Dwillems26

I bought 2 best up bikes for $20. I repaired 1 already, cost about $120 for parts. The bike is probably worth $50-80, but I felt it was worth it for me so I'm not complaining.

The second bike though will be more expensive as more parts on it are damaged. I haven't tallied up or estimated a cost yet, but I kept setting the number going up as I disassembled it.

It's a 1992 Nishiki Fusion mountain bike hardtail. It seems like a rare bike, but there's nothing special about it. Was made by Raleigh, the first year they bought Nishiki. I'm contemplating on moving forward or scraping it? My only gain would be the experience made and fun in doing it, but is it worth the cost? I contemplated buying a donor bike for parts, but I'm finding donor bikes to be in better shape than this one, so I may as well fix that bike and I'm left with the same dilemma.

Parts List...
Frame is cromoly steel, in good condition with light rust in spots
Has shimano deore lx groupset, 3x7 speed.
Crank top 2 gears are worn, want to replace them
Front brake/shifter combo broken
Rear brake/shifter I can maybe salvage
Needs both wheels, tires, tubes
Cassette is smooth, can salvage it
Needs cables, seat, grips,pedals
BB is an old style, pretty rough from rust, I think I can clean it up, but probably not worth it
Headset bearings and races are rusted up good
Derailleurs are smooth and tight, just need cleaned and lubed.
Brakes are cantilever, in good shape.

freeranger

If it was me, I'd scrap it. Strip off the good parts, and if I saw a good deal pop up, maybe a bike that needed the parts I saved, then I might go for it. Will the good parts on the Nishiki work with the bike you fixed up-if yes, keep the parts as spares.

veganbikes

It is up to you. Do you want to put money towards an old mid level bike in rough shape? I may not want to do that but I may strip what parts are still good and functional and keep those for the parts bin. I like to keep a well stocked parts bin with all sorts of fun stuff. Having built 4 parts bin bikes and having parts for more is pretty great.

Dwillems26

Good enough for me. If I only needed a few things I'd do it. But this bike just needs too much.

Thanks 👍 it's going to the recycling center with my aluminum cans

Retro Grouch 

The real question is what do you plan do do with the bike after you fix it up?

If your objective is to sell it, you need to shop what comparable bikes are selling for locally. Don't put more money than that into it.
If your objective is to ride it yourself, do whatever it takes to make you happy. Lots of guys buy $1,000 bikes every day. You can have just as much fun as they do riding your rebuilt bike.

katsup

If the frame is not damaged, put it on CL for $5 after stripping off the parts you want.

Dwillems26

Plan was to just have fun doing it then sell it. I knew I'd be upside down on it, but after pulling it apart it just needs too much. I might as well buy a new bike at Walmart and give it to someone 😂

Oneder

If you like the frame keep it around then next time you find a junker take what you can off that for it, probably won't take long.

Dwillems26

Oneder that's a good idea, and I did think about that. I don't think I'm going to keep it though. My garage is already overran with things I don't need more. I'm not attached to the frame in any way and I don't think it's worth much. I'm assuming it was a retail store bike.

dedhed

You might be surprised what you can do parting out certain bikes or items.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fsr...&LH_Complete=1

Dwillems26

How much are these hub dust covers worth? I know they're hard to find. Only a couple small dents lol

Trevtassie

At the very least you'll be up for new cantis. Those Shimano pads are almost unobtainium, and the NOS ones are so old they are as hard as bricks, I have a bunch of them I got from a closing LBS. Normal pads can be sort of made to fit, but not very well...
Other than that, it'd make a good starting out tourer with a set of butterflies.
I wouldn't say those chainrings are super worn, they had those lower teeth near the shifting pins from stock.

Ironfish653

1992, Shimano LX? Sounds like a bike that would have been $300-$400 back in the day, entry level LBS stuff most likely.

You’re right, though, that it would take $100 in parts to make that into a $50 bike. Good news is that that era and style of bike was really standardized across the brands, so it’s no big deal to cull parts from a couple or three ‘basket cases’ to make a complete bike. Don’t feel like you need to save them all.
I’d keep this one for the parts.

Tacoenthusiast

Either that or just junk it, for a 5 buck item you'll probably have buyers trying to convince you to pay them to take it

katsup

I try not to "junk" things that can still be used. Listing it for free gets a lot of strange people and flakes, hence $5.

ramzilla

Looks like a juvenile size bike w/24" wheels to me. Drop it off at the nearest bike co-op.

rumrunn6

as yes, get a cheap junker, they get doner bikes ... it was fun for a cpl years but I'll never do that again. still remembering getting ride of 14 bikes or frames within a cpl months. happy to say we have only working bikes in our small basement, w/ the exception of a cpl wheels & other small parts

whether or not something is worth doing is totally up to you. let me throw this at you: get rid of the junk & go ride a bike. bingo, how did that make you feel? releaved? was I off target? is your passion still in wrenching? would it be a relief to be over the wreck wrenching? then there's your answer

Moe Zhoost

Donate it to a local bike co-op if you are lucky enough to have one nearby. Actually, if you do have access to a co-op, join it you can probably get that bike nicely functional for little outlay.

55murray

I also think those chain rings are just fine.