thinking of restoring my bike, is it worth it?

[ROB_GTR]

I have a Raleigh max ogre (oversize frame)that i got back in the day (1993 ish) and toying with restoring it.

It has all standard trim and in reasonable condition.

I would like to strip it all down, have it repainted, new tyres, new brakes, new seat and bring it into modern times but is it worth it?

Where would i need to go to have it painted and do you need special paint? Its really thick paint thats on now as it has a couple of chips down to metal and the paint is about 1mm thick! A bodyshop could paint but would normal car paint be good enough?

the seat cripples me for days after a short ride so any suggestions on a new one?

the tyres are original that came with it and need replacing but there is so much choice! i want to be able to ride on the road and also on dirt tracks so what tyre is best?

Is it worth all this effort on a raleigh max ogre or would i be better not bothering?

I have searched google for pictures of the model but can't find one the same as mine?

[itsnotarace]

No

[anonymous-user]

its worth doing for something to do, if you get my drift... its not worth much as it is and restoring it wont increase its value. there have been a few different bikes from raleigh called ogre though from a quick google search, some were rigid, some had front suspension and some were full sus? i assume its the nice rigid version, it looks like it was somewhere between low and mid range and as such was fitted with some reasonable bits and bobs. the frame is nothing special which would restrict how much you spent, use local bike shops for generic bits and you could be on your way for £50-75

as for the questions, spray it yourself, just take time with prep and lots of light coats, plastikote is good stuff and easy to apply. i can recommend some saddles but they are probably going to double the value of the bike something from selle italia will be comfy enough but padded shorts (if you are averse to lycra, look for undershorts and baggy styles) are a worthwhile investment.

[Poloding Along]

With a bike that age you aren't going to get back out anywhere near the cash that you put into it.

If it's of sentimental value to you then possibly but for the same amount of money spent restoring it then you could be something new that would perform much better.

With regards to painting the frame, any that I have had done have been sent too be powdercoated and sometimes done with a fleck through them, gives a surprisingly good finish.

[ROB_GTR]

pablo said:

its worth doing for something to do, if you get my drift... its not worth much as it is and restoring it wont increase its value. there have been a few different bikes from raleigh called ogre though from a quick google search, some were rigid, some had front suspension and some were full sus? i assume its the nice rigid version, it looks like it was somewhere between low and mid range and as such was fitted with some reasonable bits and bobs. the frame is nothing special which would restrict how much you spent, use local bike shops for generic bits and you could be on your way for £50-75

as for the questions, spray it yourself, just take time with prep and lots of light coats, plastikote is good stuff and easy to apply. i can recommend some saddles but they are probably going to double the value of the bike something from selle italia will be comfy enough but padded shorts (if you are averse to lycra, look for undershorts and baggy styles) are a worthwhile investment.

Cheers Pablo,

I don't want to restore it to sell or make any money. I just want it to look good and be useable. Good colour scheme etc

I am st at painting from cans so a paint shop would be used.

It is the rigid version, blue and white / grey tyres as standard.

I will take a pic and stick it up

[anonymous-user]

ROB_GTR said:

Cheers Pablo,

I don't want to restore it to sell or make any money. I just want it to look good and be useable. Good colour scheme etc

I am st at painting from cans so a paint shop would be used.

It is the rigid version, blue and white / grey tyres as standard.

I will take a pic and stick it up

sounds like a good weekend! i'm pretty poor at spray painting too but did a reasonable job on a kart frame, its not as hard as it looks to get an average to good finish, its the skill to get a super finish thats the problem. paint shops will vary from the dirt cheap (in which case they will do a quick job) to the uber pricey whereby they do an ace job and you get what you pay for. as a guide speak to argos racing cycles in bristol who are one of the best frame restorers in the ory but bear in mind a single colour enamel on frame and forks is £125. the other problem will be the quality of the frame which wont be great.

[ROB_GTR]

Its the Raleigh max ogre EZ after looking.

I recall it being £300 - £400 when i got it so not cheap back then.

I won't be doing any 'serious' biking or even at all but i just want to use it now and then if the weather is nice and for it to look good too.
I am not bothered about the weight as i wont be going for 20 mile rides nor knocking valuable seconds off my ride etc....

The current seat is a 'Selle Royal' if that means anything?

[shalmaneser]

Absolutely not worth it.

Adjust the saddle until it's level, too. This may make some difference. Or buy another saddle for about £25, will be much comfier.

[Beyond Rational]

Something to consider if it is still on it's original chain, in the wear on the drive train.

[ROB_GTR]

As some have said that it's not worth it could you specify why.

I will adjust the seat / saddle / bike chair and see if it's any better

I was thinking alon the lines of a white frame with black ancillaries & tyres, swapping the brakes for disk and thats about it.

[shalmaneser]

ROB_GTR said:

As some have said that it's not worth it could you specify why.

I will adjust the seat / saddle / bike chair and see if it's any better

I was thinking alon the lines of a white frame with black ancillaries & tyres, swapping the brakes for disk and thats about it.

Because it's a rubbish frame made out of scaffolding poles, the parts are ancient and pretty low spec even when new, and for the money you're going to throw at it you could get something vaguely good.

[ROB_GTR]

shalmaneser said:

ROB_GTR said:

As some have said that it's not worth it could you specify why.

I will adjust the seat / saddle / bike chair and see if it's any better

I was thinking alon the lines of a white frame with black ancillaries & tyres, swapping the brakes for disk and thats about it.

Because it's a rubbish frame made out of scaffolding poles, the parts are ancient and pretty low spec even when new, and for the money you're going to throw at it you could get something vaguely good.

Cheers for your reply althogh a bit abrupt.

[shalmaneser]

^ sorry that sounded a bit snobby, but it's just really not worth the money.

[Beyond Rational]

You can not reasonably fit disc brakes to that bike, it doesn't have the right fixings.

[ROB_GTR]

So what would you suggest? A second hand one maybe, but what make etc?

I haven't ridden a bike in years and don't plan on starting as a hobby or anything. It's sat in the shed for more than 10 years and not moved.
I just want the one i have to look better and be used now and then (probably never TBH)

[Beyond Rational]

New tyres will improve the look of it quite a bit, £20 for a pair of those.

New brake blocks if you don't feel it's stopping well enough (£4 ish)

Oil of moving bits and adjustment of saddle. Maybe buy a car paint touch up brush in a similar colour if the marks on the frame bother you.

[ROB_GTR]

Other than Halfords, is there anywhere better that can send tyres at a better cost? not sure whether to go for black or stick with the original colour?
Also would you reccommend mountain tyres or hybrid? Will use on and off road

[Beyond Rational]

Go here -

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx...

Buy tyre tread that you think is best suited to what you do, in the right size.

I don't think you'll find grey tyres cheaply, but you never know. Although I wouldn't bother trying to.

[porka944s]

I'd agree with the above, ive been there recently myself, i got my old paper round radford bike back after nearly 10 years ( bought at 13 gave to a mates brother at 18, got it back at 27), incidently very similar spec to yours, and thought id spruce it up. It so wasn't worth it, i put a new chain, cassette, rear derailleur, tyres, tubes, brake blocks, cables and a few other little bits. It cost a fair bit and the bike was so out of date you couldn't upgrade much, like the 1 inch forks. first ride twisted the front forks, i gave up on it stripped the new bits, binned it and bought a new one, and two others since!

[itsnotarace]

ROB_GTR said:

Its the Raleigh max ogre EZ after looking.

I recall it being £300 - £400 when i got it so not cheap back then.

No way was that a £300 bike in 1993/1994. £300 would have bought you an entry level Marin Bolinas or Kona Fire Mountain with 8 speed Deore / Alivio groupset mix.

7 speed Altus was *really* cheap. £150 max for that bike when new, it's worth about a fiver now. Don't spend money on it

Edited by itsnotarace on Friday 22 April 08:29