Should I buy a new cheap bike for parts?
07-26-05, 04:26 AM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London
Posts: 4
Bikes: Dawes Tracker
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Should I buy a new cheap bike for parts?
I have a 15 year old Dawes mountain bike that I can't scrap due to foolish sentiment and also it's superbly built, but unfortunately it now skips gears. I believe that a new cassette and chain will be required to fix this. Having priced up these parts they seem to cost more than buying a cheap £99 bike will provide all that I need (plus extras).
The obviously thought that comes to mind is why not just ride the cheap bike, but I believe that the Dawes is a better construction and old enough to have the thin shape that has only just come into fashion with 'hybrids'
Is this a sensible option?
The obviously thought that comes to mind is why not just ride the cheap bike, but I believe that the Dawes is a better construction and old enough to have the thin shape that has only just come into fashion with 'hybrids'
Is this a sensible option?
07-26-05, 04:38 AM
#2
kipuka explorer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Hilo Town, East Hawai'i
Posts: 3,297
Bikes: 1994 Trek 820, 2004 Fuji Absolute, 2005 Jamis Nova, 1977 Schwinn Scrambler 36/36
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The nice thing about rebuilding your old bike is that you can put EXACTLY the components YOU want on it, and learn how to do your own maintenance at the same time. I'd think the parts on a L99 (I got no squiggly-L) bike would be pretty junky, though.
__________________
--
-=- '05 Jamis Nova -=- '04 Fuji Absolute -=- '94 Trek 820 -=- '77 Schwinn Scrambler 36/36 -=-
Friends don't let friends use brifters.
--
-=- '05 Jamis Nova -=- '04 Fuji Absolute -=- '94 Trek 820 -=- '77 Schwinn Scrambler 36/36 -=-
Friends don't let friends use brifters.
07-26-05, 04:44 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
The issue is quality. Shimano has so many component groups that they slice the quality pie prety thinly. If I move up or down one component group I can't sense any difference. If I move up or down two groups, I definitely notice a difference in how crisply they operate.
The quality of your Dawes seems to be what appeals to you. I think it would be a shame to put components on it that aren't of similar quality.
The quality of your Dawes seems to be what appeals to you. I think it would be a shame to put components on it that aren't of similar quality.
07-26-05, 04:53 AM
#4
Keep Right Except to Pass
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Rainy Washington State
Posts: 166
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think this is a poor idea if all you need is a cassette and chain. The parts on a cheap bike would be crap I would think. I found a good used cassette at a local LBS for $5.00 USD.
Maybe a cheap used, older bike with the good bits you require would be more cost-effective.
Cheers
Maybe a cheap used, older bike with the good bits you require would be more cost-effective.
Cheers
07-26-05, 09:17 AM
#5
cab horn
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28,353
Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times
in
19 Posts
A new cassette and chain couldn't cost more than $40. More likely than not a cheap bike will either have components that don't fit, or components so crappy you won't even want to use them.
