Archive of October 2012

Saturday, October 06, 2012

Project Yokota

Because I don’t have enough bikes, I bought another one! Well, actually just a frame. More specifically a 54cm, 1989 (I think) Yokota Legend steel frame. And it looks like this right now: Yokota Legend
If you click on the image it will take you to the gallery with a few more pictures from the Ebay auction. I paid $113 for it with shipping, so a reasonable sum. That’s only the beginning because my intent is to build it up with and 8 or 9 speed cluster. (That’s a 16 or 18 speed for the non-cyclist.) So in order to finance this I’m planning on stripping my Centurion Ironman Expert that I bought from a friend in 2008 and selling just the frame. The details of that project can be found in the Rehab: Centurion Ironman Expert post.

Anyhow, I’m doing this for a number of reasons. The Centurion is an awesome bike, but it’s a 57cm which is just too big for me. After rebuilding it I put it on the road once and it now is my indoor trainer bike. It just doesn’t fit me so I’ve decided to sacrifice it for the sake of this project. I’m going to strip the parts and sell the frame for the cash. Depending on how much that brings in —more than I paid for the Yokota, should help finance the parts I want for this bike. I can also use the parts from it to rebuild this in the meantime or if I get enough for the frame, sell these parts as well. I’d sell the whole bike, but I believe I’ll get more for it by parting it out. Plus selling a complete bike is a hassle, at least shipping it is. And I don’t know how long it’s going to take to accumulate the cash and in turn parts to build this out the way I want it.

Another issue is the condition of the paint. As much as I’d like to restore this bike now, after receiving it the finish isn’t in as good of condition as I had hoped. Thus I’m thinking about having it stripped and repainted. Obviously an additional expense, but one that in the long run should be worth it. I’m looking forward to this new adventure and will post more on it’s progress in the future. But right now it’s all just a dream!

You can read each of the installments in this series: