little paint here, a little chrome there..."

A well-restored bicycle is a thing of beauty, even it isn't quite true to its original counterpart. What was once a product of the assembly line becomes a handbuilt bike after it has gone through a modern restoration. The frame and forks are aligned, electrical issues (headlight, horn, etc.) are addressed, German-made single-stage paint is applied in multiple coats, the saddle and wheels are carefully restored, all bright work is replated to show quality, and then the bicycle is meticulously hand-fitted and re-assembled. Thus, each restored bike shown has become a shinier, better-riding version of its former self.

Interestingly enough, many restored bikes in the hobby are completed knowing that they'll never see another mile of pavement after they're put back together. Much like wooden runabouts or vintage automobiles, we think that much of a bike's beauty lies in its function. Thus, every Buzz Bomb bike is restored with this in mind, so that they can be hauled out ridden whenever one of us feels the urge. (Learn more about the art of restoring a classic.)

Though we'd been collecting for roughly ten years, we didn't start restorations until late 1994. Go back to view some of the bikes we've completed since then.