reluctantsuburb

I really like this idea--there's a bike on facebook marketplace I've been eyeing, though the frame is too small and the price is too high: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...97143814293015
I reached out previously and asked if the seller would consider a price drop, and they said they'd prefer to wait. It's sat for a couple of months now.

reluctantsuburb

Did you see the FB bike I posted above? https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...97143814293015
I am getting beyond my depth in thinking through things like BB width, etc. Would welcome your input.

My only hesitation on the Schwinn was the chainstays did not appear to be very long?

SurferRosa

Here's a donor Schwinn: https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/bi...090987639.html

3alarmer 

.
...yeah. $350 is way too much money to spend on a donor bike. Look for something that has dry rotted tyres and needs a new chain and a lot of work. You're going to take it apart anyway, to do the transplants, so you do the mechanical work, cleaning, relubrication at the same time you do the swaps. It opens up a lot of bargains, because you no longer have to pay attention to the frame size of the bike you're using for parts.

I've done this with PX-10, an early Ironman, and a Motobecane Grand Record. It was the only way I could get those bikes in my preferred 24" frame size. For some reason, most of the American importers just imported and sold the 23" and the 25" frames on those two French bikes. The PX-10 frame came from a guy who bought it in Germany, and he rode it so much all the components were pretty well shot.

Darth Lefty 

Find a cheap-ish road bike - you know the kind, big clearance and brakes, tubing of no account. Make sure it's from the mid 80's when components were styled like soap bars and no one was buying road bikes any more. Also make sure it's a size too big. Replace the handlebar with one from an old Schwinn 3-speed. This won't fit in the handlebar clamp, so buy a stem that costs a hundred dollars that will. The stem will be a foot long, that and the XL frame correct the geometry from the townie handlebar. Replace anything that says Shimano with vicious prejudice, but the replacement also has to be Japanese. Tell everyone how great the shifters are going to be if they're ever done. When you run out of money on the project, ask your spouse to buy a gift certificate from you for future housework.

reluctantsuburb

I get that $350 is too much, which is why I would like to low-ball offer something since it's been sitting. Honestly, though, I am probably drawn to that bike because it is the only dynamo hub I've seen in over a year of searching in Dallas.

When it comes to identifying the donor bike I do not have the knowledge on groupsets and other components to know what's worth salvaging. Thanks for the bikes already suggested, and if anything else makes sense, I'm all ears.

I still wonder if the Schwinn in question is too much of a road geometry for what I'm looking for?

Classtime 

I think you will be most happy with a converted MTB. What size is your Novarra? Consider getting a longer seatpost to put your B-17 on AND then go on the Rivbike site and order some bars and a tall stem with the "proper" length. Ride that a bunch and plan your next bike.

reluctantsuburb

I think you might be right, but my experience with the Novarra so far is making me hesitant. It is likely user error, though.

So my Novarra is a 19" frame, which I believe is too small (likely want a 21" or even 23" frame?). The thing about the geometry that I really dislike though is that the top tube feels very long. I'm now blanking on the measurements, but I want to say it's 23"? It feels like I'm bending over and forward to reach the bars, even with a riser stem.
The Novarra:


What I'm riding right now that is the closest I've yet come is a 56cm Marin Nicasio RC. I originally picked this up because I really like the concept of an IGH bike as a bullet-proof commuter, but have found the sizing doesn't quite work for me and it's very heavy.
The Marin:

Classtime 

This is what I suggest. As a mountain bike it was fine with the original bars. But for cruising, I was too stretched out. These bars are Soma Oxfords because I was too cheap to get Riv/Nittos. If the picture of your Novarra is set up with your seat height, it is not too small. I think all you need is some bars.

Clang

This bike is pretty nice in terms of room for fenders. Plus it would still look classy with swept-back bars.I like the half-chromed stays and fork blades.

Kobe Cobra - $100 (Arlington)

https://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/bi...083021499.html



And here's another thread full of inspiration: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...nversions.html

bikemig 

+ 1 on this bike. The parts are good quality. The bike has forged drop outs so the frame is likely good quality as well. And with the center pull brakes and likely 27 inch wheels, you have lots of room for reasonable volume tires and fenders especially if you go to 700c wheels.

3alarmer 

...and in addition, you would be rescuing it from spending its life being ridden by a person who was too short to ride it.

bikemig 

Don't forget the beauty of French Fit if you're lusting after a Riv style bike,

reluctantsuburb

I think this a good suggestion, and based on another post I made, I think an old school, rigid MTB may be my best bet for conversion. The things I see come across my local CL most often are Rock Hoppers and Treks-- anything you'd recommend keeping an eye out for? Most here sell for a steep price bc of their name recognition.

Additionally, any sizing tips in terms of frame size to height?

reluctantsuburb

I actually ran across this one the other day and went down a rabbit hole trying to find info on Kobe--eventually saw some citing it as a Japanese brand and others saying it was out of Hong Kong?

Either way, thanks for the votes of confidence here--I'm interested in it. Dallas County is currently ordered to shelter in place, so likely will not be able to look in person in the immediate future.

Classtime 

To start, why don't you just get some bars for your Novarra?

Clang

I missed this ('89?) touring bike earlier because I had a search limit minimum of $20 to weed out these normally-annoying $0 CL listings.

Fuji Saratoga - $190

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/bi...070866542.html

reluctantsuburb

Can't remember if I posted here or elsewhere, but the frame is too small so my wife is currently riding that bike

reluctantsuburb

Huh, I hadn't seen this one on CL - not sure how I missed it. Any guess on the year? For some reason this looks a lot newer than many others of the same price

reluctantsuburb

Yeesh, I missed your guess at a year above. Looks like a very clean 89, no?

Classtime 

I read that it was too far to the bars for you so I suggested that you get some bars from Rivendell.

"So my Novarra is a 19" frame, which I believe is too small (likely want a 21" or even 23" frame?). The thing about the geometry that I really dislike though is that the top tube feels very long. I'm now blanking on the measurements, but I want to say it's 23"? It feels like I'm bending over and forward to reach the bars, even with a riser stem."

reluctantsuburb

Yes, I think some Riv bars would fix that part of the problem, but since the bike is too small, I'm not trying to get it super dialed in. My wife rarely rides, and it works for her. Sorry to have gotten my replies split across a few posts now.

Clang

The weird thing is that there seems to be a flipper that concentrates on mtbs in Dallas (this guy: https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/bi...097714929.html ) and I think that's driving up the price in your local area. Normally mtbs are a lot cheaper than they are on Dallas CL. Nobody wants to pay $325 for a Bridgestone MB-3. A cool Shogun Prairie Breaker Team Issue that should normally go under the radar is listed at the dreamland sum of $350. Yuck!



I guess you can always just wait on CL for someone to clean out their garage. It's not like the supply of rigid mtbs are dwindling by that much. Someone else said that if you have a good idea of levels of components, you don't have to have an encyclopedic knowledge of specific makes and models. I'll certainly echo that. But you can see what other forum members are riding here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...bikes-282.html

Could also be from 1990. It's harder to tell now that the Classic Fuji site is down.

reluctantsuburb

Haha yes, Robert the Bike Guy. He does seem to have market cornered

Thanks for linking that other thread! Always helpful for me to see other examples. At this point, I don't have a huge parts bin to draw from. My current gameplan is to try to find a frame worth converting. If a rigid MTB then I probably just need slick tires (more want than need), new cockpit, and fenders. If an older tourer I may need to grab another bike I can strip for parts, depending on condition.

TugaDude

Guys like this might make the market better though if you are a seller. So there is always that.