New to me 87' Panasonic MC-6500 MTB
#1
80's bikes FTW
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New to me 87' Panasonic MC-6500 MTB
Picked up this Vintage Panasonic Mountain Cat 6500 of ebay. It was my first bike I bought off ebay and I have to say it all came together very well. The seller shipped and packed it very well, got it in 4 days after the auction ended. I spent most of last year collecting vintage road bikes, I have a feeling this is the start of my vintage MTB collection. I get just as much if not more joy from riding trails and this bike should be able to pound a couple trails here and there. I did some trail riding on a 93' GT Outpost with a cro-mo frame last year and once you get past the fact that there is no front suspension fork, you get used to the "bumpy" ride. This Panasonic weighed in at 18lbs minus the wheelset and tires...figure itll be around 24-25lbs which for an MTB is LIGHT. My 2011 Diamondback 6061 Aluminum frame MTB is 29.8 lbs. This Panasonic should be quite fast as well with the increased gearing on the 48 tooth big ring.
Specs :
Frame/fork - Tange Double-Butted MTB 20"
Front/rear Derail - Suntour XC-7000 6 speed Index
Wheels/ Hubs/ Freewheel - Araya RM-20, Suntour XC, Suntour Winner 14-32 tooth
Front Brake - Diacompe Cantilever #983
Rear Brake - Suntour roller-cam Ubrake 7000
Seatpost/Seat - SR Laprade, Specialized Leather
Brakes/ Shifters - Suntour XC Pro integrated brake/shifter
Stem/Bars - Kusuki BMTL-F600 alloy, Kusuki RK-3 Alloy
Crankset/ BB - Shimano B124 Biopace 48/38/28T, Tange JL-401S
Pedals - MKS-MR1000
Here are some pics....
Still deciding on tires. It came with the Original Panaracer Fattrax which are in VERY good shape, I was thinking of getting something less knobby and lighter weight like a Bontrager Team Issue tire or something similar. I could put the original tires back on it but I kinda want to keep them around incase I ever sell it I can put the OEM tires back on the bike and lighter tires make a HUGE impact on the ride. Let me know if you all like this.
Specs :
Frame/fork - Tange Double-Butted MTB 20"
Front/rear Derail - Suntour XC-7000 6 speed Index
Wheels/ Hubs/ Freewheel - Araya RM-20, Suntour XC, Suntour Winner 14-32 tooth
Front Brake - Diacompe Cantilever #983
Rear Brake - Suntour roller-cam Ubrake 7000
Seatpost/Seat - SR Laprade, Specialized Leather
Brakes/ Shifters - Suntour XC Pro integrated brake/shifter
Stem/Bars - Kusuki BMTL-F600 alloy, Kusuki RK-3 Alloy
Crankset/ BB - Shimano B124 Biopace 48/38/28T, Tange JL-401S
Pedals - MKS-MR1000
Here are some pics....
Still deciding on tires. It came with the Original Panaracer Fattrax which are in VERY good shape, I was thinking of getting something less knobby and lighter weight like a Bontrager Team Issue tire or something similar. I could put the original tires back on it but I kinda want to keep them around incase I ever sell it I can put the OEM tires back on the bike and lighter tires make a HUGE impact on the ride. Let me know if you all like this.
#3
80's bikes FTW
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White paint? I dunno the bike had that white fade from the factory. The rest of the frame is that seafoam green but the seattube is white fade on this model.
#4
Panasonic Nut
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Plymouth, MN
Posts: 613
Bikes: 2000 Pinarello Paris | Panasonics: '88 DX-5000 / '88 DX-4000 / '88 MC-5500 (sold) / '86 Team America / '86 Team Japan (2) / '85 Team / '84 DX-4000 (sold) / '91 PR-6000 / '89 PICS Team Custom / '83 AR-6000 Aero / '89 DX-1000 / '89 Team MC Custom (sold
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Nice score! I nearly bid on it as well but I already own one just like it so I figured it was best to share. Welcome to the club!
#5
Thrifty Bill
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I had a Panasonic MTB, a couple of steps lower. It was very nice. It did take a while to move it to a new home, as the general market does not recognize Panasonic as a top brand. Of course, I do with probably 15 Panasonic bikes in the family line up and project queue right now. Building up a 1992 Paramount Series 70 MTB right now, that I believe was Panasonic built as well.
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Please don't confuse ebay "asking" prices with "selling" prices. Many sellers never get their ask price. some are far from it. Value is determined once an item actually SELLS. Its easy enough to check SOLD prices.
Please don't confuse ebay "asking" prices with "selling" prices. Many sellers never get their ask price. some are far from it. Value is determined once an item actually SELLS. Its easy enough to check SOLD prices.
#6
80's bikes FTW
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haha yea I was waiting for you to bid on it, I know you run the museum and figured you saw it on ebay. When I recieved it the bike was pretty dirty but a little never-dull and some wax and it looks like brand new. I cant wait to ride it!! Love me some panasonics....Im jealous of yours for certain.
#7
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Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Plymouth, MN
Posts: 613
Bikes: 2000 Pinarello Paris | Panasonics: '88 DX-5000 / '88 DX-4000 / '88 MC-5500 (sold) / '86 Team America / '86 Team Japan (2) / '85 Team / '84 DX-4000 (sold) / '91 PR-6000 / '89 PICS Team Custom / '83 AR-6000 Aero / '89 DX-1000 / '89 Team MC Custom (sold
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Yeah, yours looks to be in really nice shape. I do love it when they have a patina of dirt and grime that washes away to reveal a nearly mint bicycle underneath.
The only "duplicate" bike I have ever bought was an '86 Team Japan (which I later sold) as I'm not really looking to own multiple copies of the same bike. I'd much rather see it go to someone who wants it and will ride it.
The only "duplicate" bike I have ever bought was an '86 Team Japan (which I later sold) as I'm not really looking to own multiple copies of the same bike. I'd much rather see it go to someone who wants it and will ride it.
#8
80's bikes FTW
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I had a Panasonic MTB, a couple of steps lower. It was very nice. It did take a while to move it to a new home, as the general market does not recognize Panasonic as a top brand. Of course, I do with probably 15 Panasonic bikes in the family line up and project queue right now. Building up a 1992 Paramount Series 70 MTB right now, that I believe was Panasonic built as well.
#9
80's bikes FTW
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Yeah, yours looks to be in really nice shape. I do love it when they have a patina of dirt and grime that washes away to reveal a nearly mint bicycle underneath.
The only "duplicate" bike I have ever bought was an '86 Team Japan (which I later sold) as I'm not really looking to own multiple copies of the same bike. I'd much rather see it go to someone who wants it and will ride it.
The only "duplicate" bike I have ever bought was an '86 Team Japan (which I later sold) as I'm not really looking to own multiple copies of the same bike. I'd much rather see it go to someone who wants it and will ride it.
#12
Thrifty Bill
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Most of my Panasonics are branded Schwinn, 2 Prologues, 2 1973 World Voyaguers, a 1992 Paramount Series 5, Series 7, Series 70, a 1986 Peloton, a 1987 DX 2500, and some others that don't come to mind right now.
Several of the ones on the list are keepers (for now anyway). Building up the Series 7 and 70 right now.
Some are on my fb page.
__________________
Please don't confuse ebay "asking" prices with "selling" prices. Many sellers never get their ask price. some are far from it. Value is determined once an item actually SELLS. Its easy enough to check SOLD prices.
Please don't confuse ebay "asking" prices with "selling" prices. Many sellers never get their ask price. some are far from it. Value is determined once an item actually SELLS. Its easy enough to check SOLD prices.
#13
80's bikes FTW
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Most of my Panasonics are branded Schwinn, 2 Prologues, 2 1973 World Voyaguers, a 1992 Paramount Series 5, Series 7, Series 70, a 1986 Peloton, a 1987 DX 2500, and some others that don't come to mind right now.
Several of the ones on the list are keepers (for now anyway). Building up the Series 7 and 70 right now.
Some are on my fb page.
Several of the ones on the list are keepers (for now anyway). Building up the Series 7 and 70 right now.
Some are on my fb page.
#14
80's bikes FTW
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Got a couple updated pics now that the bike is done. I need to go out and take it on a long ride and get some daylight pics but for now this will do. The bike is sporting Michelin Wildgripper tires, on Araya RM-20 rims. The wheel/tire combo is pretty darn heavy. Right now the bike is around 28lbs but If I went with a lighter wheelset Im thinking we could be around 25lbs or so. Rode it around the block and to the grocery last night after I got the tires mounted. The rear U brake had little to no stopping power until I adjusted it and now it will LOCK UP the rear so easily. Im actually pretty impressed with how well the Ubrake stops the bike, its not as powerful as my disk brakes on my 2011 Diamondback but its pretty damn good.
The bike is very smooth and fast, and it actually handles quite well. The angles of the bike are not too slack so it turns in very well and I think itll be a real nice trail rider. Probably gonna add a blackburn rear rack and make this bike a do it all kinda thing. Loving it though.
The bike is very smooth and fast, and it actually handles quite well. The angles of the bike are not too slack so it turns in very well and I think itll be a real nice trail rider. Probably gonna add a blackburn rear rack and make this bike a do it all kinda thing. Loving it though.
#15
- Bikes Not Bombs -
Those tires. That bike.
So much awesome in this thread!
So much awesome in this thread!
#17
80's bikes FTW
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Appreciate it man, I too am just in love with this bike. Took it out last night and was bunny hopping curbs. Cant wait to hit up some trails with it too. The Suntour XC group shifts perfectly and the biopace rings are nice. Good Stuff
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