The Green Mirage was ressurected from the town dump scrap metal pile, so I had to estimate its value.
To do so, I found several Motobecane Mirage bikes nearby on FB and CL, listed for $20, $40, 50, and $70, an average of $45.
Since the Green Mirage I’m riding is not in half as good a shape as any of these, I’m going to start with an initial cost of roughly the average, or $25.
Parts added:
14 loose bearing balls (new) - $1
One brake pad, used – $2 if new; used -- $1
Chain, used: new about $16; used -- $8
Brake and shift cable housings – approx. 6 feet, at about $.50/foot: $3
Brake and shift cable wires – 2 new brake wires at about $3 each: $6; 2 used shifter wires at half that, $3; total $9
2 Wheels and tires -- $30
Cable ferrules (improvised from loose parts box) - $1
Seat: based on average of used seats from previous clunker challenges: $7
Front Fork: Based on 1/3 the cost of bike it came from: $10
Replacement stem shifters (used): Worth less than a fork, about as much as a seat: $7
Tubes (used): $5 each new from Play it Again Sports, since used, half that, total of $5
Total spent: 25+1+1+8+3+9+30+1+7+10+7+5: $107