JanNes

https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/90/temppni.jpg/

Sure is good looking if anything.

55/Rad

The paint looks pretty rough along the top and seat tubes. I can't see anything about this bike that makes me think it is a good deal for the money. But then, my vision isn't what it used to be.

Aurelius

Personally, I wouldn't pay more than $100 for that...and that's if it had good tires cables and chain.

JanNes

Thanks, 55/Rad and Aurelius. Much appreciated.

More pics:

https://img820.imageshack.us/img820/7...6662jpgphp.jpg
https://img855.imageshack.us/img855/5...1943jpgphp.jpg
https://img847.imageshack.us/img847/4...6640jpgphp.jpg
https://img31.imageshack.us/img31/309...0247jpgphp.jpg
https://img717.imageshack.us/img717/7...7349jpgphp.jpg
https://img856.imageshack.us/img856/3...4348jpgphp.jpg
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7236/temppni.jpg

Man, I`ve been looking for a decent bike forever. My budget is around $500 (I`m a student, want to commute but also want a cool road bike not a commute bike). Used bikes are okay with me. Any advice?

Aurelius

That's an old entry level bike. Probably very heavy and those brakes are really ineffective. I had a Raleigh Record in grade 8 (about 1980) that was about that quality.

Walter

Definitely not. The crank, though cotterless, is steel and really heavy. It compliments the heavy frame and wheels. This was, as noted above, an entry level 10 speed from the 1980s and probably cost about $180 back then. It's value has not risen, even accounting for inflation.

PS: When looking at old "10 speeds" stem mounted shifters = Entry level (if it's a brand name bike) or department store. Stay away.

Seattle Forrest

Advice, in general: used is the way to go, and you're looking to spend the right amount of your budget on a used bike. Whichever one you wind up with is likely to need some TLC, and if you like cycling, and worse if you stick around here, you'll become convinced that you need some fancy stuff, whether it's clothing, high end tires, or what. It's good that you have some room in your budget for that.

More specifically, if you post your location, people with free time and a bike fetish often look through Craigslist and recommend good value used bikes for people here.

JanNes

Just what I was looking for. Thanks!! I live in Toronto Canada. I guess I should make a new thread then.

mmmdonuts

Cheapo junk, skip it.

Kurogashi

As a fellow student, I know how hard it is to find a good road bike without it being too 'good' (good enough for thieves to break your ulock and steal). I am actually planning to get an old super record Raleigh (entry level crap too) and supe it up with new modern technology wheels (Mavic CPX 22 - not that great but it is even more expensive than the Raleigh itself lol). If only we can bring our bikes in doors... I would be riding a carbon fibre frame, lol. Tell me what you end up doing down the road, I am still deciding what my commuter/beater should be.

Aurelius

This one is on Toronto Craigslist right now. It's a 56. I'm 5'11" and that's in the neighbourhood of what I ride size wise. If you could get it for $250-$300 (at the very most and asssuming it works perfectly and the tires and cables are sound) this would be a very servicable bike for a few years. https://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/2458507975.html

JanNes

Will do man (y). I know exactly what you mean.

JanNes

Thankkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkks!!!!!

JanNes

Sent the guy as msg asking if he could sell it for $275.

Kurogashi

Oh you're from Toronto too? Cool. If you don't mind me asking, what school do you go to?
This looks pretty good, some old school Shimano 105 parts. What size do you ride though because fit is super important. From looking at the Raleigh you wanted, you seem pretty tall, so maybe a 58cm would work?
https://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-s...AdIdZ290914813

Take a look at Kijiji (it's like Craigslist but a lot more people post there).
https://toronto.kijiji.ca/f-road-bike...cationZ1700273

I go to UofT and being downtown and all, I am paranoid when locking up my 'nice' bike, so I just commute on a beater which needs to be upgraded soon. But I have seen some really nice bikes at school; Trek 8500 (like wtf?), Specialized Allez, and a lot of the random $500-700 commuter bikes here and there. It's kind of reassuring to know that there are even nicer bikes beside yours on campus, but I am still paranoid when locking up a bike I spent a grand on.

Well remember to get a u-lock and maybe a cable lock for your wheels (unless you have really nice wheels, then you should get a mini u-lock for the front wheel) because cables can easily be cut by the average thief. But remember, no u-lock is safe from a professional thief (10mins with an angle grinder and away he goes with your bike... and no, the chances of bystanders stopping the thief is very slim... human nature).

Anyway, not to scare you or anything because I really do enjoy riding on a nice bike to school, and not a piece of junk lol. I'm never late either, zipping through downtown traffic is so fun!

Gotcha38

I just picked up a Specialized Allez Elite off craigslist for around $500. Keep hunting.

AlphaV

Here's a tip when negotiating a price; do it in person. It shows you're serious about buying the bike, instead of just some time waster looking for the best deal. Just as an example, this past weekend, I went with a friend to look at her first road bike, a celeste Bianchi with Columbus Steel and Shimano 600 components, asking was $400. She brought $350 with her. The bike was good, we start to negotiate. He's telling us he's got a buyer coming by later and had offered $420 cause he knew we were coming earlier. We just said, we're here right now with cash in hand. He tells us, Let me ask my wife. A few minutes later, we're riding away on a sweet celeste Bianchi for $350.
Just saying, you can get a better price by just showing up, unless the bike's been re-posted several times (then the seller is desperate, then lowball away), usually giving a lower offer will result in non replying emails.
Another tip (I'm also from Toronto) make offers in combinations of $20s, one buyer did it to me, and I didn't even think to properly counter it. I sold a bike asking $600,
he said $500
me- no way for that much I would have to sell it to the other guy that's interested
him- what's his offer?
me- can't tell you that
him- $540?
me- $550?
him- no, I have to go to the bank and can only get $20s
me- okay deal (I should have said $560, but the conversation was pretty quick, but he got me, don't feel bad about it, and it was good negotiation)

cyccommute 

I'll have to disagree, respectfully. Used may be a good way to go but if you have to ask the question 'Is this a good buy?', you probably shouldn't be looking at used bikes.

Newbies + used ≥ bad idea

It takes some skill (not a lot) to look at a bike and see the flaws. For example, the Raleigh was a very, very low bike in its day. It probably sold for around $150. It may have sold at a bike shop but it was in competition with bikes sold at Sears and K-Mart. Stamped steel frame parts (look at the rear brake bridge), steel components, suicide brake levers, stem shifters and, likely, steel wheels. $50 would be generous.

JanNes: At the very least, take a bicycling friend along when you go look at used bikes. With your budget of $500, you should also look at the Jamis Ventura Sport. It's a little more than $500 but you might be able to find a sale on one. It will do all the stuff you want it to do without having to fix it all the time. A new bike comes with a shop attached to it for minor repairs. And, on the plus side, it weighs a super bike (for the Raleigh's era) 22 lbs.

JanNes

@ Kurogashi

I go to Ryerson : D

Thanks for the link.

I agree with you on the lock thing. It would totally suck to have an $500+ bike stolen. Being students, I think this is especially applicable to us. And I am aware of bystanders 'looking away' as a bikes are stolen. Stumbled across an experiment done on youtube a while back. I think this indifference in bystander to bike theft is a result of.. well a combination of not knowing what to do, and not perceiving it as a crime worthy of risking confrontation.

And I'm def. not going to skimp out on the bike security. Maybe I could bring inside our department (Architecture fyi, really laid back faculty and staff).

The first guy I sent my msg to said that he will keep my offer in mind if he ends up not selling his Miele.

Gotcha38. Now that is what I am talking about. If I could find something similar I would def buy.

@ AlphaV

That is a good idea, thanks. I would def. pref. a face-to-face buy. Only time it will be a prob is when the guy lives on the other side of the city. But I guess when it comes to a $500 purchase it is totally worth it.

I will continue to update this thread so that I can find that sweet bike, my legs year to pedal. And so that other new to the whole bike thing can kinda get grasp of how buying used off of Kijiji and/or craigslist will go on average.

JanNes

Appreciate the advice. You know what the funniest thing is? That when I saw the Raleigh Laser. I was dead ready to call msg the guy asking that he sell it to me. I was ready to go pick it up the next day, cash in hand. Don't know what I was thinking smh. I guess it was the shape, and color scheme of the bike that drew me right in. After browsing through a lot (dare I say mundane) bikes, I though wow this is something I can see myself riding on. Darn thing almost cost me $180 plus months of bad commutes!!

Good of you to be able to spot bike components and problems off of just picture. I guess it's something that comes when your really into the culture.

But I'm still shooting for a used bicycle.. why? cause I have the forum (It will be very difficult for me buy complete ripoffs), and plus, I want to be satisfied that I got a good bargin. New bikes, everyone can get. New bikes at a really good bargain, now that will definitely make me appreciate the bike that much more.

My inspiration for this comes people who get deals like these: https://forums.redflagdeals.com/rfd-c...al-583240/398/