Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

My 1st Japanese bike!!!

Search
Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

My 1st Japanese bike!!!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-28-24, 11:09 PM
  #26  
jPrichard10 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Portland, Cascadia
Posts: 514
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 226 Post(s)
Liked 258 Times in 112 Posts
Originally Posted by stoneageyosh
Congrats on the bike!
If you decide to bring back a bottle of sake . . .
Highly recommend, if you can find it, Kikuhime Daiginjo from Hakusan in Kanazawa Prefecture.
It is considered to be at the same level for sake as San Rensho is for bike frames and priced accordingly.
"Priced accordingly"

So, free for Rob?
jPrichard10 is offline  
Likes For jPrichard10:
Old 03-29-24, 01:05 AM
  #27  
stoneageyosh
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Bandon, Oregon
Posts: 164

Bikes: Dave Tesch Model 100 Custom Reynolds 753 / Custom Panasonic built by Takao Ono (1973)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 72 Post(s)
Liked 160 Times in 93 Posts
Originally Posted by jPrichard10
"Priced accordingly"

So, free for Rob?

Well, if he is fortunate enough to know someone that would bestow a bottle on him.
stoneageyosh is offline  
Old 03-29-24, 05:01 AM
  #28  
georges1
Steel is real
 
georges1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Not far from Paris
Posts: 1,968

Bikes: 1992Giant Tourer,1992MeridaAlbon,1996Scapin,1998KonaKilaueua,1993Peugeot Prestige,1991RaleighTeamZ(to be upgraded),1998 Jamis Dragon,1992CTWallis(to be built),1998VettaTeam(to be built),1995Coppi(to be built),1993Grandis(to be built)

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 671 Post(s)
Liked 979 Times in 650 Posts
congratulations on a nice 3rensho
georges1 is offline  
Old 03-29-24, 05:45 AM
  #29  
PhilFo 
Tinker-er
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Posts: 450

Bikes: 1956 Rudge Sports; 1983 Univega Alpina Uno; 1981 Miyata 610; 1973 Raleigh Twenty; 1994 Breezer Lightning XTR; V4 Yuba Mundo aka "The Schlepper"; 1987 Raleigh "The Edge" Mountain Trials; 1952 R.O. Harrison "Madison"

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 165 Post(s)
Liked 267 Times in 183 Posts
PhilFo is offline  
Old 03-29-24, 09:05 AM
  #30  
Hondo6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: SW Florida, USA
Posts: 1,286

Bikes: Yes

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 550 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times in 464 Posts
Originally Posted by Robvolz
Enjoy your new bike - at Eroica Japan. (You are taking it, right?)

i’m not sure. I was thinking of my Derosa because they are Derosa. Crazy. Also, wouldn’t bring a 3Rensho be like bringing sand to the beach?
Your bikes and your trip, so your call. And I'm certainly the wrong one to ask which would go over better in Japan.

Personally, I think bringing an Eroica-compliant 3Rensho back "home" to Eroica Japan in order to honor the craftsmanship of it's creators would be completely apropos. Were I lucky enough to own one in my size and found it a good ride, that's what I'd do if I were attending Eroica Japan.

In either case: enjoy the trip.
Hondo6 is offline  
Likes For Hondo6:
Old 03-29-24, 11:10 AM
  #31  
Robvolz 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 1,949

Bikes: several Eddy Merz (ride like Eddy, braze like Jim!)

Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1086 Post(s)
Liked 1,825 Times in 665 Posts
I just need to swap out the 3ttt stuff for a Superbe stem and Nitto bars. And a kickstand.
__________________
"Leave the gun. Take the Colnagos."
Robvolz is offline  
Old 03-29-24, 11:37 AM
  #32  
Mountain Mitch
Senior Member
 
Mountain Mitch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Back-of-beyond, Kootenays, BC
Posts: 750

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix Exp ert Road and Specialized Stump Jumper FS Mountain; De Vinci Caribou touring, Intense Tracer T275c, Cramerotti, Specialized Allez, Condor

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 166 Post(s)
Liked 100 Times in 57 Posts
In my experience, fly ANA if you want to take your bike.
Mountain Mitch is offline  
Likes For Mountain Mitch:
Old 03-29-24, 12:20 PM
  #33  
juvela
Senior Member
 
juvela's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,272
Mentioned: 415 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3814 Post(s)
Liked 3,345 Times in 2,182 Posts
-----



congratulations!

...and a fine candidate for a Guines she be...


-----
juvela is offline  
Old 03-29-24, 01:00 PM
  #34  
jPrichard10 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Portland, Cascadia
Posts: 514
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 226 Post(s)
Liked 258 Times in 112 Posts
Originally Posted by Robvolz
I just need to swap out the 3ttt stuff for a Superbe stem and Nitto bars. And a kickstand.
Finding the Superbe stem might be a task, but if you want to go the slightly easier route I believe they were just rebadged Kusuki Medallion.
jPrichard10 is offline  
Old 03-29-24, 01:12 PM
  #35  
bikingshearer 
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
 
bikingshearer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley
Posts: 5,658

Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1027 Post(s)
Liked 2,531 Times in 1,059 Posts
Originally Posted by Robvolz
I just need to swap out the 3ttt stuff for a Superbe stem and Nitto bars. And a kickstand.
Just take the one off your De Rosa.
__________________
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
bikingshearer is online now  
Likes For bikingshearer:
Old 03-29-24, 01:19 PM
  #36  
darkmoon
Japan Tourism Bureau
 
darkmoon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Yokohama, Japan
Posts: 306

Bikes: Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra Molteni 2005, Colnago Master X-light Mapei 2020

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 87 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times in 210 Posts
Originally Posted by stoneageyosh
This is an example of sometimes puzzling and/or humorous “Janglish” seen on Japanese products back in the day. Maybe this bike suffers from a split personality or identity crisis. The first three Kanji characters, “Jitensha” translate as “Bicycle”. The following Katakana are phonetically “Kyanpingu kah” or “Camping Car”.
Who made this Bicycle Camping Car?!
For most of Japanese, English is cool, just cool. They want to use and add some English. That's all.
darkmoon is offline  
Old 03-29-24, 01:39 PM
  #37  
darkmoon
Japan Tourism Bureau
 
darkmoon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Yokohama, Japan
Posts: 306

Bikes: Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra Molteni 2005, Colnago Master X-light Mapei 2020

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 87 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times in 210 Posts
Beautiful 3Rensho and Superbe Pro!
It's very hard to find this level of 3Rensho in Japan.
Congrats!

I guess you all know what 3Rensho means.
3 straight wins.
Yoshi Konno made many Keirin bikes.
Keirin is made up of 3 races: preliminary heat, semifinal, and final.
Yoshi wished Keirin cyclists, 3 rensho, 3 straight wins with his bikes.
darkmoon is offline  
Old 03-29-24, 02:06 PM
  #38  
Hondo6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: SW Florida, USA
Posts: 1,286

Bikes: Yes

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 550 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times in 464 Posts
Originally Posted by jPrichard10
Finding the Superbe stem might be a task, but if you want to go the slightly easier route I believe they were just rebadged Kusuki Medallion.
There are a small number of Suntour Superbe stems listed on "that auction site". But they're all pretty pricey - and all in east Asia.

A decent fallback might be a late 70s/early 80s Dia Compe Gran Compe. There appear to be at least a couple of those listed also, and they're stateside. Same is true for the Kusuki Medallion.

However, both were made in both 0.833" and 22.2mm insert as well as with 25.4mm and 26.0mm bar clamp diameters. The listings aren't always clear regarding insert and clamp diameters for the item on sale.
Hondo6 is offline  
Old 03-29-24, 02:41 PM
  #39  
Fredo76
The Wheezing Geezer
 
Fredo76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Española, NM
Posts: 1,060

Bikes: 1976 Fredo Speciale, Jamis Citizen 1, Ellis-Briggs FAVORI, Rivendell Clem Smith Jr.

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 414 Post(s)
Liked 925 Times in 448 Posts
Handsome bike! Congratulations.
Fredo76 is offline  
Likes For Fredo76:
Old 03-29-24, 03:16 PM
  #40  
Robvolz 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 1,949

Bikes: several Eddy Merz (ride like Eddy, braze like Jim!)

Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1086 Post(s)
Liked 1,825 Times in 665 Posts
Originally Posted by Hondo6
There are a small number of Suntour Superbe stems listed on "that auction site". But they're all pretty pricey - and all in east Asia.

A decent fallback might be a late 70s/early 80s Dia Compe Gran Compe. There appear to be at least a couple of those listed also, and they're stateside. Same is true for the Kusuki Medallion.

However, both were made in both 0.833" and 22.2mm insert as well as with 25.4mm and 26.0mm bar clamp diameters. The listings aren't always clear regarding insert and clamp diameters for the item on sale.
I found this last night

Robvolz is offline  
Old 03-29-24, 05:05 PM
  #41  
Robvolz 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 1,949

Bikes: several Eddy Merz (ride like Eddy, braze like Jim!)

Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1086 Post(s)
Liked 1,825 Times in 665 Posts
I also found floating under my car’s rear seat, a Kashimax saddle that might be more appropriate

current saddle will be for sale shortly, cheap.
__________________
"Leave the gun. Take the Colnagos."
Robvolz is offline  
Old 03-29-24, 09:08 PM
  #42  
Hondo6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: SW Florida, USA
Posts: 1,286

Bikes: Yes

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 550 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times in 464 Posts
Originally Posted by Robvolz
I found this last night

Originally Posted by Robvolz
I also found floating under my car’s rear seat, a Kashimax saddle that might be more appropriate

current saddle will be for sale shortly, cheap.
Sounds like you're all set, then. Enjoy!
Hondo6 is offline  
Old 03-30-24, 08:34 AM
  #43  
machinist42
mycocyclist
 
machinist42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Monkey Junction, Wilmington, NC
Posts: 1,235

Bikes: 1964 Schwinn Paramount P-13 DeLuxe, 1964 Schwinn Sport Super Sport, 1972 Falcon San Remo, 1974 Maserati MT-1, 1974 Raleigh International, 1984 Lotus Odyssey, 198? Rossin Ghibli, 1990 LeMond Le Vanquer (sic), 1991 Specialized Allez Transition Pro, +

Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 910 Post(s)
Liked 822 Times in 453 Posts
Decisions Decisions...

Originally Posted by Robvolz
i’m not sure. I was thinking of my Derosa because they are Derosa. Crazy. Also, wouldn’t bring a 3Rensho be like bringing sand to the beach?
Would you ride a Japanese bike in an Italian Eroica?
A British bike in a French?
A Russian bike in a Ukrainian?
A coal black French bike in a Newcastle Eroica?

However, if you're looking to fetch top dollar for your De Rosa, by all means take it to Japan.

"It's all up to what you value. Down to where you are..."
machinist42 is offline  
Old 03-30-24, 09:19 AM
  #44  
Robvolz 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 1,949

Bikes: several Eddy Merz (ride like Eddy, braze like Jim!)

Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1086 Post(s)
Liked 1,825 Times in 665 Posts
I will not sell the DeRosa. beyond that, nothing is sacred.

All I know is when looking for an unusual part, say a Colnago pantographed swap post, the average ebay price in America and Europe might be $165-185. Then a couple will be in the $400-500 range. Always in Japan.

I sold some NOS Deltas at Cambria, it paid for the whole trip. I might be nice to unload a thing or two over there to pay for this trip, or at least reduce the sting.
__________________
"Leave the gun. Take the Colnagos."
Robvolz is offline  
Likes For Robvolz:
Old 03-30-24, 11:01 AM
  #45  
ollo_ollo
Senior Member
 
ollo_ollo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Soviet of Oregon or Pensacola FL
Posts: 5,342

Bikes: Still have a few left!

Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 467 Post(s)
Liked 532 Times in 267 Posts
Congrats on a great bike. Hope to see her up close one day. Don
ollo_ollo is offline  
Old 03-30-24, 12:09 PM
  #46  
Catnap 
Senior Member
 
Catnap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Ridgewood, Queens
Posts: 1,856

Bikes: Zunow, 3Rensho, Look KG196

Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Liked 468 Times in 187 Posts
Originally Posted by darkmoon
For most of Japanese, English is cool, just cool. They want to use and add some English. That's all.
I’ve seen many vintage touring bikes described as “camping car(s)” on Yahoo Japan auctions. I think it’s a generalized term for a touring bike.
__________________
Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
Catnap is offline  
Old 04-01-24, 11:41 AM
  #47  
Robvolz 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 1,949

Bikes: several Eddy Merz (ride like Eddy, braze like Jim!)

Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1086 Post(s)
Liked 1,825 Times in 665 Posts
[QUOTE=machinist42;23199786]Would you ride a Japanese bike in an Italian Eroica?
A British bike in a French?
A Russian bike in a Ukrainian?
A coal black French bike in a Newcastle Eroica?

OK, As an American who has been to my share of bike shows…..Schwinn bores me. I've seen them.

If I go to a car show, the last thing I'm going to look at is another Mustang (yawn)

But if you have some VW Puma or other car not seen around these parts, I'm going to be all over it, looking at the lines, seeing how it differs from what was available here, Etc.

I'm sure there will be a lot of high end Japanese bikes. Lots of Colnago (they have a presence there).


Ride Impression:

Yesterday was a perfect riding day. I went out for a 40ish mile loop to Lake Oswego (Lakeside Bikes) and back.

This is the description from their brochure on the Super Record Export….

"The frame is designed for road and
criterium riding
with short,
responsive geometry yet our
SR model is noted for
exceptional stability at speed and excellent cornering response. Ishiwata tubes
allow correct strength and weight characteristics for each frame
size and the
oval (not dented) chainstays
provide maximum lateral stiffness."

So….

Components: Suntour Superbe. I hear the RD is designed to move up and down with the rear cog giving better shifting. I dunno. I'm used to Campy and didn't notice a difference.

I did note I had to tighten the thumb twists on the down tube so both front and rear would stay in the selected gear. Annoyed. But, to be fair, I've had to do that with campy in the past as well.

I swapped out the saddle for Kashimax. The shape and cushion is similar to the ROLLS I'm used to. But, I question the use of suede on a saddle. If someone can explain the benefit, I'd love to hear it. Seems like a recipe for chafing.

Benotto tape. WHY!!!??? Other than shiny color, I see no advantage over gloves and bare metal.

Araya aero rims. Hmmm. There is very little wear on them, they are true and no dents. Yet where the seam is, there is a slight bulge which causes a whomp whomp whomp when braking. I handed them to Brea, founder of Hi-Fi Wheels and now at Lakeside. She said there is very little that can be done about them, which is a shame since they are hard to come by, especially polished. Trying to reshape that area is next to impossible.

The frame. OK, so I know the story, how after the 1964 Tokyo Olympics he dismantled some cinellis, reverse engineered them and started 3Rensho. How very Japanese.

It is a nice ride. My early 70's Colnagos, I feel unsafe removing a hand to perform a "cowboy blow" in fear I'll veer far. Derosa, a little more stable. I can have a hand off the bars for a long period of time. Cinelli, the geometry seems more relaxed. I can remove both hands from the bars, root around in my rear pockets for a handkerchief, blow nose with one hand and check my phone for messages with the other.

The 3Rensho frame feels like that. I could dive around corners of the Terwilliger trail, but I could also turn my body to look behind without fear of veering into a ravine. Racing downhill through the Riverside Cemetery, (part storage, part official bike route) the bike cornered beautifully without flaw which was nice considering I did not want to touch the brakes.

If only it wasn't blue.
__________________
"Leave the gun. Take the Colnagos."
Robvolz is offline  
Likes For Robvolz:
Old 04-01-24, 01:06 PM
  #48  
machinist42
mycocyclist
 
machinist42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Monkey Junction, Wilmington, NC
Posts: 1,235

Bikes: 1964 Schwinn Paramount P-13 DeLuxe, 1964 Schwinn Sport Super Sport, 1972 Falcon San Remo, 1974 Maserati MT-1, 1974 Raleigh International, 1984 Lotus Odyssey, 198? Rossin Ghibli, 1990 LeMond Le Vanquer (sic), 1991 Specialized Allez Transition Pro, +

Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 910 Post(s)
Liked 822 Times in 453 Posts
"All American Bikes Are Schwinns..." C. Kangaroo

Originally Posted by Robvolz
Originally Posted by machinist42
Would you ride a Japanese bike in an Italian Eroica?
A British bike in a French?
A Russian bike in a Ukrainian?
A coal black French bike in a Newcastle Eroica?
OK, As an American who has been to my share of bike shows…..Schwinn bores me. I've seen them.
....
Eisentraut, Gordon, Merz, Lyon, Columbine, Strawberry, Ritchey, Serota, Waterford, Confente, Huffy, Masi, Della Santa, Fattic, McLean, etc.

Last edited by machinist42; 04-01-24 at 01:09 PM.
machinist42 is offline  
Likes For machinist42:
Old 04-01-24, 01:19 PM
  #49  
AdventureManCO 
The Huffmeister
 
AdventureManCO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: The Le Grande HQ
Posts: 2,741

Bikes: '79 Trek 938, '86 Jim Merz Allez SE, '90 Miyata 1000, '68 PX-10, '80 PXN-10, '73 Super Course, '87 Guerciotti, '83 Trek 600, '80 Huffy Le Grande

Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1227 Post(s)
Liked 3,561 Times in 1,412 Posts
Originally Posted by machinist42
huffy, etc.
+1
AdventureManCO is offline  
Likes For AdventureManCO:
Old 04-01-24, 01:20 PM
  #50  
AdventureManCO 
The Huffmeister
 
AdventureManCO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: The Le Grande HQ
Posts: 2,741

Bikes: '79 Trek 938, '86 Jim Merz Allez SE, '90 Miyata 1000, '68 PX-10, '80 PXN-10, '73 Super Course, '87 Guerciotti, '83 Trek 600, '80 Huffy Le Grande

Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1227 Post(s)
Liked 3,561 Times in 1,412 Posts
Great bike, and a better friend.
__________________
There were 135 Confentes, but only one...Huffente!









AdventureManCO is offline  
Likes For AdventureManCO:


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.