Retro good and retro bad.

[Dazwaldo]

Hi folks,
This has probably been asked hundreds if not thousands of times, but how do you know whats worth buying?
I'm scouring the tinterweb for retro MB's and finding endless lists of retro makes and models, some I've heard of and most I haven't.
In the UK, my fav has always been Orange and this has stopped me looking elsewhere and I know that there are some fantastic 80's and 90's bikes around, problem is, I've no idea what's what.
There is a chance at a carboot/yard sale that I'll come across that awesome retro bike at a bargain price, but I need to know whats good and what's bad.
Does anyone have a graded list of the good, the bad and the ugly of retro MB's?
Thanks

 

[Tsundere]

Welcome to the most enjoyable route to bankruptcy there is.

Some pointers...
Not all tube sets are created equal, and a great place to start is understanding the different types of tubing. This will help you identify very quickly if some bikes are worth a closer look or not. Then learn about the various brands, the big boys and the smaller custom builders.

Then look into groupsets, learn the hierarchy of the various mass produced ranges from the era, and then look into the smaller boutique makers, this too will help you spot the cream.

There's no shortcut to becoming an expert in anything, only time and commitment can do that. The good news is that it's a fun journey, this site is perhaps the best resource there is so you already hit the motherlode, just browse the forums, check out the archives and absorb the knowledge shared here.

 

[bikeworkshop]

You're unlikely to find a retro bargain at a boot sale because they are scoured by freelance traders as soon as the sellers enter the car park.
These guys can recognise quality and will be googling away as soon as they see anything nice.

You can do the same of course, but in reality if you like Orange, get a P7 or similar in your size and choice of year, because all retro bikes are a bargain atm (leaving out the speculative hipster traders), especially an ebay auction 99p start.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/38687714...-afc6-ea48aadeb151|iid:1|vlpname:vlp_homepage
Then find the bike in the original catalogue, and have a go at making it original!

 

[Gtpulse]

Good tips from @Tsundere

If you’re in the UK have a look at some of the catalogues in the archive of the brands likely to have been sold. You quickly see some patterns with model names and what groupsets they had. It then becomes easy to see if you’re looking at.

In my area there was a large GT and Marin dealer in the late 80s/90s so a lot of those turn up in the area and I find out more about those. For example I spotted a fire damaged GT frame at the recycling centre, quickly realised it was an Outpost trail so not really worth the effort due to its condition vs value/rarity. Had it been a Psyclone sticking out of the pile I’d probably have grabbed it! Indeed had it been a minty or even oily rag rescuable
Outpost it would also have come home.

Dork discs on the cassettes, lots of reflectors, too much plastic stuff, pressed steel dropouts, rusty bits on the components all signs that stop the spidey senses tingling as they usually point to lower end stuff. Nothing wrong with lower end stuff if it’s what you’re after at the right price but if it’s a passion project driven by what you couldn’t have as a teenager (like me!) then it’s the good stuff you’ll be after.

There’s some stuff that’s less obvious and provide routes to good kit sometimes for less money. Research and experience will lead you to that, there isn’t really a list. Controversial maybe but how many of us look out for Al Carters and Carrera Quattros to be able to harvest the bounty!

Good news I guess is prices aren’t great for sellers at the moment unless it’s high end minty/unused stuff you’re after. Compared to the price of new bikes all retro stuff is a bargain. Beware though, unless you are very organised and self disciplined you’ll end up with piles of stuff you bought for one part or another that keeps turning into the next thing you’ll complete.

 

[Tootyred]

Dork discs on the cassettes, lots of reflectors, too much plastic stuff, pressed steel dropouts, rusty bits on the components all signs that stop the spidey senses tingling as they usually point to lower end stuff.

@Gtpulse is exactly right......

Unless you just found an untouched 1989 team marin.....which came with all those things as standard when new.....but thats were knowing your onions comes in! As @Tsundere points out....

Plenty of good mid range kit now for peanuts.....i love marins, so why not an Eldridge or an Orange clockwork with some lx kit on it.

People are picky as...now and middle road kit is a good buy...imho.

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

Easy. Everything I have is based on nostalgia so if I didn't like it then, I don't have it now.

 

[bikeworkshop]

If you buy what you want, the price you paid will be forgotten as you get on with enjoying yourself.

One thing to remember is the average bike in the 90s was a bit crap, so most old forgotten shed bikes are best left there.

 

[jimo746]

Just buy what you like, if it has a nostalgic connection then all the better. The catalogues are in the retrobike archive if you want to have a look around and see if anything takes your fancy.
It really doesn't matter if what you end up buying is good, bad or ugly, as long as it's what you wanted and like it.

 

[Imlach]

Just buy what you like, if it has a nostalgic connection then all the better. The catalogues are in the retrobike archive if you want to have a look around and see if anything takes your fancy.
It really doesn't matter if what you end up buying is good, bad or ugly, as long as it's what you wanted and like it.

This

 

[Dazwaldo]

Thanks everyone, super help.