Selling a well-patinated bike
01-23-23, 06:22 PM
#1
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Selling a well-patinated bike
Well friends, I am at a crossroads. I have a Univega I brought back to life but I have no intention of keeping it. The pics show a lot of what I have done which is basically everything mechanical. Bearings, brakes, cables, etc. The bike rides great but it is seriously lacking in the looks department.
I see a few options.
- Sell it as-is
- Rattle can primer the areas with the most paint loss
- Attempt to find paint that sort of matches and touch-up. I might need a roller…
My thought is that this would be a theft-deterrent commuter or campus bike so aesthetics were never a priority.
Thoughts? Clever comments?
I see a few options.
- Sell it as-is
- Rattle can primer the areas with the most paint loss
- Attempt to find paint that sort of matches and touch-up. I might need a roller…
My thought is that this would be a theft-deterrent commuter or campus bike so aesthetics were never a priority.
Thoughts? Clever comments?
01-23-23, 06:39 PM
#2
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Depends on how much you want to get for it. Under $100, sell it as is. Over $150, load it in the back of your car the next time you go shopping, cruise a big parking lot looking for a car that is close in color, order a little bottle of touch-up paint for that car, do a quick touch-up job.
Brent
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01-23-23, 06:42 PM
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That's a bit beyond the patina stage. I'd just try to sell it.
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01-23-23, 06:45 PM
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I would sell it as is if you already have no intention of keeping it.
I had a red Trek with similar paint damage. Red 3M Scotchlite 680 retroreflective tape adhered well & was very forgiving of surface texture.
My main commuter bike (black) is covered with it:
20181019_042927 by Richard Mozzarella, on Flickr
I had a red Trek with similar paint damage. Red 3M Scotchlite 680 retroreflective tape adhered well & was very forgiving of surface texture.
My main commuter bike (black) is covered with it:
20181019_042927 by Richard Mozzarella, on Flickr
Last edited by base2; 01-23-23 at 10:31 PM.
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01-23-23, 06:51 PM
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Depends on how much you want to get for it. Under $100, sell it as is. Over $150, load it in the back of your car the next time you go shopping, cruise a big parking lot looking for a car that is close in color, order a little bottle of touch-up paint for that car, do a quick touch-up job.
Brent
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01-23-23, 07:16 PM
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I would sell as is, any low effort touch up is going to look worse than leaving it (IMHO.....driven by how bad touchups done by a previous owner look on my beloved 84 team miyata )
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01-23-23, 07:56 PM
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Your advice is always appreciated Dave.
New Panaracers too nice for it? I’ll dig through the pedal box. The platforms look dreadful. I have some cheap black gel tape that I was going to wrap on.
Exactly my thought. I just wanted thoughts from the tribe who may do this more often than I do.
Exactly my thought. I just wanted thoughts from the tribe who may do this more often than I do.
01-23-23, 07:58 PM
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BTW - I paid $20 for this thing and would approximately break-even at $100 which I would be fine with.
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01-23-23, 08:30 PM
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Yikes, that's not merely patina; that's getting too close to the angle grinder!
01-23-23, 09:17 PM
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Well, not if you're going to keep it. But might be sorta difficult to get reimbursed properly if included in a local sale in this post-pandemic bike boom, ugly e-bike fat fanny economy.
But what if ...this ... what if you taped off most of the good paint and then matched it in those little exposed areas with an aerosol can from the auto store. From 5 ft, it might look really good. And it would protect it from further rust.
But what if ...this ... what if you taped off most of the good paint and then matched it in those little exposed areas with an aerosol can from the auto store. From 5 ft, it might look really good. And it would protect it from further rust.
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01-23-23, 09:59 PM
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Are you sure the fork is straight?
You could always try to find some cheap, long stickers. Maybe the Chamber of Commerce or some local event has some. (I've seen this more than I should have)
You could always try to find some cheap, long stickers. Maybe the Chamber of Commerce or some local event has some. (I've seen this more than I should have)
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01-23-23, 11:08 PM
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I would sell it as is if you already have no intention of keeping it.
I had a red Trek with similar paint damage. Red 3M Scotchlite 680 retroreflective tape adhered well & was very forgiving of surface texture.
My main commuter bike (black) is covered with it:
20181019_042927 by Richard Mozzarella, on Flickr
I had a red Trek with similar paint damage. Red 3M Scotchlite 680 retroreflective tape adhered well & was very forgiving of surface texture.
My main commuter bike (black) is covered with it:
20181019_042927 by Richard Mozzarella, on Flickr
This was the fix for when this poor bike got dragged behind my truck at 65 mph. Still holding up well 13 years later.
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01-24-23, 08:32 AM
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There is no "touching up" that much damage. I would put some black or white bar tape on it and sell it as-is.
01-24-23, 08:56 AM
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In the best of condition your bike would probably pull in $275+/-
If fork is strait, with cloth bartape, and rebuilt at about $125-150. Right in there at just breaking to positive investment, not counting your time put in. That's a good campus/budget c&v starter.
The frame alone w/ hs, if the fork is strait could be worth $30 as-is on a Craigslist offer.
If fork is strait, with cloth bartape, and rebuilt at about $125-150. Right in there at just breaking to positive investment, not counting your time put in. That's a good campus/budget c&v starter.
The frame alone w/ hs, if the fork is strait could be worth $30 as-is on a Craigslist offer.
01-24-23, 08:57 AM
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Black would be my suggestion.
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01-24-23, 09:10 AM
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I’ll see if I can find some automotive paint that is close and move it along.
I appreciate all the input. Again, this was never intended to be a money maker. I can’t stand seeing stuff tossed that can be turned into a useful object.
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01-24-23, 09:14 AM
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I looked at the pics and I see why you might think the fork is bent. It’s not. Wheel slots in fine and is dead center.
I’ll see if I can find some automotive paint that is close and move it along.
I appreciate all the input. Again, this was never intended to be a money maker. I can’t stand seeing stuff tossed that can be turned into a useful object.
I’ll see if I can find some automotive paint that is close and move it along.
I appreciate all the input. Again, this was never intended to be a money maker. I can’t stand seeing stuff tossed that can be turned into a useful object.
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01-24-23, 09:25 AM
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Sell as is or rattle can. I wouldn’t occupy brain space with trying to color match touch up.
I would make it stand out from the typical CL rattle canned bike by removing the parts first before applying spray however.
I would make it stand out from the typical CL rattle canned bike by removing the parts first before applying spray however.
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01-24-23, 09:30 AM
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I agree with posters who have opined that touch-up will look worse than leaving it as is. Personally, I don't like the reflective stickers or colored tape. Likely not to add value and conceals problems from the buyer.
01-24-23, 09:37 AM
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Oh so true and easy-ish since the areas that need coated are the fork and rear triangle.
01-24-23, 09:47 AM
#21
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Try to use the beat-up frame as a selling feature. Promote the scratches as a theft deterrent in the ad.
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01-24-23, 09:56 AM
#22
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That's the patina someone needs for smashing against campus bike racks and other lockable posts throughout town. Sell it as-is, someone will pick it up.
Remember: Not everyone needs mint.
-Kurt
Remember: Not everyone needs mint.
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01-24-23, 10:01 AM
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01-24-23, 02:31 PM
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Why aren't you keeping it?
Maybe try your hand at painting it? Strip it down to bare metal. Take your time. Use a brush.
New Panaracers, new Koolstops, cables, Ok saddle?
Maybe try your hand at painting it? Strip it down to bare metal. Take your time. Use a brush.
New Panaracers, new Koolstops, cables, Ok saddle?
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