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Zeus frame

Old 06-09-14, 02:07 AM
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Saw Crack
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Zeus frame

Hi there

My first post! I recently acquired a Zeus frame. Not sure of age, hence the post. Has a flashy Zeus sticker which i have never seen before. I think an entry level road frame with Aelle tubing but nice Zeus 2000 forks. Anyone able to provide some advice??



Cheers

Mike
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Old 06-09-14, 07:33 AM
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Hello Saw Crack,

Thank you for posting this curiosity. Have not before seen this Zeus transfer. Is it presented as a Zeus of Spain bicycle?

You mention it has a Zeus 2000 fork. This would have the investment cast semi-sloping crown with the "Zeus 2000" on the side.

Zeus formerly manufactured their own frames. At a certain point they closed down their frame making operation and just used Razesa built frames for their bicycles. This took place somewhere in the early 1980's. Do not know the exact year. If you have a Zeus of Spain bicycle it will certainly be a Razesa framed example because of the lateness of the transfer .

Additional photos would help readers to give you more information about the frame.

Last edited by juvela; 06-09-14 at 08:22 AM. Reason: add information
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Old 06-09-14, 09:49 AM
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Originally Posted by juvela
Additional photos would help readers to give you more information about the frame.
Agreed. The design of the fork crown and dropouts in particular changed over the years and may help establish approximately when the frame was built, and thus who (Zeus or Razesa) built it.
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Old 06-10-14, 06:02 AM
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Ok great. I'll post a few more photos tomorrow once the rebuild of the computer is complete...!
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Old 06-10-14, 06:09 PM
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Zeus frame

Some photos:



Cheers

Mike
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Old 06-10-14, 07:53 PM
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we must be talking relatively late here. have not before seen that seat cluster. will wait for others to fill me in...
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Old 06-11-14, 07:48 AM
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That's an early version of the fork crown. Later versions had the stylized "Z" cast on top of the crown, rather than "ZEUS 2000" on the side as yours does. I suspect your frame was made by Zeus rather than Razesa.

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Old 09-13-19, 04:28 PM
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..
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Old 09-13-19, 04:28 PM
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__
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Old 09-13-19, 04:29 PM
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😁😁😁
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Old 09-13-19, 04:56 PM
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The head lugs look just like the ones on my Razesa. It is an early 80's Columbus SL frame.
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Old 09-13-19, 05:02 PM
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Hmm... Did the OP's account get hacked?
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Old 09-13-19, 05:52 PM
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Originally Posted by TiHabanero
The head lugs look just like the ones on my Razesa. It is an early 80's Columbus SL frame.
Could it be a Razesa frame with a non-original, older fork?
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Old 09-13-19, 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by noobinsf
Hmm... Did the OP's account get hacked?
Nup. It was me. I’ve been too slack contributing and since joining it seems the rules might have changed and I couldn’t submit pics without 10 posts... so a couple of quickies and all sorted!! 😁
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Old 09-13-19, 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Saw Crack
Hi there

My first post! I recently acquired a Zeus frame. Not sure of age, hence the post. .... Anyone able to provide some advice? Cheers Mike

Welcome.

Advice = build it, ride it, let us know how it goes.
For best results buy expensive tires and good wheels.
MUCH BETTER to ride a mid-level frame with great wheels & tires, than a great frame with mid-level tires and wheels.


I have a 70's Zeus, so kind of a fan boy, but we get far too few Zeus comments than the brand deserves. IMHO.

edit: What's the rear spacing? I'm guessing 130?
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Last edited by Wildwood; 09-13-19 at 06:05 PM.
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Old 09-13-19, 06:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Wildwood
Welcome.

Advice = build it, ride it, let us know how it goes.
For best results buy expensive tires and good wheels.
MUCH BETTER to ride a mid-level frame with great wheels & tires, than a great frame with mid-level tires and wheels.


I have a 70's Zeus, so kind of a fan boy, but we get far too few Zeus comments than the brand deserves. IMHO.
It has been built. Nice ride. Mainly Supercronos on what I think is a 1990-91 frame. But of a mongrel but nice bike. But I recently stole the bars for the Merckx. Will post a pic once it is respectable...😁
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Old 09-13-19, 07:39 PM
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Please post pix of the entire frame. Close ups of various features without relationship to the rest of the bike are somehow confusing to many of us.
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Old 09-14-19, 03:04 AM
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My Zeus (I think)



As I found it - 30euro brocante market buy! The Prugnat lugs, Idéale saddle and early Dura Ace groupset attracted me, although it far too small for me to ride (like so many otherwise great bikes I find here in France). I've since stripped it and cleaned everything, so plan to pass on the frame to someone who needs a small size. Fork crowns are Zeus 2000 and dropouts also have Zeus stampings. All-531 tubing, too.


Originally Posted by Wildwood
Welcome.

Advice = build it, ride it, let us know how it goes.
For best results buy expensive tires and good wheels.
MUCH BETTER to ride a mid-level frame with great wheels & tires, than a great frame with mid-level tires and wheels.


I have a 70's Zeus, so kind of a fan boy, but we get far too few Zeus comments than the brand deserves. IMHO.

edit: What's the rear spacing? I'm guessing 130?

Last edited by rmfrance; 09-18-19 at 01:06 PM.
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Old 09-14-19, 03:21 PM
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That oddball seat lug is similar to one used on an OS (oversized) Columbus tubeset, but no reason to doubt the Aelle sticker (and never seen those "star" graphics on any Zeus before). Long Shen makes several seat lugs of the same "plug-in-stay" style some for standard, some for OS tubing. Not a style I ever liked but here's a pic of one from the Ceeway catalog

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Old 09-14-19, 07:42 PM
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Early 70's Zeus with R531

Since we are highlighting Zeus frames thru the decades.......
frame first, then first final build.





accoutrements - only lighting makes the gold effects on some photos.
Close-up of rear chrome. Nice foil decals. Original, too.






.....this bike is full of good vibes.....with contributions by many.
Western Canada, then to co-op scrap, salvaged by a BF member (sorry @ someone) to Oregon for gugiefication, to Washington for Zeusification.
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Last edited by Wildwood; 09-15-19 at 08:32 PM.
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Old 09-14-19, 11:41 PM
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It’s a bling bike. A great ride too.
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Old 09-15-19, 10:40 PM
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Nice!!!
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Old 09-15-19, 10:48 PM
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I know there are differences between Euro and USA models. Even between Canada and USA for euro brands.

But you folks Down-Under are sort of a mystery to me. As far as bikes and features.
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Old 09-15-19, 11:24 PM
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The mysteries dont stop there!
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Old 09-16-19, 12:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Wildwood
I know there are differences between Euro and USA models. Even between Canada and USA for euro brands.
The frame was purchased in Spain and brought back to Australia so definitely a Euro model. I did find a number yesterday actually buried under paint (amazing what sunlight exposes) that ends in 88 so assuming it is an 88 model which is probably right. The forks were nice but have been discarded for some Japanese forks of the right era and style. The steerer in the Zeus forks was too short and couldnt make it to the headset properly and after trying every headset out there i changed forks. Much better outcome. The big chain ring is a 56 tooth and there purely for show!
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