Any experience With Voodoo Rada? Is this a Good Deal with These Components
05-01-23, 06:34 AM
#1
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Any experience With Voodoo Rada? Is this a Good Deal with These Components
This looks like a pretty cool bike. I'd like to try a steel road bike. Seems like a pretty decent deal and the seller seems to know his bikes. I have $300 on hand. Is $300 fair?
Please no snark. A simple yes or no works great!
Also no need to reprint my past posts. I'll save you the time. I have asked advice on here on a lot of bikes because I value the opinions of most people on here.
05-01-23, 07:43 AM
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05-01-23, 09:42 AM
#4
Sunshine
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To me, that frameset would be worth the cost, if it fit. If you are getting old 9sp Ultegra shifters, FD, and RD too, all the better.
The CK headset is always valued because people really like image, so thats just some cool points too.
If the wheels are true, then thats even better.
...that crank looks like an SR Sakae Apex crank from the early 80s. If that is correct, then thats a disappointing kludge. That crank wont have ramped rings for good shifting, will likely have worn rings, and will likely have really tough gear ratios overall.
I would still view the bike as worth it, assuming it fits and the frame and fork are in good condition. But I have the parts and interest to make that bike perfect for how I would want to ride it and it would cost another $100 to $200 for some things(tires, maybe cassette, new bar tape, different crankset, etc).
Those S-bend seatstays are probably pretty cool looking from behind.
The CK headset is always valued because people really like image, so thats just some cool points too.
If the wheels are true, then thats even better.
...that crank looks like an SR Sakae Apex crank from the early 80s. If that is correct, then thats a disappointing kludge. That crank wont have ramped rings for good shifting, will likely have worn rings, and will likely have really tough gear ratios overall.
I would still view the bike as worth it, assuming it fits and the frame and fork are in good condition. But I have the parts and interest to make that bike perfect for how I would want to ride it and it would cost another $100 to $200 for some things(tires, maybe cassette, new bar tape, different crankset, etc).
Those S-bend seatstays are probably pretty cool looking from behind.
05-01-23, 09:57 AM
#5
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As stated above, if the frame is legit 853 tubing, and it fits, that would be a bargain for the frame set. Ultegra 6500 is a fine groupset, that is not an Ultegra crankset, but the rings might be. It all looks to be in great shape from the picture.
05-01-23, 10:56 AM
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Didn't know that about the groupset. Is it comparable to 105? Altus? Claris?
05-01-23, 11:21 AM
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this looks like a pretty cool bike. I'd like to try a steel road bike. Seems like a pretty decent deal and the seller seems to know his bikes. I have $300 on hand. Is $300 fair?
Please no snark. A simple yes or no works great!
Also no need to reprint my past posts. I'll save you the time. I have asked advice on here on a lot of bikes because i value the opinions of most people on here.
05-01-23, 11:31 AM
#8
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05-01-23, 11:34 AM
#9
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To me, that frameset would be worth the cost, if it fit. If you are getting old 9sp Ultegra shifters, FD, and RD too, all the better.
The CK headset is always valued because people really like image, so thats just some cool points too.
If the wheels are true, then thats even better.
...that crank looks like an SR Sakae Apex crank from the early 80s. If that is correct, then thats a disappointing kludge. That crank wont have ramped rings for good shifting, will likely have worn rings, and will likely have really tough gear ratios overall.
I would still view the bike as worth it, assuming it fits and the frame and fork are in good condition. But I have the parts and interest to make that bike perfect for how I would want to ride it and it would cost another $100 to $200 for some things(tires, maybe cassette, new bar tape, different crankset, etc).
Those S-bend seatstays are probably pretty cool looking from behind.
The CK headset is always valued because people really like image, so thats just some cool points too.
If the wheels are true, then thats even better.
...that crank looks like an SR Sakae Apex crank from the early 80s. If that is correct, then thats a disappointing kludge. That crank wont have ramped rings for good shifting, will likely have worn rings, and will likely have really tough gear ratios overall.
I would still view the bike as worth it, assuming it fits and the frame and fork are in good condition. But I have the parts and interest to make that bike perfect for how I would want to ride it and it would cost another $100 to $200 for some things(tires, maybe cassette, new bar tape, different crankset, etc).
Those S-bend seatstays are probably pretty cool looking from behind.
05-01-23, 12:39 PM
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Worth it just for the name alone! The frame might have some strong juju! 
05-01-23, 01:00 PM
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I am not in the market for bike, but, if that bike was close to my home, and was my size, and is in as good a condition as it appears in the photo, I would seriously be considering obtaining it at that price.
05-01-23, 03:57 PM
#13
Sunshine
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...but I also would accept that more money will go into it for tires and crankset. That crank is 40 years old and doesn't match for period correctness or usability.
05-01-23, 07:22 PM
#14
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Assuming it fits, there aren't any glaring feame or fork issues, and the wheels are true and shifters work, I would pay it.
...but I also would accept that more money will go into it for tires and crankset. That crank is 40 years old and doesn't match for period correctness or usability.
...but I also would accept that more money will go into it for tires and crankset. That crank is 40 years old and doesn't match for period correctness or usability.
05-02-23, 12:32 AM
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Good find. Probably ready to ride as-is but if it were me I'd update it with at least 10sp drivetrain that can accommodate a larger cassette (gear range). Seems to be built with a mix of parts and yeah the cranks don't really belong but it shouldn't impact functionally other than you're stuck with 53/39 up front (is that a 42t small ring on there now?). Good deal if the frame has no dents.
05-02-23, 05:53 AM
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Nothing about the crank really makes it less usuable. You should be able to find rings for it up to at least 10 speed whether it's 110 or 130. The rings probably won't be ramped/pinned, but not that big of an issue.
05-02-23, 07:55 AM
#17
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If the chain doesnt drop between chainrings on that crank, then yeah I am sure it will be OK to use. Shifting wont be as smooth or fast. And it will look as out of place as a duck at dinner, but whatever I guess.
05-02-23, 08:07 AM
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The rings on this one are pinned, but not ramped. No shifting issues, even with the triple. The crank is an early 90s Suntour X-1 made by Sakae. The FD is from the same group. The rings are 9-10 speed Stronglights.
05-02-23, 12:53 PM
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I bought a similar Voodoo Rada new from my LBS in early 2000. Was around $1800 with Ultegra 6500. Yes re: Reynolds 853 frame (at least the main triangle) - these were handmade by MTB man Joe Murray of California and feature hourglass stays.
At one point I stripped it down for a rebuild and weighed the frame at ~1770g (57cm), so pretty lightweight for steel. The fit was aggressive, what with its short head tube and stretched out top tube. Great bike though, put a ton of miles on it over the course of about 12 years. Tire clearance in the rear is limited to 28mm (I was using Michelin 28s which had an actual measurement of 30.5mm). At some point I replaced the orig 1" Kinesis fork with a Columbus Minimal fork so I could run 28s up front as well.
If the geo is right, you'll love it.
Some pics of my frame - to highlight its qualities - before I sold it.
At one point I stripped it down for a rebuild and weighed the frame at ~1770g (57cm), so pretty lightweight for steel. The fit was aggressive, what with its short head tube and stretched out top tube. Great bike though, put a ton of miles on it over the course of about 12 years. Tire clearance in the rear is limited to 28mm (I was using Michelin 28s which had an actual measurement of 30.5mm). At some point I replaced the orig 1" Kinesis fork with a Columbus Minimal fork so I could run 28s up front as well.
If the geo is right, you'll love it.
Some pics of my frame - to highlight its qualities - before I sold it.
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05-02-23, 01:05 PM
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ps. link to the 1" Columbus Minimal mentioned above. the orig Kinesis fork was limited to 25mm rubber and had a steel steerer. https://ciclicorsa.com/shop/columbus...on-fiber-fork/
