Crescent Bike
10-03-19, 10:53 AM
#1
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Crescent Bike
This ones been for sale locally for a few weeks. Is this anything worth checking out? Thanks for the input! 
10-03-19, 11:15 AM
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If it's your size and the price is right, yes. The parts are a mixed bag of lower end stuff. The saddle looks like a torture device. But the bike will clean up nicely and has a terrific headbadge. The frame sticker tells you in Swedish that it's good quality; what more could you want? 
The tubing--supervitus--is good stuff.
The tubing--supervitus--is good stuff.
10-03-19, 11:17 AM
#4
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Thanks. I don't really have room for another bike unless its exceptional. They want $75. Apartment living. Already have a vintage 3 speed and a Gitane Track bike.
10-03-19, 11:19 AM
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It is a good deal at $75. Parts can be changed. Supervitus tubing is very high quality.
https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Fra...us_history.htm
https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Fra...us_history.htm
10-03-19, 11:30 AM
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Depends on what you are looking for....swedish bike but low end,
I would look for at least the following in a bike as they are a general indicator of a bit higher level bike (unless you are talking collectibles
Aluminum rims
Quick release wheels
Alloy (aluminum) cranks and chain rings
Chrome Moly tubing
and it has to fit
have no idea what size OP is but here are some ideas from grand rapids craigslist bikes that may be better.....but is looks like selections there are really limited
miyata big grame $145 https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/b...989549136.html
miyata hybrid or conversion $70 https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/b...991160062.html
I would look for at least the following in a bike as they are a general indicator of a bit higher level bike (unless you are talking collectibles
Aluminum rims
Quick release wheels
Alloy (aluminum) cranks and chain rings
Chrome Moly tubing
and it has to fit
have no idea what size OP is but here are some ideas from grand rapids craigslist bikes that may be better.....but is looks like selections there are really limited
miyata big grame $145 https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/b...989549136.html
miyata hybrid or conversion $70 https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/b...991160062.html
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
10-03-19, 11:37 AM
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10-03-19, 11:38 AM
#9
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Didn't Crescent also make those stainless-steel bikes that they modeled with the sexy Swedish woman in clogs and um, form-fitting, halter top draped over it?
To be honest I clicked hoping to see that photo.
To be honest I clicked hoping to see that photo.
10-03-19, 12:10 PM
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You're welcome.
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10-03-19, 12:26 PM
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miyata big grame $145 https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/b...989549136.html
I am a big miyata fan.....I would check out the miyata, it is probably on upper edge of fit.at 25 in/62 cm....but looks in good shape I am 6' and normally ride a 58cm (23 inch) but have ridden a 60/61 with no problem (if little seatpost showing)
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Last edited by cb400bill; 10-05-19 at 05:51 AM.
10-03-19, 01:19 PM
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-----
Thanks for posting.
This is the first MCB product have seen to be constructed of Vitus.
Frame appears it could be of the model 318/319/320 family otherwise...
-----
Thanks for posting.
This is the first MCB product have seen to be constructed of Vitus.
Frame appears it could be of the model 318/319/320 family otherwise...
-----
10-03-19, 05:46 PM
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It looks like a 318. I don't think the 319 came in white, and I know the 320 did not. Most of the parts have been changed.
10-04-19, 12:20 AM
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The Vitus decal looks like a later upgrade.
The fork decal should look like this:
The fork decal should look like this:
10-04-19, 03:55 AM
#16
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Crescent Bikes
We sold some Crescents during the bike boom and up to 1975 or so.
We focused on the 2-3 high end models - the Pepitas.
1970 Spec Sheet:
1973 Spec Sheet
They made some mid range models with Japanese components - Sugino Mighty Compe cranks, Suntour derailleurs and so on. They came with Suntour dropouts. We had several of the drive side Suntour dropouts break in normal use. The importer didn't stand behind them so we stopped selling Crescents.
We sold several of the "stainless steel" models. They were basically the top Pepita model with the 3 main tubes made of polished straight gauge 304 stainless. The forks and rear triangles were chrome plated Reynolds 531. The lugs were painted black, not gold like in these pictures.
We couldn't tell any difference in the ride between the stainless steel frames and the Reynolds ones.
The workmanship and cosmetics were really cobby on a lot of Crescent frames. I picked up an old Pepita 531 frame cheap a few years ago. I forgot how bad they were - they made bad French frames look good.
By the mid 70's we got in a few bikes with white frames and even fewer in robin's egg blue. Those bikes usually had Super Vitus 971 frames which were the equivalent of Columbus SL which made them lighter than the Reynolds 531 Crescent frames.
Crescents were popular with some racers in the early 70's, probably because they were cheap. Here's John Howard hammering on a Crescent in 1973.
Crescent made so true gas pipe models that were crudely arc welded out of pipe. Oddly, they had Campy rear dropouts and Campy Nuovo Tipo high flange hubs.
Last but not least, here's the REAL Crescent poster from Sweden. We had one of these in our show room and one with the model au naturel hanging in the shop where no one could see it!
verktyg
We focused on the 2-3 high end models - the Pepitas.
1970 Spec Sheet:
1973 Spec Sheet
They made some mid range models with Japanese components - Sugino Mighty Compe cranks, Suntour derailleurs and so on. They came with Suntour dropouts. We had several of the drive side Suntour dropouts break in normal use. The importer didn't stand behind them so we stopped selling Crescents.
We sold several of the "stainless steel" models. They were basically the top Pepita model with the 3 main tubes made of polished straight gauge 304 stainless. The forks and rear triangles were chrome plated Reynolds 531. The lugs were painted black, not gold like in these pictures.
We couldn't tell any difference in the ride between the stainless steel frames and the Reynolds ones.
The workmanship and cosmetics were really cobby on a lot of Crescent frames. I picked up an old Pepita 531 frame cheap a few years ago. I forgot how bad they were - they made bad French frames look good.
By the mid 70's we got in a few bikes with white frames and even fewer in robin's egg blue. Those bikes usually had Super Vitus 971 frames which were the equivalent of Columbus SL which made them lighter than the Reynolds 531 Crescent frames.
Crescents were popular with some racers in the early 70's, probably because they were cheap. Here's John Howard hammering on a Crescent in 1973.
Crescent made so true gas pipe models that were crudely arc welded out of pipe. Oddly, they had Campy rear dropouts and Campy Nuovo Tipo high flange hubs.
Last but not least, here's the REAL Crescent poster from Sweden. We had one of these in our show room and one with the model au naturel hanging in the shop where no one could see it!
verktyg
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Last edited by verktyg; 10-04-19 at 04:08 AM.
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10-04-19, 12:04 PM
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From back in the Erie days, Crescents were exotic bikes with horrible paint jobs and mediocre build quality, but a very good reputation for how they rode. Desirable in the part of the country that I lived in, but no better than a few French marques that were just as hard to get but had a better build quality. Therefore, nobody in the Presque Isle Bicycle Club bothered riding one.
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10-04-19, 01:22 PM
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Me local MCB stockist was Stone's Bicycles of Alameda, California.
The carried the Monark badge and offered models 319 and 320 in a choice of white, blue or orange.
The explanation of the owner, Dennis Stone, was that MCB sponsored a pro team and an amateur team. One rode orange and one rode blue. White was offered as an unaffiliated colour.
Make no claim to correctness here. This is what I was told by a person in a position to know...
-----
10-05-19, 04:41 AM
#20
verktyg
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Crescent Color Code Explanations
-----
Me local MCB stockist was Stone's Bicycles of Alameda, California.
The carried the Monark badge and offered models 319 and 320 in a choice of white, blue or orange.
The explanation of the owner, Dennis Stone, was that MCB sponsored a pro team and an amateur team. One rode orange and one rode blue. White was offered as an unaffiliated colour.
Make no claim to correctness here. This is what I was told by a person in a position to know...-----
Me local MCB stockist was Stone's Bicycles of Alameda, California.
The carried the Monark badge and offered models 319 and 320 in a choice of white, blue or orange.
The explanation of the owner, Dennis Stone, was that MCB sponsored a pro team and an amateur team. One rode orange and one rode blue. White was offered as an unaffiliated colour.
Make no claim to correctness here. This is what I was told by a person in a position to know...-----
I've only seen a few white Crescents and even fewer blue ones "in the steel".
verktyg
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
10-05-19, 06:14 AM
#21
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I'd grab it for the frame — if it FITS!!
I like the lugs, and my info says the tubing was comparable with other double-butted brands used in sports / racing. It's a project waiting. Strip it down completely and start a build. Reuse anything that equals good quality and worth the frame it's going on. That may leave you not very much that hangs of the frame now. My little bit, but honestly, the frame would tempt me a lot!
Hmmm ... you might string it up and see if it's straight, and if not, assess if it can be corrected.
I like the lugs, and my info says the tubing was comparable with other double-butted brands used in sports / racing. It's a project waiting. Strip it down completely and start a build. Reuse anything that equals good quality and worth the frame it's going on. That may leave you not very much that hangs of the frame now. My little bit, but honestly, the frame would tempt me a lot!
Hmmm ... you might string it up and see if it's straight, and if not, assess if it can be corrected.
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10-05-19, 06:59 AM
#22
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I'd grab it for the frame — if it FITS!!
I like the lugs, and my info says the tubing was comparable with other double-butted brands used in sports / racing. It's a project waiting. Strip it down completely and start a build. Reuse anything that equals good quality and worth the frame it's going on. That may leave you not very much that hangs of the frame now. My little bit, but honestly, the frame would tempt me a lot!
Hmmm ... you might string it up and see if it's straight, and if not, assess if it can be corrected.
I like the lugs, and my info says the tubing was comparable with other double-butted brands used in sports / racing. It's a project waiting. Strip it down completely and start a build. Reuse anything that equals good quality and worth the frame it's going on. That may leave you not very much that hangs of the frame now. My little bit, but honestly, the frame would tempt me a lot!
Hmmm ... you might string it up and see if it's straight, and if not, assess if it can be corrected.
10-05-19, 08:02 AM
#23
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This is my 318. I've only seen the double seat tube decals on the 318s.
10-05-19, 02:07 PM
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10-05-19, 02:43 PM
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