Nashman
Riding a '38 Autocycle Deluxe
Buyer beware LATIN: Caveat emptor
CABE Admin: Please: This is just advice. There is no reference to anyone, any deal, on any site, market, forum, or retail outlet. This is for the purpose of helping others in the hobby. There should be no rules broken here.
Who buys a 4 figure $$ seemingly high standard restored bicycle ( car or anything) on line (from what seem to be great pictures) from a supposed seasoned trusted seller without inside pics of the tank/top, bottom/both sides, close up of the headbadge and asks ALL the important questions as to rideability, all parts stock/straight/ and in like new working order. None of us, right? OOPS……not ALL OF us?
To assume is to make an ASS out of U and ME. ASSUME. I claim to be fairly well educated in the hobby. I’d better be as I’ve been in it over 35 years, and probably owned 60 plus bikes/currently stalled at 22. The shame. I am not WORTHY!! Ha!! I digress…sorry…
I have worked on them from stem to stern/seat to stem..whatever. Yes, I’m kinda fussy. I like stuff to be correct, and complete, and generally operational. I guess some people “forget” to mention things or tactfully hold back information to CYA. Pity. A good rule of thumb is ask questions. The only stupid question is the one you did NOT ASK!!
My problem is I trust people in a respectable hobby. I think there is an honour system in place. Golden rule shall we say. Well, part of the word TRUST contains the word RUST. Maybe that’s a subliminal hint, I dunno?
A head badge and a tank are KEY parts of many high end bicycles. Is it correct to expect those areas to be complete and solid when you purchase a bike?
Who has tried to drill out a broken head badge screw on a freshly painted frame? How about buzzing rust and dirt out of the INSIDE an almost show quality exterior tank? Not fun jobs. Ones you don’t anticipate when you drop $ on a restored bike. No horn, no switch…say what? Surely an honest seasoned seller would know and mention these? Don’t be so sure.
How about severely bent chain tensioners & all fasteners hand spin loose? Ever try lining up a wheel/chain with tensioners on a 30 degree angle? Sure, if you buy a bike in person, you check all that stuff. Spin the wheels, check the frame for bends/breaks/welds/forks, look for rust, correct parts, complete parts. Look the seller in the eye. Shake his hand. On line, different story. For those of you old enough to remember the cop show “Hill Street Blues” I will quote the Sarg. “Be careful out there”.
CABE Admin: Please: This is just advice. There is no reference to anyone, any deal, on any site, market, forum, or retail outlet. This is for the purpose of helping others in the hobby. There should be no rules broken here.
Who buys a 4 figure $$ seemingly high standard restored bicycle ( car or anything) on line (from what seem to be great pictures) from a supposed seasoned trusted seller without inside pics of the tank/top, bottom/both sides, close up of the headbadge and asks ALL the important questions as to rideability, all parts stock/straight/ and in like new working order. None of us, right? OOPS……not ALL OF us?
To assume is to make an ASS out of U and ME. ASSUME. I claim to be fairly well educated in the hobby. I’d better be as I’ve been in it over 35 years, and probably owned 60 plus bikes/currently stalled at 22. The shame. I am not WORTHY!! Ha!! I digress…sorry…
I have worked on them from stem to stern/seat to stem..whatever. Yes, I’m kinda fussy. I like stuff to be correct, and complete, and generally operational. I guess some people “forget” to mention things or tactfully hold back information to CYA. Pity. A good rule of thumb is ask questions. The only stupid question is the one you did NOT ASK!!
My problem is I trust people in a respectable hobby. I think there is an honour system in place. Golden rule shall we say. Well, part of the word TRUST contains the word RUST. Maybe that’s a subliminal hint, I dunno?
A head badge and a tank are KEY parts of many high end bicycles. Is it correct to expect those areas to be complete and solid when you purchase a bike?
Who has tried to drill out a broken head badge screw on a freshly painted frame? How about buzzing rust and dirt out of the INSIDE an almost show quality exterior tank? Not fun jobs. Ones you don’t anticipate when you drop $ on a restored bike. No horn, no switch…say what? Surely an honest seasoned seller would know and mention these? Don’t be so sure.
How about severely bent chain tensioners & all fasteners hand spin loose? Ever try lining up a wheel/chain with tensioners on a 30 degree angle? Sure, if you buy a bike in person, you check all that stuff. Spin the wheels, check the frame for bends/breaks/welds/forks, look for rust, correct parts, complete parts. Look the seller in the eye. Shake his hand. On line, different story. For those of you old enough to remember the cop show “Hill Street Blues” I will quote the Sarg. “Be careful out there”.
