First a quick comment... I've been lurking here for a few days and just finally registered. This is by far the most informative site on this subject. 10 Years ago I "restored" my own '83 Skyway T/A finding very little-to-no information. And maybe about 5 years ago I decided to look for some fresh decals and couldn't find much. I was thrilled to see this site now existing with so much useful information.

...And it's a special treat to see some of the members are folks I idolized back in my BMX heyday.

Kudos!

Anyway, my question. I'm looking for a new project. I plan to build a small collection, but right now would really like to find some raw materials that I can put back into "decent riding condition" and get back out into circulation. I just want to get a few real restorations under my belt and maybe make a few bucks to finance that future collection.

Where do you guys find your restoration projects? There are the obvious places on the web (eBay, Craig's List, etc), but where do you find your "diamonds-in-the-rough"? Do yard-sales, flea markets, and thrift stores yield those hard-to-find gems much?

-Lee

[ March 13, 2007, 02:55 PM: Message edited by: lboorse2 ]

Don't forget the Wanted and For Sale sections here on the site.

Poke around there, you may find a source or two. Here, I got a guy that has a whole yard full of bikes---people just give him most of them. He gets them rideable and sells them cheap. Mostly Huffy, etc beach cruiser style, ten speeds and cheap "MTB" style stuff, but I found my wife's Powerlite 3 bar there, plus a Kos Kruiser which I foolishly didn't buy, and a later Mongoose Expert. Every once in a while something shows up. Older little bike shops is another thing. Just keep the eyes open!

Once and a while, BMX stuff shows up at automotive swap meets. I found most of my stuff on ebay, but a lot of the real tricky parts came from VBMX members.

flea markets, garage sales, estate sales, salvation army thrift stores those are usually good ones my last good find I got a kastan for 20 bucks at a garage sale
happy hunting
Cya L8r the Capt

Here and there, There and here. You can never really tell where your going to find your next one. Just keep your eyes peeled and you'll find them. I know a guy that spotted a Torker in someones back yard from the highway at 75mph. he doubled back and got it... F'er!!!!

vbmx members seem to be the best resource for frames/forks/components to start a project if you don't feel like waiting years to run across that special something out of the blue. check negative/positive section of ebay before bidding on something pricey.

the asian NOS stuff on ebay like seats and pedals are authentic if you just can't seem to find it anywhere else. only deal with spotless feedback folks.

We have Big Trash Day here in OKC and I have found several things being thrown out for the dump. The good finds were a Redline RL-40 complete minus the seat, Tuff Wheels and a Mongoose California Pro frame. Along with that, I have found several Wal-Mart-type stuff that I have used for misc. parts. You never know what you will find next, that's what keeps me going. My ultimate find was at a Thrift Store

I bought this bike for $15.00

In all my years of hunting, I've only found two bikes at garage sales. I've never found one at an Estate sale. Pawn shops never have anything worth a darn. I've found a few at auto swap meets, but none in the past few years.

gp, I resemble that Torker remark. My wife thinks my old car and BMX spotting ability is an oddity that has to be seen to be believed. Two weeks ago I spotted a mint DB Silver Streak leaning against some bushes in front of a home three streets from where we were driving. It's like I can smell em. I bought the DB on the spot.

You will develop the senses as your interest in the hobby grows. Some of these "funding finds," as I call them, will become hard to part with. I value my clean original bikes waaaaay more than my restored or NOS bikes. There is something about them that can't be duplicated w/ a "not a scratch restoration."

I found an ad on craigslist less than 1 year ago for what was listed as "Patterson frame, fork, and bars". All three items had Patterson stickers, after all. When I talked to the guy, he said he had just listed it on vbmx also. I checked, and sure enough, there it was...photos and all.

Apparently, nobody on vbmx was interested in a VGC chrome Patterson PR-200 for $250.00, but the funny part is that when I got it, the bars were actually JMC DY bars with a Patterson downtube decal wrapped around the oval cross bar. I re-chromed the bars and sold them for five hundred.

Goes to show that good deals can also be found right here on vbmx.

Great tips all. Thank you. I will be looking around the thrift stores every few weeks. There are two within 10-15 minute driving distance from me that I can keep an eye on. And as usual, I'll continue to peruse Craig's list and ebay.

As of just a few minutes ago however, I've found my first project. I went up to the attic to get a look at the ol' T/A. After seeing only very occasional use over the last 10 years, since its original "restoration," it's looking pretty shabby.

More to come in a new post...

I still plan to keep looking for a few projects that I can turn around to help finance the T/A restoration. I'll be looking for a set of T/A forks and a few other items that might get pricey.

[ March 13, 2007, 09:43 PM: Message edited by: lboorse2 ]

I've had great luck just driving out in rural areas out of town. lot of times people will just throw their junk (bikes we'd want) in a junk pile or on the side of a barn and if you know where to look you can get a super rare bike for free. (I got one of my DG's that way).
sometimes people have huge piles of bike parts and they might let you dig through.
thats what has worked for me.