Zeus frame
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
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
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
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,317
Mentioned: 414 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3779 Post(s)
Liked 3,283 Times
in
2,145 Posts
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.
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
#3
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,934
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3571 Post(s)
Liked 3,366 Times
in
1,915 Posts
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.
#4
Newbie
Thread Starter
Ok great. I'll post a few more photos tomorrow once the rebuild of the computer is complete...!
Likes For Saw Crack:
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,317
Mentioned: 414 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3779 Post(s)
Liked 3,283 Times
in
2,145 Posts
we must be talking relatively late here. have not before seen that seat cluster. will wait for others to fill me in...
Likes For juvela:
#7
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,934
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3571 Post(s)
Liked 3,366 Times
in
1,915 Posts
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.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 3,291
Bikes: '82 Univega Competizione, '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '83 Mercian KOM Touring, '85 Univega Alpina Uno, '76 Eisentraut Limited
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1088 Post(s)
Liked 1,204 Times
in
700 Posts
Hmm... Did the OP's account get hacked?
Likes For noobinsf:
#13
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,934
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3571 Post(s)
Liked 3,366 Times
in
1,915 Posts
#14
Newbie
Thread Starter
#15
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,303
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3874 Post(s)
Liked 4,779 Times
in
2,204 Posts
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?
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Last edited by Wildwood; 09-13-19 at 06:05 PM.
#16
Newbie
Thread Starter
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.
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.
Likes For Saw Crack:
#17
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,638
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4667 Post(s)
Liked 5,764 Times
in
2,270 Posts
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.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#18
rmfrance
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: SW France
Posts: 108
Bikes: 1968 Peugeot PX10, 1974 Peugeot PX10, 1964 Peugeot PX10, 1977 Peugeot PSN10, 1975 Gitane Super Olympic, 1978 Gitane Vuelta, c1958 Gitane Competition(?), 1983 Mercier?, 1981 Peugeot PF10, 1985 Peugeot PH501 Ventoux, 1965 Moulton M4 Speed
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 34 Post(s)
Liked 36 Times
in
14 Posts
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.
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?
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.
#19
Stop reading my posts!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,958
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1420 Post(s)
Liked 1,038 Times
in
769 Posts
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
#20
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,303
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3874 Post(s)
Liked 4,779 Times
in
2,204 Posts
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.
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.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Last edited by Wildwood; 09-15-19 at 08:32 PM.
Likes For Wildwood:
#22
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,303
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3874 Post(s)
Liked 4,779 Times
in
2,204 Posts
Nice!!!
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Likes For Wildwood:
#23
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,303
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3874 Post(s)
Liked 4,779 Times
in
2,204 Posts
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.
But you folks Down-Under are sort of a mystery to me. As far as bikes and features.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Likes For Wildwood:
#25
Newbie
Thread Starter
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!