Old Ten Speed Gallery

We will be finishing the week on a high note with this gorgeous ‘84 Suteki Track 10 sent in by Tim in Virginia. This is one classy ride — thanks Tim.

A friend informed me of your website — I thought your members would enjoy this shot of my old 1984 Japanese built Suteki Track 10, sold through Sears & Roebuck

I love junk bikes and I love dumping time and money into junk bikes, but I always try to keep the monetary commitment relative to the quality level of project bike/frame. Apparently this bike’s owner does not apply to my philosophy. On his flickr page, he claims he found this Murray in his parents’ barn - I believe it. This Murray 10-speed is nothing special, but it’s nothing to throw away either. I would recommend fixing it up, but I would limit the investment to about $50. This bike can easily be torn down, bearings repacked, shifting tuned and the tubes and tires replaced if needed for very little out-of-pocket expense. He could make this a nice, reliable (albeit dorky) bike, but instead, he decides this bike must be converted into the bicycle equivalent of a $150 car with a $10000 wheels.

I took some time and figured up what he may have spent on this $25 Murray.

• $139 Sugino Messenger Crank
• $63 Red Selle Italia ProLink Saddle
• $26 American / European Bottom Bracket Conversion
• $27 Sugino Bottom Bracket
• $14 Christophe Red Leather Toe Straps
• $125 Used Sun M13II Wheels
• $394 Total Invested (not including shipping, chain, tires, toe clips or bar wrap)

A perfect example of the whole being less than the sum of it’s parts. What do you think?

Why, after all this money and time, did he just flop and chop his drops? Go ahead and spring for some cheap bull horns.