Is it possible to make money from bike refurbs?

[Meejoir]

As above really. Does anyone out there make a living from refurbing bikes full time? Is it possible? Or should I keep it as a hobby?

My latest refurb was a delightful 2003 Principia Rex e. Even though I got a lot of the components from bargain bins, discount codes, fleabay and from this very parish, I probably kid myself how much I actually spent.

 

[bugloss]

Hobby IMO.

 

[ti_pin_man]

hobby IMO. I think second spin cycles in the states does it as a business but I dont think he's about to retire on the profits.

 

[47p2]

Sadly there seems to be more money made breaking bikes rather than refurbishing them

 

[Johnsqual]

Re:

Biggest problem with Restos is probably that there is no chance for economies of scale: each project is more or less unique, so you can't save money by buying parts or getting jobs done in bulk.

Also, there are the hours that go into each resto - finding parts, building each bike and so on costs time and effort.

I also think most people into retro bikes actually enjoy doing the Resto themselves - although this may change as 'Retro' becomes a hype and every Johnny-come-lately wants a shiny NOS Colnago to stand next to his plastic Pinarello in his garage.

There is probably some money to be made in finding project bikes, buying them cheap, and selling them on to people who want to then do them up themselves.

A lot of people asked me if I'd ever want to make a business out of doing up old bikes, but I can't really see how you could make a living from it. At best you might be able to make the hobby pay for itself.

 

[Deleted member 24574]

Re: Re:

I can't really see how you could make a living from it. At best you might be able to make the hobby pay for itself.

+ 1 ... I think you can fund your own habit if you are wise ...

As it says above probably easier to buy bikes break them and then eBay out the components ... a soulless activity.

 

[lewisfoto]

To offer a dissenting view I have supplemented my income for nearly 10 years now buying and reselling bikes. In fact for a few years it was my full time job. I would not call what I do restoring per se because I look for bikes that are mostly original so I don't have to buy parts or pay for expensive resprays. Then it is just a matter of my labor and time listing on Ebay.

I have at the same time taken on a few true restorations, which were done for the love of the bike and will never be profiable.


Steven

 

[Johnsqual]

Re:

@ Lewis Foto

It is the respray (and paint touch ups) part that kills any profit
because they are time consuming to do yourself and expensive to contract out to others. But this is what sets a resto apart from a resale in my view.

I agree that there is money to be made in buying and reselling, as long as you don't put too many hours in.

@ Montello

Stripping for parts is indeed soul-destroying. I can only really forgive myself if the original frame is a wreck but still has usable bits.

 

[Robbied196]

If by refurb you mean cleaning and swapping out worn parts you can make a few quid to fund the next project and maybe have a few nights out. I'd say Ebay is the most likely place to get you the best price with good photo's and listing. I sold off a collection about 18 months ago but its a bit like the lottery. Some make more than you could guess, some make less. The premium bikes to sell are quality lightweight 50s/60s/70s in decent original condition, but they are getting hard to find. If you respray you've lost most of your purist market.

There are lots of 70s/80s entry level bikes but the word is out on 'vintage', so many people have their old 70s gaspipe completely over valued. Having said that, I know of one guy who does well, but he knows the quality marques inside out. Most recently he picked up an Alex Singer for 100 euros off the back of some poor internet photo's, so they are out there!

 

[bduc61]

Re:

Hobby or supplementing income during retirement :idea:

I am jobless and had about the same thought

issue is , the market to find bases for restorations or bank of parts is very transparent so you have a lot of amateurs who will snap the deals before you
requires a lot if time to source bikes or parts ( often in front of computer)
requires a lot of time to work on the bikes
the very good deals are rare and they are the ones which could make the venture profitable so you can't really base a business on these events
there maybe a possibility to pass from the "hobby" league to the "business" league if you master the skill of frames overhaul with repainting them with a pro installation but I am not even sure of that
as I find that the vintage parts that you would have to put on your restored frame are becoming more and more expensive so doing a pro job with upmarket parts which is a requirement if you want to make a decent margin is pushing the "starting cost" higher and higher

And as stated above, some of the customers will dislike the non original painting and stickers/lettering

I know now what I will do during my retirement but its still 15 years away !

and I am still looking for a job :roll: