What is this Road bike I got? Again....

[bagusbagus]

Well I got another road bike I have no idea about, at least this one is a real road bike :lol:
It's a bit beat up from the pics ( well not masivly but not pristine- but I'm up for a challenge to rebuild it and freshen it up) $48 in auction and I'm picking it up tomorrow.


It's some - PRIMO brand, Have never heard of such bike brand nor can find anything about it so it was a gamble, it wasn't described really good however and I doubt the owner knew anything about it ... I saw 105 markings on derailleurs and near the pedals ,possibly Ultegra marking on front brake lever ( its not good picture but you can see theres a word that ends with- RA on it, what else can end in -ra? ) oh and it has Carbon fork I think from the ''ITM millennium Carbon'' marking? Also it has a shimano 600 marking on front stem.

I know nothing about bikes, but from my few days general research I know thats the stuff you should get.


Anyone maybe knows what is this Primo brand and is it any good? And from what year do you think this bike would be? The seller told he thinks its from 1990 but I doubt that it's that old,maybe 2000? Also if it's as well speced as it seems from those markings would the stuff on it would still be good today after giving it a bit of tune-up? I know the technology moves so fast so just wondering how good it still would be today?
This would be my first road bike and I just wanted something to try out all the ''road bike'' thing and see what's it about.

Thanks.

[shouldbworking]

Well the 600 series components that the headset is from was discontinued early 90s iirc... I think theres been a few parts swapped.. that said it all seems worth a punt. Check the rim wear indicators and make sure the quick release's are done up! Front one isn't in the photo

[bagusbagus]

going to check that.

just spent good 2hours on Youtube watching videos on how to inspect 2nd hand bikes,
all in all made a full A4 sheet Checklist with about 30points I should check, I'm not sure if the seller of the $48 bike will be too pleased when I pull out my paper and go through all the points But still.. I don't want to waste my time buying something that might be a dud whatever price it costs.

Went through that list on my cheap MTB which I know very well in about 20minutes and discovered that I have a bit loose bottom bracket and my chain isn't the freshest anymore as well.
So I'm well armed and a bit smarter now to go and inspect that bike tomorrow

If anyone got any info about the PRIMO brand or on the bike it would be really appreciated.
Thanks.

[Gren]

First thing I'd be doing is taking off the fork and headset to check those cracks on the head tube. They may just be in the paint...they may not.

[S6PNJ]

bagusbagus said:

I saw 105 markings on derailleurs and near the pedals ,possibly Ultegra marking on front brake lever ( its not good picture but you can see theres a word that ends with- RA on it, what else can end in -ra?

SORA or TIAGRA to name but two.

[Dannbodge]

I'll take the punt that they say Sora judging by the spacing and alignment

[Zippee]

Gren said:

First thing I'd be doing is taking off the fork and headset to check those cracks on the head tube. They may just be in the paint...they may not.

That's a very good buy for the money, I'd say early to mid 90s. However, as per the above poster I'd be checking that headset area very carefully. Could just be cracked paint the ally underneath looks a little corroded as well.

[bagusbagus]

off to search for another bike Went to see that bike, and.... It was a bit of a junk
wheels would soon need to be changed, tyres were old and cracked up, the gears weren't really shifting perfectly, I did the chain test and it was seriously loose as well.
The seller seemed unresponsive and didn't really allowed me to sand that stuff up to see if there are any cracks in frame..

I guess I have to thank all for the advice and new things I learned,probably would have bought an old junk which would still be an old bike after you change so many parts on it.. not worth it indeed....

[shouldbworking]

I wouldn't rate it that badly a similar spec bike new would be around £500 here.

If you're stuck with the cheapest possible I'd still be considering it.. new cables go a long way.

[bagusbagus]

shouldbworking said:

I wouldn't rate it that badly a similar spec bike new would be around £500 here.

If you're stuck with the cheapest possible I'd still be considering it.. new cables go a long way.

didn't had a set budget, just got it for that price , specs seemed good but...
I realize the bike is 20-25years old and I doubt that the shimano 105 was nearly as good as the shimano 105 of today.
+ the need to invest in it way more than It costs just doesn't makes sense when I can pay overall the same money and get something that's only few years old and not rusted out.