I haven't bought a bike on 15 years. My last bike was used with dura ace 7700.
Any advice is welcome
Thanks
Dwayne
no labels on the frame (I'm guessing it's a 58 cm). The frame seems straight. Ultegra 6600 with ksyrium elite wheels.
the front wheel needs to be trued. It may need a new headset (it has significant play), the shifters are broken and the chain and cassette are rusted.
I'm thinking of getting dura ace 7800 shifters ($175). I think the chain, cassette and cables would cost a little over $100.
This was obviously an impulse buy and I'm now wondering if I'm spending too much on my $100 purchase.
FYI I haven't bought a bike on 15 years. My last bike was used with dura ace 7700.
Any advice is welcome
Thanks
Dwayne
02-10-20, 05:35 PM
#24
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Ti frame and Kryssium wheels for $100? As stated above, if the frame and fork are straight and not cracked or some kind of major damage, and the wheels are in good shape, that is a dream find!
02-10-20, 07:09 PM
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Originally Posted by ridelikeaturtle
That drive-side chainstay looks really bent.
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