Red Specialized Sirrus
 

I picked up a 60cm Red Specialized Sirrus yesterday. I bought it for a friend of mine. He has been looking at newer bikes, mostly aluminum with brifters, but has had a hard time finding a decent one in his size. I paid 70 bucks for it, so even if he decides not to keep he should be able to get his money out of it. With any luck I can convince him that old steel is better than new aluminum.

I am pretty sure this is one of the older, more desirable Sirrus bikes. My guess is an 87 or 88. Anybody know for sure?

My understanding is that the frames have the same geometry as the Allez of that era. But I am not sure of the tubing. Does anybody know what the tubing was for this frame, and how it compares to the Allez of the same time?

I would like to see the specialized catalog with this bike, but I can't find one online. Anyone have an 87 or 88 specialized catalog?

Most of the components are 105's. The rear hub is a 105 six speed, and it appears to be the freehub variety. The front rim is a Saturae (a specialized house brand). The front hub is also a 105, but clearly from a different year, as it has a different finish. The front rim is a wobler.

I think I will ditch the yellow bar tape and just go with black. I also think I will try and find some black hoods. Do you think that would look ok on such a red bike? Does anyone have a set they want to part with?

More pictures are here:

http://s624.photobucket.com/albums/t...ized%20Sirrus/

http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/t..._0366Large.jpg

http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/t..._0373Large.jpg

http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/t..._0359Large.jpg

http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/t..._0369Large.jpg

http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/t..._0367Large.jpg

Just go to the vintage Trek site and look up the component codes for the date. Just pick a component or two that you think is original to the bike. Everything from brake calipers and seat posts to derailleurs and crankarms will have these codes.

+1. 1987 or 1988, based on the components.

Yep, but not necessarily more desirable. Most likely out of the Giant factory, and it's a nice frame, with good geometry, and handling, but nothing really special or collectable about it. Just a good solid bike.

Not like one of the early Stumpjumpers, or 3Rensho-built Allez.

I'd say '87, cause I think the frame colors in 1988 were blue/white, and a teal color.

Black hoods for these levers are still being made. I was quite amazed to find some at my lbs for 4$ !!! The packaging was branded Babac which is a distributor.

It's an '87.. '88 and '89 went to the aqua and white (Red and white alternate depending on year) with very bold graphics.

Sole component difference between 1987 & 1988 are the rims. Wolber Alpines were spec for 1987 with Wolber GTX spec'd for 1988. The only geomtery difference listed between years and models are the chainstay length: '87 Sirrus was 40.8cm, '87 Allez was 40.9mm, both '88 models listed as 41cm.

SBI promoted the tubing as their design. They didn't like to disclose the grade and some years even the manufacturer was in question. It was quite common to cut costs by making two models from the fsame rame, so I certainly wouldn't dismiss the possibility of them having identical tubing. However, the only way to be sure would be two have a Sirrus and Allez of the same size and year, strip them to the bare frame and weigh them with a good scale.

Givent the prices and competing models from the era, the tubing should be comparable to Tange 2. Even if we assume that the Allez used something comparable to Tange 1, you're only talking a weight advantage of about 50-70g.

In '88 they didn't always use Wolber on the Sirrus, they also used their own house brand 'Saturae'. My '88 has Saturae.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...0Bikes/074.jpg

This is an '88 the '89 had a unicrown front fork and red replaced the aqua in the color scheme and '89 went 7 speed 105. It was also the first year of the sport Triple.

I had an allez frame that looked just the same, but dark blue with orange grraphics. It had saturae rims and suntour sprint. Tried to ask specialized about it but they said they had no info pre '91.
The mention of such small differences in chainstay length made me wonder how to measure that with horizontal dropouts.

In '88 they didn't always use Wolber on the Sirrus, they also used their own house brand 'Saturae'....

What I've quoted are from the spec sheets, which would be from late in the previous calendar year. Saturae may have been introduced part way through the year. And before anybody asks, no I don't have any pics, just the spec sheets.

When I saw the 1mm difference in chainstay length for '87 and no other geometry differences, I thought it might be a publisher's error. In fact, the 1988 might be the same frame, with the spec just rounded up to the nearest centimeter. There's certainly very little between them.

Chainstay length is measured at point where the centerline of the seatstay intersects with the centerline of the axle slot.

That's a hell of a bike for $70.

The Cranks have a date code of KI. According to vintage trek, that makes this a september 86 manufacture. That corresponds to what everyone else is saying-- it is likely an 87.

As I said before, the front wheel is a wolber -- a GTX. The conflicts with this being an 87. Not sure what to think about that.

The rear wheel is a Saturae.

Both have 105 hubs, but they are clearly from different years. The front has a light, almost white finish.

My guess is that the rear has been replaced. After all, it has a freehub 105 hub. Those did not come out until after 87 right?

Jared

I had an identical red 56 cm Sirrus I bought in Late September 1986 that I just sold last month. Shiny 105 components and Wolber Gentleman GTX rims. That was a fast bike, and nimble.

I agree; it's a great buy for $70.

Thanks, that makes perfect sense for measuring. That frame looks so much like my old allez, it would be interesting to do the comparison you suggested earlier.
I think that's a great deal too, and I'd be very careful about changing the fork out, seemed to me like they really dialed in the geometry on those framesets.

..

Compare it side by side with a Tange 2, 1987 frame, or a 1987 Centurion Lemans.

Then think Panasonic.

Bike is an '87. '87s also came in teal and white.

A new decal/paint scheme - teal and white or red and white - was available in '88.

Be aware this is a 10 year old zombie thread, no worries, welcome aboard. ;)

Yup, fully cognizant. ;-) Just wanted to correct the record.

These are lovely bikes, for sure.

Absolutely, I have 2 86 Merz edition Allez's.

All of these have a ton of the best builders in the business cred, Neenan, Merz, DiNucci, Tesch, Miki, Kono and many others made many of these some of the best production frames built as well as elevating the industry in Japan to a much higher level than before. ;)

I would encourage you to include a Zombie thread alert when you post on one. :)

Heheh. After riding/racing a 58 (probably was actually a 56) in my youth - bought when we thought I'd continue growing - I finally wound up mostly with bikes the right size for me - 54s.

My bike herd consists of the following: an '87 Sirrus (aqua and white, repainted by Element 6 and refurbed), an '87 Allez SE, an '86 Merz Allez (daily ride), and an '85 Allez SE (have a 2nd frame as well). Unfortunately the '85s are a 56cm frames but still fun to ride and it will be awesome to look all American Flyers, minus the cowboy hat, after I move back to the St. Louis area next year and ride past the Arch on the bike.

The Shimano 600 parts on the '86 Merz Allez are pretty badly worn, wheels in awful condition, so that is the bike that will likely have the stays spread and new Force 22 installed unless I can find an '85 Allez SE frame, 54cm. While I generally prefer to maintain vintage looks, will lose the blue paint and decals and match paint and decals to the '85 SEs...with the Merz signature on the chainstay in black.

Projects... got 'em.

This thread needs more red vintage Specializeds. '85 Allez SE checking in. :) Bought as a frame, fork, headset, BB, and crankset. Then put newer Superbe Pro pieces on it (having collected them), a wheel build, plus some below-Superbe-Pro pieces with plenty of polish (and excellent function).

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e67d7d76a4.jpg

89 Allez checking in...
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ad0c7ed8e3.jpg

wheels have changed since I took this shot

And why pray tell would we limit it to Red ones? :foo: