I wouldn't say I have a huge collection but definitely have some nice pieces (bikes, parts, etc.) I have been accumulating parts for about 5 builds over the past 3 years but never seem to find the time to actually build up the bikes. I just enjoy riding the 2 that are built.

As I think about some of the NOS stuff that I do have, I have been asking myself how will I ever get over riding on this stuff. I have been thinking about selling my NOS for used so I can stay in this hobby. Anyone else feel this way?

-Mike

yep, that is the collector vs. rider dilemma that is engrained in these sites.

The nice thing about it, unless you have very rare stuff, you can sell the NOS for a large profit then buy yourself some nice comfortable rider stuff.

Or just indulge yourself and treat yourself to a brand new item on a bike....like saving up lawn money and buying that shiney blue TufNeck hanging on the LBS wall in 1980. didn't feel guilty about it back then did yah? yee ha!

The nos stuff I buy I use. Granted, all of my bikes sit in the house a HELL of alot more then I ride (never any time with work), that nothing really gets damaged. Besides, when I want to get wild, I have a 04 Floval for that.

It is an interesting topic...I've got about 12 bikes. 10 of them have are show ponies and the the other 2 are riders.

I bought my Hutch Pro Racer and built it almost identical to my show version, because every time I looked at my carpet pusher I want to ride it..interesting thing is I've been riding it (the rider Pro Racer) for almost 2 years, which includes the ocassional race meeting and it is in virtually the same shape as it was 2 years ago...I'm just about ot replace the rear skinwall comp 3 which was NOS..but that's it...

Then I bought LarryS PR240 Patterson cruiser, it is in immaculate shape with the majority of parts being NOS or restored...I thought long about using it as a rider, than was about 6 months ago and I have used it like 3 times a week since then...It has only seen light pavement duty, and you would be hard pushed to see it had been riden. I figure at worst case after 5 years I can freshen them up with a new decal set or whatever...but in the mean time I'm having the time of my life riding them...

That being said I do have another 10 that won't get to hit the pavement...so I guess I can see both sides of the story.

It's not that I am worried about using nos stems or grips or seats. It's the stuff that is going through the roof in price like wheels,frames, forks and cranks that would be awesome for a show bike not for being in the garage and getting bumped and scuffed by kids stuff. Or worse yet, sitting bubble wrapped in a box and knowing I spent a ton of cash on it and now am afraid to use it cause the moment I do, value will be lost.

I am starting to think that for me if it is going to be completely built up I should let someone else have an opportunity to use the NOS stuff and I use the the nice used stuff. For example I acquired an nos set of gt 24" nora cup forks with a used frame. For what I paid for it, I didn't think twice about using them for the build. Now I am not so sure. I never got around to building this and I would actually prefer to have a nice used set instead and let someone else pay to enjoy them.

Does that make any sense?

I have already bailed out of 2 builds because I thought they were going to be too nice to ride. I decided to build them up as far as a seat and grips. No wheels, brakes, or cranks will be installed. That will be considered show for me. Perhaps it is a new vintage category. While I really am buying into "rideable vintage" this might be more along the line of a "vintage bike kit."

I am nearing 40 so perhaps this is the beginning of my CRISSIS...

-Mike

I have some slightly used (just installed and rode around a few times) NOS stuff to sell.

I'm doing it!

Got stuff just sitting around and I don't have any plans for builds for the near future.
I have a bunch of cool bikes I'm keeping.
I'd rather raise some cash and put it in the bank at 8.30% than have it sitting in boxes!!!!

When I started in this hobby, I was all about the restore. Refinish, NOS parts, perfect showroom bikes. About a year ago, my interests shifted to survivor type bikes. Now I really have no interest in NOS stuff. It's funny, I am seeing this more and more with other collectors lately too.


Doug

My $300 Mirraco 20Forty puts any old bike to shame. Build or store the old stuff, but don't ride it except in an old folks parade.

I don't have the collection or show pieces that you guys do.



1.5 years ago i got the "itch" to try to rebuild the bike or similar to what i had in the 80's - a Robinson. I think I did a decent job and I have some really nice parts on there. But my main reason was to try to recapture the feeling of that bike and how well I rode and controlled that thing when I was 18. Well short story, when you are not doing that stuff for 20 years you aren't going to be any good no matter what. Plus after building it I realized how much better even cheap imported bikes are now, especially when you are comparing headsets, BBs, and stems. I rode the bike once at practice on the track. Boy I got a lot of looks and compliments. But the magic just wasn't there.

Sooooo. I'm taking it apart and getting rid of it. Most of it i'll probably take a loss but that's OK, I just need to get rid of it because it's just taking up space. I think the best parts on there are the chrome araya 7x's with sealed suzues. They are a work of art (to me)... and just think of how many bikes in the 80s had them.

Over this past winter I built a nice new school park/street bike and it kicks. I think it's the bike I've always wanted.. rides great and nice and solid. In some ways even though I don't have the balls I used to think I'm better than I was when I was 18. I've been to an indoor park a bunch of times over the winter. I feel more NEWschool than old school now.

It's kind of like hanging on to your high school girlfriend or prom date (unless you are married to her now!!! LOL) - it's great to remember the good times but you have to move on!

I buy it I ride it. Really dont care if it is NOS or not. To have a bike sitting there not be ridden drives me up a wall(IMO). Granted that the NOS items that I did buy were realitively inexpensive. Still used them. If you are not going to use them or feel guilty about useing them, sell them off. Get replacement parts that are ridable. First and for most have fun riding. Remember that is what BMX is all about!!!


Old-skull

When I got back in this is how I felt also every bike or piece I got was going to be restored, powdered, made to be new again. Then I came to the conclusion that spending the big dollars was sucking the fun out of what I was doing. I don't have anywhere near the collection that some have. In my opinion I would rather see original, unrestored survivors/riders than the high dollar restored pieces. Don't get me wrong they all have their place and I can appreciate the time, effort, and money put in to those bikes, but at the end of the day I can get on any of my bikes and go for a ride.

This is your best advice, IMO. Riding the old stuff just depreciates it; the new stuff rides so much better anyway. To each his own, but for the amount of money spent on vintage bikes, you could spend a heck of a lot less on a new school rider that is easier to replace and performs better.

Glad to see others share my feelings on this. I am in the process of moving and all my stuff is packed. After I get settled, I think I will be time to thin my collection a bit and finish the bikes I started for my wife and kids.

I never had the large collection of NOS stuff lying around that some of you do. I have a lot of bikes, and three of them are mostly NOS completes... but I don't ride them too much, just from the truck to the vintage field at Rockford. While I certainly enjoy them, to me, a NOS bike doesn't have any history. While we were out living the lifestyle BITD, that bike, or it's parts, were usually boxed in a back room at a bike shop. I have to say, a nice survivor is where it's at for me, unfortunately I sold the one bike I had that fit this description, and I have regretted it since.

I have newer stuff that I ride an a regular basis. I don't ride my survivors, usually. I just like the look and the history behind a true survivor, and the challenge to build a bike that looks like a survivor. I think it is much harder to find used parts that have a similar "wear" and "patina" than all NOS stuff sometimes.


Doug

""This is your best advice, IMO. Riding the old stuff just depreciates it; the new stuff rides so much better anyway. To each his own, but for the amount of money spent on vintage bikes, you could spend a heck of a lot less on a new school rider that is easier to replace and performs better. ""



John speaks the truth right there.

10 years ago when I got back into racing with my kids again, I destroyed parts that I didn't realize were no longer made. I went through several sets of NOS Chrome 7x hoops, Hutch pedals cages and spindles, NOS Oakley Grips, NOS Comp III Skinwalls (yellow label), SE Cruiser Bars, etc. Riding and racing old parts is simply not a wise thing to do.

Our old bikes and these NOS parts we still have (or come across) should be admired and looked at, but never thrashed or used up.

"The nos stuff I buy I use. Granted, all of my bikes sit in the house a HELL of alot more then I ride (never any time with work), that nothing really gets damaged. Besides, when I want to get wild, I have a 04 Floval for that. "

Surf pegged it nice and simple.

For any oldschoolers that are fearful of the newschool technology. spend an hour at the LBS asking questions and try one out. You'll love it and they aren't very hard to wrench.

take the old bike out on sunday for a little cruise, but embrace the new school stuff. you won't regret it.

Here's my MIDLIFE CRISIS. Only a few parts were NOS like the Oakley II's, Dia Compe calipers, Shimano lever and Kool Stop Continentals. I understand your dilemma if the whole bike is NOS.

I think alot more of us are going to start riding. My bike is far from NOS but it still did cost me $$$.

i agree with Jeremy. I bought a Kos Kruiser for a good price, upgraded a lot of parts and ride it. I took it to the local indoor bmx track last night and rode the track eith it. granted I don't ride like the young kids but none the less, it was on the track. ride what you buy.

It is interesting that most of you seem to like to ride the new school stuff.

I've got a good mate who owns a bike shop, so when I was thinking of building a old school rider, he was like try out the new technology...So I had a ride of a bunch of high end stuff new stuff, ie Intense, Redlines, Haro's etc...I just couldn't warm to them...still can't...granted the brakes are exception on the new bikes, but the overal feel does nothing for me, in particular the low profile frames...that's why I built this to race...long XXL DK stem, Hutch 2'n'1 and Profile Bars...I just can't get enough of it...It has some NOS parts, but mostly it is suvivor bits...The build probably cost about the same as my buying a high end Intense (remember I'm in Australia and we get stitched up on bikes here)..

It might be because you can't teach an old dog new tricks



Hope I'm not dragging this off topic...It is just interesting hearing different perspectives on why, and why not to ride old school stuff..

Off topic is fun. Here is a good off topic item that ties in with old dogs and new tricks.

http://www.vintagebmx.com/community/index....t=0&start=0

I had a mid-90's Robinson that I found near the trash and tried to ride it.....I hated the geometry and the way it rode. As most of ya know, Mr. No Credibility is a old 70's guy and the way bikes rode back in the days before dinosaurs were oil are alot different than they are in the 80's/90's geometry wise. Ended up giving the Robinson away...
I've bought NOS tires, a Goodyear Eagle and a Carlisle Aggressor and couldn't wait to ride them and did.

That Hutch is one sweet bike! That's a great example to contrast the new and old school styles. Everything so high and short.

As short as I am I wouldn't reach the pedals with the seat up that high!