EBAY PURCHASE - FRAME SET QUALITY?

QUESTION:  "Is the bicycle/frame set Entry Level, Mid Level or Top of the Line?"

GOOD CRAFTSMANSHIP + GOOD MATERIALS =  GOOD QUALITY!!!

Needless to say, the bicycle's frame and fork set are the bicycle.  If you start with a well made frame in good condition, everything else becomes worth while.  If you start with a poorly made frame set in damaged condition - good luck.  You will be wasting time, money and effort.

Make no mistake about it, brand names do not, alway,s equate to quality, in the world of vintage road bicycles.

In the very early seventies, the demand for "Ten Speed" bicycles soared.  Manufacturers rushed to take advantage of this, all but unpredicted and certainly unprecedented, phenomenon.  And, in their rush, it is entirely possible that a host of sub-standard bicycles emerged.  Brand name does not dictate quality!  Popularity of brand does not dictate quality!  The manufacturer's promise of quality, does not dictate quality!  Only quality materials, assembled by a craftspeople, who actually knew what they were doing, and cared about their results, dictates quality.

Poor craftsmanship will become immediately apparent with close inspection.  File, or grinding, marks on drops and/or lugs, is a sign of inferior craftsmanship.  If these visible flaws are present, what about the rest of the frame set's construction?  Are the braze-on fittings, brazed on in the proper positions or do they appear to be crooked or asymmetrical?  The same goes for the decals - are they positioned evenly and symmetrically?

Four, top of the line vintage road bicycle, rear drops and, all but one, are flawed.  All but one, show poor craftsmanship.  Only the Pinarello Trevisio deserves credit for quality of construction.  These are bicycles, I have found.  I did not look for bicycles, that were poorly assembled.  They presented themselves to me.  With this in mind, one has to question, what quality means to the company, making the bicycles, to begin with.  Were production figures, and bottom lines, so important that the suits insisted on sub-standard work, to meet production quotas?  With this in mind, ensure that you have an opportunity to view close-up pictures of the rear drops, the front drops and lug joints.  It is in these areas that quality of construction, or lack there of, will shine.

Poor quality of construction can often be expected with the lesser (entry level) bicycles of yesterday.  You get what you pay for and, if you purchase an entry level bicycle, expect lack of quality to be coupled with the attractive low price.  Entry level bicycles, as a rule, were not built by craftsmen!  They were assembled in accordance with manufacturer policies, and desire to make money, not supply a top notch product.  This Raleigh  Team Raleigh Record, looks just great from the street.

However, take a close look, and you will see an absolute lack of quality of construction.  The rear drops are misaligned.  The lugs have been brazed poorly, leaving gaps, where the brass did not take.  The decals were not installed symmetrically.  All of these flaws, suggest incredibly poor construction.  One can, pretty much bet, that the lack of quality workmanship, will also manifest itself in areas that cannot be easily seen.

Don't be fooled, just because the steed you seek, is a top of the line offering!  I have seen many high end bikes that did not demonstrate, what I would call, quality workmanship!  I have seen many well know and respect brands display poor craftsmanship.  You have to look before buying.  You have to be sceptical.  Do not buy a well know brand, just because it is well know.  True, the better know bicycles will fetch a bigger dollar, at the time of this writing, but that is only because people are frequently uninformed.

When buying on-line, insist on seeing really good clear close-up pictures!  If the seller cannot, or will not, supply pictures, forget the deal.  Just pass and keep on looking.  Sooner or later, a seller will offer exactly what you want, and be more than happy to ensure that your interest is satisfied, before you start to bid or offer to purchase.

NEXT- FRAME CONDITION - DAMAGED?