John E

My SunTour Cyclone II is my favorite rear derailleur by far. I graces my lowly UO-8, which was bought as a bare frame and has had nothing both SunTour rear derailleurs (V-GT for wide-range gearing for my wife, then V for me, then Cyclone when I pulled it off the PKN-10. (I put the original Simplex back on the PKN-10 when I gave it to our son. Bikes and bike components circulate around the family sometimes.)

T-Mar

Thank-you for the serial number. It's definitely Maruishi manufacture from 1985, though at this time I have insufficient data to determine exactly when in 1985. However, based on the model designation, it's a 1986 model.

johnnyace 

Thanks. So, based on the 27.0 seatpost, does this indicate Ishiwata 022?

As I have started to disassemble the bike this morning, and noticed the details, I find it amazing that such a nicely spec-ed bike like this was only $374 + $30 shipping in 1986! I paid $800 for the frameset alone on my Bianchi Specialissima in the mid-late 80s. This bike was an amazing value. You got the full Cyclone group (hubs and BB included) on a likely Ishiwata 022 frameset, Suntour Pro dropouts, Tange Levin headset, Laprade fluted seatpost, nice Araya rims... it's just very nice! Disassembly has been a breeze; no stuck seatpost or stem, no bits and pieces stuck anywhere. The Cyclone levers shine like new, with no road rash.

I've got some small parts and pieces soaking in Evapo-Rust for minor surface rust, but it's in great shape. And hurray for Japanese consistency of quality, practicality, and standards.

The only issue it seems to have is the headset. I haven't taken it apart yet to determine the cause, but if I need to replace it, I'll probably put a Hatta Swan on there.

AngryFrankie

I've had that exact bike, down to the rising sun decal and superbe pro dropouts. Great riding bike.

T-Mar

The Japanese were the masters of trickle down technology, value added engineering and Quality Control during this era. Thanks to their efforts, the performance discrepancies between bicycle levels were shrinking. A mid-1980s mid-range model was better than a high end model of only a decade earlier and the differences between a mid-range and high end model, other than price, were shrinking. During the late 1980s a lot of cyclists were questioning the need for a high end super bicycle when the Japanese mid-range models were so good. The competitive, discerning or status conscious cyclist might still make a high end purchase but for the typical cyclist, the return on investment for the price increase wasn't warranted, with the Japanese mid-range models providing the best value.

Regarding the post diameter, 27.0mm would actually be indicative of Ishiwata 024. As I stated earlier, the Nashbar literature did not disclose which grade of Ishiwata tubeset. Ishiwata 024 was only 185g heavier than 022, and the difference would have been somewhat less in a built frame. It appears that Nashbar's cost concession was where the customer couldn't see it, behind the generic tubing tubing.

Regarding the price, it appears that was a special introductory offer. I checked some later catalogues to see if they had updated the specs to mention the tubeset and it was selling in the summer for $374 US + $30 US shipping. It's not a huge price increase but still notable, at approximately 7%.

I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying your new acquisition.

johnnyace 

Yeah, back then (I was in my late teens-early twenties) I felt like I had to have the Italian steel, and mostly turned my nose up at the Japanese bikes, although I did entertain the idea for a while of purchasing a steel Specialized Allez instead of the Bianchi. Now that I'm older (and hopefully at least a little wiser!), I have a deep appreciation for the Japanese steel, and the only Italian stuff I buy is for flipping, when I find a deal too good to pass up.

Thanks again for the info!

jdave5917

Tmar - I am also currently working on a Mark II which I believe to be a 1985, since the Tange fork has an Oct 1985 date code on the steerer, and most other components have mid-1984 date codes. The frame build quality and the paint are both quite impressive. No rust at all at the top tube cable guides which, in my experience, is pretty unusual for 34 year old steel frames. What looks like missing paint on the seatstays in the photo are just reflections from the sun. I was shocked to see Suntour PRO dropouts on both the fork and the frame. As with the others, mine is the metallic red color and has Cyclone M-II derailleurs, Symmetric shifters, and the stylish Sakae crankset. Didn't ride it before disassembly, but I'm expecting it to be equal to or better than the mid-80s Trek 531 bikes and the higher-level, name-brand Japanese bikes of that era. Serial # from the bottom bracket is DZ25462 and the SR Laprade seat post diameter is 27.0 which you mentioned would give up the type of Ishiwata tubing used. Can you tell me which tubeset is on this bike? Also, I'd really appreciate a pdf of the applicable 1985 literature if you could email that to me or provide a link. Thanks.

jeirvine 

Those are nice bikes. There was one for $100 on the local CL for months, as a ghost ad: no responses.

I've seen a couple of those Suntour Pro drops that were cracked. So make sure the rear drops are aligned, and the hub is spaced correctly for the frame, to minimize stress.

T-Mar

The serial number indicates it was manufactured by Maruishi in the last fortnight of 1984, which is appropriate for a 1985 model. However, a fork date code of October 1985 is a big time difference and would be consistent with a 1986 model. Still we know the Mk II was replaced with a Mk III for the 1986 model year, so yours should be a 1985 model, possibly with a replacement fork.

As I previously stated, the Nashbar literature does not identify the Ishiwata tubeset but a 27.0mm post would be typical for Ishiwata 024.

Sorry but my 3 in 1 printer died a couple of months ago and a replacement is not in the current budget. I'll try and remember to get a scan the next time I'm at the library.

jdave5917

Sorry - fork date code is for Oct 1984 rather than '85 as I misstated above, so that tidies things up. Thx for all the info and that would be great if you can get a scan of the Nashbar literature when you get a chance.

I had weighed the frame with only the headset cups and front derailleur mount attached and came up with 4 lb 13 oz or 2182 grams which would be more consistent with 022 tubing, but the variance could easily be due to scale accuracy. I'll trust your call on that matter.

scarlson 

Ah Cyclone M2, so underrated!! I put this on my Vitus 979 as part of a weight weenie build. It's lighter than most of the carbon stuff out there today! That rear mech is only 20g heavier than the stupid-light Huret Jubilee, but will happily shift an 11-28 9-speed in my hands. Understated mechanical beauty.

Fathom_Labs

I was watching that one on eBay, beautiful bike, but too small for me!

I've been on the hunt for another 58cm for the last 5 years since mine got totaled (folded back the head tube, snapped the forks, tacoed the wheel, broke the bars, collapsed the chain stay) by a careless Nissan Leaf driver.

Other than the size mine was exactly the same, Road MKIII, beautiful red, amazing ride... I've been riding a Cannondale since and it's just not the same :/ someday I hope to find another!