Can this bike be saved?

July 17, 2015 8:36 AM

So, I dug an old bike out of my parent's basement a while back. I know zip about bike maintenance. How can I tell whether it can be made safe to ride? (Janky photos here.)

Tires are flat and it's got some obvious surface rust, but I don't mind putting a little elbow grease in to fix it. But I'm not going to bother if there's safety concerns or fixing it would cost more than $50 or so -- all I'm looking for here is a cheap road bike, and I can pick up a new one of those for ~$100.

What sorts of damage/problems should I look for that will be dealbreakers? I gather from poking around bike forums that if the wheels are out of alignment that takes skill and equipment to fix. But chain rust doesn't seem to be too big a deal. Is that correct? Is there a way to tell if the frame's sound? The bike was kept in an unfinished basement for god knows how long --- hung up so that it wouldn't have been wet in any basement flooding, but it may have been damp down there sometimes.

posted by Diablevert to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (12 answers total)

I can't imagine that bike is worth more than 50. Sounds (and looks) like probably need new tires, inner tubes, and a chain. Maybe also cables and brake pads, can't really tell from the pictures. Add in labor if you are going to take it to a bike shop, and I'm guessing you'd be better off browsing craigslist for a used bike in better condition.
posted by steinwald at 8:39 AM on July 17, 2015

I can't really tell if you'd new tires, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are experiencing a bit of dry rot.
posted by steinwald at 8:40 AM on July 17, 2015

If you have a reputable bike shop in your neighborhood, they should be able to assess the bike and give you an estimate to bring it back to a rideable condition. That might help you in making a decision.
posted by steinwald at 8:42 AM on July 17, 2015

So, first off, that's a very cheap bike, so you are right to not want to spend much on fixing it.

If the brakes and shifters all work fine, you could consider replacing the chain and inner tubes and riding it. That chain is too rusted to use. You'd probably want to replace brake pads as well for safety (old pads are very hard and don't stop well), and likely the tires, which could be done for a grand total of about $50 if you buy the very cheapest.

The frame is very likely fine; the surface rust is nothing to worry about.

Personally, I would not bother spending any of my own time on this bike. I also wouldn't buy a new bike for $100.
posted by ssg at 8:45 AM on July 17, 2015 [1 favorite]

Yeah, I agree that even fixed up, that looks like a very cheap bike (meaning, will cost $50 to fix if you are likely, probably more, and will probably require constant maintenance). I was in a similar situation, of inheriting and then fixing up an old bike, and it lasted maybe a few weeks before I needed to just get a different bike to have anything close to reliable.

If your goal is to actually have a bike to ride, you are way better off buying a cheap used bike off craigslist. Also, if you can afford it, splurge for something used in the $200-$300 range -- won't be a fancy bike by any means, but will at least likely ensure that you won't have to spend a bunch in upfront maintenance, and hopefully will have less fix-up costs down the road.
posted by likeatoaster at 9:04 AM on July 17, 2015

On the other hand, if you did fix it up, it'd be a good city bike that wouldn't make you cry if it got stolen. (And it probably won't get stolen.)
posted by bink at 9:10 AM on July 17, 2015

it appears your bike will need a new chain, cassette, tires and inner tubes. that's probably 80 bucks right there. maybe new hand grips, another 10. you should probably get a new seat, too. I'd say it'll cost about $100. plus labor from your pics.

there is lots that could be wrong with it that you can't see from these pictures. The rims might be bent. the bearings on either wheel or the crank might be loose. those repairs aren't that expensive in parts but will take a lot of labor.
posted by lester's sock puppet at 12:45 PM on July 17, 2015

If you did all the work yourself (and already had tools) and were able to get bargains on parts, then sure, why not?

But it's not worth paying someone, IMO.
posted by jclarkin at 12:57 PM on July 17, 2015 [1 favorite]

That's a cheap bike, and even if you manage to make it rideable for under fifty bucks you won't enjoy riding it. At all. It will be heavy, clumsy and unresponsive. You're better off looking for a half-decent used bike.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 2:33 PM on July 17, 2015

Agree with Johnny W. - that bike is not worth any investment of $. Your time & $$ are better spent on a used bike that starts in ride-able condition.
posted by TDIpod at 3:06 PM on July 17, 2015

Take a look at the 3rd photo, you can clearly see that the lines on the tubes that show the dropouts (the part the wheel goes in) is separate from the rest. They should be welded together but instead this is just stamped metal held together by friction.

This is a sure sign that this bike started life out at the very bottom of the market, they don't come any cheaper than this.

A lot of the parts I see are stamped metal as well and poor quality, the brakes in particular (I recognise them form my days mechanic-ing in community bike projects). It also looks like there might be rust on the rims, if so this means they are steel and won't having any stopping power.

This will never ride right and probably won't be very safe.
posted by tallus at 4:20 PM on July 17, 2015 [1 favorite]

Is there a bike collective near you? Bike collectives see a lot of people coming through asking the very questions you're asking about bikes in a similar state of repair. They'll teach you how to repair your bike, and if you can fix it, they're probably the best deal in town.
posted by aniola at 3:58 PM on July 22, 2015