Buying second-hand - 'retro' or cheap new?

[drissa]

*Edit* I meant to title '...or cheap modern'

Hi all
I'm planning to buy my girlfriend a bike. She currently has a 'retro' one with plenty of character, but it's becoming a death trap. In particular, it has an old Sturmey-Archer hub which seems beyond my DIY repair.

I'm interested in opinions on buying something similarly retro (seems to make a nicer present, if I re-paint and add some new parts) vs just buying a used cheapo road bike. Even taking into account the poor parts, would a newer road bike just be more reliable and easier to maintain?

For the first option, I would try to fix-up something like this.

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[smokeysmoo]

to CC.

The shifter isn't original on that Gumtree bike, it looks like a quick bodge when the original one has bust at some time, but I doubt it would be hard to find a suitable period shifter to replace it with.

As far as a resto goes this bike would be about as simple as things get. If your happy getting stuck in then go for it

YouTube has loads of helpful vids, there are loads of CC members who have restored and rebuilt many bikes over the years, and of course, if in doubt, AASHTA*


*you'll come across many acronyms, this was means As Always Sheldon Has The Answer, for other explanations see HERE

 

[Cycleops]

As smokeysmoo says it would be a farly straightforward restore. I wouldn't repaint it. Re the "rear brake is seized" comment, could be the wheel is buckled and binding on the brake. Apart from that it looks good. Might be a bit on the heavy side, but there must be loads of lighter mixte frame bikes out there. I have seem them go for very little, some in 531 tubing.

 

[drissa]

Thanks for replies. Any views on cheaper modern second-hand bikes, eg. what would have gone for £150 - 200 new? Can these be turned into decent bikes with some upgraded parts?

 

[Cycleops]

The basis of a new bike in the price range you quoted is just too cheap and nasty and it will weigh a ton. They can usually be found for about fifty quid secondhand. Why go for something like that when you can get a decent used bike. Something like this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-M...1118450545?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item43c8030771
You might need to spend a little on it but would make a good basic mount.

 

[drissa]

Thanks. I've actually seen a few for sale in my area which use that basic frame-type. What makes these older (70s?) bikes better in your opinion? I would have guessed that, although they're built down to a price, even cheap modern bikes benefit from better basic components (e.g.. brakes, etc)? But I know little about bikes...

 

[Cycleops]

They are not all built down to a price. There are quite a few quality bikes out there from the seventies, eighties and nineties. If you see a bike with a Reynolds 531 or 501 sticker on the frame that denotes that it will better quality, and lighter than the majority of stuff on offer. It is rather modern cheap bikes that are built to a price. Made mainly in the Far East they use cheap unbranded components. But be aware that if these older bikes have well worn components that may need replacing it may not turn out to be such a economical option!

 

[SteCenturion]

@Cycleops.

You know much more about these things than I & yes Reynolds 501 or 531 are great tubes.

I know nothing about this type of bike really.

Reynolds still are a leader in high end quality steel tubing (not only to the bike industry either).

But...


'BUYER BEWARE'.

Type Reynolds 501, 531 or higher into your ebay bike search & you will find 100's (exaggeration) of sticker suppliers, some of which will furnish you with excellent quality FAKES.

It is entirely possible to create a Cervelo from a bag of **** Appollo or some Zipp from **** or Reynolds 531 from old railway girders.

Nicely painted up & with quality fake stickers, on a website a bike might look like a work of art.

Just thought it might help some ...

 

[drissa]

Yes, that was my point about modern bikes...

'I would have guessed that, although they're built down to a price, even cheap modern bikes benefit from better basic components (e.g.. brakes, etc)?'

I just wondered if cheap newer components would still beat older designs. But I'll look out for an old frame and try to refurbish where needed. Thanks for advice.

 

[drissa]

Unless I'm outstaying my welcome, any final feedback on these bikes would be appreciated. I've asked the guy to bring the 1980s Peugeot and the 1978 Falcon for me to look at. I wonder if the 1974 Puch could also be a good project? Thanks.

 

[SteCenturion]

Unless I'm outstaying my welcome, any final feedback on these bikes would be appreciated. I've asked the guy to bring the 1980s Peugeot and the 1978 Falcon for me to look at. I wonder if the 1974 Puch could also be a good project? Thanks.

Hi drissa.

Not out staying anything with me, but I can't help much as I don't have the necessary knowledge for more vintage bikes.

Is there a classics/vintage section on here ? Not sure.

I did have a Peugot 'Tour de France' in the 80's with shifters on the down tube.
In fact it was the crux of my very 1st post as a newbie on here.

I remember at the time I thought it was the mutz nutz until my mates dad got a brand new Raleigh Record Sprint in lovely Reynolds 531 tubing.

Probably was a fairly basic bike for Peugot of the time but as a 12 yr old thought it was great.

Didn't let me down despite a couple of high speed offs.

Some vintage stuff worth a small fortune now. You might get lucky & bag a bargain if someone doesn't know what they've got.