Panasonic Thrift Store Rescue
07-23-19, 07:11 PM
#1
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Panasonic Thrift Store Rescue
My son has been borrowing my Gitane more and more, so I asked him if he wanted a bike and he said sure. So I've been on the lookout for another road bike. Came home with a Panasonic Tiring Deluxe tonight.
I don't know anything about it yet, but it works pretty well! Shouldn't take much to make it a good rider.
Only problem is the rear brake adjuster is stripped. Not sure where to find that part. But I'm sure they're out there somewhere.
I don't know anything about it yet, but it works pretty well! Shouldn't take much to make it a good rider.
Only problem is the rear brake adjuster is stripped. Not sure where to find that part. But I'm sure they're out there somewhere.
07-23-19, 07:23 PM
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Nice find. On my bike the screw floats in the bracket and a nut sets the tension. My screw was frozen up and snapped. I replaced with a brake caliper adjusting screw with the through hole.
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07-23-19, 07:23 PM
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Excellent bike. Looks like in great shape!
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07-23-19, 07:28 PM
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(edit) My son just took it out for a spin. He loves it! Sorry for jabbering on about another old bike, but I'm really excited about this one - just like I was excited about my Gitane when I found it! I'm very happy this forum exists for me to be overly exuberant about finding a bike.
Last edited by fast_eddie_72; 07-23-19 at 07:41 PM. Reason: Additional information
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07-23-19, 08:18 PM
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I think that's an '86 model. Looks great! Here's a link to the 1986 Panasonic catalog: https://www.panasonicbikemuseum.info...ycles-catalog/
07-23-19, 08:32 PM
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$44.95? That is a seriously smokin' hot deal on a full-blown touring bike! If the size is right, wow! 
From the photos it looks like the prior owner might have taken it on a tour around his neighborhood.
From the photos it looks like the prior owner might have taken it on a tour around his neighborhood.
Last edited by cycleheimer; 07-23-19 at 08:37 PM.
07-23-19, 08:50 PM
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Yeah those are super nice. I know two people who have them and they love them. I bought one once for $100 and thought it was a deal! I'd have paid $250 easily. They take 700c wheels just fine (future-proof), and those old Deore brakes have a ton of stopping power. I thought the frame was nice enough I stuck a bunch of braze-ons on one and powder-coated it for its owner.
One thing of note is the Shimano rear derailleur with the "power modulator" spring-loaded arm that is the tech behind the "light action" label. I don't like it for myself, because it delays the directness of the shifting. Although that said, it can be more forgiving for novices, so maybe a good thing if your son is newish to the cycling game in general or friction shifting in particular. My German friend says they work really well with the similar Shimano "fingertip control" (spring-loaded friction) bar-end shifters. So many springs!
One thing of note is the Shimano rear derailleur with the "power modulator" spring-loaded arm that is the tech behind the "light action" label. I don't like it for myself, because it delays the directness of the shifting. Although that said, it can be more forgiving for novices, so maybe a good thing if your son is newish to the cycling game in general or friction shifting in particular. My German friend says they work really well with the similar Shimano "fingertip control" (spring-loaded friction) bar-end shifters. So many springs!
07-23-19, 10:20 PM
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Wow, nice find. This is a terrific bike in excellent shape. And you got a blackburn rack or what looks like a blackburn rack too.
07-24-19, 01:08 AM
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Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! My lack of experience is showing. It's not like the one other bike I've worked on, so I didn't figure it out. lol Took longer to type this than it took to adjust the brake after I read your post. This thing is in really good shape! It shifts really well, actually. I may put new cables on it just because they look original. But really, I think all it "needs" now is tires!
(edit) My son just took it out for a spin. He loves it! Sorry for jabbering on about another old bike, but I'm really excited about this one - just like I was excited about my Gitane when I found it! I'm very happy this forum exists for me to be overly exuberant about finding a bike.
(edit) My son just took it out for a spin. He loves it! Sorry for jabbering on about another old bike, but I'm really excited about this one - just like I was excited about my Gitane when I found it! I'm very happy this forum exists for me to be overly exuberant about finding a bike.
07-24-19, 03:46 PM
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07-24-19, 04:25 PM
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nice score!
07-24-19, 05:54 PM
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^^^^ +1; "Jabbering on about another old bike" could easily be the by-line of this entire section of BF.
