Picked up a Lotus Excelle
10-02-19, 12:15 AM
#1
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Picked up a Lotus Excelle
Probably 1987 model.
I did a search for "Lotus" here and found nothing! Surely there is discussion on Lotus here.
This bike was pretty clearly abandoned and, like most of my bikes was procured for free or cheap.
Any thoughts and opinions on this model? I can put up pics soon if desired.
I did a search for "Lotus" here and found nothing! Surely there is discussion on Lotus here.
This bike was pretty clearly abandoned and, like most of my bikes was procured for free or cheap.
Any thoughts and opinions on this model? I can put up pics soon if desired.
10-02-19, 04:38 AM
#2
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Lots of Lotus Love on Bike Forums.
Here is just one of many Lotus threads. https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...our-lotus.html
Quite a bit of Excelle info available at vintagelotusbicycles website Vintage Lotus Excelle Bicycle Page
Here is just one of many Lotus threads. https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...our-lotus.html
Quite a bit of Excelle info available at vintagelotusbicycles website Vintage Lotus Excelle Bicycle Page
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10-02-19, 05:57 AM
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Recently a thread specific to Excelle's surfaced, most Lotus threads focus on other models....some good info here
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...s-excelle.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...s-excelle.html
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10-02-19, 06:04 AM
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"pretty clearly abandoned"?
10-02-19, 06:30 AM
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Yeah, I watched for like 15 minutes and the owner didn't come back out of the coffee shop. 
No, someone on a local neighborhood info-sharing website posted that it had been sitting out by the sidewalk for at least a week. Took the dog for a walk to go see it. As usual, I think: Even if only the wheels are good, that's worth a whole lot to me. I could also donate some or all of the bike to the local co-op.
I knew it was possible it was a case of a stolen bike that had been dumped, however...
...both tires were flat (and they both hold air), the battery in the computer is dead, the front derailleur was all but stuck, hmm. what else? It looks like a case of a bike that had sat for probably at least a few years in someone's garage or storage area then was set out when someone moved out of their house or apartment.
No, someone on a local neighborhood info-sharing website posted that it had been sitting out by the sidewalk for at least a week. Took the dog for a walk to go see it. As usual, I think: Even if only the wheels are good, that's worth a whole lot to me. I could also donate some or all of the bike to the local co-op.
I knew it was possible it was a case of a stolen bike that had been dumped, however...
...both tires were flat (and they both hold air), the battery in the computer is dead, the front derailleur was all but stuck, hmm. what else? It looks like a case of a bike that had sat for probably at least a few years in someone's garage or storage area then was set out when someone moved out of their house or apartment.
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10-02-19, 07:40 AM
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Probably 1987 model.
I did a search for "Lotus" here and found nothing! Surely there is discussion on Lotus here.
This bike was pretty clearly abandoned and, like most of my bikes was procured for free or cheap.
Any thoughts and opinions on this model? I can put up pics soon if desired.
I did a search for "Lotus" here and found nothing! Surely there is discussion on Lotus here.
This bike was pretty clearly abandoned and, like most of my bikes was procured for free or cheap.
Any thoughts and opinions on this model? I can put up pics soon if desired.
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10-02-19, 07:57 AM
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Ha, thanks! Yeah, I got the toe clips taken off and the front derailleur lubed and moving and so forth and rolled around with the dog alongside last night. Feels like this is going to be one of my fastest bikes!
10-02-19, 07:59 AM
#9
Roll Swift on the Thrift.
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Bikes: Nishiki Olympic, Fuji Grand, 1980? Scwhinn Le Tour, 1970 Concord Deluxe, American Flyer Emperor, 198(x) Cannondale road bike, Trek 720 Multi Trak, 198(x) Cannondale mountain bike, 198(x) Motobecane road bike, 196(x) Sears cruiser, 1960 Scwhinn Racer
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Thanks! Yeah, that website I found the night that I picked up the bike. What a great resource – the best I've found. It let me identify the year of the bike pretty clearly.
10-17-19, 10:19 PM
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Bikes: Nishiki Olympic, Fuji Grand, 1980? Scwhinn Le Tour, 1970 Concord Deluxe, American Flyer Emperor, 198(x) Cannondale road bike, Trek 720 Multi Trak, 198(x) Cannondale mountain bike, 198(x) Motobecane road bike, 196(x) Sears cruiser, 1960 Scwhinn Racer
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Okay. Here's a couple nighttime pictures of it:
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