Robvolz 

As I find cool frames in need of a full group, Sometimes I look for damaged bikes on Craiglist, FB Marketplace, Offer Up. Next-door etc.

But then I found this kooky Colnago Tandem that has a dog's breakfast of parts. Just the headset alone was three kinds of Japanese and a rare Campy record aluminum washer.

That's when I started searching Tandems. They are cheap.

I have found full Campy kits, full Sante' kits, full Arabesque kits, all on bikes for less than $400. Sometimes $300 or less.

Not to mention 2X the seats, rarely ridden, Seat Posts, Stems and pedals.

Bonus if the "bike for two" has Phil Wood hubs, White Industry hubs or the ultra rare Phil Wood Drag brake. Of course, most tandems (not all) have 40 or even 48 spoke hubs. More holes are great for touring and/or off road.

I'm not bragging about the sets of cranks for a reason. Tandem cranks have their pedals screwed in exactly the opposite and will unscrew themselves (screwing you) if used on a regular bike.

Anyway, as I recently bought a Jack Taylor 1973 tandem for $250 for all the campy/Phil Wood/Cinelli parts, thought I'd share this lil tidbit.

smd4

Maybe if you're not using cranks actually designed for a tandem...

Trakhak

Robvolz was referring to the timing chain cranks, I believe. People have sometimes tried to use those cranks on the drivetrain side of a single bike and had the pedals unscrew, or that's the story, anyway.

Robvolz: Brilliant! Scavenging niche high-end parts from tandems is the first novel insight I've seen on BikeForums in a long time. I'd rank it up there with the guy who first pointed out that the best way to avoid hitting a squirrel (that is, one that has seen you and is beginning evasive maneuvers) is to ride straight for it, because heading for it is what they expect predators to do.

SoCaled 

Are there any other non-compatability issues with the parts? I know the rear hubs are often higher spoke count. I have thought about doing this myself, but felt bad for the frames that would almost surely then be scrap, as the cost to rebuild them would make way less sense than buying a whole tandem. I have been posting tandems in the craiglist "are you looking" section. and the similar tandem thread, that are all $300 or less with top end components.

Schweinhund

I look at old ads that are still up, and send a message asking. Also don't do it on your phone, grainy photos are best displayed on a large screen.
When surfing ebay, do your search and then on top change your result type to newly listed. The best deals on ebay don't last ten minutes.
I've bought way underpriced items consistently this way
Also don't be afraid to ask here in the forums.

Robvolz 

I think Tandems are like buying a boat. You are happiest day you buy it in the day you sell it.

I just saw a couple Rodriguez for 8% their original value.

Couples quickly find out that tandems aren’t necessarily for them. The Stoker has to give up control and have faith in the captain.

Plus people sell for the usual reasons, age, hip injuries, etc, or maybe they bought a new one with electric assist.

it’s a buyers market out there. Just don’t try to use Tandem timing cranks flipped around as a regular crank.

RCMoeur 

Great. Now that Vapors song is stuck in my head.

I think our Santana will never go on the market until at least two of the riders are completely unable to ride it anymore due to infirmity, departure, Norwegian Blueness, etc.

Mainly because, as you noted, the resale value is a fraction of its value to us.

But that describes nearly all our bikes, most of which utilize the Mixenmatchenswapnsalvage® gruppo.

ManekiNico

You say that like it's a bad thing…

RCMoeur 

Everyone around me is a total stranger.

Straightblock

There was a beat-up Gitane tandem for sale locally a few years ago that I almost picked up just for the Campagnolo Rally derailleur, but I couldn't stand the thought of leaving the rest of it at the curb.

We have a mid-level Santana, 2x6 with downtube shifters, and we only take a few short rides a year. When the time comes, I'll probably list it with the local club as "free to good home" after I swap the saddles and pedals for something more generic.

SwimmerMike 

There was a cheap Schwinn Paramount Tandem that I was going to buy mostly for the head badge. When I checked with the guy he had swapped the head badge out, so I passed on it.

Saudadeii

Did it look like this one? Currently listed in So Cal.

Straightblock

The one I saw was in much worse shape and in Fresno.

Mackers

Bought this guy for the 7410 seat post only last week






Now I'm stuck with a ful 105 9 speed groupset

bwilli88 

I picked up a set of tandem cranks and plan to use the stoker DS and a NDS to make a double drive single speed. I picked up a double sided hub and a pair of BMX/trick freewheels and hope to build a single speed setup with 2 drive sides.

Chombi1 

What's really getting harder to find is the perishable rubber parts and trim on components.
Like the small.rubber bumper buttons that go over the cable clamp nuts on brake calipers, or the rubber plugs that go on the open allen bolt head boles on the brake pivot bolts.
Unfortunately, a lot of these were forever lost by previous owners when they did not b9ther to put them back back on when they did adjustments. Or they just simply fell off the bike when they started to dry rot from age and exposure.
This gets really frustrating when trying to build up a "complete" C&V project bike.......