Barossa Monaco

[taximan]

I have been offered a Barrosa Monaco for free. The bike is well past its prime and needs a complete rebuild. I know that the Monaco was a budget bike but I noticed that the frame was made by Dawes. I was thinking of setting it up as a touring bike if the frame is any good. Any thoughts?

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Why not? If you replace any knackered parts with decent stuff and the frame is straight you can ride it anywhere you want.

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

it’s all about math.

If you are buying parts the cost of a rebuild will often exceed that of a new bike.

If you have the parts it’s a free bike.

If you enjoy rebuilding bikes it’s worth it in either case.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Here's a picture of one

As @fritz katzenjammer says it all depends how much you enjoy building bikes.

Plus also ... Do you have a need/want for this bike. If you already have a bike that is better/you like more than the project bike after it's done and you end up not riding it then it could all be a bit pointless.

 

[Drago]

Other than their high end offerings, Dawes haven't made their own frames in almost 40 years, with the budget and cooking frames comjng from the far east.

It may come from the same source as Dawes frames, but if its as Mr Trousers has posted in his pic they didnt manufacturer it with their own fair hands while crying tears of artisanal joy.

Coming from the far east isnt necessarily a bad thing at all - some of the best bicycle frames efer constructed come from there. However, it kind of negates spending any real money on it. If its just a case of a clean, service, tyres and maybe cables or brake blocks then go for it. More than that and its becomes financially pointless - you may as well buy a newish far eastern bike thats already in good order.