Wileyone 

I have never tried an 853 Frameset but have always been intrigued by them. I have a chance at a Lemond Zurich but
I think the price is too high with the 600 groupset it has now.

Anyone have any other suggestions as far as Framesets in 853 go?

Pictures would be great. Ride opinions too.

Also would be interested in weight of the total package.

Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving.

Piff 

Have you tried looking at previous threads yet? There's a ton.

https://www.google.com/search?q=853+...iw=360&bih=616

gomango

How much?

A Zurich frameset for $3-$400ish would be a fun project. imho

Wileyone 

I tried but unfortunately the search function does not work well for me. Must be my cheap computer.

Wileyone 

Well to be polite the seller thinks it's worth $800 cdn with Shimano 600. And a non matching Wheelset. I do not agree.

Colnago Mixte

Search function has been broken for a long time. You're better off doing a regular Google search than try to use the monstrosity here. Google brings relevant threads from here right up. The search engine here spits up half of the forum posts from the past week, pretty much at random, with no apparent rhyme or reason.

Search function . . . BAD.

Re Lemond frames, I have only test-ridden one. I thought the ride was fairly bland and uninspiring, but the bike weighed less than 20 lbs, and for a steel bike, that's pretty damned light. So I imagine they climb a lot better than most of my old 23-25lb bikes.

Wileyone what are you riding now?

friendofpugs

I have an 04' Fuji Roubaix Pro w/ an 853 triangle, and it's a great ride. My bike weighs about 19.5 lbs w/ full SRAM Rival on it.

jamesdak 

Well I had 3 853 bikes. A 2000 Lemond Zurich, a 2003 Lemond Tourmelet, and a 1999 Schwinn Circuit. They all were great rides with a caveat. The Schwinn was running a straight blade aluminum fork that was too harsh on rough roads. But it was a dream on smooth pavement.

Based in my experience you should have no problem being under 20 lbs on the weight without really trying. I had all 3 bikes there once I put decent wheels on them. I'd have to dig through old posts at various sites to get specifics but I know for certain each one was under 20 in ready to ride mode. Meaning with pedals and bottle cages, sensors, etc.

I picked up my Lemond with it's 9 speed Ultegra and stock Rolf wheels for only a few hundred. It did have some cosmetic wear though. But the bike worked great for me and allowed me to set several PRs that I still haven't beaten. And it was very comfortable to ride. I loaned it out to a friend about 4 years ago for an event and well...... he's still got it. LOL! This a a 55 cm frame.




Now the 1999 Schwinn Circuit was a really nice ride too. The stock wheels were a bit heavy but once I put on a set of Williams System 30 it was under 19 lbs. These bikes are from an era when Scott owned the Schwinn name and was making so good but under appreciated bikes. I took this one with me on a 3 week business trip in Mississippi and on the glass smooth pavement there it was a true joy to ride. I foolishly sold this locally several years ago and have regretted it every since. I'm always on the lookout for another one. There was also a 853 tubed Super Sport in this time frame with a C.F. fork. I'd recommend that over the Circuit if you ride on rough roads. The aluminum fork on the circuit really let the bike down if the roads weren't smooth. This was a 54 cm frame







Finally is the Tourmelet which I still have and sees regular use. This one got me totally away from C.F. bikes when I realized it handled the rough chipseal roads better than my two C.F. bikes. I even rented a Domane for a day, threw on my wheels and saddle, and discovered the Lemond was still the better ride on the rough stuff. This bike is under 20 lbs too with that old Williams System 30s wheelset on it now. It was rebuilt by the guy I got it from with a mix of Dura Ace and Ultegra parts. This is the bike I'm testing out a set of Wickwerks 53/34 chainrings on since it's stiff enough and light enough to climb with yet loves to go fast on the flats. Did I mention it's sooooooo comfortable and responsive? This is a 53 cm frame.

19 lbs 14 ozs with cheap heavy pedals, heavier saddle, bottle cages, sensors, and even a pump on it.





The crazy 34/53 crank setup. This things shifts so well despite the big change.

Wileyone 

So 853 doesn't really give much Weight advantage over Columbus SLX?

jamesdak 

Well, I have a SLX Paramount that weighs an even 19 lbs. But that took a C.F. fork, handlebars, and seatpost as well as a full Dura Ace build, light saddle, and a wheelset that's about 1400 grams.

I'd think with a similar build on an 853 frame you'd be under 19 lbs easily and would have a stiffer, more responsive bike. I love my Paramount but when I really get on it it I can feel the back end flexing. Not something I ever feel on the 853 bikes. To be honest, frame weight to me isn't that critical. It's how the frame handles my input. Now if I weighed 40 lbs lighter than yeah, frame weight may matter.

I don't think you'll ever be disappointed by an 853 Lemond.

USAZorro

I have a 2000 Bob Jackson made of 853 with Arrowhead lugs. I got it used in a condition indistinguishable from new. Has wheels I would never have built myself and has full Campagnolo Daytona 2 x 9. I must have put the pictures of it on Photobucket or something. Will hopefully get some up before the thread spoils. It's a great rider, but geometry is a bit too aggressive for me to remain comfortable with on longer rides.

Wileyone 

Thread is "spoiling" Please post pic's now.

Lazyass

I had a '97 Zurich. Wonderful riding bike. But the thinnest paint I've ever seen on a bike. It would chip if you sneezed on it.

catgita

Does anyone know the tube diameters and wall thicknesses of these bikes? Steel all has the same stiffness and density, but higher grade steels allow you to use less of it, which makes it, as a frame, lighter and more lively.

I wonder how many people saying “steel is real” ever rode light steel, vs those double oversized tanks that are mostly produced today.

USAZorro

Found this old picture of it.



From this old thread.

thinktubes 

Steelman 853 Stage Race.

Great all-day rider, both stiff and comfy. Tranfers power better than my SLX Ciocc.

19.4 lbs for 57cm frame. Crabon fibre fork.

Tig welded and souless.

3alarmer 

.
...I don't know exactly what I was expecting from 853, but I find this one performs no better or worse than something made from SLX or even from 531. It's stiffer than my 531 bikes, but that's probably due to the diameters and frame construction. So apples to oranges.

I would not turn down another one, but I wouldn't drive very far to buy one just because of the frame material.

KonAaron Snake 

Price is high for sure...

Had one with ultegra, as did wife. We both agree - fantastic bikes, great geometry. I wouldn't pay that.

As far as weight, if I recall, our zurichs were quite light, and had carbon forks. 853 vs SLX is more about OS tubing than weight advantage IMO. I like OS tubing.

My opinion, on CL one in good condition is worth maybe 600 on the higher side in a good market. I paid more than that - actually $800 - for my wife's, but she really liked it...it was a gift and I knew I overpaid. It was also from a shop.

trainman999

Wileyone, can’t give you weight of total package but can give you weight of bare frames + paint
(no headset cups or bolts), and forks (no crown races), all measurments C-C to compare.
Can,t compare the ride of the 853 because just got the parts to finish it. Hope this helps.

1999 Schwinn Paramount, Frame Reynolds 853 54.5cm C-C 1838g, fork 853 658g, total 2496g
1978 Trek TX770 Frame Columbus SL 55 cm 1985g, fork SL 667g, total 2652g
1978 Trek TX900 Frame Columbus SL 51cm 1873g fork SL 653g, total 2526g
1983 Schwinn Superior Frame Reynolds 531 53.5cm 2297g fork Tange 695g, total 2992g
1982 Trek 710, Frame Reynolds 531 55 cm 2075g, fork 531 685g, total 2760g
1984 Trek 660, Frame Reynolds 531cs 55cm 2056g, fork Tange? 774g, total 2830g
1987 Schwinn Paramount Frame Columbus SLX 55.5cm 1923g fork SLX 713g, total 2636g
92 Schwinn OS Paramount Frame True Temper OS 56cm 1900g fork TT 700g, total 2600g

Andy_K 

I haven't ridden a bike with full Reynolds 853, but I've had two LeMonds with 853 main triangles and 525 stays -- a 2001 Nevada City, which had a steel fork and a 2001 Buenos Aires which has a carbon fork. Both rode great. I sold the Nevada City and regretted it, which is why I bought the Buenos Aires. It's one of the best riding bikes I have in terms of feel.

I actually kind of like the ride of bikes with tre-tubi frames. I don't have a good theory as to why I should, but I own several and consistently like them. In the case of old LeMonds, the Nevada City and BA are a very economical entry into the world of 853 frames. Around here the asking price for a Zurich is often even higher than you quoted, but I got my BA frameset with a few parts for $300 and I got the Nevada City complete in near mint condition for that.

Here's a picture of my Buenos Aires.



If my memory is correct, which it often isn't, I think the BA weighs around 21 pounds as equipped above, which would make it about a pound lighter than my Columbus SLX Pinarello. The carbon fork probably accounts for a decent amount of that, though the Shimano STI's give back a bit. The wheels on both bikes are around 1900 grams, so don't take this as a measure of how light the bikes could be.

Senrab62 

Just got a KHS flite 800 853 frameset with carbon fork for 125! Very excited about it.

dunrobin

I picked up both of these in Toronto last winter. The Buenos Aires was 400 with triple 9 speed in ready to ride condition for 400cdn. The sarthe was a frameset for 160 with a stuck seatpost for 160+50 to remove seatpost+100for a new fork.
Both have new rival 10 speed, both are fun to ride. The deals are better when people are shoveling snow.
Good luck!
P_20170914_103029.jpg

P_20170914_102305.jpg

Lazyass

The Raleigh Grand Vitesse is only $1320 with the corporate discount. Pretty good for an 853/Ultegra bike. Butted spokes, even.

tricky 

51cm Buenos Aires for $100 on Seattle CL. It's not my size but I would already be on my way to pick it up if I had a car. https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/b...399163293.html

RobbieTunes

That's a heck of a deal when you consider the cost of the group....

6 years ago, I had two acquaintances who bought used bikes at the same time. One was an '853 Lemond (I'm thinking Alps de' Huez but not sure) and the other was an early OCLV Trek. I re-tuned and set up both bikes. I don't think there was much difference in them, and I figure, based on what I saw, the '853 will be rolling in 10 years and the OCLV, doubtful.

Over a year ago, a guy called me out of the blue to find him a good used bike for $400. I found him a 105-equipped '853 Tourmalet. About 2 months ago, a friend offered to sell him a well-used 5500 OCLV for $500, and he considered it, roughly the same groupset and wheels. I thought he'd be able to sell his Tourmalet for $300 and considered the OCLV a fair price, but didn't think the change was worth $200.

I still feel that way. '853 set up right is pretty nice in most examples I've seen.