“Vintage” Bike Disposal

[partsguy]

Huffys need love too. The ladies one is pretty cool.

Thank you, that is a 1969 Huffy Camaro that came from a storage locker clean out. Everything was decent except for the white frame and fork. I stripped the frame fork, did some body work and eliminated the tank, and repaint them Ford Silver Frost. It popped, a lady in her 50’s bought it to ride with her husband. She loved it, and I remember her saying “Thank you for saving some local history!”.

 

[partsguy]

Blown away by the prices you are getting for these bikes. Location must be key. All three Huffy's would end up at the scrap yard in my neck of the woods.

That is a shame, considering how nice those all were, especially after being reconditioned. It’s also my marketing, I emphasize the bike (regardless of brand) that it has been reconditioned and has had “whatever” done to it. Most people, when they list a bike, take terrible pictures, often dark, with clutter in the background or someone lingering around in their pajamas. They sell as is, haven’t ridden the bike, don’t even wash it off, and then they throw it out wondering why it doesn’t sell.

 

[partsguy]

Not every bike I get is saved. This 1972 Breeze needed too much work to make it worth my time. I’d spend $100 or more in parts on a $120 bike, at best. Base model, single speed coaster, heavy paint wear, fenders are banged up, wheels are rusty and would never clean up well and look right, tires were shot. The tires, tubes, and rim strips alone would have been $60 easily, replace the rusty wheels probably $100 easy. I don’t keep parts for bikes like this on hand. I don’t get enough of them to furnish to take up my space, so they either are quick to fix and sell or get parted out. Then my time to polish the turd. It’s parts are helping save other bikes.

 

[partsguy]

First bike of 2024, due to home renovations and moving, I did not get this done last year. 1989 Huffy 10 Speed, just listed locally for $100 firm. The original owner loved it to death and it shows, somebody, the right person that is sick of Pacific-Cycle crap, will snap this up. I’m amazed how much money is thrown away every year at newer junk that isn’t even welded right.

 

[partsguy]

The above bike has a potential buyer coming this morning

 

[morton]

Here is another "custom" i.e. parts swapper I did. Got a complete World Sport at a local flea market for $5. Repainted it and the only things I replaced were the shifters, brake levers, tires, wheels, saddle, cables, chain ring from 2 to 3 ring, f/r deraileurs, handle bars, grips, bottle holder, and crank. I did add f/r blinkies, fenders, and a speedo. The red tires added 6-8 mph to my top speed but were a bit troublesome.

 

[Oilit]

Here is another "custom" i.e. parts swapper I did. Got a complete World Sport at a local flea market for $5. Repainted it and the only things I replaced were the shifters, brake levers, tires, wheels, saddle, cables, chain ring from 2 to 3 ring, f/r deraileurs, handle bars, grips, bottle holder, and crank. I did add f/r blinkies, fenders, and a speedo. The red tires added 6-8 mph to my top speed but were a bit troublesome.



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Was that a labor of love or were you just trying things out?

 

[AmericanSchwinnfiend]

I find it therapeutic dismantling, cleaning and re-lubricating moving parts to be re-assembled in artistic but perhaps unprofitably rolling art cycles. I often put $2000. worth of time into some discarded and obsolete machine just to ride it for a couple of days and end up reselling it for $60. There are worse vices out there. Every once in a while, some wacky creation I assembled really rings someones bell.

 

[partsguy]

A couple of weeks ago, I got this 80’s Huffy Durasport at a church rummage sale at half off. I’m surprised nobody bought it, the diamond-patterned saddle is worth some coin to the vintage / old-school BMX crowd. I’d have to say this is around 1985-87, the last Durasport I had was a 1986 24” women’s bike that got parted. This 26” men’s doesn’t need much, with a tune-up, and a good detailing I can probably get $60 to $80 out of it. That original saddle isn’t comfortable so I will probably change that out for a better seat because whoever buys this is buying it to ride. That original saddle will sell to someone who is actually restoring a bike worthwhile. So it’s a win-win.

 

[morton]

Was that a labor of love or were you just trying things out? And don't forget I was the envy of the local cycling crowd with my go-fast red tires!

Just enjoyed riding my own creations.....and saving bikes form the scrapper.