Howdy folks. My riding buddy Phil Roberts was given an interesting bike. It is a Rampar
with the remains of a full Suntour Superbe group, even a stem. It is Tange
Champion tubing (see below for more details). It has pretty nice looking lugwork and a sloping internal type crown. I am not sure what the finish is , but it almost looks like it was copper or brass colored or perhaps some kin d of colored chrome. It has faded to a silvery color except where clamps etc.
shaded the finish. Anybody know anything about this bike? Sheldon Brown isn't familiar with it... Thanks! Doug Van Cleve Chandler, AZ
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Phil Roberts <azpdr@yahoo.com> Date: Aug 31, 2005 4:05 PM Subject: Re: Silk Hope To: Doug Van Cleve dvancleve@gmail.com
Seat tube sticker sez "Rampar built for Raleigh". Another sez something about Champion tubing. Another sticker touts the Suntour Superbe components. Top tube sticker sez "Superbe". Downtube sticker sez "Rampar". I have no clue on the finish, since no one seems to even know anything about the bike. I just know that Rampar was mostly a cheezy bottom-feeder line, and while the first ones came from Japan (where mine evidentally originated) the latter ones, mostly BMX and cheap low end, came from Taiwan.
Sheldon surmised:
"My guess is this is late '70s or early '80s, probably toward the end of the Rampar brand. I don't recall ever seeing this model."
I know it's late 70's (pre-pro). And I would think it was more toward the beginning of the Rampar brand.
Maybe a Raleigh dealer somewhere might remember. Oh well, it doesn't make much diff to anyone but me.
~Phil~