My Tacoma’s mpgs are killing me and I just got a job that’s ideal to travel to using a bike. I’ve been on marketplace and I’ve seen a couple cool bikes but I really don’t know anything about them. I offered this guy $125 but I don’t know if that’s a good deal or not. What do yall think? I lowkey like the vintage bikes ngl.
by Woochris808
15 Comments
It’s a little high but if it’s ready to ride and fits you it’s not a bad price. It’ll probs be a heavy bike and the gearing on old bikes like this is harder (less “easy” range) than modern bikes
At this price point if it fits and rides fine then go for it, but I might suggest a bike with wider tires, for going over potholes in case you have bad roads on your commute and just for overall comfort. The frame limits the tire width so it also isn’t something you can always upgrade down the line. These look like 28mm, I’d go for 35mm+
This bike would be ok for getting you around. The things that make a good commuter are things like a rack so you dont have to carry a backpack. Fenders so water doesn’t splash up on you. Tires that hand handle rough condition. Upright posture (debatable) to avoid back strain.
Not that any of these are required. More like things to think about. I like being comfortable on my bike commutes so I can arrive ready to work or study then not dread the ride back after a 8 hour shift.
Yes, that is an older bike, but it looks to be in beautiful condition. It will be heavier than a modern bike, and if the shifters are old school friction ones, the gears could take some getting used to, but it should be a good commuter.
I had one of those in high school. Decent bike…
That’s a little high of a price IMO.
Nah wouldnt
you might do worse if it’s free of rust.
Something with wider tires would be a lot more comfortable. Most places don’t have pristine roads/paths where skinny tires would shine.
Seems high to me. A hybrid is better for city biking.
If those are the original 27” steel wheels, I’ll call $125 a little too steep. Those wheels are not a reliable braking surface, especially in wet conditions, which means you’ll want to replace them if this is going to be a daily driver.
I recently purchased a similar bike for a similar price, $150. The downtube shifters are a bit to get used to; I personally don’t love them but I live in Seattle so I’m constantly changing gears. Maybe you won’t have to do that.
Also, taking it in to get serviced can be frustrating. A tune up can run you the cost of the bike.
But I’m enjoying mine and it’s incredibly light, so maybe go for it.
A bit high priced for such an old bike. (it has downtube shifters!) However, it looks to be from the era when they were made in Japan, so it’s probably good quality.
I agree though, that for a commuter, you might sacrifice some fast rolling efficiency for a rack, fenders and a bit wider tires to be more rugged and give you a smoother ride.
Like everyone said, it’s a bit too expensive.
Offer $60, if they say that’s too low, say $75 is the best I can do, or I’ll walk.
Personally I wouldn’t pay more than $75 max.
Or you can also look into 90s giant/trek/specialied rigid mtb, and install slick on them. Again, $100 max if it’s in good mechanical condition.
I hate downtube shifters. There’s a reason they moved away from that and no bikes use them anymore. It’s inconvenient and less safe to take your hands away from the brakes to shift. This bike is the equivalent of a classic car. Cool for a car show, but not an ideal commuter. I’d find a more modern bike. You can still get a good used bike for $170ish. But I would probably find one with disc brakes for $300-400 used. Disc brakes are another invention that are just better in my opinion as a bike commuter of the last 25 years.
The shifters being on the tube mean this bike was designed for long cruises on relatively consistent terrain, think bike packing in an area with few hills, or weekend cruises out to a vineyard, that type of thing.
I would not want to ride this for a commute where I’m stopping and starting every few hundred meters.
I would suggest going to a bike shop and do a fitting, but a bike shop that’s a bit unkempt and offers a wide variety of bikes. Not a shop that is spit-shined and offers only (or mostly) bikes that look like they just came from the Olympics. A shop that carries a lot of kid’s bikes and/or cargo bikes is a good “thing” to look for, they will be far less likely to push you toward a bike you don’t want or need.
You don’t have to buy a bike, just ask for a fitting so you know what size range to look for.
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Also: These racing-style wheels are awesome on smooth asphalt/concrete but if you are dealing with curbs, potholes, sidewalks, grit/gravel, snow/ice, broken asphalt, off-street trails (like in a city park, not talking mountain biking), etc. you’ll want something with wider tires. A hybrid or gravel bike would do you well, or a mountain bike with smooth tires; though take note that a mountain bike is not geared for speed and will top out around 20mph / 25kph while a hybrid or gravel bike will do about 50% faster speeds even for a beginner to mid-rider. It has to do with the gearing much more than the rider.