My first ProFlex; advice and suggestions?

[Fizban]

     Hello everyone!
     My name is Nick and I just came into ownership of my first Proflex. It's a ProFlex Newport I bought used (naturally) at a LBS for $223. It is all original and in great shape for its age, with new tires. The specs mostly seem to match up with this page:

http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=1994&Brand=ProFlex&Model=Newport&Type=bike

     I commute by bike to school and work. I am a student on a budget, and was looking to get an cheap upgrade on my old Fuji Boulevard. I bought this bike knowing nothing of ProFlex, largely because of it's trigger-style shifters, cantilever brakes and looks.
I thought the real elastomer was cool when I bought it, but since then I've been researching and am ahving second thoughts. After learning about their tendency to degrade and difficulty to come by I feel a little uneasy...Although it appears to be in good shape for now. It has a Girvin Flexstem also, and the elastomer in it seems rock hard.
     I wanted a solid commuter, and bought this bike with the hope that it would need only little maintenance, but have found out since I bought it that perhaps it may need a new stem (if the elastomer is shot, I want a simpler, lighter stem) and elastomer (ordered from Scotland, no less), plus the tune-up it needs.
     So my question; Is it worth it for me, do you guys think, to fix up the Newport for a grand total investment (assuming $223 purchase price, $25 new stem, $50 elastomer, $40 tune-up) of about $350, or should I just pay $450 at my other LBS for a brand new Giant FCR3 with warranty and service plan. What are the benefits of the Proflex that make it worth fixing up?

Finally, If the new bike is a better idea, would any of you guys here be interested in buying my Newport? I would like to get $200 for it, if I sold it.

Thanks,
Nick

[kiwi]

on the face of it you present a very good argument,but a 100 dollars is a hundred dolars....for the price you paid for it from the bike shop i would have THEM pitch in....

[shovelon]

Hey Nick!

In the time being, I can send you some elastomers that work. I have 40 durometer for the front, and 60 durometer for the rear. They are not perfect, but solved my problem. I too have a Newport, and have been thrashing the life out of it.

I would talk to your bike shop about a tuneup, seeing as you have issues there. But the elastomers you can take care of yourself.

If you got any pics, I would like to see it. Here is mine. The 40 durometer elastomer is in the flexstem and is amazing.


PM me with an address and I will send off an elastomer care package to you.

Terry

[Fizban]

Hi again everyone! Great to hear from you guys. Here are some pics of the Newport.






So its pretty hip. I like it, I just want it to be really usable. I would certainly greatly appreciate the elastomer care package, Shovelon, but I don't want to take them from you unless I really need them. Here is the elastomer uncompressed vs. compressed...it seems to have gone too soft to me, what do you guys think? Is this how its supposed to work?

[Fizban]

****UPDATE****

Got some new elastomers from Shovelon and just finished installing them; here are the pics:



Holy crap! This is amazing. These completely rejuvenated the old Newport. The old rear was squishing up so flat it didn't have any bounce, but this one works great. I think it looks cooler, too (even though its not "stock").



This is a 40 durometer elastomer used in the Flexstem, and it too is outstanding. My old one didn't work at all, it had hardened up completely. I had no idea that the stem could work so well! Takes out all the bumps.

All in all, after patching it up a little, I think this will make a killer commuter; especially after feeling the stem work properly. I feel bad that I ever doubted it!

Peace,
Nick