Frequently Asked Questions

What types of old bicycles can you help me with?

Our experience covers American made bicycles made from the 1890’s up through the 1960’s. Balloon tire, middleweight and early wood-wheel bikes are our expertise.

I have a vintage 1981 Googerwhatsit Special made in France, I need a new front wheel, can you help me?

In the bicycle collecting hobby 1981 is considered relatively new. Technically yes, it is vintage but the collector hobby tends to focus on bikes no newer than about 1971, with the Schwinn Sting Ray and Krate bikes being the last ones that are really sought after. Of course, this is not taking into account BMX and lightweight bicycles, see the Q&A below. France who? See the Q&A above.

Can you help me with my Raleigh racing bike or my Murray tricycle? How about my Hutch BMX bike?

Lightweight road and racing bicycles are outside our area of expertise. These collectible bicycles fall into a whole different category of interest. Our knowledge of such is very limited. The same holds true for BMX bicycles, tricycles and small hard-tire children’s bikes.

I found an old bicycle at a yard sale, what is it worth?

The value of a vintage bicycle depends on several factors. Desirability, completeness and condition are the most obvious factors, but other things can also increase the value of a bike. In some cases, a bike may be nearly worthless but it may have a single part or accessory installed that is worth hundreds of dollars alone. In order to help you with the value of your bike, we must see pictures… otherwise it’s just guesswork.

Should I restore my bike or leave it original?

Most advanced bicycle collectors prefer original bikes over restored ones. Bicycles are much like other antiques. They are only original once! If a bike retains much of its original paint and plating, it is generally best to leave it alone. In many cases, a bikes value can be dramatically reduced if it is repainted or changed in some way. A rare and sought after bike with even only 75% of its original paint can be worth more than one just like it that has been fully restored. Why spend a few thousand dollars to restore a nice original bike, only to have its value decrease?

I’ve decided to re-paint my bike, what kind of paint should I use?

Professional bicycle restorers use automotive grade paint. Typically a basecoat and clear coat system, or single stage paint such as enamel or urethane. However these require the use of professional spraying equipment that can cost many hundreds of dollars. A good solution for a do-it-yourself job is a high quality spray paint such as Krylon. If you follow proper prepping procedures and primers as suggested by the manufacture, you can get a reasonably decent looking paint job. You can even get professional grade paint put into spray cans at your local automotive paint supplier, if you insist on having a perfect color math to original.

I need some hard to find vintage parts for my project bike, were can I find them?

Ask us via email, we may have what you need or know where to get it. You should also try our special eBay search links page that features a selection of search links to help you find what you need.

Where can I find decals, tires, and other small parts for my restoration project?

Try Memory Lane Classics, they have a lot of these common parts you will need for your restoration.

Still have a question? Email us!