Well.. I think its about time to wrap up the thread on my
Sun Snipe Plus refurb. I must say I've enjoyed doing it, and seeing its had 2k views gives me a great deal of pleasure, and I hope those who viewed the thread got something out of it too.
I've now got myself a lovely new/old 60s retro bike that I certainly didn't plan on having at the beginning of 2021. The bike will be a fair weather ride though.. after all.. it is a Sun!.
She's under a bike cover at the moment in my workshop.
My daily ride/workhorse is a 27 speed, 12 year old
Dawes Karakum, which if I'm honest is little more comfortable to ride than the Sun. However, I'm definitely looking forward to getting some rides in come Spring/Summer, and now I've got a couple of old Karrimor panniers hanging off the rear rack I can go prepared.
Re cost.. I think I ended up spending around £300 all in on the bike, and that included both the purchase of the bike itself, and the purchase of a Sun Snipe Prestige ( + £45 delivery) to take some parts from. Things purchased extra to what I had available from the two bikes included, a used Pletscher Rack, new SKS Bluemels Mudguards, used Huret down-tube shifters, used Shimano cable stop, new (old stock) Weinmann orange brake blocks, new (inner/outer) gear and brake cables, decals, and of course things like handlebar tape, paint, odd small fittings etc..
Overall though the bike is pretty original. I used both wheels, apart from being true, they polished up quite well, although the chrome on the front one isn't that good when you get up close. The Michelin World Tour tyres and tubes were fine. The Weinmann centre pulls are the originals and cleaned up really beautifully, along with the Brooks B15 saddle. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, the Maes handlebars, Weinmann levers with Sun hoods, Milremo stem, and 917 rat trap pedals, all came from the Sun Snipe Prestige, and were vital parts in getting the Snipe Plus to the spec I wanted. Oh, and I mustn't forget, the pump has been with the bike since new.
That leaves me of course with the
Sun Snipe Prestige, minus the removed parts mentioned above. However, in the back of my mind I'm thinking I'll take my time and look out for those parts, and probably refurbish the bike at a later date, as and when. Another thread maybe...