Tom Sanders writes:
Much less clear what to do with them. I have my own pre-disposition, but it is only my own individual taste at work here. To say that to restore is right or wrong without considering all the factors that one can identify is just so simplistic as to approach the infantile. Folks can make some great suggestions, and they have done so, but to say "Right" or "Wrong" just rings "wrong" in my eyes...here again, perhaps this is just one person's opinion and that's all it's worth.
You can tell we are in mid-winter. This topic is usually good for a few weeks to pass the time. I thought the presentation last summer at Cirque was well done on this topic. Often, it is a matter of financials. As Dale pointed out last week, only a collector would restore something as the item usually isn't going to be worth after the work what it costs to do a good refinish. So, you need either an emotional reason, such as it was your first bike, OR, you need a very rare bike. Otherwise, you need a lot of money that you don't mind throwing away. So, if presented with a bike that doesn't meet any of those criteria, then either ride it, sell it, give it away, or use it to refine your skills at painting, fixing, whatever. I agree with Tom in that there are no right or wrong answers. "it depends". Lou Deeter, Orlando FL