RE: [CR]Sweet Japanese 80's 'rider' frame suggestions

(Example: Framebuilding:Tubing:Falck)

Content-class: urn:content-classes:message
Subject: RE: [CR]Sweet Japanese 80's 'rider' frame suggestions
Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 15:39:04 -0400
Thread-Topic: [CR]Sweet Japanese 80's 'rider' frame suggestions
Thread-Index: AcWzcjgYJxVabDluQDmCF4N4LB+ARQAWjNwQ
From: "Bingham, Wayne" <WBINGHAM@imf.org>
To: "RB" <2wheelseal@earthlink.net>, "CR" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>


>From the "better-late-than-never-responses' file:

Bill -

My suggestion is to keep the wheelset and build something around it...or else just sell it to me. :)

There are a lot of options, either for all Japanese or Japanese components on a suitable frame. For the all Japanese route, Fuji, Miyata, Panasonic, Bridgestone, and others fill out the very affordable and available end of the spectrum. 3Rensho, Zunow and the like are at the other end, nicer and, consequently, more rare and costly. There are other suitable frames as well, either from a "correct" perspective, or just cool ideas. The 80/81 Raleigh Superbe discussed recently was all Japanese one year (80 - Tange tubed frame) and British-more-than-just-in-name the next (81 - Reynolds tubed frame). Both equipped with Suntour Superbe. The Trek 760 circa 84 was also equipped with Superbe, and mid-line Treks are always good candidates for Suntour components (at least IMHO). I've also always thought some American built frames were good candidates for Japanese components. I've collected parts for a similar project to the one you are contemplating. I have an 83 3Rensho that will eventually be built with 100% (hopefully) Japanese bits, based around a Superbe Pro group. I'm a big fan of Suntour components anyway, so the all-Japanese thing has appeal to me.

Like I said, if you decide you don't want that wheelset.....

Wayne Bingham Lovettsville VA
>>>>>>

Perhaps this is a little OT, as I may be fudging the 1983 cutoff a bit - I'm not exactly sure. However you folks would know, so I'm going to chance it. If I'm out of line, please refer me the correct resource.

I have here, a NOS set of really sweet Suntour Superbe Pro wheels (mid-80's I think - 126 spaced, sealed precision bearings, old logos, Araya aero hard ano rims). I'm a big Japanese culture fan, and I've long toyed with building some kind of sweet non-Durace all-Japanese bike. Something nice, hopefully special, lightweight, racer or crit bike, and a fair-weather rider (not high mileage, but not a wall-hanger either). Something that won't break the bank, as an alternative to my Campy bike. Suntour has particular appeal to me due to my BMX background (Suntour was the shiz for us), it's being 'the-road-less-traveled', the modest prices, and it's [apparent?] quality in the [late(?)] 80's, as they tried to launch products to compete with Shizmondo (Durace is great, but no love lost there, due to their tactics regarding MTB components).

I really don't know much about the vintage Japanese marques, except a little about 3-Rensho. I know less about whether the Suntour high-end deraileurs and brakes were actually any good, particularly over time as they wear. These hubs however, shame Campy.

I'd like some suggestions as to a frameset and/or group pieces, or the pros and cons of same. Maybe even possible offers on a frameset and/or parts. I need to decide if I should attempt to realize this project (and thus keep these super-tasty wheels), or if I'm viewing said potential project through rose colored riding glasses. My other bikes are all Campy, so I can't see mixing and matching these wheels into those groups.

Although I will ride it quite a bit, it's going to be a for-fun bike, as I have other vintage lightweights, and modern bikes. This wheelset can do a 6-8 speed freewheel, and I'm open to index or friction. I'd like to stay steel (although I will consider aluminum), and mid-line or hopefully better, as I have a 71 Ron Cooper and a modern DeRosa. I will consider a triple for crazy climbs. I also have a set of vintage Suntour barcons in my parts box. Not looking for a fixed gear.

Thanks in advance,
Bill Roberts
Jacksonville, OR