Stacey RA12

Hi my name is Stacey, I just come across this beautiful, Freespirit FS3. Mostly all arignial. Even the tires. Yet they want to crumble in my hand. I know they were made from 1968 to 1980's. I was wondering if it was worth anything.

cb400bill

Welcome to Bike Forums. Most Free Spirit bikes are not worth very much, especially ones that have crumbly tires. That is usually an indicator of an bike that needs a lot of maintenance to be safe to ride.

oddjob2

What is meant by "arignial?" Beautiful Free Spirit sounds like an Oxymoron. No photos means we can't judge whether it might be a $10 or $80 valuation.

AlexCyclistRoch

Free Spirit bikes are usually worth about $5 above whatever the local rate for scrap steel is. Maybe $10 over.

randyjawa 

Bicycles for Humanity, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada has sold several (even lots) of Free Spirit bicycles, even though they are department store entry level offerings. Refurbished, we get $80.00 CND for a road worthy and safe to ride bicycle.

What some Bike Forums members don't understand it that not everyone is a collector. One young girl (university student) was sold on the name of the bike alone, suggesting to us that the bicycle and she were both free spirits. She bought the bike for $80.00 plus a $5.00 donation (we always ask a buyer to give a little extra (if they can) when buying a bike from B4H (the proceeds go to help us send bikes to Africa).

So, don't worry about ridiculous low prices suggested. Cleaned up and road worthy, the bike is worth between fifty and a hundred bucks. Of course, if the bike is in poor condition, expect to spend at least a hundred dollars making it safe to ride.

Almost forgot. The bike in the stand is the Free Spirit in question and that pretty young lady is the luck free spirit who bought the bike...

lostarchitect 

I more or less agree with Randy. Yes, it's a very basic bike, but tuned up I could certainly sell one for $100 here in NYC. If you like it and it's cheap/free and in decent shape, sure, go for it.

The thing that gives me pause is the crumbling tires. If the tires are crumbling, you can bet nothing else has ever been serviced, so it will likely need everything: tires, tubes, brake pads, brake & shift cables, bearings/grease in the hubs, bottom bracket and headset, and maybe a chain and freewheel. Having all that done at a shop will cost you a lot more than the bike is worth. If you have someone who can help you do it yourself, that will bring the cost down a lot.

zukahn1 

I would agree yes these have some value and can make nice basic riders. Basic 3 speeds in nice ready to ride condition go for $75-100 as described the OP's bike is likely worth half that mainly because it will cost $30-40 for a decent new set of tires to make it road worthy.

Dirt Farmer

Yes, you could certainly get $100 on any major college campus (assuming decent condition, crumbly excepted)

jimmy78

Hi, it's been long time since you post here, but don't even listen to people hating on these bikes, some of the late 80's F.S.'s are not that good, specially mountain ones, but any classic road bike from them was really good and pretty. Got mine 7 years ago, I think it's either a Sunbird or a FS10, either way, I got it in good conditions, shifting is prefect, and looks nice! Poeple saying they're trash in general, is just their opinion, I'd happily sell mine for 100 bucks or more. These bikes made before 1985 had good parts not like your kmart, walmart average junk. Old school is good!

3alarmer 

3alarmer 

garryg

I have only sold maybe 10 bikes and most were entry level Apollos with stem shifters ,turkey brake levers and dork discs.Twenty somethings think they look just fine.All were serviced and polished up,hell i ended up liking some of them.

cycleheimer

If it works, it is the correct size, and you really enjoy riding it (and actually do ride it) .... PRICELESS! Just replace the tires, and possibly the brake pads, then oil it.

ramzilla

The chain ring would chew those bell bottoms all to pieces in about 5 seconds flat! What were they thinking?