Frenzen

Hey I am planning on buying this bike for $35 CAD, not sure what model this is and the fender have some rust. Is it worth it, it looks rough to me. Will need to take apart the bottom bracket for sure and it looks like there is rust around it. Wheels look toasted as well

branko_76 

Is it worth $35.00 ?

Only if you are using it as a learning experience because it will need a complete overhaul.

Do you have the necessary tools to completely dismantle the bike?

wrk101

Worth $35? No. Bottom of the barrel bike in mediocre condition, from a time where bottom of the barrel was really low.

It takes just as much time, and just as much $$, to refurbish a bottom end bike as it does something decent. Sometimes "free" bikes aren't a good deal.

Now if someone gave me that bike for free, I'd take it. I'd rescue the Sekine dork disk and then redonate the bike to the closest co op. Realize the co op can take a part or two or three, put those parts in inventory, and at my co-op, the rest would go in the scrap bin (they sell the scrap too).

Frenzen

I thought so, was looking at other sekines and they are plenty of the same ones. One thing I learned that from working an old raleigh (current project) is that modern wheels do not fit onto older bike frames and it takes a lot of work. Working on a bottom end bike has made me appreciate bikes in general especially if they already come in good conditions.

Thanks guys!

randyjawa 

To me, it looks to be and entry level model and $35.00 seems reasonable IF it is in sound working order. If not in road worthy condition, pass...

bikemig 

I’d pass on this but I’d be a little tempted by the dork disc. Id like to have one for my Sekine.

randyjawa 

I have found a dork disc that I promised to a fellow forum member. Forgot all about it but the promise is still good if he would be good enough to contact me again. Sorry about being so forgetful but old age does strange things, not only to the body, but the mind too.

wrk101

One look at that badly kinked chain and it is far from rideable. Cables are rusty/crusty too.

Frenzen

So owner took off the chain so its not rideable, I will pass lol

Frenzen

Thanks randy I see these models going for $100-150 in Montreal, could you post more of that catalog? I would like to see the high end sekines for future reference

Fairlane63

"Worlds finest bike" Thats a big statement.

downtube42

Lies per word ratio of 2:3.

I suppose completing the sentence with "made by Sekine" reduces lies per word to 2:6, which for marketing verbiage is honest.

T-Mar

The subject is a mid-1970s Sekine SHA/SIA, which was the base model in the adult, lightweight line. Sekine's entry level models were well designed and manufactured bicycles that were good performing and very reliable. They were such good value that the Sekine entry level models were the best selling bicycles in Canada durimg the mid-1970s, having wrestled the title away from Peugeot. From that perspective, the "World Finest Bicycle" moniker is entirely warranted.

The issue with this particular bicycle is the amount of owner abuse and neglect. The amount of labour and parts required to bring it up to presentable and rideable condition would deter most prospective buyers. Bicycles in this state typically turn into money pits. You can usually pick them for free, at garage sales, at the end of the day.

Narhay

I have the tools and the bulk consumables enough that I could turn that bike around for about $50 assuming those tires are newer. For someone that doesn't have boxes and boxes of parts it would take probably a couple hundred dollars to rebuild it the way I'd like and in the end I'd have a low end bike with rust, bad paint but that functions almost as well as it did (badly) in 197X. With the state of the wheels and other components it is worth buying as a bar bike that saves you a single $35 uber ride but that's about it.

randyjawa 

When ever you are researching a bike, add the word catalog, such as Sekine catalog. Many is the time such a Google has produced more and pertinent information as a reward to my quest. Sekine Catalog for 1975.

This Sekine is not the top dog in the kennel, but close to it. The bike features somewhat exotic tubing, forged drops and chrome socks, all indicators of a better quality bike. For what it is worth, I really like this old SHT-270. It looked good, was well made, of Canadian origin (I am a Canadian) and offered a nice ride quality...

T-Mar

The Sekine SHA/SIA was not a bicycle that functioned badly. I worked in and later managed a Sekine dealership, during this era. Having assembled literally hundreds of this model, I would rank it higher than the direct competition that we carried, which included the CCM Targa, Peugeot A08 and Raleigh Record. We were the best repair shop in town, so we also worked on all the other brands that carried were locally. IMO, Sekine had the best bicycle at this level, during this era. Yes, it was low end but it was far from a bad bicycle when compared with the competition.

ClydeClydeson

As others said, $35, if it is a ridable bike, is not bad. If it is a fixer-upper then I would say $10 is more fair. New tires, cables, and chain can easily add up to more than the bike is worth.

Those were inexpensive bikes, and although reasonably well made, there were many thousands of them, and they are in no way rare or a collector's item regardless of condition.

branko_76 

I'm not going to disagree with any of the previous posts but from my perspective, and I have done this a number of times with low end 70's road bikes, the bike can be completely overhauled using all of the original components with the exception of the original grease.

Every part (bb, hs, hubs, brake levers, calipers, hangers, housings, cables, derailleurs, shifters, spokes, nipples, rims, etc. etc.) would need to be completely deconstructed, cleaned, lubed and reassembled.

It's a lot of work but in the end you have a bike that rides as good as new and if you're a newbie, you've learned two valuable lessons, 1) how to restore a vintage bike and 2) never do that again. : )

garryg

If you are just starting out messing with restoring bikes than that Sekine is a good candidate. $35 ,whats that get you these days ? a head of lettuce and a bag of tomatoes!

Frenzen

Someone bought this bike lol, put a chain on it and says it has been tuned up but still looks rusted but wheel rims were cleaned and put it for $180. I am curious if it will sell