mml373

Unfortunately, Specialized does not care enough about their old bikes to maintain specs on them that they'll send to us underlings... ;-)

Does anyone know the differences, if any, between the 1985 Allez SE as shown in American Flyers and the 1984 Allez? (Not sure if they had an SE in 1984??) I have what I think is an '84 and know there are some sticker differences. Just trying to find out if there are other differences such as geometry, tubing used, etc.

Would be nice to know what Allez models were offered in 1984, as well. I have a 1985 catalog...but not an '84 bike catalog. Thanks in advance.

RiddleOfSteel

Do you have a picture of your 1984 Allez? That would be good for the record. Early Specialized information is hodge podge at best. Catalogs for those early years would be fantastic.

This is my 1985 Allez SE with original Specialized headset, BB, and 175mm "flag" crankset. Wheels are Superbe Pro with a rear FW laced with DT Swiss spokes to dark anodized TB14s. Veloflex Master 23mm tires. Later Accushift/Accushift Plus Superbe Pro FD, RD, and brake calipers. Shifters are mid-level Accushift Plus units that perfectly match the Superbe Pro levers in shape, and the brake levers are two rungs below Superbe Pro, but share the same shape and hood design. Specialized stem and bars, naturally.

HT = 74.0° | ST = 73.0° | TT = 60.0cm | Frame Size = 63.5cm / 25" CTT

T-Mar

The big difference is a Campagnolo Super Record group on the 1984 Allez while the 1985 Allez SE was spec'd with Superbe Pro derailleurs, Superbe brakes and SBI crankset, pedals, hubs and headset. They both used unspecified, self-branded branded tubesets. Geometry-wise (for a 58cm frame), for 1985 the wheelbase was shortened by 3/8". This was accomplished by shortening the chainstays by 1/8" in conjunction with increasing the head angle by 1 degree. Top tube length was preserved by taking 1/2 degree off the seat angle. BB height was also preserved. The fork rake was increased by 1/8".

tricky 

You build some beautiful neo-classics, RiddleOfSteel !

mml373

Appreciate the replies on this question, and this is helpful information.

Was there an '84 Allez SE?

RiddleOfSteel

Thank you @tricky ! Helps to have a friend that's a great photographer make the bike even prettier.
@mml373 there likely may have not been a 1984 Allez SE, only an Allez. 1985, as we know, saw both an Allez (Campagnolo components) and Allez SE (Superbe Pro components). Allez with Tange Prestige and Allez SE with mystery "Racing" chromoly tubing that'd probably fare just fine on a loaded tour--it's heavy (IMO, for what it should be). But it's gorgeous and it rides well, sooooo I don't really care!

mml373

Thank you. Good info here. I'll post pics if/when I have the chance...may be a while....

mml373

Hey, still wondering about whether there was a 1984 Allez SE. I have an SE and will post pics of it. Actually, I have two that I think are 1985s, but serial numbers on the bottom bracket are in different locations. Both came with Superbe. One came with "off brand" levers and a Superbe Pro crankset that was NOT stock according to the catalog.

I have another red "Allez" frame that I think is actually also an Allez SE, as it is not Tange Prestige tubing as was used on the 1984 Allez that sold with Campy parts.

ON EDIT: Found some scans of a 1984 Specialized catalog and appears as though there WAS a 1984 Allez SE. Difference: the 1985 has a Superbe Pro front derailleur; the '84 did not. The catalog scans are actually here on Bike Forums: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ponents-2.html

Also, appears that filming for the movie, "American Flyers" was done in 1984. Makes me wonder if the bikes starring in the movie were actually 1984 Allez SE...

Hmmmm... Thoughts, anyone? Anyone know the history of the movie's production?

Really trying to unravel the mystery of whether there was a 1984 Allez SE, as I cannot seem to find a 1984 Specialized catalog. My guess is that all my Allez SEs are actually 1985 versions. The 56cm frame has serial number in a different location than the two 54cm frames, and production date may have had something to do with different serial number location.

T-Mar

Yes, there definitely was an Allez SE in 1984. However, the big difference was a tubular wheelset in 1984 but wired-on in 1985. Also, a Selle Italia saddle in 1984 but SBI in 1985.

Most of the American Flyers race scenes were filmed during the 1984 Coors Classic, which took place July 13 to July 22. The bicycles clearly aren't the Campagnolo equipped Allez as you can see the slant parallelogram derailleurs and the brake levers are slotted, as opposed to drilled.

One interesting American scene for for me was always the multi-coloured Pinarello being taken off the roof of one of the team vans. It bears the #15 that Grewal was assigned in that year's race. That bicycle (and its rider) would become very famous later that month, winning the gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics. It also confirms the American Flyers filming date and event.

The serial numbers should tell us the manufacturer and dates of you Allez SE. Provided they're not from the grey region of model year transition, that should help to determine the model year.

mml373

Much appreciated! You noticed some things between the '84 and '85 bikes I didn't see. With your reply above, glances at the '84 and '85 catalogs, and reviewing some scenes in the movie, looks like the bikes in American Flyers were 1984 Allez SEs, which had the dark "charcoal" anodized rims (tubular tires) rather than the silver HC-20 rims with Turbo S clinchers that were on the '85 Allez SEs.

Fascinating... Thank you for your reply.

Joe Z

Hi, I’ve got one but I’m not sure of the year. I bought it used 22 years ago and it then had (and still has) Dia Compe Royal Gran brakes, definitely CroMo tubing, and even a rare Saturae front rim.