Fat Chance frame project

[mk one]

Team Fat Chance mtb frame retro Vintage Mountain Bike | eBay

This is an amazing piece of MTB history, from the 90s that needs a bit of love. There weren't many that made it across into the UK, and even fewer survive. The paint isn't great, although I was going to leave it as it is, and build it up with in period components.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[M-Power]

Nice project. Just replace the lower seat tube section, medial blast and repaint it.

 

[BlackCat]

Assuming the seat tube rust isn’t indicative of the other frame tubes! Tempting, but all in cost of the work, expec if you want to replicate aqua fade..

 

[player]

Assuming the seat tube rust isn’t indicative of the other frame tubes! Tempting, but all in cost of the work, expec if you want to replicate aqua fade..

Yes its tempting first off but as you study it more and look at the corrosion under the paint on every tube you could end up with a large repair bill plus paint but then again it could be worth a shot if it stayed at £250.

 

[beanfield1980]

Hi guys
I’m a fairly new to retro bikes so sorry if this is a stupid question but if you were to repair this frame and then do a full respray in the proper colours would that effect the value of the bike?

 

[BlackCat]

Hi guys
I’m a fairly new to retro bikes so sorry if this is a stupid question but if you were to repair this frame and then do a full respray in the proper colours would that effect the value of the bike?

Do you mean would a fully refurbed Yo frame be worth more than the OG rust bucket version? Certainly, if the work is done well.

Alternatively, do you mean, can one buy this cheap but desirable rust bucket, refurb it, and flip for a profit?

This is a bigger question (and no doubt someone will contest everything I’m about to say here).. having a new seat tube welded in by a real pro (this is a Yo, so it needs to go to an old school frame builder, not your local skip welder) will cost c. £150.. plus, you will need a full respray - again by a pro. Figure at least another £200.. and that’s assuming you don’t want to replicate the iconic aquafade, in which case expect to spend a fair bit more. Another £30 for decals from you know who.. and you’re at 250+20+150+200+30=£650 owed to you by the refurbed frameset, minimum. Maybe as much as £800 for a more chi chi paint job.. and that’s assuming there are no other structural issues with the frame..

Would I, or someone here pay that or more for the refurbed frame if put up for sale by you? Maybe.. but it’s borderline whether you would make money here. I’d be willing to bet my Yo that you wouldn’t get 1 in 10 guys here going through the pain of the above refurb without the full intention of keeping the frame and building it.

Still.. only one way to find out for sure! Good luck with the auction.. make sure to post all the trials and tribulations of the above in Readers Bikes!

 

[mk one]

Like above, it is a bit of a gamble, ideally you need to look over the frame carefully before purchase, and if minimal damage you could end up with a nice frame, custom painted to your own taste. Doubt it will make much of a profit so more for someone who really wants a Fat Chance for themselves.

 

[M-Power]

Having owned 6 Yos and had one that ended up like this ( not quite this bad ), I would stay clear of it….unless…you enjoy the refurb process, can repaint it yourself and its a rider. Its never going to be worth what a mint rust free example is. Always amazes me that someone could allow an expensive frame like this to deteriorate, even if regularly ridden hard in wet conditions. Use a seat clamp seal, frame-saver internally & take the post out to dry the frame out after every wet ride….sheeesh

And before anybody says its a Yo problem, its an issue for any high end steel bikes of this era, eg Yeti FRO. These bikes are amazing to ride because they use such thin walked steel tubing.

 

[beanfield1980]

Well the painting part is easy for me as I am actually a part time hobby painter ( recently painted the pink and green funk that’s been on here) which is why this frame interests me, but I know nothing about welding or frame repair unfortunately!
If I was to buy it I wouldn’t be looking to flip it and sell it on I would be more interested in keeping it as an investment and also ride it from time to time, but obviously I also don’t want to end up with something that can’t be fixed!

 

[fattiman]

Having owned 9 Yo eddys ever the years this is by far the worst I have seen. I recently sold a Yo frame I had been holding for 2 years waiting to find the time to get it sorted, that one just required a seat tube. The correct tubing is NLA so you will have to settle for a different diameter tubing from a different tubing manufacturer - that is when I gave up. Original decal sets are still available for £100, however the cost of the refurb would be too much for me.