When does NOS stop being NOS?

[BlackCat]

Re:

In my defence I never list anything for sale as NOS. But this is arguably because I’m a hoarder that never sells anything.

 

[Pipmeister]

Re: Re:

How can someone be sure a bike hasn’t been ridden?

Back in 90s one person working in a bike shop might have ridden it across the shop to where it was going on display for example.

I agree entirely with you , and it would be ridiculous to think that nobody had swung a leg over the bike to try out the gears and brakes - it wouldn't be safe to sell the bike without trying it out. That is why I wrote allegedly - I was merely quoting the advert.

Anyway, back to the question - is a complete bike ever able to be considered N.O.S.?

Pip

 

[BlackCat]

Re:

My thinking is if I build a frame that I know never to have been previously built, with parts that are still sealed.. and I never swing a leg over it.. well it kinda has to be NOS, no?

 

[d8mok]

Re: Re:

How can someone be sure a bike hasn’t been ridden?

Back in 90s one person working in a bike shop might have ridden it across the shop to where it was going on display for example.

I agree entirely with you , and it would be ridiculous to think that nobody had swung a leg over the bike to try out the gears and brakes - it wouldn't be safe to sell the bike without trying it out. That is why I wrote allegedly - I was merely quoting the advert.

Anyway, back to the question - is a complete bike ever able to be considered N.O.S.?

Pip

Sorry if wasn’t clear I was agreeing with you too. For me to 100% know it was NOS it would need to be boxed and unbuilt still

I bet there isn’t a built bike out there in existence that hasn’t had a quick pedal round garage/shop/drive etc. It’s a normal thing to do for anyone

 

[d8mok]

Re: Re:

My thinking is if I build a frame that I know never to have been previously built, with parts that are still sealed.. and I never swing a leg over it.. well it kinda has to be NOS, no?

Yeh but I bet you can’t resist lol

 

[mk one]

Re: Re:

Anyway, back to the question - is a complete bike ever able to be considered N.O.S.?

Pip

I think a bike can be considered old stock, last seasons models for example, and of course they are new, when new.

A way to think about it could be if a production item is unused and can be put back into its box/packaging and actually not have ever been used. A bike would fall into this category as well as a hub.

Of course, striping the bike of its individual components would open up a whole new can of worms

 

[Woz]

Re: Re:

Think about it like a toothbrush. If it’s used it’s used and therefore not new.

We get this a lot in the motor trade by people saying a car is new when it’s 3 months old and 2000 miles etc. It’s only new once

If it’s used in any way it’s not new. That included fitting to a bike of its a part.

Yep, this for me. NOS means it's never been fitted, never been used and is the same condition as it left the factory.

Unless items were hermetically sealed, wrapped up in cotton wool, stored in a controlled and stable environment etc. I think this is largely an unrealistic expectation, an erroneous definition and a massive assumption at play. No wonder NOS is confused with premium prices. :facepalm:

NOS - for me at least - would include everything from obsolete, flood damaged, sun baked and fire damaged. If we take a humble rear mech, we know for fact NOS could still mean rubber seals can be perished, plastics gone brittle, steal bolt heads showing rust, alloy oxidisation, etc. etc. Practically, it only means it's not worn in / out because it's still new. Let's not even talk about NOS tyres

 

[BlackCat]

Re: Re:

My thinking is if I build a frame that I know never to have been previously built, with parts that are still sealed.. and I never swing a leg over it.. well it kinda has to be NOS, no?

Yeh but I bet you can’t resist lol

Yeah.. could be problematic..

 

[Yetichaser]

Re:

Surely its once it has been used ona build

 

[raidan73]

I agree with Woz; nos does not describe the condition of a part, it merely says that it has never been used. An item described as nos should always be accompanied by a description of it's condition imo. Plenty of parts were never supplied in lovely boxes to preserve their condition. A lot of oem parts were in a plastic bag, if that. They could be sat around in a workshop for years and be covered in scuffs and scratches, with dried up grease and perished rubber seals, but they are still nos.

Don't get me started on "nearly nos"!