Restoration Project

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Randochap

Randochap

Senior hunter
Location
British Columbia, Canada
It's one thing to restore a classic French bike, another to waste time and money on a "branded" POS.
 
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bonj2

Guest
porkypete said:
Mickle is right (Mickle is always right) - if you are buying new parts to do it up, then it's not worth it. If on the other hand you have a "donor" bike like that full-susser that you can strip for low/no-cost parts, or if you have deep emotional attachment to a pink pug...then go for it.

However be warned.... once you start restoring/upgrading bikes it becomes addictive. My garage is now full of bikes, most of which are either donor bikes, or restoration projects, and I'm rapidly losing track of which bits came off where and which bike they are destined for.
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that pink pug should probably BE that donor bike, if there's anything salvageable on it.
 
OP
OP
Downward

Downward

Guru
Location
West Midlands
I shall have to see what condition the bike is in 1st i suppose - I haven't seen it since leaving it at my parents when I left many many years ago.

More pressing matters though - Have to fix my Alfa the weekend !

Cars ay ?!
 
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Angelfishsolo

A Velocipedian
Location
Cwmbach, South Wales
Oddly enough I was just going to ask you, "What is wrong with the bike?" It is possible that some cables, blocks, tyres, inner tubes, oil and grease will be all that you will need!
Downward said:
I shall have to see what condition the bike is in 1st i suppose - I haven't seen it since leaving it at my parents when I left many many years ago.

More pressing matters though - Have to fix my Alfa the weekend !

Cars ay ?!
Click to expand...
 
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Angelfishsolo

A Velocipedian
Location
Cwmbach, South Wales
Yes but they are supposed to break down all the time aren't they? I though it was a design feature :biggrin:
Downward said:
More pressing matters though - Have to fix my Alfa the weekend !

Cars ay ?!
Click to expand...
 
Randochap

Randochap

Senior hunter
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Downward said:
You sound like a Fun Guy
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Life of the party, me.

When I was growing up in the West Mids (or Staffs, as we called it), there were two commonly admired characteristics: calling a spade a spade and thrift. It was not considered smart to "throw good money after bad."

These, which I've retained, can be applied in this case.

Here's what I'd do (though please yourself, I only offer my opinion):

Take that thing to the scrap yard and see what you can get for it. It's molecules will be far happier rearranged into a more dignified lump of dross.

Add those pennies to a small sum and see if you can't pick up an old Peugeot or Gitane, road bike, circa 1970-75, in good nick. There are thousands here in Canada ... I helped sell hundreds of them.

Now there's a cheap production bike worth restoring and many people do so. I often see nicely-restored specimens around town.

Hell, why not find an old Raleigh or other more classy British bike. I envy you being able to scour the papers for classic English marques. Are there many around at a reasonable price?
 
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