jpc2001

​​​​​I've been to three different shops that didn't seem interested in working on my bike.

It's an 80s Schwinn Super Le Tour. Was riding great til I got hit by a car. (I am okay!) The car contacted the handlebars and probably the front wheel which got tacoed.

After replacing the wheel the bike handles funny. If you let go, it wants to turn left and dump you over to the right. So it requires constant corrections.

I suspect it needs a fork. (surely the stem and bars don't influence how it behaves with no hands?) The steerer tube is tilted a bit left off the center line of the fork crown and tines.

Is there a reason mechanics don't want to touch this?

My guess is that it's not falsifiable: you can tell if a wheel is true or if a derailer can hold a gear or if a tire holds air. But "bike handles funny" -- who can say if it's fixed? So maybe they're nervous that I won't be satisfied with any repair.

​​​​Or are all the shops as busy as they say ("service is booked months out")?

Why not fix it myself. Maybe I could. I'm no mechanic. My first fear is it's not the fork. My second fear is I'll try to buy a fork online and it won't fit on some dimension.

Maybe I could ask a shop for an upgraded fork, instead of phrasing it as a repair for a mystery ailment? At least that makes the job bounded and safer for them to accept.

​​​​​

choddo

They probably don’t want the liability if you go on to crash because something else was damaged. Frame might not be in good shape.

veganbikes

It could be that the frame is toast as well in that crash your frame could have gotten damaged. It is also not a valuable frame so the repairs to it could be worth more than the bike was worth new. Also finding the right fork can be tough if that is really the only issue (which is doubtful) a 27" wheel fork is not a common thing anymore and trying to find a proper fork at the correct length with the right amount of threading is not really that easy 40 years on when threaded forks are uncommon and 27" wheels are even less so. While it is still possible to find stuff it is maybe not worth the time and effort on an old 80s bike that was not a high end or valuable rare bike back in the day.

It could also be that you won't be satisfied with your repair if you go in uptight and with a more aggressive tone which I have seen before then yes we might just say this is not one we want to touch. I know I have dealt with some customers who just cannot be satisfied no matter how much you bend over backwards for them or help them out. Maybe you aren't that way I don't know I don't know you but sometimes you can get a feeling and on such an old bike putting tons of work into it for little money just isn't well worth it.

delbiker1 

After reading the original post, I can so no fault with a shop declining to work on that bike. Quite likely, if they gave the owner an estimate to fix what might be wrong, he would not like that either.

SurferRosa

Glad you're ok... But why not replace the bike with another Super Le Tour that hasn't been in a bad crash. Surely, you could find a similar bike well under $200.

If you want the crashed bike back on the road, you need to find a frame builder to realign it.

You should also post drive-side pics of the full bike.

bbbean 

Possible explanations:
1) You can't get replacement parts to service a bike that old.
2) They don't want the liability if the whole frame is toast
3) They're all younger than the bike and don't know how to work on it
4) Being unequipped to work on a bike that old, they'd rather not do the work than do a substandard job.
5) Or you could simply believe whatever they told you when they turned down the work.

FWIW, I used to drive a 30 yr old Volvo. Great car. Loved it. But Volvo dealers wouldn't touch it. I had to find a vintage Volvo shop who specialized in the older models, knew how to work on them, and had a supply of the necessary parts and tools.

XxHaimBondxX

Find a non-profit bike rescue place. They probably don't really care about liability, since they make you work on it yourself, while teaching you. Plus, you can find a used compatible fork for peanuts. If it turns out not the fork and actual frame, it will set you off a whole $3 and a bit of time.

ign1te

Nothing special about the bike. Take it to the dump and get a new one.

FBinNY 

You've run into two or three reasons shops don't want to service you.

1- plain old snobbishness, wherein shops don't like working of "crappy old bikes"
2- CYA issues, wherein shops are afraid to work on crash damaged bikes out of concern of being sued over subsequent failures due to hidden damage.
3- Skills shortage, wherein their mechanics aren't able to economically and effectively diagnose the causes for your steering issue, which MIGHT be a fork, frame, or combination.

You're in the Boston area, and I suggest you seek a co-op there because these people are far more likely to be interested in serving your needs. If they're still around I suggest you visit the Broadway Bike School in Cambridge.

DiabloScott

All this, plus:
4- Unrealistic customer expectations. They spend time and money on the bike, it still isn't perfect, and now customer doesn't want to pay because they didn't "fix it".

I don't think I'd even consider a repair for damage like this on a GOOD bike, let a lone an 80's bike boom bike.

Bill Kapaun

Exactly what did they say when they declined?
If they remained mute and communicated with hand signals, did you think to ask them?

There's more than 1 side to this story.
I'm guessing they told you, but you don't want to listen.

FBinNY 

Agreed, though I tend to be more willing to tackle these issued.

However, this is another reason to visit a co-op or a shop owned or managed by a skilled mechanic. This kind of work rarely is easy, nor does it tend to command a reasonable price, but that's offset by its value for training newer mechanics.

Co-ops and top shops work like university or teaching hospitals, where complex issues have a value of their own.

choddo

sounds from the OP that they said they were booked up for yonks

FBinNY 

It's not the question that gets a straight answer. Often the answer will be a deflection, with "it's not safe", or "it can't be fixed", or
"they don't make the parts anymore" are really code for "not interested".

I never push those issues, and simply keep looking until I find someone with both the skill and desire to do the job right.

Bill Kapaun

I'm thinking the shop probably doesn't want to spend the time researching exactly what fork will have the proper rake, length for a 27"/ tire, brakes? + what got damaged on the bar in addition to the bar. Add a possible bent frame?
It may have much to do w/ a lack of knowledge of how to measure and where to look for "old compatible" parts. Very possible if there isn't an old codger working there.
A lot of time spent for likely a rather high $ estimate that will be declined.
Maybe if the OP stated "MONEY IS NO OBJECT"????

FBinNY 

As I said, I never push when someone appears uninterested in a job, whether it's a roofer, car mechanic, Dr. or anything else. That includes both code talk and straight talk.

Pressuring someone to take on a job they dont wany is the best recipe for bad outcomes, sometimes followed by "well, I told you so!"

It's much simpler to find the right guy, or accept that maybe it shouldn't be done after all.

dedhed

dedhed

Fork trail/rake here.
​​​​​​https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...r-le-tour.html

​​​​​​https://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/MOD...Le%20Tour.html

Chuck M 

Even if they would entertain that notion, you still would have a bike that doesn't handle properly if the fork isn't the problem.

Post pictures of your fork in the C&V forum and ask about frame alignment there.

Kontact 

Shops can't really align frames. They can re-center stays, align dropouts and make small bends to the fork legs. They don't have alignment tables or good ways of untwisting head tube/seat tube twists. And they certainly can't make damage to the head/downtube junction go away.

27" replacement forks are probably still relatively cheap and common. If you want that work done and only that work, order one and take it to a shop for installation. When it is installed, anything that remains wrong is outside the scope of fork installation and is your problem.

I've bought fantastic '80s and '90s road bikes for $100 with 105 and 600 - much nicer than a Le Tour. The minimum repair on this bike is going to be $150. Cut your losses.

roadcrankr

Surely you got some sort of nice insurance settlement.
If not, I recommend pursuing. That oughtta provide some funds to upgrade to a new bike.

oldbobcat

A good shop will have the tools or a good workaraound to check the alignment on a frame. A better shop would be able to fix the alignment on bent steel frame if it isn't too bad. Straightening forks, on the other hand is hit-or-miss, mostly miss. But on the bright side, replacements are available for almost any application. On the other hand some bikes might not be worth the work you'd need to put into them. Find a shop that will at least look at it and give you a report of what's wrong and an estimate to fix it.

Mr. 66

I don't think you are getting the run-a-round. Your bike has major damages that they can't address under normal circumstance.

I have no idea of their diagnosis.

A frame builder can look at it but they could have the same answer or tell you a silly number to address.

With all that effort it's probably not worth the while, I would locate a co-op donate the crunchy and pick up a new crusty to rebuild.

Colorado Kid

I agree with the others. Just go out and get a good used bike. One can sometimes find a deal C-list or some other for sales listing.

GamblerGORD53

The days of junk yard fix bike shops are long gone, like 50 years ago.