DODSUN is it worth it?

[rheicel]

Picked up one DODSUN Road Racing Bike Yesterday. I am planning to paint it orange and build it with my RX100 parts.
Total bike weight is 11.2 kg. Most parts are still in their new condition with no surface rust. Caliper bolt is in its new condition. Headset is dry but in excellent condition. BB is good as well but I am not using them. No evident rust inside the frame.

I am also planning to sell the whole gruppo (Brake Lever, RD, FD, Crankset, BB, Head set and Calipers).

Frame weight is around 2.3 kg
Fork is 0.7 kg.

It is on a heavy side at 3 kg to start with.

Add another 1 kg for the BB and Crank

Then another 3 kg for the wheels with tyres.

Saddle is another 0.5 kg and by the time it is all built up, it will be around 10 kg.

Anyone who have owned similar bike before? Only reason I am building it is because of the frame size.
Do you think is it worth spending my time stripping the paint and painting it with the colour I like (orange maybe?)

Here are some photos of the frame:

[Torana68]

don't think youll make money on it, if its to ride around on do whatever makes YOU happy.

[bychosis]

The frame may lose some value without the stickers as proof of origin. Ride it before you oaint it to see if its for you. If its a nice ride, go for your life. If its a dud, move it on without the oaint.

[rheicel]

Looks like the frame have no good impression at all by the looks. The workmanship is good if not excellent in my own scale.

[rheicel]

The frame may lose some value without the stickers as proof of origin. Ride it before you oaint it to see if its for you. If its a nice ride, go for your life. If its a dud, move it on without the oaint.

, I don't really want the Dudsun anyway, it sounds like dodgy!

[rheicel]

After few hours of manual labour, here she is naked. I was surprised to see the effort of the old days frame builders. Workmanship is so good! BTW, this si the first time I have seen a steel frame in bare metal!

[rheicel]

Then suddenly rust starts to build. Fire fighting....

[rheicel]

Is this colour or at least similar to this looks OK?

[Mulger bill]

Doesn't look too bad to me. Can't see any stamped dropouts or anything...
Not sure about the orange unless there's some contrast in paint or decals.

[rheicel]

Doesn't look too bad to me. Can't see any stamped dropouts or anything...
Not sure about the orange unless there's some contrast in paint or decals.

There is a letter "C" on the dropouts. Looking at the frame/fork in its bare condition, looks like the dropouts contribute most of the weight.

I am choosing between orange, yellow or green. Colour that can easily be seen as much as possible.

[munga]

here's some pics of a better quality (yet still 'mass' produced) handmade raw frame to compare.









my old 1988 columbus cromor lemond.

[rheicel]

^ That looks good munga. Is it heavy too?

[munga]

lol not at all.

[rheicel]

lol not at all.

Your is like DA while mine is the SORA, lol

[rheicel]

Doesn't look too bad to me. Can't see any stamped dropouts or anything...
Not sure about the orange unless there's some contrast in paint or decals.

Will these work? They are the cheapest I can get to break the orange!

[munga]

maybe a can of blue and make a panel like your example above. maybe if you're feeling crafty, paint the headtube too.

[rheicel]

Blue on the headtube too including the lugs? That will mean a blue handlebar tape too which I have heaps in stock,

edit: munga, same like your avatar? I just notice it is orange too!

[munga]

my avatar is of a red bike, but it does look a bit orange, i guess.
i had this design in mind

[munga]

the bike in my avatar looks like this:

[rheicel]

Since I have the orange paint, I might try that looks like your Raleigh. I hope no one here will shoot me.

[Dan]

the braze on the front fork is fkn terrible.

[ldrcycles]

A mate of mine has a dodsun which, from memory, is very similar to yours and he is a big fan of it, apparently it rides really well. Given it's Tange 900 I have no trouble believing that.

[rheicel]

the braze on the front fork is fkn terrible.

You get what you paid for. this must be a $200 bike back in its time.

[rheicel]

A mate of mine has a dodsun which, from memory, is very similar to yours and he is a big fan of it, apparently it rides really well. Given it's Tange 900 I have no trouble believing that.

Hoping that this toy will give me pleasure ride too. Thanks for the heads up lrdcycles.
I have ridden it before stripping it apart but the seat post is too short that I didn't bother changing it to see how it rides.

[singlespeedscott]

Why did you strip the paint? The was nothing wrong with it.

Tange 900 is a reasonable tube set. Forged tips. It looks like a solid frame. Not top end bit certainly not rubbish. I would if left the paint and dressed it in the parts that I wanted.