So, ordered a rear tire today, Kenda small block 8, and came home to clean the bike up. Dunno why i felt the need to store it for the last 2 years in the sun, and upside a sprinkler (on edge of patio) but now its suffering.

minor surface rust on front and rear disc, lines are rusty, chain is gunky, front tire which despite good tread, the side walls are worn and you can see the wire. oh and the frame is all scratched up. And the pedals are beat. and the seat. so i can clean the chain, dunno about replacing the lines as i dunno if the tubes need to be replaced as well and ive never done either. BUT i am somewhat mechanically inclined, working on a 64 and 66 bug, and occasionally on the gf's ford ranger.

anyhoo, heres some quick pics.

also, notice on the second one, the chain has been eating the frame behind the front sprocket? ugh. I have till end of this month to get it up and running, and buying a new one isn't really a feasible, nor in my opinion a necessary option. But then again, thats why im here, to get the pros opinion for the joe.

PICS fixed again! ARGH! who ever thought itd be so hard to post a LARGE pictures

Full size


full size

your pics didn't work for me, i got the 403 forbidden error.

without seeing pics....sounds like you need a new front tire. seat, if it's comfortable, and you don't mind, can stay. again, without seeing pictures, if your frame has been compromised, e.g. "eaten by the chain" you might need a new frame, which means it would be cheaper to just get a new bike.

clean it up as best as you can, then take it into a shop and get it "tuned." after two years you are going to need new cables no matter what. you also probably need new brake pads. depending on how bad the chain is, you might need a new chain, and if your chain is *really* hosed up and you rode it, you may need to get a new cassette along with the chain.

it's tough to say without seeing the bike and knowing the state, other than a "gunky" chain. good luck.

It's something to do with the way the site they're posted on allows/disallows hotlinks.

Right click / open in new tab works for me in Google Chrome.

I'd go ahead and replace cables and cable housing considering the outdoor living.

Yeah that chainstay is pretty chewed up from chainsuck, which can sometimes be caused by a worn out chainring or two. Measure your chain. Good chance your chainrings and cassette are wasted if you've ridden with a wasted chain for a while. Kinda looks like chainrings are riveted. IF that's the case and IF they're wasted a new crankset would be in order.

I'd imagine spending any more than $100 on this bike would make finding a used MTB on Craigslist a better bargain, if you know what to look for.

https://bicycletutor.com/chain-wear/

I'll see if I can get the pics in...



That site just doesn't like hotlinking, bro.

Woah, one of 'ems trying to load. Slow server. smaller pics might work better.

Ahhh, I see. Swedish server. That'll make good download speeds a little more difficult for me.

Maybe I don't know ****, but those welds look horrible

dammit...i still can't see the pictures...

I've ridden worse.

Very, very much so. I'd ride it til it wont move anymore.

Getting a new bike is not at all what i wanted to hear. I will measure chain tomorrow, but thats been replaced atleast 4 times sense ive owned the bike. I think it grinds as it shifts from 2nd to third in the front. The bike overall besides a busted shock in the front (covered under warranty) has been great to me. dunno if getting a new one is really that financially responsible considering its light weight, strong (hasnt broke yet), a gary fisher (in my eyes this is a good brand), and has served me well. I see no reason that getting everything fixed is the best bet?

how much (roughly) would/should a bike shop charge to replace cables/tubes/chain? i do believe 40 was the price i was paying per chain with install considering i wasnt willing to buy the tool and do it myself.

Mine ya'll, im a college student saving up to buy a more suitable and reliable vehicle to manage and run my computer repair company. Ive been doing it for 2 years now in a 66 bug and a small truck (ford ranger) to carry tools, and especially bikes is more needed then a bike right now


also pictures are fixed.

Ahh I see. 2005 or so GF Mullet. I was guessing more like turn of the century on the vintage. Still going for $375 OBO in better shape in my neck of the woods. Hard to throw a lot of money at that thing unless you really love it.

I'd get a chain tool and do it yourself. Chain breaker = $15. PC-850 chain = $15. Should save you $10 on your first time out with it.

Dunno labor rates on cables and housing.

thats a good chain? yeah i wouldnt mind saving some moneys and having the tool. honestly its been a great bike to me. paid i think like 600 as it was on sale as it was an 05 in 06. normally i wanna say like 800?

Chains are what's called "wear-out items" -- not meant to last the life of the bike. No real reason to spend big $$ on them, the 850 will do the job.

Yup, get new cables; THAT'S where I'd spend a bit. I run XTR cables on my bike, just because they work SO WELL. Make my Avid BB7's work like hydro's....

Unless you're gouging the stay by the crank, just touch it up and go. Significant loss of metal is gonna be the only issue.

Now go pedal that frame to death.

Oh, and I'm not one of these folks who 'count beans' on a bike repair/refurbish job; if the bike is reliable, and you have a 'bond' with it, it's worth the money. Those who let the wallet determine the life of their present rides are just seeing the bike as another tool......IMO.

If the cables aren't frozen, WD40 those and then squirt teflon lube in them. The rotor discs, light rust, wouldn't steel wool or even the brake pads themselves grind that off after a couple of rides down a hill or bridge ? I get the forbidden error too for the pics, perhaps attaching the photos in this thread would make it easier for all ? So I'm making blind suggestions here. But if the bike still rides, clean up the gunk on the chain and oil it. You don't want to make the bike the envy of the University, that may get it stolen ?

Yup. I got a full set for $22 shipped.

perhaps its just the site thats hosting them. might as well quit being lazy and put them on my own website. Their largeish pictures but i dont want to lose quality/size as it needs to show details.

I have no ideas about cables, something i can do myself? where do i order them from? do they have the connector (thingys) for inside the gear shifter/brakes? what about the housings? do i buy them per bike, or are they like 6ft each and then you cut them down to size? this'll give me a good chance to clean the de-raliers and what not.

Only cables i ever have to change are the throttle and clutch in the 66, which the throttle went out about a month ago. driving down the highway doing 80 and suddenly blam no more throttle.

also, where an online trustworthy retailer to get most bike related parts? i found novara brand cables/housing from REI?

chain: https://www.rei.com/product/761159
chain tool: https://www.rei.com/product/544208
brake cables: https://www.rei.com/product/737533
shift kit: https://www.rei.com/product/737529

ive yet to go measure anything yet but will before i buy

XTR comes pre-cut (at least, the shift set does); the easy way to deal with cutting/fitting your own is to put the old housing alongside the new, cut the new the same length, and ONLY cut the inner cable after you're done stringing it.

Counting down, your last 4 steps should be:

4. Cut ends of cable (leave 1-2", gives adjustment tool something to grab onto)
3. Crimp on cable caps.
2. Adjust shifting.
1. Test ride.

It's actually a fun job, once you figure out the way it's designed to work. (Installing new cables on a new frame is almost like foreplay...!)

I agree with the first part of your post...the Opie, Mullet, GED is a sexxy beast of a frame that will wrap itself around you and squeeze the life outta you for the weld slander.

i might buy those cables just because they've never been replaced, but at the same time besides needing a little tweaking of the de-railers, it ran like a champ and i got my butt whooped by the gf's 14 yo brother, who is outta shape himself haha

Point taken.