Kevindale

The KMC Z51 is a good inexpensive chain, and comes with a master link. Good for either 6 or 7 speed. It's brown, if that matters. The KMC 8.99 is a step up in price, is silver, and has shaped plates for better shifting. It'll work with 6-8 speed. Both get great reviews. I've used both, and both work well.

You need a freewheel, not a cassette. I mostly use vintage Suntour freewheels, which you can find of eBay. Shimano still makes them, just be sure you get the number of teeth you want (don't accidently get a MTB freewheel with a super low cog that your rear derailleur can't handle). If you have a bike coop nearby, you might also find some lightly used ones cheap.

Your bike was made in 1985. Cyclone stuff is good. The Gran Sprint was below the Gran Premio and then Gran Rally in '85, and above the Viva Sport, Nuovo Sport, Super Sport, and several others. Basically one of their upper-mid road bikes for the year, so it should be a good rider.

Try the "Go Advanced" button below the Reply box, and go to "Manage Attachments" to try to upload photos. Make sure the photos aren't too big. Or put them on Flickr and post the link here, without the "https:".

mtbphoto

Thank you so much for the info. My plan is to refurbish it a bit, a ride it a few times, then sell it. Any ideas on what it is worth? Also, any recommendations on tires? I put on some Serfas 23c tires and they seem skinny for the bike. Thanks again

mtbphoto

Ok, here are the pics!

canklecat

Regarding KMC chains, my Z51 from Amazon omitted the Missing Link quick link and there was no indication on the package it should have included one. Same with the Z50 and Z33. I had to splice a pair of those for my long wheelbase comfort hybrid and bought a six pack of Missing Links separately.

Since then I've switched to the Z72, which do include the Missing Link and work great on my 7 speed cassette (Univega Via Carisma) and freewheel (Centurion Ironman) bikes. The Z72 has mushroomed rivets, which supposedly hold well and are easier to align with chain tools. Costs the same as the Z51.

If you want to keep costs low check out SunRace freewheels. I just bought one for my Centurion Ironman, 13-25, just to try a slightly different gear ratio for hills. The original 13-24 Suntour doesn't quite suit me. Reportedly the SunRace freewheels are heavier but the prices are low and the weight probably isn't a big deal on the hub, compared with heavier rotating weight on the rims or tires.

The Serfas 23c tires are probably about right for that bike and original rims. A couple of indie bloggers rated the Serfas road bike tires pretty highly for bargain tires.

mtbphoto

Thanks for breaking that down cat. I have to get another piece of rim tape, then I can finally ride the bike and I will post some photos tomorrow. Should I buy the freewheel online new or should I wait a bit and try to get one at a bike shop with tons of vintage parts? Reno Bike Project -

T-Mar

I would definitely buy a new freewheel, as opposed to vintage. Sure, the old SunTour were good but shifting technology advanced, A LOT, when Shimano introduced Hyerglide circa 1989. The ramps and profiles on modern Hyperglide compatible freewheels make for a faster and more positive shift, especially under heavy loads.

Both Shimano and Sunrace freewheels are readily available and inexpensive. The only problem is the selection of ratios that are available. However, the 1985 Gran Sprint was spec'd with a general purpose 14-28T freewheel, which is the most common size available. So,if you're happy with the range of the old freewheel, a superior performing replacement will not be an issue.

KMC manufactures good performing, inexpensive chains, that are readily available. Personally, I con't see the lack of a Missing Link to be a big deal. You'll need a chain tool anyway, to shorten the chain to the correct length.

The 1985 Gran Sport was a very nice, lower mid-range model. The frame was manufactured by Miyata, who were arguably the best of the mass volume manufacturers of the era and Lawee spec'd their bicycles intelligently for given price points. In this case that was $359 US. The frame is triple butted CrMo for the main triangle with slightly lower grade MnMo used in the stays and forks. Similarly, the Suntour Cyclone derailleurs and Araya 20Arims are excellent, with some concessions in other components, that affect price more than performance. It all added up to a well manufactured, nicely performing sports bicycle that was quite light for the era and price range, while still offering excellent value. Congratulations on your acquisition. Enjoy!

Edit: Depending on how much clearance you have between your small freewheel cog and dropout, you may even want to consider moving to a 7 speed freewheel. Even if there is insufficient space for the slightly wider 7 speed freewheel, it can typically be accommodated by installing an axle washer and re-centring the axle.

Kevindale

This would likely have come with 23mm tires. Since you're ultimately going to flip it, I'd leave them on there. Along the same lines, I'm wondering why you need to replace the freewheel? I've done a quick and dirty freewheel refurbishment by first hitting the freewheel with a stiff plastic brush and some degreaser, then rinse well and shake dry (no pressure washing - don't want any more water inside than necessary), then drizzle WD40 in the back repeatedly till it starts to seep out the front (have to take it off the wheel, of course).

After flushing with WD40 liberally, I put some light duty oil in the back (I think it was Pedros) and let gravity do it's work over a day or two. I got two old clogged up freewheels spinning nicely this way. If you were going to keep it, then definitely get a new freewheel, as recommended above, but for a flip you can probably rehab the one on there.

Give it a clean and wax (you might try ScratchX carefully, so see if some of the scratches are superficial, then follow with wax), see if you can brush down that Mundalita saddle and get some of the marks off of it, replace the cables at the very least (they look rusty/dirty), put on some black bar tape, and list it for $250-275 and hope to get $200.

EDIT: You should also open up the hubs and clean and regrease at the very least. You'll need cone wrenches for this. New bearings there would be nice, too. If you have the tools and skills, the bottom bracket and headset should also be opened up and cleaned/checked/regreased/bearings replaced. If you're going to sell it as "refurbished" then you really need to do all of that.

T-Mar

FYI, OEM tyres on the 1985 Gran Sprint were 700 x 25C.

Kevindale

Yes, but my experience with 25mm tires from the 1980s is that they often measure to an actual 21-22mm!

T-Mar

...and almost every tyre I've ever used has grown 2-3mm during it's life, as the cords relaxed.

eom 

So I brought this one home today. Serial # I895591

It's really dirty but only a couple of small scrapes on the chain stays and white paint on the top tube. Brake levers are almost like new, hoods sure are not. Saddle is good. Thinking original tires

[IMG]IMG_0939 by lebagman, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]IMG_0941 by lebagman, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]IMG_0940 by lebagman, on Flickr[/IMG]

These were in the bag. A Parker T Ball Jotter for us old timers.

[IMG]IMG_0944 by lebagman, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]IMG_0945 by lebagman, on Flickr[/IMG]

What is the reason for the stickers on the BB shell? Thanks

[IMG]IMG_0937 by lebagman, on Flickr[/IMG]

T-Mar

Built in 1980 but almost certainly a 1981 model based on the high sequence number.

Insidious C. 

Here is a Super Strada my brother, the original owner, just gave me. It is 100% original including what's left of the tires. All bearings are quite sticky (the dyna drive pedals *really* resist rotating). Components are Dura Ace EX. The s/n is J610139. The pic is just as I received it. Perhaps I will post more after cleaning. I am going to service the whole bike, keeping it as original as possible. Probably rebuild the wheels with some stainless spokes. I am sure my brother has some idea how much I like old road bikes, but I am really exited about this.

Salamandrine 

Awesome bike you got from your bro! You know at the shop I worked we probably sold 100 Sportours for every Superstrada. It's actually a pretty rare bike.

So it never ever wore out the first set of tires. Wow. Practically NOS then IMO.

canklecat

Sweet! That's a time capsule. My old Kirtland Tour Pak handlebar bag had a similar mount.

rshelton

Just rescued this bicycle from the trash wagon! All indications are that it is a Viva Sport, but their are no top tube graphics and it appears there never was. Serial number is M256578, components are '83. A couple of quirks that I haven't seen before: (1) The graphics are unlike any others I have seen online. They have a white "chromoly" label (in a script font) overlapping the usual black downtube graphics. (2) the rear derailleur is a Shimano 600 Arabesque (3) the front derailleur is unique in that I have been unable to find one with the same graphics AND without a cable guide. The bike is now broken completely down and I'm trying to decide whether to paint it back the same color (golden metallic) or change to the silver blue or racing blue Univega colors.

I would post pictures, but I'm a newbie. <sigh>

T-Mar

rshelton, the serial number indicates a 1984 model. You could post photos to a hosting site and reference the address.

rshelton

Yep. Thanks for reminding me.

Http:// in front of the below <geez>:

i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah173/RickShelton31/IMG_1798_zpspwy04s0q.jpg

i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah173/RickShelton31/IMG_1802_zpsoqp2bf8q.jpg

i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah173/RickShelton31/IMG_1840_zpsut6mwoev.jpg

i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah173/RickShelton31/IMG_1843_zpsgk9euxzk.jpg

i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah173/RickShelton31/IMG_1841_zpsjq7hxiym.jpg

T-Mar

Rick, the front derailleur is a a SunTour Vx. The Vx is hard to see but it is marked. The italicized logo did not come into use until circa 1987 and the overwrite some time after that. Consequently, it appears to be a re-decal and possibly even a repaint. Identification is complicated by numerous component changes.

However, it does appear to be one of the Viva Sport/Sportout/Gran Rally family, based on the frame design. I assume it has a 26.8mm seat post, which would confirm a CrMo main frame. Can you tell if it was designed for 27" or 700C wheels? Is there an alloy designation on the fork's steerer tube?

Lazyass

Anyone have an idea what year this Alpina Uno is? Components, tubing?

Bianchigirll 

It is early '80s since there is no index shifting. Maybe '83ish and likely Suntour derailleurs

rshelton

The seat post is 26.8. As far as what size wheel it was designed for, I'm not sure how to tell. As found, it has Araya 27x1 1/4 w/o Japan marked rims. The decals are under a clear coat. The chainstays have the typical "Lawee design" with white "USA". The steerer tube is marked T M 1158. There is nothing that suggests to me that it was ever refinished, but I'm no expert. I appreciate the feedback!

rshelton

Another thing, the stem (same fluting as seat post) looks to have been anodized gold. The only parts left gold is the part that was in the headset and inside the clamp. The rest is faded. The stem is stamped "superbe"

curbtender

Serial #M384339, recent pick-up, saved from a life outside the shed... Year?

combover

Here's my 80s Grand Turismo in pretty nice shape triple chainrings touring brakes awesome riding bike for tutoring or commuting, I love old Univegas ! they did so many awesome bikes road bikes AND mountain bikes