DCilliams

Hi guys I'm looking for a Zunow or 3rensho bike frame in the 56-58. Does not need to be in great condition paint wise. I'm looking for a cool commuter to build up. Thanks!

georges1

This is what a good condition 3rensho costs Ravanello Equipe Saturn Road, Racing frame /Columbus Max / 3Rensho / Zunow or for 2000$ you have a complete pristine and rare Zunow in your size including the rare super pro gold black groupset ZUNOW 1989 road / multi sport Trionic! Opt. pkg. Suntour Superbe Pro GOLD BLACK! Sometimes,it is better to buy a great condition frame regarding tubes and paint because to restore one will at the end cost you more than what you have spent on an ok condition bike but this is just my opinion.

microcord

One person's asking price for their Ravanello frame isn't much of a guide to prices of frames by Zunow or 3rensho.

If it isn't obvious, the names after the slashes in that auction listing are mere clickbait.

jetboy 

Check Sacramento CA cl - there was a zunow dealer there and they pop up there time to time. I am sure there were more if people know what cities might have a higher concentration please chime in.

Mine was from Sacramento - @3alarmer did me a solid and facilitated until I could pick up. And yes, I do commute on it.

It was $500. But that was a deal and some years ago...... Complete bike but a bitsa- so really the $500 was for the frameset- z1 but no fancy paint- just white
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DCilliams

Thanks! I'll keep an eye out.

Catnap 

yeah that's "haruvintage" who is based in Thailand. he has some fantastic inventory but puts astronomical prices on them. as a result, he doesn't sell much. I wouldn't deal with him unless he has *exactly* what you're looking for. Also, find him on Facebook and he'll sell outside of eBay at a small discount (basically 15% off or the amount of the eBay fees he would have paid).

DCilliams

Still looking!

obrentharris 

Patience may be required. Zunows are not exactly common. I waited a dozen years before finding a Nagasawa in a tall size. A Zunow in a medium size should be an easier quest but may still require some waiting and watching.
Brent

Andy_K 

That'll be one seriously cool commuter! I've ridden most of my bikes to work at least once, but there are only a few I'd consider putting on regular commuter duty, and my merely-3Rensho-built Allez wouldn't be one of them. I admire your vision though. Anything worth doing is worth doing right.

I'm curious though, why such a narrow range? Is it just that you have a particular affection for these two brands?

jet sanchEz

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...tory_type=post

chain_whipped

Pretty neat project. Likely one of the contract volume makers for Zunow when the shop couldn't meet demand. Hummingbird model's, etc..

DCilliams

Hey Andy - appreciate the question! I've had several 3Renshos and really like how they handle in the city, and I also went down a Zunow rabbit hole and just liked the idea of having one for that purpose, to ride in the city and maybe restore/repaint later on. That said, I'd be down with a early Masi 3V or Merckx Max Corsa Extra (i.e. something you don't see every day).

Catnap 

while I can’t be 100% certain, that bike doesn’t have the telltale signs of a contract frame. It does look like a base model from the 1980s, possibly a Lauro.

The only contract models I’m aware of are the road bikes explicitly marked “Hummingbird” and the “Serow” mountain bikes. The hummingbirds carry an additional decal that says “designed by T Kageyama” which is a dead giveaway and a backhanded admission that they are production frames.

Since Zunows were mostly handmade, there’s a ton of variation in the lugs and decals. For example, because a fork doesn’t have a Zunow stamp on the crown doesn’t mean it isn’t original. There’s also a good number of frames out there without the ornate bottom brackets. It’s very uncommon for a Zunow to be missing the bird-logo seatstay caps, but again they do exist since Kageyama introduced those seatstay caps several years after he began his business.

As an enthusiast and amateur historian of the brand, I’ve realized that there’s over 30 years’ worth of these bikes and within that time
period, a ton of variation in the lugs, frame geometry, decals and model names. And within that variation, there wasn’t a disciplined approach to exact specs / naming etc like we typically see with exported brands such as Nishiki, Centurion, Bridgestone, Panasonic, etc.

so-ichiro

This is true. I have seen Zunow bicycles time to time on Sacramento craigslist. I had three and I used to check (too) obsessively. I think someone told me that UC Davis team was once sponsored by a Zunow dealer. You can also check Yahoo auction in Japan: https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/search/...zunow&b=1&n=50
While smaller sizes are more frequent in Japan, there are several listings with medium size frames.

chain_whipped

I'm assuming you're seeking in steel, but Zunow also made aluminum and titanium framesets.

Weaselshark

Vancouver BC has three different Zunow bikes listed on Facebook Marketplace currently, we had a pretty prominent distributor here back in the day.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...ibextid=DOG9Fg

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...ibextid=DOG9Fg

and a huge one:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...ibextid=DOG9Fg

DCilliams

Thank you! I'll keep a look out in Vancouver and Sacramento. The ones listed are a little small. Good prices though.

jetboy 

also the owner of american cyclery in San Francisco has one in the basement he had for sale for a minute. not sure he ever actually sold it - as I recall it was a 56- and thus too small for me. you could give them a ring and see if its still there. since its a shop they would probably ship. As I recall it had the original (Mavic?) plastic down shifters etc on it.

jetboy 

you found a tall Nagasawa? Keirin or road?

Believe me it was hard enough to find a zunow at 60cm...

jetboy 

i had no idea they made aluminum.

I have a vague recall that the titanium was outsourced and may be the same as the panasonic - but not sure which way it all went. still cool frames either way.

obrentharris 

Talk about needle in a haystack...
Single speed road trainer, drilled for brakes, more tire clearance. I'm enjoying it a lot, riding fixed.



Brent