I found this bike in the dumpster. Is it broken beyond repair from the looks of it? If not how much money would it take to get the bike just riding again?
by scoot4839
I found this bike in the dumpster. Is it broken beyond repair from the looks of it? If not how much money would it take to get the bike just riding again?
by scoot4839
21 Comments
A lot more than it’s worth.
a few hundred dollars for all new rubber, chain, and ebay search for that old front derailleur that has a broken mount for a bike that is not that great, not that fun, and not valuable. Put it back.
Single speed conversion. New chain, saddle, and enjoy. Don’t forget to brake check.
just buy a used bike for $100 to $200.
Nice sock
It depends on your situation… If you have no money and need transport, find a friend who knows about bikes & fix it up. Or use Sheldon Brown’s site, YouTube, etc.
If you need to take it to a bike shop, don’t. Give it to a bike recycling charity, or something.
All things considered, it doesn’t look terrible. I would fix it up… But I’ve probably got most of the bits in my ‘bike stuff’ cabinet.
If you want to learn how to wrench, this might be worth the time/trouble, and then donate it or sell for what you paid in parts. If it fits, though, might be great for around town, no worry about theft (except for the new parts getting taken!)
If you have the tools and knowledge this would be a wonderful bike to restore and give a second life. It would be worth probably about the same or less than the cost of parts you would need to get it running again but it would be a fun bike to ride! Taking this a shop is not worth your time or money.
If you are in the Atlanta area I will give you 20 bucks for it and restore it myself to donate to someone who could use a bike to get around.
I’d hate to see this binned but if you don’t have an interest in wrenching and access to a co-op it’s probably not worth fixing.
If you, or someone you know does have the interest and resources then this is a great opportunity.
I’d love to see this fixed with salvaged or inexpensive parts and used by someone that will use it and love it.
A fantastic retro restoration, or a singlespeed conversion.
Just know, it’ll be hard to work on, difficult to find parts, and expensive to fix. Not $1,000s, but still a few hundred to get it reliable
Perfect bike if you’re twenty and have no money, experience, or time.
Perfect bike if you’re fifty with a lot of money, experience, and time.
Buying a new bike will be cheaper
This would have been a pretty nice bike back in the day. Unfortunately, it will likely cost a fair bit to refurbish. If you can, donate it to a local bike co-op, they may be able to refurbish it or at least break it down into usable parts that can keep other bicycles on the road.
My first bike, it was $90 and at the time expensive. Rode it for years, but this one looks beat. 😞
Looks fixable. Paying somebody else to do the repairs would exceed the bike’s value. However, getting some basic tools and learning to do the work would be a great opportunity.
crunchy chain.
Put it back 😂
You can totally restore that. And I mean even get every part polished and looking like new.
I do this alot.
For the metal, if there’s rust or guoges , start with a medium grit sandpaper, like 400 and sand off the nasty, then work your way down to like 2000 grit dry and then wet, and then use fine steel wool and finally metal polish.
Trust me, only the worst bikes won’t look almost new.
Use a rubbing compound on the frame after washing. Then use a nice polish.
Finally, service all the bearings, new cables and housings. Obviously a new chain.
Panaracer pasella tires.
It will ride like new.
Cheaper to buy a good used bike for $100-200. If you start down the rabbit hole of making it like new, you’ll not only invest in parts but the tools will add up quickly. But you’ll now have a new hobby.
Test ride and see what is going on first.
Just to get it riding like it should go to Park Tools website and learn how to adjust and lubricate the derailleurs, brake/shifter cables, and possibly true the wheels by spoke adjustments.
That front derailleur is crap anyway. Put on a cheap used one, new chain, tune-up and ride it.
Put it back.