Is this worth saving?

[Cold Snail]

I was having a rummage in my back garden jungle for an old steel mountain bike frame and found this buried underneath it. (probably one of my son-in-laws old hacks).

It appears to me to be quite a nice bit of kit when it was new, but needs some serious love and attention to even get working.
An initial once over shows a broken spoke in the front rim, slack, binding brake, slightly knocking forks, seized pedals, nasty sounding BB, cut rear brake line, ripped seat and a load of snails stuck to it.
I'll give it a wipe with an oily rag and see what's left.

 

[roadrash]

Depends how much cash , time and effort you want to throw at it,

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Keep the stem spacers. They may come in useful later on. Bin the rest.

 

[Saluki]

I don't know about the bike but I'm rather taken with the dog in your Avatar. I have a black one to go with

 

[Drago]

Even in A1 condition they are horrible bikes, and the suspension linkages are prone to cracking. I'd strip it for any usable parts of value and weigh in the rest.

 

[Dayvo]

Always good to improve your repair/renovation skills.

 

[Cubist]

I was lent one to evaluate for a friend who was thinking of getting one. They're very dated and as Drago says above, pretty horrible. The weight and frame geometry mean that they pedal badly, And then the woeful suspension meant it had no redeeming features. Salvage the drivetrain at least the mechs and shifters, you might get something for the wheels tyres and brakes on eBay, but in general they don't fetch much as a whole bike, even in spangly condition.

 

[Cold Snail]

I think I'll have a bit of practice with it and will limit myself to a £50 budget (as I'm sure I could get that for it on ebay).

I don't know about the bike but I'm rather taken with the dog in your Avatar. I have a black one to go with

As for the photo of Brian (named because he's a very naughty boy), we were testing out taking him for a run on our bikes when he broke free when he spotted me with my camera.

Half Whippet and half Saluki, he hates cats, foxes, rabbits and other male dogs, but loves people and female dogs. Always on a lead as you just can't catch the bugger when he sees something.

 

[Psycolist]

I would be surprised if, after a few google searches for workshop info, that with a fair bit of effort, but minimal expense, the beast from the black lagoon back garden should rise ride again. It always amazes me how people discard bikes like these, all for the want of a bit of effort. The cost of refurbs is tiny compared to the cost of replacement. I make a point of rescuing bikes like these, spending winter evenings in my workshop bringing them back to life, and spending a fortnight away with the family on the proceeds. My biggest headache is where to keep them before selling them on. Of course I will come across a lost cause from time to time, but if I get an inner tube or a pair of brake levers off the corpse, its spares for other builds/refurbs. And it means that I don't end up sitting in front of the telly for hours on end . but I would always rather be riding

 

[Drago]

You could make it ride again, but its not as pleasant walking.