Trash bike salvage
So, several years ago I found a couple of decent looking mtn bikes in a trash dumpster. The "trash bikes" a "Next" and a "Genesis". I was going to fix them up and either sell them or donate them. Now that I finally have time to work on them, they have proven to be too much trouble and in too much disrepair to bother with at my home, since I am neither a bicycle repair shop, nor specifically a bike fixer-upper/resaler. Though I might be one day.
Just things like shod wheels, shod bent up spokes, old decrepit cables brakes and shifters. Shifters that are too cheap to bother with repairing and I'm not going to replace - and that's just one of the bikes. Right now, I'm just wanting to get MY bikes up and running. So I decided to strip these bikes, take the parts I can use, and donate the rest to a local co-op that fixes bikes and sells (to keep the shop afloat) or donates them.
Found a local co-op and the bikes are going there this weekend. They've sat in my garage for several years, but I am still glad that I salvaged them and am certain the co-op will be able to fix them up with parts donations and such that they get - it's just not worth the effort for me, personally. Good frames, cranks, gears, rings, seat.
What I took from the bikes is; The "Genesis" brand bike = one set of riser handlebars, one set of brakes, one seat clamp. From the "Next" brand bike = one seat. I immediately put the seat on my Trek bike. Some of the other components I may use to upgrade my Huffy bike. For instance, it's just weird not having a hand brake, so I want to add a hand brake to that. The seat doesn't stay put, thus the seat clamp. And the Schwinn that is coming, I may add a chain ring and front derailleur.
The Genesis bike was in much better shape than the Next. I really don't see ANYTHING wrong with it. I would have kept the wheels/tires, etc, if they were 26". But they were a humongous 29"!!! So, no way I could EVER use those on any of my bikes. The only thing I took off the Next bike was the seat. Everything else was old, cheap, and shod. At least the Genesis had Shimano components. The Next bike had something like "Acme" brand, lol. Very cheap genetic crud. So I am very glad to finely get off of these what I can use and donate the rest. I think the people at the co-op are going to be thrilled to get this Genesis bike. It's a cheap Walmart brand, but it's in good shape. They're a little short on bikes right now.
As for the riser handlebars, I cannot use them on any of my bikes. All of my bikes have the bars that I want. But they are decent bars and I may use them on a "frankenstein" bike in the future. Riser bars hold a special place for me because when I started downhill biking, many many many people still had the stupid flat bars that I loathe with a passion. There is 100% NO use for those bars on ANY type of bike. The first thing I did with my first mtn bike was to get rid of those bars! Before I even left the store with the bike, I had them change out the bars. The only riser bars they had were BMX bars, and the bike still has those bars on it to this day!
Just things like shod wheels, shod bent up spokes, old decrepit cables brakes and shifters. Shifters that are too cheap to bother with repairing and I'm not going to replace - and that's just one of the bikes. Right now, I'm just wanting to get MY bikes up and running. So I decided to strip these bikes, take the parts I can use, and donate the rest to a local co-op that fixes bikes and sells (to keep the shop afloat) or donates them.
Found a local co-op and the bikes are going there this weekend. They've sat in my garage for several years, but I am still glad that I salvaged them and am certain the co-op will be able to fix them up with parts donations and such that they get - it's just not worth the effort for me, personally. Good frames, cranks, gears, rings, seat.
What I took from the bikes is; The "Genesis" brand bike = one set of riser handlebars, one set of brakes, one seat clamp. From the "Next" brand bike = one seat. I immediately put the seat on my Trek bike. Some of the other components I may use to upgrade my Huffy bike. For instance, it's just weird not having a hand brake, so I want to add a hand brake to that. The seat doesn't stay put, thus the seat clamp. And the Schwinn that is coming, I may add a chain ring and front derailleur.
The Genesis bike was in much better shape than the Next. I really don't see ANYTHING wrong with it. I would have kept the wheels/tires, etc, if they were 26". But they were a humongous 29"!!! So, no way I could EVER use those on any of my bikes. The only thing I took off the Next bike was the seat. Everything else was old, cheap, and shod. At least the Genesis had Shimano components. The Next bike had something like "Acme" brand, lol. Very cheap genetic crud. So I am very glad to finely get off of these what I can use and donate the rest. I think the people at the co-op are going to be thrilled to get this Genesis bike. It's a cheap Walmart brand, but it's in good shape. They're a little short on bikes right now.
As for the riser handlebars, I cannot use them on any of my bikes. All of my bikes have the bars that I want. But they are decent bars and I may use them on a "frankenstein" bike in the future. Riser bars hold a special place for me because when I started downhill biking, many many many people still had the stupid flat bars that I loathe with a passion. There is 100% NO use for those bars on ANY type of bike. The first thing I did with my first mtn bike was to get rid of those bars! Before I even left the store with the bike, I had them change out the bars. The only riser bars they had were BMX bars, and the bike still has those bars on it to this day!
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