Matt P’s Vagabond RX-500

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Here is Wednesday’s selection. Matt P’s Vagabond RX-500, an OTSG First!

Hi,

My name is Matt P, I’m from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada and I thought I’d submit a bike I bought recently.

I got it at a yard sale for $40 a few weeks ago. It’s a Vagabond RX-500 10 speed. After researching, Vagabond is a department store brand for Home Hardware here in Canada. It’s not a big brand name, old road bikes in decent shape are hard to come across around here. The frame, crankset, wheels, and hardware looked like it was in good shape, but just needed to be freshened up. I polished up the metal parts, replaced the tubes and tires, changed a brake cable, taped the handlebars and installed new cotter pins. I noticed that the pedals aren’t the same, so I’m going to update those as well as touch up the paint chips on the body. I’ve invested about $100 into the bike replacing those parts, and I’ve had offers to buy it for $180 and $200 but after taking it for its first real test ride last night I can’t bring myself to sell it. Not at least until I’ve put a few hundred miles on it!

Thanks,

Matt P

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  • BeaterRezQ

    Matt P., with a name like Vagabond it’s got to be good!
    I think that bike was meant to wander….endless cruises into the sunset, enjoy!
    BRQ

  • john h

    Nice job on the find and polishing up of the shiny bits. =)

  • Ryan Surface

    Love the two tone tape job, very nice

  • zach

    i have that same bike! do you have any idea the year it was made?

  • BH_Ontario

    Just bought one right across the street at a yard sale – $25!
    Looks to me like the tire went flat within the first year of ownership and it sat in the basement since. Surprising find, and with quality components too! Better derailleur than on our old Peugeot (even the NOS unit I bought last year-at least it’s correct for the bike).

    Cleaned it up, put in a new rear tube, adjusted the derailleur and brakes and it seems fine. Don’t have Matt’s cool bottle holder though.

  • Dan

    I have one that i wanted to sell …was bought about 20 years ago or so and owner drove it once in driveway and sat in basement ever since before i picked up …awsome condition , all original and looking to get $175 obo delivered of course ! Would like to keep for my personal collection but have too many right now and not enough space . Located in New-Brunswick , Canada .

  • Frank

    Hey,

    I just got the same bike, and plan on doing some work on it. Going to give a new paint job, any tips?