If you could restore a bike to look NOS

[Drosentreter]

The car/bike thing is not an apples-to-apples comparison for a whole lot of reasons. For one the VIN/trim tag/build sheet tells you how the car originally came. Even with some 'original' bicycles they have been through collectors who have enhanced them to either be nicer or more deluxe than they originally were. The biggest problem with actually doing a factory correct restoration is most would not accept this like the Corvette/Thunderbird/Camaro etc... crowd does.

Whilst this is mostly true, it still happens in the Corvette world because the paint and trim tags don’t tell all. The way GM did the tags they just stated what the car couldn’t have had, not what it did. A base model car or an optioned out car could still be listed on the trim tag as STD (standard) from the factory. But some cars had other abbreviations on the tag that limited it that it couldn’t have A/C, or couldn’t have Power Windows, etc. I’ve heard of guys who put A/C on their cars that didn’t have it factory just because the trim tag didn’t say it couldn’t have had it. They know it isn’t original, but if they do it right no one can tell them it isn’t.

 

[49autocycledeluxe]

I would not trade this for a restored version of the same bike unless I was ready to sell it.

 

[tripointautomall]

I like both ways restored and original,,sometimes you find a really rare bike and its beyond leaving it as is..Now to the restoration,,if done correctly with correct pieces you can have a great bike when done..I have always said we should leave a note with each bike telling when you got it what you did while owning it and when you sell it,leave it up to the next person to do the same.This way the bike has a history and if it has reproduction parts it will be disclosed and you can buy it accordingly.I restore cars as well and they bring much more restored rather than original,also resto mods etc fetch big $$ I like bicycles like cars both ways nice originals and great restored..I think people restoring things and passing them off without full disclosure proposes a risk to people,,,Honesty is the best policy right?? afterall we are all in this together

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

I guess, to answer the question of;
Would you buy an exact replica, if every detail was adhered to?
Then, the answer for me, is yes.
View attachment 1827801The bike I’m riding today, is an exact replica of a 1980’s Cook Bros Racing, 3 Bar Cruiser.
Would I like an original example? Sure!
But, in todays collector market, just the frame would cost somewhere in the $10,000 to $20,000 dollar range.
That’s just the frame!
No fork, no stem, no handlebar, just the bare frame.
Well, I’m not a BMX collector, so what I wanted was the ride/build quality of a Cook Bros bike without the $25,000 dollar price tag.
And to my good fortune, there happens to be a guy about five miles from my house that builds an exact replica, in every detail.
The price at the time of purchase, was around $1,500 give or take a few bucks.
I think the only real tell between one of Johnny’s frames and an original Cook Bros frame would be the serial number stamping.
He did incorporate one tell inside the frame, but you have to pull the fork out to see it.
The vent holes between the tube stations are little smiley faces.
Maybe a cruel joke for someone down the road, who buys one of these, thinking they are getting the real McCoy?
I don’t know, but it is a classic touch.
If I pulled the sticker kit off of this frame, it would be hard to tell at a glance, that it’s a replica.
But, I’m not trying to fool anybody.
I didn’t buy it, because I was trying to impress anybody.
In fact the guys you’d be trying to fool, hate these things, because they are too good.
My reasons for buying one, is because I like the way they look and the way they ride.
It’s as simple as that.
So in closing, I ask you;
If someone made an “exact” replica of a 1937 Elgin Bluebird, and was able to sell them for $1,500 dollars, would you buy one?

It's almost NOT a reproduction when you have the guy that originally TIG welded chromoly frames for most of the "name brand" BMX companies back in the day. True Torch is the man, back then, and again today. First class product

I would not trade this for a restored version of the same bike unless I was ready to sell it.

View attachment 1827883

I would agree, looks like a fun rider, and nobody would have the nerve to ask your if it's a reproduction bike.

All you need is a current Tetenses shot to ride that seat.

Very cool to have bikes that have earned their exterior cosmetic's with years of service.

John

I like both ways restored and original,,sometimes you find a really rare bike and its beyond leaving it as is..Now to the restoration,,if done correctly with correct pieces you can have a great bike when done..I have always said we should leave a note with each bike telling when you got it what you did while owning it and when you sell it,leave it up to the next person to do the same.This way the bike has a history and if it has reproduction parts it will be disclosed and you can buy it accordingly.I restore cars as well and they bring much more restored rather than original,also resto mods etc fetch big $$ I like bicycles like cars both ways nice originals and great restored..I think people restoring things and passing them off without full disclosure proposes a risk to people,,,Honesty is the best policy right?? afterall we are all in this together

I agree, but sometimes we restore/rebuild things because it's the only way we can afford to own an example of a really rare or desirable model. I would love to own a few of the prewar Schwinn's popular tank models but that time has already passed me by, and they are now out of my price range. My wife and I have owned and driven many collectable cars. One that we somehow missed was an early Bronco. The prices on early Broncos are crazy, and most are just hunks of rust at the inflated prices. I found a nice 94,000-mile stock original example that had never been cut up or modified. It was "in my price range" only because it had been on a car transporter trailer when the transporter went off the highway and overturned. The best part is it did not have a salvage title from an insurance settlement. I fully rebuilt the Bronco with used original, and new reproduction parts. A coat of original "color code" matching paint inside and out and it's now my daily driver. It's not a retromod, it's just a stock 1970 Bronco that gets thumbs up even from little old ladies. I'm not trying to deceive anyone, I just put it back to stock/original as close as possible. None of my rider bikes are show bikes, but they are fun to ride and cruise.

John

 

[blasterracing]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I personally prefer a properly restored, as close to NOS as possible bike, to any other.
My Shelby’s may not be 100% correct, but I have tried to do my homework and make them as close to NOS as possible.
Tim Newmeyer

 

[Barnegatbicycles]

My biggest problem with a "restored" bike is that unless it's documented you can "hide" stuff. Whether covering up damage, welding up headbadge holes and drilling new ones, etc. I mean technically if you are good enough you can make a bike out of nothing. I guess the point is you never truly know what you are getting unless the resto is well documented. On top of that a lot of the full restos I've seen just don't look right because the paint and plating are too thick / wrong for the era, improper hardware. All the little things make the difference and seem to get overlooked often. A good restoration in my opinion should look nos.

 

[FICHT 150]

I restored one bike. An after, before, and a few process pictures. 1959 Schwinn Tiger, not a high value bike, did it on a lay off from a shop I was at, that I needed a project to do-I knew I was going back, just not when. I had most of the stuff for the bike, it was just time killing. I did it for me, don’t care what you, or, anyone else thinks. I changed a few things to suit my taste, put the chrome middle weight kickstand on it, and the old red and white Schwinn decal on the downtube, crashbar seat. The paint is hardened urethane that I mixed and shot in my garage. I can lay down a ‘bit-chin coat of black urethane when I put my mind to it.
No idea what it is worth. Don’t care about that, either. I know it would cost too much money to consider it, today, NOS S7s repop Westwinds, one year only rear reflector, paid a dude to hand stripe the fenders. The bones on this bike were a great place to start. You don’t find that every day.

Ted

 

[Freqman1]

Whilst this is mostly true, it still happens in the Corvette world because the paint and trim tags don’t tell all. The way GM did the tags they just stated what the car couldn’t have had, not what it did. A base model car or an optioned out car could still be listed on the trim tag as STD (standard) from the factory. But some cars had other abbreviations on the tag that limited it that it couldn’t have A/C, or couldn’t have Power Windows, etc. I’ve heard of guys who put A/C on their cars that didn’t have it factory just because the trim tag didn’t say it couldn’t have had it. They know it isn’t original, but if they do it right no one can tell them it isn’t.

Depending on the car most trim tags only have body style, sequence number maybe assy plant and paint and interior colors. The build sheet or Monroney label (window sticker) will list the individual options.

 

[oldfart36]

Restored! If it's to far gone, cool, knock yourself out!
Original Owner Survivor! Restoring kills all the stories and history the bike can tell. While some try to emulate the day the bike was built, even done correctly, it does not show time as it passes. So many cheat themselves by not getting to talk with an old owner and or family. Half the fun of owning these bikes is the hunt for the bikes that are worthy. IMO

 

[The Carolina Rambler]

Here is something I don't think anyone has mentioned yet. Lets say you want an antique or vintage bicycle to ride, but you want to really ride it kind of hard, and put many miles on it, and in any conditions, such as rain and riding 20 miles across salty beaches and muddy roads. You would be best to not subject an original paint bicycle to such conditions as salt spray for a prolonged period for obvious reasons. It is for this reason that when I go on my beach trips, I always bring my trusty, but fully restored '56 Schwinn Streamliner. I restored it around 5 years ago. I do this because there's not a huge amount of chrome, its not a super valuable bike to begin with in any condition, but especially not a restored one, and, if ever it gets to being in rough shape again, I can always just re-do it. With an original paint bike, it would immediately start to deteriorate, and it is only a good original once! I save my more original condition machines for around home for normal type use.