Bowden on craigslist

[49autocycledeluxe]

looking through Google Images the fiberglass frames were shown alone but none apart showing any steel.

 

[prewarbikes4sale]

I was under the impression that the originals were fiberglass while the repops had a steel frame? Hence the high failure rate & scarcity of original Bowdens.

Yes that’s right

 

[Balloonatic]

This one is likely a repro, originals were cast in the color (gelcoat) but this one looks to be painted. Original c1960 models do not have any metal frame inside except the forks.

Where you at, @bikebozo? This topic has been covered many times... there are several "tells" for an orig. vs. a repro. The horn button alone is often a give away, but I don't see any detail shots here. An orig. cast in the color Spacelander with correct pedals, Mertens seat, Zephyr Flyte tires, grips, and orig. rack, not a repro, etc. might fetch close to this price, but if it's a repro, they seem to sell for about $3-4K.

Caveat emptor: buyer beware on this one, especially for fifteen large, and cash only no less!

 

[1motime]

Craigslist? $15000? How do you screen who responds? Do you really want a complete stranger coming to your house and asking to take a ride around the block? Could get awkward.....

 

[BFGforme]

Guy claims it has fiberglass frame, showed tag and numbers, but don't remember location on frame! Not an expert....

 

[Bikebones]

Repro here....imo.

 

[BFGforme]

Did any repops have fiberglass frames also?

 

[bikebozo]

It is a reproduction, originals have no metal frame , the fibers show on an original , the give away on this bike , is the center extrusion moulding chrome looking strip plus how shiny it is . I THINK Mike Kaplan painted his bikes ,. He will write something . The metal frame was changed , inside of the Kaplan examples, I sold the photos of Mike Kaplans 1st generation metal frame, the reproductions are going up in price . Because they do not know the difference , and mostly do not care . They are bought as a visual piece , like art ,.the count of real Bowdens is not known , I am not aware of any failure of any Bowden , the company,lost there distribution, when the furniture co. Went bankrupt because of a vibrating lounge chair injured someone . My photos of originals are posted on the CABE, BEN SIGNED 13 bikes for me

 

[BFGforme]

Not trying to defend it but guy claims only metal is fork..... IDK, looked almost brand new when I saw it! Just repeating what he said, also how else would you pay for a bike without cash? I'm not taking a check, I own a business and could take a card, but then would have to pay taxes on that.... just my thoughts...

 

[bikebozo]

It is shiny , it has the extrusion in the center , it does not have a Mertens seat , it has everything that Mike Kaplan tells about when discussing his example