Need Some Advice on an Orbit Thompson please...

[senoirmax]

Hi All,

This is my first post, so please forgive me if i'm asking too much already.

I'm on the market for a new-old bike, and have found a good looking Orbit Thompson on Ebay (link below).

I'm pretty clueless when it comes to vintage bikes, and I really don't want to be ripped off. I have noticed there have been a number of offers which also (probably wrongly) makes me a tad suspicious of the asking price. I have done some research on this forum and others about the Orbit brand, and they're usually favorable, although I get the feeling they're not really worth what the seller is asking.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130576521859? ... 1423.l2649

Thanks in advance, and I promise to be a regular user of these forums (of which have helped me alot, albeit passively).

Max

[james01]

It's a quality bike, and could well justify the price. But it's so much easier seeing bikes in the flesh rather than risking disappointment without a test ride. My questions would be :has it got clearance for mudguards? Toe clearance? Can the vendor confirm than no adjustable parts are seized, eg stem, saddle.

[senoirmax]

Thanks for the help James.

I'm going to certainly try and see it in the flesh before I buy, and check out some of the things you've pointed out before I commit.

As is the problem with buying bikes on Ebay, it really is quite a gamble.

Thanks Again!

[diapason0]

If you're after a touring bike, then many are offered for sale on this forum. Ebay can be good - you will often find a Dawes Galaxy or similar for very little money.
N

[senoirmax]

I'm looking more for a commuter bike really. Actually no, as I want to use it for fun too, so a fun/commuter bike. I don't really want to go down the whole fixie thing (although I do have my eye on one). Something old(ish), with a bit of character, as i'm bored of my Specialized hybrid.

[diapason0]

Something like a Pashley or a Raleigh Superbe would be nice

[pete75]

I bought the same model of bike from Ebay a couple of months ago though the one I got has Macklam transfers on it. It's white, red cable housings, same Stronglight 103 chainset, same brake levers with no hoods, white saddle etc etc. Only clue that it's made by Orbit is the Orbit name on the top of the seat stays. It's a nice bike to ride, all 531c so light but with reasonably relaxed geometry, mudguard eyes and plenty of clearance - put guards on mine with 25 mil tyres.
Paid 57 quid for it. Is that one worth 200 quid - only you can decide that but if in good usable condition it's certainly better value than anything available new for £200 or even £300.
Presumably you're reasonably close to P'boro if you're interested in that bike so why not go and have a look - the auction has a couple of weeks to run. I've some knowledge of 531 framed bikes from that era and earlier so if you've any question send me a message on here.
BTW I'm near P'boro and have an early Dawes Galaxy in decent condition that I'd sell for a lot less than £200 and that would be on a see it, ride it, buy it if you want it basis.

[Tonyf33]

I'd say Orbits are better than Dawes Galaxy's for the most part as they were hand crafted by UK frame builders. Thompson isn't the model, it is the frame builder, a 'Thompson' Orbit from the 1980s will have been built by Andy Thompson. Orbit generally outsourced their frames from what I know.
The £200 is a bit steep to be fair given the component level but if the paintwork is spot on with minimal chips and no rust & everything is straight and making sure the wheels aren't cream crackered then I'd say it's worth a good £150-£160. If there are issues cosmetically & mechanically then closer to £100-120 depending on overall condition.
At the end of the day, it's worth what you're prepared to pay for it.

[pete75]

I'd say Orbits are better than Dawes Galaxy's for the most part as they were hand crafted by UK frame builders.

And how to you think a Galaxy was made in the seventies - machine built in Japan perhaps? They were hand built by frame builders in Birmingham. As to whether that Orbit is better than a Galaxy it depends on what you want it for. Galaxy better for touring/commuting especially if you want to carry anything while the Orbit was a relatively decent road racing machine in it's day - perhaps not top level quality but not so far off. Makes a good traditional audax type machine these days which is what I bought mine for.
The worst part of my identical machine was the braking - the brakes are unbranded side pull and not good. Miche dual pivots at 16 quid the pair soon cured that though. Surprisingly the fork crown and brake bridge were drilled to accept the recessed allen nuts which save me the job of drilling them out.

[531colin]

Was this Orbit in Sheffield?

I only knew them from about 15 or so years ago, when a man called Simon Gershon owned the firm. They outsourced frame building then (in the UK and further afield, as I remember), but the only name on the bike was Orbit. They have folded in Sheffield, but JD cycles continue to market tandems under the Orbit name.

Seems really odd to have a bike brand (Orbit) then let the frame builder put his name on the frame....but then I guess he might take a bit of trouble over cutting the mitres and brazing the tubes. I would take the workmanship of somebody who puts his own name on the product rather than something made by a nameless operative on piecework in a factory......some of the Birmingham built 531 lugged and brazed Galaxies that folk go all misty-eyed over are dreadfully flexible.

[pete75]

It seems to me that these Orbit bikes were branded by bike shops as their own. The obligatory British Standard - made by sticker was still on my bike when I bought it and it stated the bike was built by Orbit Cycles.
The machine I bought was identical to the one linked to here even down to the red cable outers which seem a bit odd on largely black and white machine - were orbit using up some old or over stocked items.
I've spent about 35 quid on mine - new Rubino tyres and Miche brakes and tarted up with a few bits and bobs I had in the garage mudguards,hoods, longer seat post,triple chainset, cables and accushift levers and rear derailleur and it's not a bad bike for an outlay of about 90 quid in total.

[senoirmax]

Thanks for all the help guys.

If I arrange a viewing, what should I be looking out for? Can anyone give me any tips please?

I've never bought a 'vintage' bike before, only been given old junk for free. I'm willing to fork out 200 if it's a decent bike, I just need a few pointers.

Thanks again.

[531colin]

Thanks for all the help guys.

If I arrange a viewing, what should I be looking out for? Can anyone give me any tips please?

I've never bought a 'vintage' bike before, only been given old junk for free. I'm willing to fork out 200 if it's a decent bike, I just need a few pointers.

Thanks again.

I would talk to Pete, if I were you.....

I bought the same model of bike from Ebay a couple of months ago though the one I got has Macklam transfers on it. It's white, red cable housings, same Stronglight 103 chainset, same brake levers with no hoods, white saddle etc etc. Only clue that it's made by Orbit is the Orbit name on the top of the seat stays. It's a nice bike to ride, all 531c so light but with reasonably relaxed geometry, mudguard eyes and plenty of clearance - put guards on mine with 25 mil tyres.
Paid 57 quid for it. Is that one worth 200 quid - only you can decide that but if in good usable condition it's certainly better value than anything available new for £200 or even £300.
Presumably you're reasonably close to P'boro if you're interested in that bike so why not go and have a look - the auction has a couple of weeks to run. I've some knowledge of 531 framed bikes from that era and earlier so if you've any question send me a message on here.
BTW I'm near P'boro and have an early Dawes Galaxy in decent condition that I'd sell for a lot less than £200 and that would be on a see it, ride it, buy it if you want it basis.

[senoirmax]

Pete: PM sent!

[Tonyf33]

I'd say Orbits are better than Dawes Galaxy's for the most part as they were hand crafted by UK frame builders.

And how to you think a Galaxy was made in the seventies - machine built in Japan perhaps? They were hand built by frame builders in Birmingham. As to whether that Orbit is better than a Galaxy it depends on what you want it for. Galaxy better for touring/commuting especially if you want to carry anything while the Orbit was a relatively decent road racing machine in it's day - perhaps not top level quality but not so far off. Makes a good traditional audax type machine these days which is what I bought mine for.

it's a personal opinion obviously and we are comparing frames built in the 80s and 90s so the 70s doesn't come into it as the frames from Dawes in that era are quite removed from the later ones in the mid 80s onwards. I've ridden an Orbit gold medal and a couple of other orbits including a 531ST and I'm happy to say that the two I rode the most were better than an old 70s galaxy I'd ridden and also a an early 90s galaxy, all in my opinion of course.
Galaxies have been over-rated (AND overpriced) for years, far sooner have an Orbit or a Revell Romany, claud Butler Dalesman, Raleigh Rando etc.