online.none

Thinking about maybe purchasing this bike. It's listed at over $1500 but could go down to $1000.
Thoughts? What would you pay?

Wheels are Origin 8, tires are Thick Slicks.
Crank is Andel
Saddle and grips are Brooks

The frame, however, is what interests me most. I'm told it's from the 60s, steel and was chromed later on. Thoughts on that? Risks?
Any idea where the frame might be from? It has decent lugs and interesting dropouts.

thinktubes 

$1500!!????

INSANELY over-priced for cheap parts on an unknown frame. Do you know what you could buy for $1500?

wrk101

+1 Cheap parts on a lower end chrome frame. Crazy. For $1500, you could probably get a chrome Paramount. And for $1000, there is a long list of outstanding vintage bikes out there

Risk is losing 75% of your money immediately.

Paul Waque 

Since the finish has been changed on the frame, you would have a tough time reselling it for much as a vintage frame. Maybe you could get $200 for the frame (wild guess).

Scooper

If the chrome plating isn't original to the bike, there's a good chance the plating isn't professionally done. A correctly done chrome plating job is very labor intensive requiring carefully removing the original paint, polishing the bare steel to a high sheen, then plating with copper, then nickel, and finaly chromium. After all of the plating, the frame and fork must be oven baked for several hours to minimize the potential of hydrogen embrittlement. You have no assurance the plating was properly done.

As Bill notes, you could probably get a near mint chrome Paramount for that kind of coin. Spending any more than a couple of hundred on the bike in your post would be foolish IMHO.

This factory chrome plated '72 Paramount was $1300 on eBay.

zukahn1 

Evan with the very nicely done ss/fg conversion nice wheels and all this bike is only wort about $300 max. Its a mid level frame refinshed so used CL price its only worth about 50 percent of parts value. A cheep chrome job just does not make a so-so frame any better.

thinktubes 

This thread could be retitled "How to sell your brooks saddle for $1200".

FastJake

Agreed, the price is insane. Bike is worth maybe $200-300 just because of the new (but mostly cheap) parts. Mystery chrome frame is a wild card, has little value.

lostarchitect 

Oh, lordy, no. I agree with the others. This is not a $1500 or $1000 bike. This is not a $500 bike.

The frame also has stamped dropouts, marking it as middle quality at best.

Poguemahone

I hate to pile on your poor seller, but NO. That is an awful deal, and I think even the 300 quoted suggested would be high. Most of the reasons have been well explained above. Bike may not be a bad rider, but despite the chrome it is nothing special.

And Paramounts are priced high, for a variety of reasons. For 1000$ I could likely get at least two top flight vintage rides, possibly even a trackie (expensive) and roadie. You can certainly find real vintage track bikes for less.

lostarchitect 

I think this is one of those cases where the seller put a bunch of money into the bike (chrome, all new parts) and expects to get as much as he spent on it or even turn a profit. The market just doesn't work that way. A bike will almost never be worth as much or more as you put into it (cars and motorcycles are the same way). If you are going to put a lot of money into a bike, do it for YOU not for and expected profit.

Poguemahone

plus infinity. You should not have to pay for the seller's insanity.

Please do not come back here and tell us you bought it.

online.none

Thanks to all for your input. I think lostarchitect nailed it. The seller told me he put in about $1000, not including the frame and was even willing to offer receipts. Of course, paying retail for individual parts will crank up the price on that approach. I was curious based on the frame because the bike does come together very well. Thanks to everybody for your time and input - it's very useful!

zukahn1 

Pretty much any time a seller starts mentioning how much they paid for parts in person or on a ADD just forget about they will want way too much and won't come done on price.

1960frejus 

This is why I'm glad I ran into this forum since purchasing a Frejus last week. Some of the responses here are tough, and some are well directed in helping this member to not purchase on sight, or go by the sellers word. As I always say... it is what it is, no more, no less, because there is always some one in our forum that know the facts. It would be best to listen to these seasoned cyclist, and do your research, ask questions, up load pictures, and shop, shop, and when you think you are about to make a buy...shop again.

When I shopped for another FreJus which is my choice in a vintage bike, I was taught by one of the best... Thomas Avenia of East Harlem. This is how fair he was, because he had a number of Frejus bikes at his shop. When I first bought in my Frejus that I bought in the sixties because of a rear break issue, I brought it to Tommy, and he was completely thrown back when he saw her.

I knew he would not try to get around the Frejus I had purchased, by saying it was just an ordinary bike. He said " what an awesome model," (Ten Speed Track, Torino, Campione) picked it up with one pinkie finger, placed the bike between his legs and balanced the Frejus on its wheels. I write this experience because you have members here that are just as experienced, and will not lead you down the wrong path as far as I'm reading as to the advise, and free... man you can't beat that.

Tommy told me, man... keep this one, it's a gem.... But, if you even want to part with it, come back and we'll work out a fair deal. And that's what it's all about, purchasing a bike that is what it supposed to be, whether a vintage or one of the newer bikes out there for sell... make sure you are getting what you are paying for. Just my two cents, but, I'll repeat myself, some of you guy's are really tough on this forum...LMOL

Philo

repechage

The siren of chrome is a powerful force.
If you have chrome lust, look for a Chrome Paramount in your size.

zukahn1 

I know the guys here are tough as nails on some bikes. But they can be surpringly easy too oldet stuff they realy like if one had posted a realy nice 60's Frejus I bet resonses would a lot less tough.

Chicago Al 

I sold an Italian 60's 'Welter' frame/fork a few weeks ago, looked to be completely chromed and even fairly polished under the paint, which was flaking off. Frame was gaspipe, absolutely nothing special and the bike had steel rims, though Campy (Gran Sport and Valentino) derailleurs/shifters. I sold it for $65 and was happy to get that; the buyer was planning to strip off the rest of the paint as I suggested and probably do a FG build. It likely is turning out cool though not the lightest thing ever. Not $1500 either!

lostarchitect 

Yes, because that would actually be a nice bike.