Bargain Finds

[Pagan Wizard]

Lets use this thread (if you all are willing) to show off pics of bikes and other neat stuff that we find while at garage sales, flea markets, dumpster diving, trash day finds etc. Tomorrow I will snap a pic of the bike frame I got on eBay shipped to my door for a whole whopping $20. When you post a find, tell a quick story about how you found it and what it will be used for. Lets all have some fun with this one, OK??

[SirJoey]

Good idea! Sounds like fun, Wiz! I'm all up for it! :)

[Richie Rich]

Ok...since you asked...Here's my latest "Road Kill" find from last week.

It's a "FORD"....."Found On the Road - Dead".

It'll soon be a trike with a home-brew removable rear end which can be mounted on any conventional 2-wheeler to make it into a trike.

The measurements are done, the drawings are finalized and the parts are on order.

Stay tuned.....!!!

....Richie Rich >>

[SirJoey]

Personally, I'm more interested in those pretty little blue & yellow jack stands...

[TheKid]

Here's some stuff I found in the garbage. The bikes and computer are already hacked, but I'm showing the hacked wheels to be used for the DW, and the nexus 8 speed which is going on the tadpole. ( I also saved the shifter, of course)The MOBO is an MSI nVidia 4 with an Athlon 64 4200 CPU. It had 2 gigs of memory, which is now in 2 other computers. It also had an nVidia pcie graphics card. There's also a cheap B&D sander, an air pump with a built in guage to 150PSI, a Shimano spheros reel (retails for 60 bucks) a drill press vise, and a webcam that came with the computer.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z66/edpol_photos/Finds/000_0195.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z66/edpol_photos/Finds/000_0194.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z66/edpol_photos/Finds/000_0193.jpg

[Pagan Wizard]

WOW Kid, that computer find is well worth over $350......possibly more. Great finds.

[TheKid]

The box was nice. A black Ultra with a 500 watt p/s. It had a sony dvd and a hi-speed cd. It also had a seagate 300 gig hd. All that stuff went in my other computers. I have a BFG MOBO in one, with an Athlon 64 3000. I swapped the CPU's. I'm keeping the MSI as a spare. My friend needed a box, so I gave it to him. The real find for me in what I posted was the nexus. I found lots of internal gear hubs, including 2 SA 8 speeds, and numerous Sa and Shimano 3 speeds, but the nexus is best because of the way it's geared. As far as computers, the best one I found has a P4 3 gig cpu (Hyperththreading), 2 34 gig raptor hd's (10,000 rpm), a gig of memory, Raedon 256MB video card, Soundblaster card, DVD, CD RW, a WINDOWS disc with product code, Office 2003 disc w/ product code, the MOBO cd, 19" CRT, and an HP all in one printer. I kept that one. It was full of viruses, and the owner threw it out. It was less than 2 years old when I found it. I deleted all the files and uninstalled all the software, (mostly junk) did a repair of the OS, and installed Avast anti-virus and numerous anti-spyware programs. I haven't had any problems with it since. It's lightning fast, and the best computer I've ever owned.

[n9viw]

Holy crap, Kid, I wanna move to where YOU live! Talk about jackpot days!

I currently have some bike bits in the garage, and another coming tonight (gotta love Freecycle and its variants), but no pics. Maybe next week, this weekend is the wife's birthday and all time goes to her!

Some of the best things I've found in the trash, garage sale, or gotten for free:

* At least thirty bikes, including two Schwinn 5-speed Sting Rays, and scads of parts. It took us two trips in a fully-loaded Suburban to transfer it all. I weep for the loss of that collection, all thrown out by my brother... yes, including the Sting Rays. I'll never forgive him for that, NEVER. :mad: The vintage Schwinns alone could have put me through college.

* Two Suzuki motorcycles, a GS650 and a GS850. Both engines were locked up, both bikes were badly rotted from being stored out behind the owner's garage for decades. After salvaging some parts to sell, I put them back out on the curb, and by morning both were gone.

* A 2-hp, 20-gallon air compressor that needs some holes in the tank welded shut. I still have this, planning to combine it with my current 20-gal compressor. Freecycle.

* A Yamaha SR250 motorcycle, also Freecycle. Fixed this one up and rode it a bit, then tore the engine apart to diagnose a grinding noise in the drivetrain, never put it back together. Sold it for $100. :D

* A 4x6' cargo trailer for towing and stowing finds, I also use it for camping and to haul scrap steel to the yard. The axle is from the front of some 1940's Chevy, with the kingpins welded and braced and all the brake hardware torn out.

The rest is miscellaneous stuff- shelving units, antique computers, car parts and whatnot. Those are the most interesting ones, though.

[TheKid]

We find motorcycles occasionally, but never take them. Most computers we find are old, but every now and then we hit a good one. There's lots of TV's around here, and tons of exercise equipment, most of it too big to put in a station wagon. Then there are bikes. Lots of bikes. I usually only need certain parts, so to conserve space in the wagon, I carry some wrenches and a hacksaw and hack the bikes at curbside. Since my buddy does me a favor letting me ride along, I try to use as little of his space as possible. He does this collecting for a living, and sells the stuff he finds to antique dealers and second hand shops, or has garage sales from late spring to early fall. When I was driving, I found a lot of the stuff I have now, including the 2 good computers. I haven't gone out much since I broke my leg, but if my pal sees something I might need, he'll pick it up and drop it off at my house.

[Richie Rich]

A few years ago, a builder built several Million-dollar homes on the other side of town. Whenever I need anything, I take a ride through their neighborhood on trash pickup day. It's amazing what rich people will throw away when they're tired of it or don't want to bother getting it fixed.

Unfortunately, I'm "RICH" in name only...!! :(

....RICHIE RICH >>

[Pagan Wizard]

Here is the bike frame I was talking about earlier. It was an eBay find late last year that I got shipped to my door for less than $20USD's. This will be the first in what I hope will be at least a few donor bikes I chop up in preparation for my Delta Wolf build.

Sorry about the pic looking a bit washed out, but the snow on the ground made the pic a lot brighter than I expected.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/Boomer7049/DSC00012.jpg

[TheKid]

Plenty of good parts on that frame. Looks like a good candidate for transformation. What Rich says about rich people is true. Both of the good computers I found were in wealth neighborhoods. We find all kinds of almost new (less than a year old) electronic devices, like TV's, DVD players, etc. with the remotes taped to them. Sometimes there's a sign taped to an item that says "It Works". I think it's because their kids have to have the latest and greatest toys, so the "old" technology from six months ago goes into the trash. When I was in the home improvement business, we had a customer who had the kitchen redone every year. These people hardly ever ate at home, so the old kitchen was always in like new condition. It was never hard to find a customer who opted for a new kitchen at a bargain price with slightly used top of the line cabinets.

[Richie Rich]

Speaking of eBay, I picked up this brand new piece last year. The seller said it was a gift and was too big for his kid so he wanted to get it out of the garage.

I was the sole bidder and got it at his starting price.
Are you sitting down? ........$40 bux...!!!

And since the seller was just a few towns away from me, the shipping was just a couple of gallons of gas.

There are still bargains out there waiting for us.

.....Richie >>

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2318004512_69a341f6b5.jpg

[TheKid]

Excellent find. Truly a show bike with plenty of bling. With the West Coast label, it's probably worth some bucks. A friend of mine found an OCC Stingray and sold it for $200. I've been trying to get some stuff from propertyroom.com. 8 bikes, current bid is $14. I lost my password, waiting for reply

http://cdn.propertyroom.com/ImageServer/Sellers/Seller1/Images/TtlImgs/1_6320081275046.jpg (http://www.propertyroom.com/itemdetails.aspx?l=4403364#)

[Pagan Wizard]

Plenty of good parts on that frame. Looks like a good candidate for transformation.


Sure does. The chain is dry rusty and stiff, so that will most likely end up in the circular file. The deraillure has some surface rust on it as well, and there are no visible name brand markings on it. I will have to remove it and give it a more in depth look and decide what to do with it from there. The frame is rock solid with no dents or rust. The paint is heavily oxidated, but that will be getting stripped off anyway, so no big deal there.

[SirJoey]

Are you sitting down? ........$40 bux...!!!

WOW! Looks like it's mint, too! What a beaut! So whatcha gonna do now Richie, hack it, disassemble for parts, or re-sell it?

Personally, I think you should donate it to the "SirJoey HPV Museum". :D

[n9viw]

I posted a few to http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v102/n9viw/Misc/, including my newest find.
In order:
* Schwinn Sierra and Schwinn Aerostar, both curb finds. Aerostar was complete before I stripped it for its fork. The Sierra's fork will become my new single-boom bent, and the BB will wind up on the front of my lowered Bandito.
* Kero-Sun kerosene heater, reputedly 20,000 btu, but you can't tell in my garage. Also 'curbcycled'.
* Paragon electric kiln, free for the removal, and it came with six or seven dozen slip molds (now gone).
* Earth Stove, $50 through a friend. The fireplace hardware (wood hod and fireplace tool set) from Freecycle.
* Compressor bits: Sears 20-gal 2hp 2-cyl (green), $20 from a friend. Porta-Air (red, same specs), Freecycle. 15-gal tank (blue), curbcycled. The perf'd angle stock was scrap from work, from an old 8' shelving unit.
* 1989 MTD Snow-Flite single-stage 4-stroke 20" snowthrower, free from a friend. A new $20 carb kit and cleaning, and it's fine!
* Schwinn ladies' World Sport, and a pretty high-end one to look at it. Dual QRs, nice components, lugged steel frame. This will become the basis of my lowered Bandito.
* Generic 2-stroke paddle style 18" snowthrower. Curbcycled, previous owner ran straight gas thru it and seized the engine. Some TLC, and it's been the most reliable 2-stroke I've ever owned!
* Yard Man Snowbird, 2-stage, 4-stroke, 22". Free from a friend, plus a $20 carb kit, perfect for those 'heavy fall' days.
* Weber kettle, yard cart, and charcoal chimney- curbcycled or Freecycle.
* Weber kettle in custom cart, Freecycle.
* Half-barrel planters, made from authentic whiskey barrels (and BOY are those heavy!)- free from a friend's neighbor.
* Brinkmann smoker, free from a friend. Gonna use this today for some Cowtown Dragon Turds and a huge pork roast!

Any time I see things at the curb that are useful, I get so angry. People throw out the best stuff... I wish I had a refuse collection company, I'd send the trash trucks out with a chase vehicle, which would take the good stuff, refurb it, and sell it back to these fools! :D In the meantime, I also save up for a decent pickup truck, so I can just stop, toss the stuff in the back, and go! I'd have to compete for the hoopties that only take the metal stuff, but they never leave a neighborhood empty-handed either.

[Pagan Wizard]

Cowtown Dragon Turds


I have no clue as to what you're talking about there n9, but it sure does sound interesting. Maybe when we get together to start my DW build, I can persuede you to make some.

[SirJoey]

Hey Wiz,

Just checked it out. Great job on the workshop page, so far!

I'm honored that you've included my humble creation, thanx! That's some pretty heady company you've got me in, there! :D

Don't forget Richie Rich's awesome looking "Yellow Fever"!

[TheKid]

Lots of good stuff there n9.

[Richie Rich]

WOW! Looks like it's mint, too! What a beaut! So whatcha gonna do now Richie, hack it, disassemble for parts, or re-sell it?It's really too nice to hack, so my Grandson is enjoying it for now. When he outgrows it, I'll probably recyle the parts into a trike of some sort. Those 24-inch 'flame' tires alone are worth a lot more than what I paid for the entire bike...!!

Personally, I think you should donate it to the "SirJoey HPV Museum". :DDream on, Pal...!!! :D

{RR}

[Pagan Wizard]

WOOHOO!!!! :cool: I just scored this 26 inch Huffy 10 speed bike (complete bike) for a whopping $10 from someone on Craigslist.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/Boomer7049/huffybike.jpg

Not sure if I want to use it to build that Re-Cycle I posted about in another thread, or use it towards my DW build. The BB sports a one piece crank that will most likely get tossed, unless I can find a use for it. I can keep the BB and add in a three piece crank adapter if I need to down the road, but that one piece crank probably won't serve me very well.

http://forum.atomiczombie.com/showthread.php?t=241

Either way, there are a lot of parts that will be getting scavenged off of this thing.

[SirJoey]

Just scored this little jewel, brand new for $50. Kinda hate to dismantle it, but I'm thinkin' the springer front end would serve me well on some project, as well as lots of other good parts.

Haven't decided yet, for sure: http://joeywallace.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!9D0D4DF6F50AAFC2!1342/?&_c02_owner=1&_c02_vws=1

In the meantime, it's (gasp!) ANOTHER one parked in the dining room, of all places! Maybe I'll just sit the dining table & chairs out in the yard...

[SirJoey]

I keep hearing about this "craigslist", but when I search for it, it looks like some kind of business service or something. How do you find stuff for sale? :confused:

[Pagan Wizard]

It sure would be a crime to dismantle a true Stingray. If it is the real deal, sell it and you'll have enough for a brand new springer fork and a few other parts as well.

Here is a link to Craigslist's home page, from here you will have to find your local city, and then you can find absolutely anything for sale, or wanted to buy.

http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites.html

[SirJoey]

Nah, it's a repro, but still a sweet deal for the money! Thanx for the link!

Hmmmm, I'd already seen that page, but didn't know what it was. Oh well, none of those towns are near me, I guess it won't do me any good...

[Pagan Wizard]

You could start by looking in a nearby major city.

[SirJoey]

That's the problem, I live in the boonies. The nearest cities listed, are 50-60 miles away! Too far to be practical in my gas-hog van! :(

It's nice out here, but it does have it's down side.

[n9viw]

Joey, if you take that faux-Coal Krate apart, I will have to drive down to SC and kill you. Repro or no, that thing is still worth $300 in my neck of the woods!


Better bet- send it on out to ebay, let some aging hippie trying to reclaim his youth snap it up, and use the funds to get a springer, gas for your van, and food for a month!

I'll have to take some more pics tonight- got an old Schwinn cruiser I may or may not give to my son for a citybike, and one I haven't even seen yet that I'm picking up tonight after work.

[TheKid]

One of my best finds was a bunch of awning pipe that has the same ID as head tubes. It saves a lot of grinding. All I have to do is use a tubing cutter to cut a length of pipe to match the head tube I would have used, and presto! One head tube ready to go.

[SirJoey]

...let some aging hippie trying to reclaim his youth...

Hey man, I "resemble" that remark! (LOL)

I AM the "aging hippie trying to reclaim his youth". Why do u think I bought 'em? :D

The purple one cost me $160 last year from an e-Bay auction I won! Now, I find 'em with springer front ends, for 50 bucks! geez...

Seriously though, if I could get that kind of $ out of 'em, I'd sell 'em for sure! I could've bought a green one today for the same price, with the same springer front end, but I just couldn't justify buying yet ANOTHER! I really do like 'em though, as much as I hate to admit it...

See my review: http://bikesandtrikesandmore.com/reviews.html

[Pagan Wizard]

Put it up on eBay with a $250 reserve, I'll bet someone buys it......and it might even go higher than that.

[SirJoey]

Man, I dunno, guys. I just don't think they're worth anything. Really.

I paid what I consider to be big bux for the purple one last year, as a nostalgia thing, or like Nick said, "aging hippie trying to reclaim his youth" (so true, Nick). At the time, they weren't available here, & the only way to get one (other than e-bay), was to order it from Schwinn, for a whopping $260! Too much, even for this aging hippie! So naturally, when I won the e-bay auction & got it for $160, I thought I did okay, especially since this was about the limit that I was willing to spend on one anyway.

Now I've seen a few of 'em show up at Wal-Mart, with springer front ends, for $50! The woman in the bike dept told me they were a discontinued item, but they've never even had 'em before, so I don't get it. Maybe she meant discontinued by Schwinn. Seems to me, if this is just surplus stock from Schwinn, or a discontinued item, they'd have sold 'em to Big Lots.

At any rate, I didn't mind getting a second one for that price, cuz as I said, that front end, racing slick tire, banana seat & several other parts are worth more than that, IMO.

I will however, take your suggestions to heart, & take a look on e-bay, just to see if anyone is getting anything out of 'em...

Yep, as I figured. They're pretty much worthless. Heres a guy selling the very one I just bought. His price is only $116 + $50 shipping, so even if I had the box, I couldn't make more that about $100 on it. http://cgi.ebay.com/SCHWINN-STINGRAY-STING-RAY-BIKE-BICYCLE-KRATE_W0QQitemZ140214504230QQihZ004QQcategoryZ1565 23QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[SirJoey]

Copped this load of junk yesterday for 30 bux. Not a great deal, but okay, I guess.

Amazingly, I managed to get it all in my van, even thought it's finished inside, with a bed & everything. http://joeywallace.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!9D0D4DF6F50AAFC2!1350/?&_c02_owner=1&_c02_vws=1

[Richie Rich]

Nice haul, Joey. I've got my limit on 'kiddie' bikes, so if it's less than 24-inches, I throw it back. But, there's some steel in your pile that should come in handy someday.

-{RR}-

[SirJoey]

...there's some steel in your pile that should come in handy someday.

Yeah Richie, even though there was only one 24" in there, & three 20"s, the rest will still yield some much needed headset tubes & a few other things. I'm about ready to make my cutoff point at anything smaller than a 20" now, though.

[n9viw]

I, too... the last three bikes I got were kids' bikes, and while I have plans for them, they're not really useful for much.

[wheelenwilly]

Yeah Sir Joey that was a nice load of donor bikes. Looking at your work I can see some pretty cool projects coming out of all that. What a steal for thirty bucks. I have had my best luck at garage sales/ Salvation Army resale ect./in the garbage/some times pawn shops/craigslist/ebay. You have to frequent them like religion is the best way to get the good stuff. Do not for get to always talk them down at least 10 bucks the worst they will say is no but 8 out of 10 times they say yes. I scored a killer deal on a custom chopper from the other side of the state off craigslist yesterday. The chopper cost 80 bucks {I went for 20 bucks less he was one that said no oh well} and the fuel cost 60 bucks. Here is a couple pictures of it. It needs some work but thats ok. I have to replace the head tube probably to much rake maybe? So if you watch these places like religion you will get the good stuff. http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/b/2059538686086777328

[Richie Rich]

NICE..!! I love the color.

Do you plan on finishing it?

---{RR}---

[wheelenwilly]

Yes I will finish it . Replace the head tube Change the rake a little bit put a set of cranks on and a chain repaint and ride it like I stoled it.

[SirJoey]

Nice one, Willy! Is that baby as nice as it looks? Sweet ride.

So, with gas expense, she ran ya' $140? Not bad!

I agree with RR, love the color, especially since blue & purple are my 2 fave colors anyway.Good score!

[wheelenwilly]

It needs new head tube a set of cranks and a chain and its ready to ride. The head tube replacement is half done. Using a head tube from OCC Chopper donor and I will also use the cranks from the same donor. Needs brakes going to try to go disc. But to answer your question its not bad. It is 10 feet long.

[SirJoey]

10 FEET LONG! Geez, what a monster! And I thought my "Chopzilla" was long, at 8 feet, 10!

[TheKid]

I just read an email from my garbage picking partner. He found a computer with a Pentium D. Hard to believe they're old already.

[Pagan Wizard]

Warm air is starting to creep up on us, and people are starting to toss the old bikes and breaking out the (still) new Christmas gift bikes. Lets see if we can bring this thread back to life with some sweet finds.

[savarin]

I get all my doners from Freecycle
http://www.freecycle.org//
My kind of prices
scored an aluminium Giant mountain bike. Just needs new forks as the old ones are too worn.

[Richie Rich]

One of the advantages of living near a town populated with affluent 'YUPPY' Baby Boomers is that money apparently isn't all that important. Consequently, when they tire of something or if it breaks, they toss it to the curb in front of their McMansion where enterprising individuals such as me come along to 'recycle' it.

Case in point:

This nice $400.00 'Jogging Stroller' was sitting there crying, "Take Me...!!".
How could I resist those nice 20-inch 36-spoke wheels with sealed bearings? (They're now in their new home on the front of the QUAD).

Amazing......
.

[TheKid]

Excellent find. It never ceases to amaze me what people throw out. My buddy found a 26" LCD tv the other night with the remote taped to it. It had a sign that said it works. Some years back, I would have suggested to these people they should donate good stuff to their favorite charity. Now I urge the to donate their stuff to "The Kid's Fund". I always somehow fail to mention there's an apostrophe in Kid's.

[gbbwolf]

Ya'll just stink I never have found anything good on garbage day or any other day.
Freecycle here stinks.
Craiglist stinks.

But then my area stinks.
Too many poor people here..

I need to move to yuppie heaven.

Oh yeah I am poor thats why I live here.

Hey Richie can U send me the rest of that 400 buck stroller I can put some 5 buck wheels on it and sell it...... Just kidding of course<<<<

Nelson:cool:

[SirJoey]

Ya'll just stink I never have found anything good on garbage day or any other day.
Freecycle here stinks.
Craiglist stinks.

Welcome to the club, brother! It's the same here. Even the guy at our recycling center won't let me have any of the bikes he scavenges. He picks 'em all out for his friends I guess, cuz he doesn't take 'em himself. Sometimes, he'll accumulate a pretty good pile of 'em before "somebody" takes 'em all. I've tried to make friends with the guy, & he's friendly enough, but he still won't let me have any of those bikes. It really ticks me off. :mad:

I've had to BUY about 95% of my donors, & even at THAT, most of 'em are JUNK, with rusty, steel rims, 1-piece steel cranks & such, which is exactly what I used on my last project, the Nexus. It came out looking okay, but it really killed me to put that much work & time into something like that, only to finish it off with crappy, boat-anchor components! :(
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/7760/boatanchorbbsd1.jpg

Although I'm on a limited budget for my projects, I did manage to buy 2 brand new suspension bikes last year, donors for the Kroozer (KC), the now finished Deltoyd (DW), & a couple of planned upcoming suspension bents. By the time I'm done, I'll have used both handlebars & goosenecks, all brake levers, shifters & cables, all 4 wheels & tires, both rear suspension triangles, & both sets of cranks, pedals, ders & chains, so MOST of both bikes will eventually be used, with very little left over! In fact, I think the only things left will be the front half of the frames, the seats, & seat posts, so I'll definitely get my $200 worth out of 'em!

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[trikeman]

One of the advantages of living near a town populated with affluent 'YUPPY' Baby Boomers is that money apparently isn't all that important. Consequently, when they tire of something or if it breaks, they toss it to the curb in front of their McMansion where enterprising individuals such as me come along to 'recycle' it.

Case in point:

This nice $400.00 'Jogging Stroller' was sitting there crying, "Take Me...!!".
How could I resist those nice 20-inch 36-spoke wheels with sealed bearings? (They're now in their new home on the front of the QUAD).

Amazing......
.

Nice!! I see jogging strollers occassionally in the thrift store, but they usually have cheesy wheels. That is very well made and great wheels.

I think its more than the money thing with affluent Yuppies. I don't think the thought that they could actually fix something (or God forbid make it into something else) ever occurs to them, unless there is a PBS show on it.

[trikeman]

Sir Joey, I haven't implemented it (yet) but one of the best ideas I read on the old forum was from 25Hz of fleetrikes. He declared his trike building hobby a business and gets big discounts from all the bike equipment manufacturers, just like the bike stores do. Not only that, he gets a tax break on the purchases, since business expenses are tax deductible.

The only downside I can see to it is that a business has to make a profit within 5 years, or the IRS figures out its just a hobby, and you have to sell some of your creations.

[SirJoey]

...I think its more than the money thing with affluent Yuppies. I don't think the thought that they could actually fix something (or God forbid make it into something else) ever occurs to them, unless there is a PBS show on it.

Not only that, Heaven forbid they should actually stoop to manual labor, or risk getting their hands dirty! :eek:

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[SirJoey]

Sir Joey, I haven't implemented it (yet) but one of the best ideas I read on the old forum was from 25Hz of fleetrikes. He declared his trike building hobby a business and gets big discounts from all the bike equipment manufacturers, just like the bike stores do. Not only that, he gets a tax break on the purchases, since business expenses are tax deductible.

The only downside I can see to it is that a business has to make a profit within 5 years, or the IRS figures out its just a hobby, and you have to sell some of your creations.

Yeah, that's not a bad idea, TM, but for me personally, I don't forsee buying any more NEW ones. Not for donors, anyway. Prolly only gonna build a few more things, so I think I can get by with what I have on hand & whatever used junk I can scrounge cheaply.

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[Richie Rich]

Since I started building and riding these machines, I've had several people tip me off to new 'Road Kill'. Friends, neighbors and total strangers will say, "Hey...I've got an old bike in the basement you can have." OR, "Hey....there are a couple of old bikes over on Main Street at the curb.".

Unfortunately, the YUPPIE L.B.S. around here want nothing to do with me because I don't speak titanium or carbon fiber or wear silly tight pants.

But, a little self-promotion in your own neighborhood never hurts and pretty soon, you could have a network of extra eyes looking for that next great find.

.......Richie - Dumpster Diver extraordinaire >>

[TheKid]

Great advice. I usually promote the LBS as well, but in your case, I can understand why you'd stay away from the snob. BTW guys, 25HZ DOES sell his trikes, so it's just a matter of making a more complicated tax return.
Those yuppies don't care about fixing anything or trading in old stuff. If the kid outgrows it, in the trash it goes. If the kid's computer is six months old and a newer, faster, CPU is developed, in the trash it goes. When a bigger tv comes out, the 3 month old tv goes in the trash as well.

[n9viw]

As I've said, rarely around here do people throw away anything of real value, and if it's usable by me, I have to hustle my buns to beat out the 'hoopties' that scrounge the metal out of the pile. Case in point: I came across a pile of plastic wheels and stuff at the curb on my way to work this morning... from the looks of things, it must have been a tricycle with a steel frame, and they just hammered off the plastic parts rather than take them with.

I did manage to score a couple more bikes on Freecycle the other day, though... a gal wrote to me, saying she'd saved my email address from my WANTED post looking for bikes and bike parts. She and her husband were cleaning out the garage, and she finally convinced him to get rid of the two bikes he'd 'curbcycled' in the intent of making one good one of the two. I said I'd take em, and got them that night. One is a womens' frame, so I now have a better basis for my Bandito! (welded steel frame, no lugs) I'm going to fix up the other (a Specialized Hardrock) and sell it and the Schwinn World Sport on Craigslist, to supplement my shop FUNd.

[Richie Rich]

I found this RAZOR mini-bike today. VERY difficult to ride due to the small wheels and short stroke on the pedal cranks, but several nice parts (such as a band brake) which will find their way to a new project.

...Richie...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2708217815_f05669a9de_o.jpg

[SirJoey]

I found this RAZOR mini-bike today. VERY difficult to ride due to the small wheels and short stroke on the pedal cranks, but several nice parts (such as a band brake) which will find their way to a new project.

Cute. I've never even seen one of those before!
Still, some good, useable parts there, for sure, for sure...
Adding the Coke can for scale was a good idea!

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[TheKid]

It almost looks like the little bikes that clowns ride. With suspension no less! That fork may work well for a suspension seat.

[Sparky]

heres what i just snagged. a neighbor was cleaning out her shed.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/sparky96181/bikes/bikeride7-28-08011.jpg

and after a good ride on it to break it in today....

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/sparky96181/bikes/bikeride7-28-08022.jpg

its WAY too nice to hack. 1973 schwinn world voyageur. the frame is 4130 Chrome Molybdenum Butted Tubing. center pull brakes, bar end shifters, and all aluminum componets. and smooth as silk on its 20 mile cruise today. apparently these fetch a couple hundred on ebay.

check out the cool (working) tire-driven headlight and taillight!

i think the cruiser seat it came with and headlight might make it onto my chopper.

[SirJoey]

VERY nice! I'm with you Sparky, too nice to hack. If it'd bring that kind of money, I think I'd have to flip it! For $200, you could buy TWO BRAND NEW donors!
Granted, the quality of the components on the new cheapos wouldn't be up to the level of that one, but you'd have twice as many to work with.
I guess it all depends on your personal level of "component snobbery". :D

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[AtomicZombie]

Nice oldskool! How about cleaning it all up and converting it to a fixed gear?

Yes, no point hacking that machine - can't use the BB or head tube anyhow because it is lugged.

Brad

[Sparky]

perhaps i'm weird.... but i like having lots of gears. i cant see the advantage of only having one. well, okay, weight and complexity. but those are tradeoffs that are okay by me.

plus, this thing is only neat cause its mostly original. if i were to start changing stuff, i might as well sell it and get a used trek or something. the LBS always has a few around $200.

[SirJoey]

...this thing is only neat cause its mostly original.

Yeah, it's neat to find one that old that's all original & still in good shape.

I've got an '84 Raleigh that I bought in '92. It was all original & in good shape except for the paint, so I painted it.
I know... but it looked pretty rough anyway, so I prolly didn't really hurt it.

I got a steal on it from a pawnshop, cuz they didn't know what they had.
Can't hack the frame, cuz it's lugged aluminum, & I hate to butcher it just for a few decent components, but I'm tempted.
I'd sell it in a heartbeat if I thought it'd bring anything, but I have my doubts.

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[theDude]

can't use the BB or head tube anyhow because it is lugged

This is probably a stupid question, but why can't you use the parts of a lugged frame?

[SirJoey]

This is probably a stupid question, but why can't you use the parts of a lugged frame?

Cuz inside, those parts are prolly gonna look like THIS, LOL!

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/2264/luggedbottombracketdz1.jpg

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[AtomicZombie]

You got it - the head tube and BB will be full of massive holes.

Brad

[theDude]

That makes sense. I told you it was stupid. :D

[TheKid]

Dude, it's not a stupid question if you've never seen parts from a lugged bike. What would be stupid, is if you didn't ask, then found a lugged bike and took it apart. You'd feel like a dummy for NOT asking.
I'm using a bargain find part on my Hauler. It's a 5 speed 34-28-21-16-14 freewheel from an old Schwinn, given to me by my LWB owner. I was going to use the 7 speed mega freewheel, but I don't like that jump from 34 to 24 teeth. I used this before on my quad, and it worked quite well. This will be the mid drive on a shaft with two 24 tooth trike sprockets, which will drive a freewheel on each axle. In first gear for starting and climbing hills, both will have the chain on the 24 tooh cog, the next shift will be the left wheel on the 21 tooth, so it becomes the drive wheel. In the event I need posi in a higher gear, I just shift the right wheel to the 24 tooth. And for left uphill turns, I shift the right cog to the 21 tooth, and the left to the 24, so the inside wheel can spin slower, even while accelerating.

[Gerald_G]

I made a good find last night on my ride. I was about 15km into it when I spotted a wrench lying on the side of the road. I stopped to grab it and slip it into my hydro-pack. Turns out to be an 18" crescent wrench. Feels like it weighs 10lbs.

Then I had to carry this thing in my backpack 25km more to get home.

Good find though.

At bicycle speeds, you really notice your surroundings much better eh ?

[TheKid]

Great! A free wrench, and extra exercise to boot!

[SirJoey]

Dang, the only things I find along the road here, have been half eaten! :eek:

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[Gerald_G]

I got my ballpeen hammer on the same route. Gonna have to rename the road.
I like that schwinn Sparky

[TheKid]

Watch it Sparky! GG's got a wrench and a hammer, and he has his eye on your Schwinn! He may be taking Joey lessons!

[locolarry]

Old treaure hunter's secrets...

People put things on the roof or trunk deck and drive off...look on the outside shoulder of sharp curves, Look on outside shoulder on 90 degree turns.

Look near railroad tracks, bad potholes, etc., for sockets, screwdrivers, assorted wrenches,

Practice identifing objects on/near the roadway at a glance in order to assess value, if any..when in doubt , go back and look..

I've found wallets, purses, tool boxes full of tools, new boat trailer tires, full suitcases, and a real nice Remington Model 1100 12 guage shotgun with a bent barrel...a hunter leaned it against the side of his p/u trk, drove over it...he almost cried when I returned it to him. Countless boat cushions, life vests, toys etc.

You just have to look and pay attention.

LL