dickbandit 

Last year my brother-in-law bought an '84 Lotus Eclair and since then I've been on the lookout for a Lotus touring bike. Last month this 1986 Lotus Odyssey popped up on CL for $150. I was able to snag it for $120 the day after it was listed.

According to the Vintage Lotus site: Odyssey it was almost entirely original. The frame had some surface rust which I cleaned up with Bar Keepers Friend. Most of the components just needed a thorough cleaning. The rear derailleur, a Shimano Light Action, was shot so I replaced it with a Shimano Deore MT-60. Stem was hard to get out of the fork, and in the process it sustained some deep scratches. I replaced it with a 100mm kalloy. I was able to find some KKT toe clips for the Pro Vic II pedals and I added some blue toe straps to match the frame. Replaced the hard old brake pads with Kool Stops.


Here is a pic of what it looked like when I bought it:





Here is the crankset before cleaning. Not too bad. Aluminum parts just got some soap and water. Rusty bolts got a vinegar bath.





I finished up the rebuild last week and was able to take it out for a 50 mile ride yesterday. What a nice ride! Very well balanced and it just feels solid.















Currently it has some Wheelmaster wheels with Weinmann RM19 rims I had lying around. Original wheels are 36 spoke front, 40 rear with Suzue "sealed" hubs and Araya alloy rims. While the rear is straight and true, the front had a couple bent spokes. I unlaced it and the rim was straight so I am going to be rebuilding it with new spokes and getting the original wheelset back on the bike.


Overall I am incredibly pleased with this bike. Currently on the lookout for a Blackburn lowrider rack for the front and I would love to get another bottle cage with the black plastic bits for the seat tube.

bear_a_bug 

Wow! Great find, and great work cleaning it up.

With these 80's tourers, I also have an aesthetic preference for keeping things decidedly 80's: The bags you have are perfect.

Definitely hunt down some Blackburn lowriders for the front, some Cannondale panniers, and think about some black Zefal or Planetbike fenders - nothing flashy like VO or Honjos.

Celeste Mike

So you're the one who scored this bike! You beat me to it by mere hours.

Congrats, it looks great!

KonAaron Snake 

This was my first “real” bike...

What tubing does your decal state? The 86’ I had as a kid had a Columbus SL decal...the one I bought a few years ago said Tange infinity (consistent with what Tim’s site states).

KonAaron Snake 

This didn’t have Blackburn racks btw - it came with a Japanese brand. Yakota, or something like that. I think I even have the front racks somewhere.

Ciufalon

You did a great job of cleaning that bike up. It looks beautiful and you be able to enjoy that ride for years to come. Good score!

dickbandit 

I wanted to share a quick update!

I installed some SKS Longboards and sourced a period correct Blackburn FL-1 locally. Rebuilt the original front wheel and got the 36/40 wheelset back on the bike. Just snapped these photos as I was about to go for a ride, but the guy showed up to fix my heat right as I was heading out. That seems more important, but I may still try to squeeze in a quick nighttime ride along the Schuylkill depending on how long he takes.

dickbandit 

This bike has a Tange Infinity decal.

jonwvara 

Very nice! I recommend carrying a heavy stick while riding, so you can beat some sense into anyone who suggests that you replace the Biopace rings with round ones. There are such people.

dickbandit 

Thank you for the advice! I have a Univega Alpina Uno that has Biopace rings as well and and I just don't notice enough of a difference to warrant a change... but maybe I'm not sensitive enough.

jonwvara 

Hey, it doesn't matter whether you're sensitive or not. Remember, you're the one with the heavy stick.

longhitv

madpogue 

You necro-posted this thread just for the 911 photo-bomb, right?




KIDDING; the fade on that Lotus is fly, and the MTBs in the brand are hard to come by (in these parts, anyway).