Thinking on buying this, I really want a gravel bike with drop bars. This fits the bill. What are your thoughts, worth the $600 I talked him down to? This is a 1991 Univega Alpina 26inch ATB bike.
The only original part of this bike is the frame. Everything else has been updated with current parts & it has been converted to a drop bar setup. Apparently the build cost him $1,450 w/ parts and labor.
by ruffdiculous
14 Comments
There is nowhere near $1450 in value here. Labor is irrelevant
$350
i built up an Univega Activa with 700c wheels. bigger wheels are definitely better for gravel for me. my build, although pretty basic, ran me about 150, with most of my parts from the bin. i have drop levers with a shifter attached to my stem, and a 1×7 drivetrain. i think that is a little too expensive…
https://preview.redd.it/er73zx8lkbef1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c7c50b80c6f2020cf8669f7d130a9275ac9ebae
I’d love to know the reach on this bike. This is why people size Down and get riser stems to do drop bar conversions, you better be like 60% torso to ride this
Lol this goes back to that post last week about “Does anyone buy other people’s projects?”
Rims and drive train look cooked.
Not worth half that.
Sounds like alot for that, id say 250 if it runs well and feels good
If they did all that wirk, why sell it?
only the frame is worth anything.
600 isn’t bad but I’m closer to 500 on this- it’s a cool build no doubt but I’ve seen really nice 26er’s for less and throwing drop bars, doing a 1x conversion and getting some nice tires really don’t cost all too much. Granted I know how to do all that myself and have the tools so I can see the value in paying an extra hundred to have it done. These old 26 bikes are long, like someone else said drops on this geo is gonna feel really long- if anything I’d put risers with some swept back bars on something like this.
Honestly 700c Hybrids of this same era are so slept on- you have the clearance to put gravel tires on and the reach isn’t as bad to throw drop bars on. Specialized Cross Roads is a great example for a bike that I think is much more appropriate for a retro gravel conversion
Those old UniVegas ride great. They’re made with similar tubing and craftsmanship to similar era miyatas as they were made in the same factory with the same tubing, lugs, dropouts… I had a 1983 univega and loved it – until I cracked the fork + a big crack through the downtube, head tube and the DT/HT lug. I also sold UniVegas at a shop I worked at 25 years ago. Good bikes. The owner would be lucky to get $300 for that old project bike with a bunch of cheaper parts. Sensah parts are decent but they aren’t mint xtr or anything. Also while UniVegas are solid decent bikes they aren’t an Eisentraut, Steve Potts, Tom Kellogg , Ibis or some blingy custom handcrafted work of art. The amount of money that the owner has invested is irrelevant.
$600?! Seller is smoking crack?
Tell the seller you were born at night. But not fucking last night !