johnnyace 

I picked this up for a steal on ebay (I was the only bidder). It was the full Cyclone group that drew me in. I believe it's a 1985 model, and probably built for Nashbar by Maruishi.

Love the color (red is faster!), and the paint appears to be in great condition. The saddle and pedals will go; I've got my eyes on some Cyclone pedals and a Turbo saddle.

This will be the new "go-fast" bike to round out my three-bike plan:

1) commuter/daily-driver/grocery-getter (Univega Alpina Uno) - the 26" bike
2) go-fast road bike (Nashbar Road MKIII) - the 700c bike
3) randonneur/light-touring/all-road (coming Fall 2019) - the 650b bike



More pics...

bikemig 

That's a quality frame and parts. Nashbars don't get a lot of love but this is a fine looking frame likely made in Japan. Is there a frame tubing sticker?

johnnyace 

I haven't taken delivery yet, but I don't see a tubing sticker. But made in Japan, yes. See the back of the seat tube on this one (dug up from the intertubes)...

gugie 

Man, Johnny, you're picking up a lot of great buys recently!

johnnyace 

Yeah, I have been fortunate lately. I'm going into "downsizing" mode now, though. Other than buying for the rando build, I'm done buying bikes for now, unless I happen across a smokin' deal like the Della Santa.

I decided that three bikes was a good number for my personal collection, hence the 26", the 700c, and the 650b. These should meet all my biking needs.

cudak888 

That does look stunning. Looks like Prugnat lugs or some sort of copy, filed the way they deserve to be.

That flat chrome fork crown is a beautiful touch and unusual for a mid-1980's frame. I'd almost say that all the details are more in line with the 1970's; almost a homage to the Italian builds of 10 years prior.

-Kurt

johnnyace 

That struck me as a nice touch, too. As bikemig said, Nashbars don't get a lot of love, which would explain why I was the only bidder and got it at the opening price. If I were so inclined, I could turn around and sell the Cyclone group for 3-4 times what I paid for the whole bike. But that's not gonna happen; I've been wanting a full original build of Cyclone or Superbe bike for several years now, and now I have one, in my size, in great condition, at a great price.

Incidentally, here's the touring model, probably from about the same year:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-roa...m/283143690570

It's interesting that the condition of both bikes is so good. Maybe folks bought these mid-80s Nashbars because they were a good value, but never really rode them much? Super robust paint jobs?

I'd like to find out more about it, but info on mid-80s Nashbars seems pretty sparse. Again, not much love for the house-brand bikes. My assumption that it was probably made by Maruishi is based on this article about the Toure model:

https://restoringvintagebicycles.com...ring-bicycles/

cudak888 

You know, these look surprisingly reminiscent of the Schwinn lightweights of the '80s, and I swear one of the touring models was made one year with those Symmetric shifters and cantis (someone had a build thread about one of these a few weeks back). The lug finish is so even that I'm starting to wonder if it's a one-piece headtube lug, like the Schwinns.

-Kurt

Fahrenheit531 

Suntour Cyclone is my "sweet spot" when it comes to components. Not too pricey, excellent performance, looks, and durability. Cool name is a bonus.

I too have purchased a bike just to get the group. And since it was waaaay too small for me, the local co-op got a quality frame to sell. So much win. Enjoy!!

ryansu

Nicely done Sir looks like a great bike, you can smile as you blow the doors off some name brand carbon bikes

SurferRosa

Nice looking frame. Reminds me of my sekai 4000. Which was badass.

Now you just need a go-faster bike.

79pmooney

Nice ride! I raced Cyclones on a '76 Fuji Pro. With Power Ratchets. 10-speed (back when they used higher math to calculate the number of gears!) Those Cyclones on a racing or moderately narrow range of gears like you've got worked really, really well. Lasted and shifted well for years. You did have to pay the small weight penalty of having the lightest derailleurs made. I found I could live with that.

The frame has details (but not geometry) like my (edit: 1976) Fuji Pro except: the Fuji used copies of curly French Nervex lugs and had no seattube WB bosses. Crown was also flat but not chromed.

Enjoy!

Ben

curbtender

Had one of those come through, nice bike...

curbtender

johnnyace 

Well, according to gugie, I already do that!

Another sleeper bike, for sure.

Nah, these days I don't need to go any faster. My days of lusting after sweet Italian steel are behind me. Although, if I came across my first full-fledged racing bike, in the right size, condition, and price (not likely!), I'd be a little tempted.

johnnyace 

Nice pics, thanks! Ah, there is a tubing sticker on there, but it seems pretty generic, not one I recognize (Tange, Ishiwata, etc.)

T-Mar

While the rear derailleur is New Cyclone, which was released for the 1985 model year, my 1985 Nashbar literature shows the 1985 model still being the MK II. The MK III came out in 1986. Still, it could have been manufactured in late 1985. Most of the mid-1980s Nashbar bicycles were manufactured by Maruishi and, if so, the serial number will tell us the exact frame manufacture date. The tubeset is an unspecified Ishiwata CrMo double butted. The seat post diameter will confirm the grade but I suspect 022. FYI, the original MSRP was $374 US + $30.00 express shipping. Don't you wish you could still express ship a bicycle for that price?

BradH

I've had two '85 Treks with those Cyclone groups. Both handled 8 or 9 speed cassettes easily with the correct chain. Really nice stuff.

stardognine

Looks like a good one, congrats! 👍 I'm curious as heck though, what that signature is, on the chainstay? 🤔
Nevermind, I finally see it now. 🙂 "The finest bicycles in the world."

johnnyace 

Thanks, Tom. I'll post the numbers when I take delivery. I'd be very happy with Ishiwata 022.

The Golden Boy 

Is that like Mike Damone’s “5 Point Plan” from Fast Times At Ridgemont High?

johnnyace 

Yes, yes it is.

top506

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ceptional.html

Top

johnnyace 

That's really nice, thanks for sharing.

johnnyace 

Took delivery of the Nashbar MKIII today. Nicely, the Cyclone pedals also showed up today! If these things aren't NOS, they sure weren't ridden much, if at all. As for the bike, there is some paint marring due to poor packaging. The freewheel was rubbing against the seat tube; didn't catch the damage where the down tube meets the head lug until after assembly. I wish people that sell bikes online would avail themselves of the "how to properly pack a bike for shipping" videos (see pics). Oh well, at least "candy apple red" is easy to source in the nail polish market.

Still, a nice bike. It will clean up well. Nice ride, although it handles like a criterium bike.

@T-Mar - the seatpost is 27.0, and the SN is EN38122.