CV-6 

Did some searching, cannot find the answer. Just where is Ishiwata Super Strong in the Ishiwata family? I cannot find any reference that addresses specs for it. Plenty of info on 015, 109, 022 and just about any other. Not mentioned in the equus catalog.

unworthy1

I don't know if this is definitive, but the San Rensho I own has a "Super Strong" decal (little elephant) and it also says 024. I assumed it was just 024 with a little "marketing" added.
If you need specs for 024 I can look them up, but they shouldn't be hard to find.

3alarmer 

Yeah, I think that's it, too.

Kossack's now ancient book on Bicycle Frames from 1975
lists 5 tube sets from Ishiwata: 015,017,019,022, and 024
with the 024 recommended for sprint and heavy road racing
or touring use.

Otherwise, I got nothing.

CV-6 

So you have the elephant logo AND a sticker indicating 024? I have never seen that, but that doesn't mean doodly. Both the 3Renshos I have owned only had the elephant.

adscft

i'm using ishiwata 022 bike, very very nice, if you can get something like 019, which would be better. i don't have chance to compare with others, like columbus, reynolds, or true temper, which seems to be more popular, and might be better.

norskagent

I've always wondered if my '76 fuji feather track bike was made from Ishiwata tubing, and what kind.

unworthy1

Ya know, I don't have that after all. I just went back to the pix I have of the decal, and there's nothing there that says 024...yet I have that number firmly in mind and don't know how it got there. Frankly, I always wished it was 022 or lighter, but I figured Yoshi knew what he was after, tubing wise.
I don't know what Super Strong is at this point, but I'll do some more searching and try to uncover where the "024" notion came from.

CV-6 

The 024 does not make sense to me. I would think it was the lighter tubing. I just weighed my frame and it came to 2.54 kilos, that on a 53cm frame. I am going to shoot an email to Andrew at Yellow Jersey and see what info he has.

23skidoo

Andy's an incredible resource with an amazing memory.

3alarmer 

Again, that same reference from Joe Kossack lists the
weight of the 024 set as 2430g and that of 022 as 2220g
(hence the designations....019 is 1970g, etc.)

Not a huge amount of weight difference.

Why not post your question on the frame builder's forum?

Some of those guys are genuinely nerdy about this stuff.

CV-6 

The weight is not the issue so much as I am curious about what Super Strong Ishiwata tubing actually is. Well...ulterior motive. I need to have the top and down tubes replaced on my 3Rensho and someone is offering an 015 tubeset. I was thinking about acquiring it for the tubes. The few ounces of difference is not going to be much for me.

I may do so. But I have found that specific knowledge about older bikes like this is more often found here.

CV-6 

And we have an answer. For those of you who do not know, Andrew Muzi of Yellow Jersey in Madison was an importer of 3Rensho. His shop is considered by many the best place to have your 3Rensho repaired or refinished. Below is the text of the email he sent to me, the question being just what is Ishiwata Super Strong tubing:

Ishiwata premium seamless butted CrMo in 017 or 019 gauge depending on size and model

Don't know why I did not think to contact him from the start, but good to share the info.

JohnDThompson 

How big/heavy are you? Ishiwata 015 is VERY lightweight, and was marketed for record attempts and other single-use purposes.

unworthy1

I'm very pleased to be wrong about it being 024.
Still don't know why I thought that, but now I'll stop thinking...
that.
Thanks (and to Andy) for the knowledge!

CV-6 

Let's just say 015 is not an option.