Ladies 531 Orbit - Should i split it?

Some advice required. I have a ladies 531 orbit that i built up and now no longer ride due to a recent road bike purchase. It took me a while to complete the project and will be hard to part with the bike but i just don't ride it enough and it seems a waste to keep it.

I know I will never get back what i spent on it but i just wondered if i would be better to sell the bike as a whole or split it up? I have seen loads of rebuilt bikes on ebay with ridiculous asking prices and know that Im not going to get those kind of asking prices, i spent the money because i enjoyed the process as well as wanting a nice ridable bike not because i thought i could sell it.

It seems a shame to pull apart all my work - is it better to sell it for less complete or slightly more in pieces?

3 Attachments

Lovely build! Would be morally wrong to split :p

Although particularly the brooks may be better splitting off and selling separately

What size? A lady friend is looking for a bike..if you can get a buying for the whole thing, might as well try eh!

Lovely build! Would be morally wrong to split :p

Although particularly the brooks may be better splitting off and selling separately

Thanks, I was really happy with it but have been riding more and more and found myself buying a road bike - not nearly as attractive but fast!

It would feel a bit wrong taking everything off after spending so long putting it together. Its not made of particularly fancy parts its just stuff like the saddle, velo rack, mudguards and bars that might be better individually.

1) keep both is the obvious answer (if you can poss afford to, and have storage space), you'll miss it when it's gone.
2) sell for less than its worth but take your time and sell it to someone who will really love it...?
3) remove all emotion from it and take it to pieces and sell for max return. Ask a friend to [help] take it to pieces.

1) keep both is the obvious answer (if you can poss afford to, and have storage space), you'll miss it when it's gone.
2) sell for less than its worth but take your time and sell it to someone who will really love it...?
3) remove all emotion from it and take it to pieces and sell for max return. Ask a friend to [help] take it to pieces.

I would love to keep it but i think it deserves to be ridden more than once every couple of weeks. You are right though, i will definitely miss it.

Hi bec, can I ask where you got the frame? I have been hunting for something similar. Lovely bike by the way and agree with options from t.o. If you do split up the bike let me know, depending on the size I would be interested in the frame.

presumably you don't commute on a bike?

Hold on to it. Once every couple of weeks is more than a lot of people ride their main bikes, let alone their second or third bike. It's a nice build, the only thing wrong I see is the front break outer was cut to short causing that nasty bend at the hanger. Unless you need the cash or space then don't feel bad that it doesn't get ridden daily. As long as it's enjoyed then what more does it owe you?

presumably you don't commute on a bike?

Yeah I do commute but I now use the road bike, this has become more of a stay at home bicycle

Then keep it at home. It's lovely, a lot of 'you' has gone into it, and it would be tragic to lose both it and the money that has been spent. You will appreciate it for years.

Hi bec, can I ask where you got the frame? I have been hunting for something similar. Lovely bike by the way and agree with options from t.o. If you do split up the bike let me know, depending on the size I would be interested in the frame.

I bought it as a complete bike last year from a guy on gumtree. I will let you know if I split as it is a lovely frame to ride

Keep it.
Use it for pootling and errands at the weekends. Like you'd use a classic car for trips to the seaside.

Even more so because you built it up yourself. Every time you enjoy riding it, you're getting a little pay back for the time, effort and money you spent on it.

I say keep it too!

If you are set on selling then I think it would go as a whole: a different market to regular road bikes.

Good money if marketed properly: think small ads in local mags in posh parts of town.