A local seller has a steel frame Bianchi Eros for about $125. The frame appears to be in very good condition with only a couple of paint chips and no rust...not a thing of beauty, black with subdued decals. The owner says it was bought in 1991 and after a few months use wound up hanging in the garage. Sounds true given the bike's condition.
My question is would a bike that old have standardized dimensions to accept modern components? A friend is looking for a bike this size (63cm), but I don't want to steer him toward something that would require a scavanger hunt every time a repair has to be made. The components appear to be low end (Suntour Radius, Sakae gearing...say what?), and I'd be more confident recommending it if I knew replacements would be off the shelf components. Not to mention he may ask me to do some free wrenching...he's on a tight budget. If it were Celeste or had a 'Made in Italy' decal it would be an easier call (grinning).
A local seller has a steel frame Bianchi Eros for about $125. The frame appears to be in very good condition with only a couple of paint chips and no rust...not a thing of beauty, black with subdued decals. The owner says it was bought in 1991 and after a few months use wound up hanging in the garage. Sounds true given the bike's condition.
My question is would a bike that old have standardized dimensions to accept modern components? A friend is looking for a bike this size (63cm), but I don't want to steer him toward something that would require a scavanger hunt every time a repair has to be made. The components appear to be low end (Suntour Radius, Sakae gearing...say what?), and I'd be more confident recommending it if I knew replacements would be off the shelf components. Not to mention he may ask me to do some free wrenching...he's on a tight budget. If it were Celeste or had a 'Made in Italy' decal it would be an easier call (grinning).
What is the spacing for the back wheel? If it is for a 130mm hub/cassette then you are good ... also making sure the shifting is friction because Suntuor has different spacing than Shimano between the cogs (i.e. Suntour index shifting will not work on Shimano cog sets).
... also making sure the shifting is friction because Suntuor has different spacing than Shimano between the cogs (i.e. Suntour index shifting will not work on Shimano cog sets).
A local seller has a steel frame Bianchi Eros for about $125. The frame appears to be in very good condition with only a couple of paint chips and no rust...not a thing of beauty, black with subdued decals. The owner says it was bought in 1991 and after a few months use wound up hanging in the garage. Sounds true given the bike's condition.
My question is would a bike that old have standardized dimensions to accept modern components? A friend is looking for a bike this size (63cm), but I don't want to steer him toward something that would require a scavanger hunt every time a repair has to be made. The components appear to be low end (Suntour Radius, Sakae gearing...say what?), and I'd be more confident recommending it if I knew replacements would be off the shelf components. Not to mention he may ask me to do some free wrenching...he's on a tight budget. If it were Celeste or had a 'Made in Italy' decal it would be an easier call (grinning).
You asked this somewhere else and got the right answwer. For the money it's a reasonable deal.But if you want 'no issue' replacements,then don't buy old suntour stuff.Life is easier with Shimano,but even if you had to replace shifters,RD and cogset to retain compatibility it can be done relatively inexpensively. If it's been a garage ornament all thesse years, the HS, BB and hubs likely need to be torn down and relubbed, and it it's a freewheel,that too may be full of stiff grease.Tires and tubes could be rotted if original....As far a 'dimensions' go there are no real issues.
Buy it cheap, ride it, don't upgrade anything. It's low end. we discuss this on a weekly basis, it's the dressed up Pinto analogy all over again. If your pal gets more serious he can purchase a new ride in the future with modern components.
Buy it cheap, ride it, don't upgrade anything. It's low end. we discuss this on a weekly basis, it's the dressed up Pinto analogy all over again. If your pal gets more serious he can purchase a new ride in the future with modern components.
The "buy to try" strategy sounds reasonable. I don't want him to think he's investing in a handcrafted frame that's worthy of an Ultegra or Chorus gruppo when he has the money. For $125 plus new tubes, tires, and a chain he'd have something to ride.
The "buy to try" strategy sounds reasonable. I don't want him to think he's investing in a handcrafted frame that's worthy of an Ultegra or Chorus gruppo when he has the money. For $125 plus new tubes, tires, and a chain he'd have something to ride.
