What to look for when inspecting a bike/How much is this bike worth?

[DrQian]

Hi there (and apologies for the long post),

I am an aspiring touring cyclist, and as such am looking to get my first bike. I'm looking to buy second hand. After talking to a friend, I basically know sort of what I want, I just don't know specifics to look out for, or how much I should be paying.

I stumbled across this on CTC, and it is very near me so it would be great if it was suitable:

Early example (1980 ish) Dawes Galaxy 23 1/2 " Reynolds 531 DB frame.

Suntour Changers
6 speed block
Stronglight 49D 53 x 38 double chainset
Brown colour
Alloy 27" x 1 1/4 rims.

Probably original spec - £150.

More Veteran CC than CTC.

Local inspection and pick up only.

East Sussex, not far from Brighton.

I have some questions though:

Does 6 speed block mean it only has 6 gears? I am under the impression that this is not enough.

23.5 inch frame might be too big for me? I'm 5 foot 9/5'10. I can't measure my inside leg atm because I don't have a tape measure, but I'll endeavour to find one. I guess I'll find out the sizing if I go and take a test ride. Am I correct in thinking that I want a few inches clearance when standing with both feet on the ground, and want to be able to put the saddle up until your legs are straight when you pedal?

Other things too look for - How critical is say, some rust on the frame, or the tires being quite worn? Are parts easy to replace if necessary? Anything else I need to take note of/take as a warning sign?

How much would you say this bike is worth? I guess the Dawes Galaxy brand carries some weight, as a wide range of 80s 531 bikes often sell for less than this on ebay/gumtree?

Alternatively, how does something like this look:

http://www.gumtree.com/london/07/42563507.html

It is much cheaper, although much less convenient for me to view.

I am hoping do a 300 mile/7 day tour in France as my main excursion this summer, as well as practice trips and some regular cycling into town (15 mile round trip).

Thanks very much for your help or any advice you can give.

 

[peanut]

yes the frame is likely to be too big for you but not unmanageable. If set up properly it should feel more relaxed and stable than a frame that was too small.
A 6 geared bike is probably going to be about 25 + years old . Almost all the components and wheels etc are going to be completely clapped out . Its probably been hanging in someone's garage rusting away for the past 20 years

Its really only likely to be suitable for someone specifically interested in old classic bikes and is looking for a restoration project.

You will probably be faced with a huge bill for replacement parts and the frame is going to be impossible to upgrade with modern parts.

Forget it and look for something 20 years younger would be my advice.

 

[PpPete]

I have some questions though:

Does 6 speed block mean it only has 6 gears?
.

No - Double chainset means you have 2 x 6 = 12 gears

23.5 inch frame might be too big for me? I'm 5 foot 9/5'10. I can't measure my inside leg atm because I don't have a tape measure, but I'll endeavour to find one. I guess I'll find out the sizing if I go and take a test ride. Am I correct in thinking that I want a few inches clearance when standing with both feet on the ground, and want to be able to put the saddle up until your legs are straight when you pedal?
.

Plenty of advice about sizing to be had on here and elsewhere on internet, but yes - some clearance would be good! My 15 y.o. at 5'10" rides a 25" Galaxy so, if you're happy on test ride, then it's probably OK.

Other things too look for - How critical is say, some rust on the frame, or the tires being quite worn? Are parts easy to replace if necessary? Anything else I need to take note of/take as a warning sign?

How much would you say this bike is worth? I guess the Dawes Galaxy brand carries some weight, as a wide range of 80s 531 bikes often sell for less than this on ebay/gumtree?
.

Minor rust on frame - no big problem, but reduces value considerably - so you may be able to bargain.

Tyres - not much choice of 27 x 1-1/4 these days, although they are still obtainable, if money permits change to 700c wheels to get wider choice of tyres - but you'll probably need to change the brakes too.

£150 is probably about the going rate on ebay. Whether it's worth that to you is another question. Personally I think the frames are great, and whilst the wheels and drivetrain on a Galaxy of that era are OK for 15 mile round trips, I'd want to replace them before a 300 mile tour - and from personal experience I can tell you that is NOT cheap to do, even buying the bits on ebay and doing the work yourself you can easily end up spending more than the original purchase price.

 

[PpPete]

the frame is going to be impossible to upgrade with modern parts.

Not so - i've done it - on several vintages of the Dawes Galaxy, one of them even older than the above.

Whether you want to get into the complications and expense of it is another matter.

 

[chris667]

If £150 is all you have, I think you're better off buying a late 80s/early 90s mountain bike. You could get a good one for that.
I recently sold my slightly more modern Galaxy for £300, and that was a bargain, as cheap as I'd buy one for unless you're lucky and find one being offered for less than it's worth.
Restoration projects are all well and good, but honestly, you need to have special tools and knowledge, or pay people at least £25/hour to work for you; don't use up all your enthusiasm before you start!

 

[peanut]

Not so - i've done it - on several vintages of the Dawes Galaxy, one of them even older than the above.

Whether you want to get into the complications and expense of it is another matter.

well thats the whole point Pete isn't it . The OP is not interested in whether or not you've managed it. A bike restoration is probably beyond his present skills and knowledge and is clearly not what he is looking for is it.?

The bike is clearly not suitable for his stated purpose and would therefore not be a sensible recommendation

I was not saying it was not possible I was saying it would be difficult time consuming and expensive . !

 

[swee'pea99]

Sorry guys but I've never read so much cobblers in my life. Well, since yesterday anyway.

Ok, here's my tuppence worth. The only issue is size. By your height, I'd guess that would probably be a bit on the large size, but it depends whether you're leggy. I carry most of my height in my legs, so 'oversized' frames work well for me. Could you try it? (You say it's local.)

But as for the stuff about all the wheels and components being knackered, absolute crap. There's no reason to believe they aren't in fine nick. Dawes Galaxy was a high-end bike from a very good maker, and my guess would be that all the components are good for thousands more miles. Apart from anything, a bike like that would have been bought by a proper enthusiast, who probably maintained it well. And rumour has it that components of that era are often positively better than more recent gear. ('Shimano quality has gone downhill' is a common gripe around these parts.)

£150 is probably a fair price, and - sizing issues aside - would see you in very enjoyable riding for thousands of miles to come. My advice - try, then if it fits you, buy.

 

[accountantpete]

Your going to be paying way over the odds because "retro" gear is very popular at the moment. Can't see why anyone would pay more to go slower but there you go.

Have a glance through the complete bikes on eBay to get an idea-if you see one on there I'm sure someone on the forum will give it a once over for you.

 

[swee'pea99]

£150 for a really good bike is hardly 'over the odds'. And a Dawes Galaxy is a really good bike. Not many better for 'a 300 mile/7 day tour in France as my main excursion this summer, as well as practice trips and some regular cycling into town (15 mile round trip).'

 

[jimboalee]

The OP says he's 'aspiring'. He's looking to buy second-hand.

Let's face it, new bikes aren't the most reliable machines and if the OP isn't sure of the correct frame size to look for, he's not going to be experienced enough to replace a spoke on the roadside on Bodmin Moor.

Swee'pea could be close to reality. A CTC member who advertises a heap of crap on the website is asking for some backlash if it IS a heap of crap.

The bike will be proven and well tested, and as Swee'pea supposes, well maintained by a CTC member.

BUT, its a tad big for the OP.

 

[swee'pea99]

Swee'pea could be close to reality.

No-one's ever said that before...

 

[PpPete]

The OP is not interested in whether or not you've managed it.

True - I was merely using that to highlight the inaccuracy of your statement that is was IMPOSSIBLE

A bike restoration !

Who says it needs restoring ?
As sweepea says it may be fine - I said that personally I would choose to update wheels & drive drivetrain before embarking on a foreign tour.

I was not saying it was not possible !

Contradicts your first post.

 

[accountantpete]

I think the £69 Gumtree bike is more realistically priced - check out the more suitably sized Galaxy in the classified section but at £175?!?.

That Swee'pea listens to James Blunt you know

 

[chris667]

I see what you're saying, but it is aincient, and you're supposing it will be great without having anything to back that up. The truth is, it could also be a lemon, and the chances of it being worn out are greater than they would be on a more modern bike. I've bought some utter crap from the CTC forum, you don't have to be a member to use it, it's a mistake to think it's the same as the adverts in the local club magazine, where everyone knows each other.

I would be happy buying this for me if it was smaller, but I am happy to fix old bikes and I have specialised bike repair tools and can use them. My daily rider was 32 years old when this Galaxy was built.

So yes, it might be a good bike, but because it's such a risk it's not a bargain.

If you still want to go and look at it, have a look at the tyres. Are the walls cracked? £20-£30 to replace.
Any play side to side in the hubs? A rebuild or replacement may be in order if there's too much. £25+ for labour, or £20 for tools and parts to do it yourself.
Do the brakes and gears work? £20 for new cables if you get a shop to do it, or £20 for new cables and cable cutters, assuming none of the other components are worn out.
Do the rims look worn? Quality 27 x 1 1/4 rims may be hard to find.
Pedals spinning freely? £20 to replace.
Put the front brake on. Push the bike forwards and backwards with the handlebars. Is there a clicking noise? That could be a new headset, £25 fitted by a very generous shop with a very poor quality headset. If it's been left badly set up for too long, the head tube of the frame could be done for.

 

[peanut]

for a first bike for someone new to cycling with no knowledge or skills of bike maintenance /repair and looking for a cheap reliable bike to go touring on you are all suggesting this 30 year old bike with 30 year old componants would be a good solution for him ?
you must be out of your tiny minds.