Thoughts on this "Frankenstein's monster" gravel bike

[Sheepclone]

Good day,

I am a new aspiring rider that is looking to get into the sport. After countless hours watching youtube and surfing the interwebs I have a better understanding, but I am still a bit overwhelmed. I am awaiting the sale of some items to fund my XC bike( which at this point will be a 2023 TR Cypher RS Ltd Ed, second hand). Whilst I await the funds for that purchase i was at a local second hand shop and saw the bike that i will mention  below and was wondering if it would be a decent enough purchase to be used as a gravel/tar/multipurpose "training" bike. This bike will not be used for XC, Single track etc, mainly road and gravel to get my fitness up and legs accustomed.

The bike specs are as follows:

Frame: Merida Matts HFS 3000. Year and size unknown, but i suspect its a large frame as it sits similar to other bikes I have sat on. Large is my frame size.

Crank: Shimano SLX hollowtech II

Pedals: Flat Style run of the mill.

Fork: Cannondale Lefty Speed carbon with Fox TerraLogic (fork does not want to compress, might be my own stupidity).

Brakes/Shifters: Shimano Claris Dual Control Lever(brakes work no shifting). Hydraulic brakes

Handlebars: a Anatomical drop handlebar, not sure on brand. From what i could make out it says Droplett Anatomic 235gr.

Rear & Front Derailleur: Shimano XTR

Rims: Biks has 2 different rims on, will most likely have to be replaced.

Tyres: Schwalbe X-One, older and will probably be replaced.

Groupset: i am not sure, it is a 3x9 which i assume is the original goupset that came with the bike, from what i can tell from research.

Seat: Old Schwinn seat.

That is as much info as I could gather. Please see pics and let me know your thoughts on this strange creation. The bike is quite light which is nice, though i do not know the overall weight. the asking price was R7,500 and i talked the shop owner down to R6,000. I think there might be too much money to spend on this bike to get it into shape but i don't know. I might be able to get the owner to allow me to take the bike to my LBS, CycleLab, to have an inspection done. I thought i might ask the great community here before tackling that obstacle.

I buy quite a lot by that specific shop and speaking to the staff, that bike has been there stationary for around 4-5 years. they recon R4k is a fair price and i thought the same. If i offered him R5k would it be a good price for an older bike with the above mentioned specs?

TIA everyone and i look forward to both your responses and to finally getting in the saddle.

[Mountain Bru]

My initial thoughts are that the kiff yellow makro helmet in the background might be more valuable than the bike. 

Steer way clear of nonsense like this. 

[droo]

Just that lefty would make me walk away. The last restoration I did on one of those was about R 3k, and only because I was lucky enough to find spares, and if you wanted to replace it with any other fork you're in for a new front hub.

[ChrisF]

Lefty shocks .... not many that can service this .... biggest red flag.

 

 

3x9 ..

 Either very old, or a very entry level bike.

 

 

IF everuthing else was good ... then a 1x11 upgrade would make sense.

 

 

 

Nope, many reasons that stock is not moving ....

[Barry]

Take the 5k and keep on saving  for the Titan Cypher. This bike is someones scrap bin project move on.

[Bike Dewing]

That price tag on the shifter has been there a loooong time🤣🤣

[Sheepclone]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate your input and will move on from this bike. It was just a spur of the moment find.

I consider this thread closed. I'll post again soon once I find my bike.

[Mamil]

Id love to take that for a spin ... Seriously conflicted personality on that bike

[Prince Albert Cycles]

2 hours ago, droo said:

Just that lefty would make me walk away. The last restoration I did on one of those was about R 3k, and only because I was lucky enough to find spares, and if you wanted to replace it with any other fork you're in for a new front hub.

I suspect that was my Lefty that you are referring to. I considered that 3K a bargain at the time you saved my bike

[Shebeen]

dual control = walk away walk away

[Dexter-morgan]

here is a separate thread about monster cross bikes, apart from the lefty shock, I think it's a good start to get your fitness up, you could change the fork out with a rigid carbon fork from Kean-bikes.

here is mine.

 

Edited December 13 by Dexter-morgan

[Barry]

16 minutes ago, Dexter-morgan said:

here is a separate thread about monster cross bikes, apart from the lefty shock, I think it's a good start to get your fitness up, you could change the fork out with a rigid carbon fork from Kean-bikes.

here is mine.

 

At 5k i think OP is throwing away his money. Now if your bike was up for 5k the bike would probably sell same day. Cool bike 😎 

[Bub Marley]

Bike looks like it will disintegrate as soon as you sit on it.

[NotSoBigBen]

11 hours ago, Shebeen said:

dual control = walk away walk away

'dual control'?

[droo]

12 hours ago, Prince Albert Cycles said:

I suspect that was my Lefty that you are referring to. I considered that 3K a bargain at the time you saved my bike

There have been others since then, and some even older than yours...

[ChrisF]

43 minutes ago, NotSoBigBen said:

'dual control'?

 

Not 1x ....