I was going to sell this bike but then my mom asked me for a bike, so I didn't sell this. But mom rode it 3 or 4 times and said it took too much thinking to ride, so I bought her a Marin Cruiser with 7 speed SIS. De gustibus non disputatum est. So it is back on the market.
19" c-t Schwinn Voyageur 15 speed Japanese built touring bike $225 + shipping. Or some Maillard high flange hubs, Stronglight 93 chainrings, Ideale 90 saddle, etc, in trade.
This very similar to a Bridgestone RBT or Trek 520, but at a much lower price (and higher quality than current Treks). Really,, it is as nice an RBT.
I'd guess this about a 1983 bike
The bike appears great structurally and with low miles. The cables and rubber appear to be original and in usable shape--the cables more so than the tires. The paint wold be very good except there is a series of scratches on the top tube. There also small scratches. The decals are those clear vinyl or whatever type and are all there but are beginning to peal. For a 15-17 year old bike it is in great shape, but realistically, I would rate it in good shape aesthetically and very good+++ structurally.
Frame: Tange #2 (Tange's answer/knockoff/homage to/of Columbus SP), forged short horizontal dropouts with chromed faces & two eyelets, greenish gray (pewter?) in color, with braze-ons for two bottles on down-tube (one on top, one underneath) and one black cage, braze-on rear rack mounts with rear-rack (a silver Blackburn). Other braze-ons include cantilever bosses, downtube shifters, nice top mount bb der. cables mountings, brake housings. There is fender clearance. Fork is very nice with a semisloping crown, drilled reinforcing tangs, and two eyelets per dropout. I mean Chrome faces on drop outs arre so cool.
Wheels: Sanshin LF cartridge bearing hubs (these are basically the same as those wonderful Specialized sealed bearing hubs but without the metal dustcaps), 27" Wolber 58 alloy rims; 36x front, 40 rear; Schwinn 27" Expedition 11/4" tires (look to be original rubber). Spokes are SS. Freewheel is 14-28 Shimano 600 5 speed.
Seat and post: Schwinn padded leather top nylon base on a SR Laprade post.
Brakes: Some sort of really nice dia-compe wide profile cantilvevers (like forged MAFACs)with GranCompe levers. The levers are missing one of the hoods.
Drivetrain: Shimano ALII (?) rear derailleur (alloy body except steel back piece long steel cage. The body has an abstract image of Mts etched in it. The front is another basically unmarked Shimano product--alloy band, rest is steel. I would put these down about one notch in price from Shimano 600 of the era. Crank is nice Takagi Tourney XT triple 50/46/something small. (110/74 bcd) that was forged--and it says so! I can probably find some extra chainrings, too.
Bar and Stem: SR custom--stem is probably 80 mm or so and stand a quick polishing.
Pedals: I think I'll throw in some Specialized track pedals if I can find them.
So if no one buys it soon, it will be part out time. Save this minor footnote bicycle history from this.
Regards,
John Taglia Chicago, Overcast and low 40's
Many a man has fallen in love with a girl in a light so dim he would not have chosen a suit by it. --Maurice Chevalier