Part Switch PLEASE HELP!
 

Hello everyone,
My name is Eric and Im a bikeaholic. Im new so hello to everyone! I work with mostly used stuff (can't afford the new, expensive stuff) but im always trying to hustle up a deal. Heres the situation, I bought an older 2000 GT xcr 5000 last year and so far I have really enjoyed it. The only thing I have upgrades so far is the fork (marz bomber). I was talking to my neighbor a few days ago and she is selling her Haro escape 8.2, I think its a 2004 and its an XSmall. It seems to be in pretty good condition, some of the screws have surface rust but the components look clean. She says she spent $600 on it a few years ago and would like to get $200 for it. My question is, would it be worth it to buy the bike for the parts to put on my GT. Wheels, disc brakes, freewheel, derailers, shifters, peddles and so on. Here is a link to the component to her bike (link shows medium, hers is a small) http://webmail.aol.com/24126/aim/en-...Inbox&partId=4.

Here is a link to the basic stats on my bike http://www0.epinions.com/bike-Bicycl...ay_~full_specs

Would this be worth the time and money? I am assuming the parts off of an Xsmall Haro frame are the same size as the parts on a medium GT. Please correct me if im wrong. If I put the GT parts on the Haro do you think I could resell it for anywhere near $200? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks
Eric

You should give a link where we don't have to sign up for AOL to look at it.

Pass. With an XS frame many parts may not fit (fork, seatpost), and you alway run into incidental costs that add up over the long run (cables, housing,etc.)

It's been my experience that you should just save up your money to buy a new bike (on sale) a year or so down the road rather than continually dumping money into the components of your current bike.
Just ride your GT until it's dust, learn to keep it running smoothly, and save your pennies until you can afford the "new expensive stuff".

That's not to say that I actually do that, but I think it's good advice.

Link
 

Sorry about the link guys
http://www.harobikes.com/2004/escape82/

What if I could get the bike for $150? I understand what you mean by buying new but could this be a good way to get better parts for A LOT less?

Maybe...but don't do it for the money...When building a bike bike for my wife, I bought a used frame, fork, BB and crank...all top of the line stuff, used her Fuji DJ as a donor bike, and bought a seat post, tires, and cables/covers...she went for a new seat as well

She ended up with a nice bike for very little money

Her Fuji Cruz:

it's not a bad deal, but still you have to determine what parts will and will not fit. Too bad you don't ride an xs frame.
Think about what kind of bike you want to be riding a year or two from now, and weigh whether your $150is better spent or saved.

I am under the impression that all of the parts should be compatible with the exception of maybe the crank/bottom bracket. How can I find this out??? I don't need the fork or the seatpost anyway. I guess I see what you mean by saving my money for a year or two and buying a new bike. You get something thats a lot better for..... a lot more money. I see a bike for sale thats probably worth a good $300 if not a little more, the person is asking $200? If the parts are better then mine and are compatible why not do a switchero and then resell the bike with older parts for as much as I can. Hey it will still have the Marzocchi fork! I may be able to recoupe all of my money or more or maybe a little less. What do you think? I realize I won't be getting a 06-07 bike with mid to upper end parts but what does something like that run? I was wondering if the parts off of that bike are "better then mine enough" to buy, switcheroo, and then try to resell. I am taking your replys as a no. I realize neither bike is a gem but try to stoop down to my level just for a minute. Here are the links again (hers) http://www.harobikes.com/2004/escape82/ (mine) http://www0.epinions.com/bike-Bicycl...ay_~full_specs

No "stooping" needed, as I've totally been in the exact same situation.
Really, contempating resale values is your mind trying to rationalize your shaky decision. Additionally, I would guess the crank and bottom bracket are the most compatible parts between the two bikes.
If you don't want the fork, then what are you paying $200 for? New shifters and derailleurs?
Do your components perform so badly that you can justify the cost of upgrading? These are the things you need to ask yourself.

New shifters, derailleurs, wheelset, cassette, disk brakes (I have V), and crank/bottom bracket. You guys have me leaning towards, walk away and don't look back. Another thing is I just took almost every part off of my bike and cleaned and lubed it. It has never run tighter or smoother in the time I have had it. I shutter at the thought of doing it all over again. I will try to take a pic and show you guys. Oh, I have another idea. My girlfriend is going to by a hmm comfort style mountain bike? Not sure what you call them nowadys. Basically a mountain bike with higher adjustable handlebars and a shock absorber seatpost. She has her eye on Jamis Citizen I think it was a 1.0. She is very easy on her bike (I am tempted to get training wheels put on) and I am sure the the citizen would do fine. MY QUESTION IS, back to the old haro escape heheheee. Should I buy the haro and just add an adjustable handlebar mount thing, a curved handlebar, and a seatpost shock? Or should I just give up on ever trying to get into my neighbors house? Not as good new components vs used better components? Now where is my camera?

OK here you go. Shes not much but she's all I got. The Acadia water bottle was the finishing touch, shows my inner cheapskate. Would like a new rear suspension and pedals but I think I will hold off for now.

That GT is sweet. And nicely color coordinated might I add.

Again, ride it until it's just about to give up the ghost, save along the way, and buy something new a season or two down the road.

I'm a geek, I know...but I love color coordination to the extreme. Your bike looks pretty sick, dude. I like the '80s green. Very bold. (I'm kind of a retro dork too, woohaaa!) Now you need to find some green grips!

Man check out the first pic, I got the hot yellow and green grips (salsa). I was gonna do yellow cable housing but cheaped out at the last minute. Im thinking yellow peddles. Boy if I could find a yellow rear spring for my new rear suspension it may be close to complete. I should have went with the yellow housing damit! Thanks for the compliments guys!

MY EYES:eek:

hah, it's starting to look like the fixed/singlespeed forum in here!

BUY THE HARO... that bike is quik!! I love riding that bike.. i was sad every time i had to sell one i built... its a great bike... parts will swap no problem... FRAME SIZE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COMPONENTRY!!!!!!!!!!!FRAME SIZE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COMPONENTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!FRAME SIZE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COMPONENTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!FRAME SIZE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COMPONENTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!FRAME SIZE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COMPONENTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!FRAME SIZE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COMPONENTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!FRAME SIZE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COMPONENTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!FRAME SIZE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COMPONENTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

trust me... anyone that says otherwise is misinformed

Send me the green tires, I have been looking for green tires for eons.

Ya, those tires are what makes my bikes world go round. Check bikeparts.com thats where I got mine.