Whats with mens bikes?

[franconuevo]

I'll basically ride anything that I fix up and get it rollin'
But, it does seem like I prefer to ride on step thru frames rather than mens bikes, for some reason
One of my favorite get around bikes was an old rusty white beat womans three speed that I converted into a single speed.
That was a smooth rider and somehow fit me just right.
Eventually though, I fru fru'd it up..and ended up selling it as the "Florida Girl".
That one sold in like one day. I never did find out what make of a bike it was, either....

My current daily rider is this Roadmaster Mtn. bike, also converted to a single speed. Newer Roadmasters take a lot of heat, but this is the 3rd one I've fixed up, and once serviced and trued..I don't know...I think they make for a super nice ride

And...since my main 'business' so to speak is fixing and selling bikes, and I've sold a ton of bikes locally this past year let me tell ya'...I find I sell womens bikes waaaay more than I can unload a mans bike. Maybe guys work on their own bikes more to keep them alive..who knows. I have a perfect 91 Univega Mens mountain bike been sitting on Clist for a over a month now..not a bite. I put up a detailed and serviced ladies bike..it's gone in a week
That's all I know for now

franco

 

[Dizzle Problems]

For me its mostly aesthetic. I like the lines better on mens bikes. Especially with something like a cantilever frame. Also, at 6'1", mens bikes fit me better.

But, as previously stated, when talking old bikes, there's like 1 mens for every 10 womens. Boys tended to be harder on their bikes, and ride them till they were ragged. Where as ladies go easier on them.

I do have some step thru frames I've picked up. But only for parts. I've offered them up to my Mrs, but she prefers a mens frame as well, for the same reasons, looks, and height.

 

[fjernt]

And...since my main 'business' so to speak is fixing and selling bikes, and I've sold a ton of bikes locally this past year let me tell ya'...I find I sell womens bikes waaaay more than I can unload a mans bike. Maybe guys work on their own bikes more to keep them alive..who knows. I have a perfect 91 Univega Mens mountain bike been sitting on Clist for a over a month now..not a bite. I put up a detailed and serviced ladies bike..it's gone in a week
That's all I know for now

franco

Dude, same. Here it seems to me that finding older/used womens city-bikes is ALOT easier than finding a nice men's cruiser or city bike. It might be that men prefer the offroaders and MTBs, I don't know. Lately it seems like all I find for sale is 99 fatbikes/MTBs to every 1 cruiser or citybike. I live in Norway, so cruiser aren't really that common anyway, but there is still alot more ladies bikes out there than mens. Maybe they have more style huh? The womens bikes also seems to sell for alot less. Or atleast in a more sensible price range pre-restoration.

 

[franconuevo]

Dude, same. Here it seems to me that finding older/used womens city-bikes is ALOT easier than finding a nice men's cruiser or city bike. It might be that men prefer the offroaders and MTBs, I don't know. Lately it seems like all I find for sale is 99 fatbikes/MTBs to every 1 cruiser or citybike. I live in Norway, so cruiser aren't really that common anyway, but there is still alot more ladies bikes out there than mens. Maybe they have more style huh? The womens bikes also seems to sell for alot less. Or at least in a more sensible price range pre-restoration.

Yes, all true. Of course the bike fix and sell business is mostly about reading the customer....Most ladies I sell to don't care even one bit if it's a 'vintage' bike. 9 times out of 10 they won't even ask what brand of bike it is. If it rolls nice, looks good, or would be nice for one of their children..it's a lock.
As you state, most womens bikes are already in more than halfway decent shape...so the clean up and detailing is usually a breeze.
Also, note I'm not in the business.of selling vintage restored or rat rodded or custom bikes. I reserve that stuff for build offs or just messin' around. If that were the case, I'd be lucky to sell one a year.

Also, I failed to mention...a big part of flipping good ol' ridable bikes is trying to understand what the normal Mr. or Mrs. Joe view as a bicycle that they want to buy that day...Most want a good used bike that they don't have to drag to the Local Bike Shop to spend 100 bucks on for a general tune up..and / or don't want to drag home a box from Malwart and put it together themselves..LOL..plus, probably other reasons I'm not aware of.

and don't forget BMX bikes, if you want to sell bikes..I have a couple coming down this weekend, I'm fixing up three of them that they are buying....good market there...lots of grandma's and grandpa's too buying bikes for their grandkids. These are like penny candy in bike rehabland

Clean , grease, adjust everything on bike
Wash, wax, detail everything...
Don't sell a bike that you wouldn't hesitate to hop on and ride...

it's a nice business, especially when you get to clean up greasy parts and see a grungy bike come to life all day long...life is sweet.
franco