Specialized Allez mystery....
 

So, I found another Specialized Allez, however this one seems to be more of a mystery than my last one, which was established as an 83/84 3Rensho build.....

This one is a little different:

Color: instead of a deep red, slightly metallic, this one is solid color, and a bit more orange-y, possibly due to being in the sun for years.
Model: I think this one is NOT an SE, as there is no decal for SE on the top tube
Dropouts: Unlike my other Allez, this one has chromed Shimano dropouts and fork ends. On the dropouts, I think I can make out an "EF" code - according to a source on the internet, this would correspond to E=1980, F=June. That seems really early though....
Seatstay caps: Unlike my other Allez, which has the stylized embossed "S", this one has recessed "Allez"
Components: I don't think the components are original on this bike, but they are mostly Shimano 600 and Dura Ace -- BB is Shimano, crankset is 600, brakes are 600, shift levers are Dura Ace, derailleurs are Shimano Ultegra, I think. Oddly enough, the wheel set is Campy Nuovo Tipo high flange laced to Mavic G40, and the stem is a Cinelli 1R and bars and Cinelli 64.
Lugs: The lugs look very similar but not identical to my 3Rensho Allez. They're not short and stubby like an SE, but seem long and thin like the 3Rensho. Not identical but similar.
Fork: The fork is offset, just like on my 3Rensho Allez. This frame has recessed brake mounting and will need short reach brakes
Signature: The non drive side has the Tim Neenan signature. My 3Rensho does not have a sig
Serial Number: Unlike the 3Rensho Allez, this one has a serial number. It seems to be 545023265. It also has a 54 buried in the paint above that, which would seem like the size. This does not seem to compute with the Asian Serial Number resource I have seen.

Let me know if you have any thoughts about this frame. It does not seem to fit the Allez narrative. There are no frame decals so not sure what it was made of, and I think maybe there is a clue in the steerer tube, but I haven't taken the headset off yet.

Is it possible this bike was built with Shimano 600? If so, I might keep that stuff, but I am more inclined to make it a mostly Suntour Superbe bike, just because I like that stuff....


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d0f34fcca.jpeg
"Allez" on seat stay caps. Note long tapered lugs
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ca52f70b5.jpeg
Dura Ace headset, long tapered lugs
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f3071f865.jpeg
Same graphics on downtube, no "SE" decal on top tube
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...586448fdd.jpeg
Designed by Tim Neenan
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a8053ae41.jpeg
Offset fork crown, like the 3Rensho ones.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8f3122715.jpeg
Shimano fork ends
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3213bc97b.jpeg
Serial number
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6f2182a72.jpeg
Shimano chromed dropouts "EF"

Shimano chromed dropouts "EF"

Came with a 26.6 SR Laprade, but it seems loose and the ears are a bit pinched, I think it should be 26.8

Pretty nice lug treatment

Above bb cable guide braze ons
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...38be88010.jpeg
Mostly Shimano 600 and Dura Ace
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...45e16e8b1.jpeg
Shimano 600 crankset

@75lechamp

This one is earlier with the allez caps, the S/N is a SSN of a previous owner. None of the earlier red ones were SE's, all the later blue Merz edition ones and some red ones.

Nice score, great find. :thumb:

Nice looking bike, but may not be a Konno built frame.

The earlier seat stay caps paired with the later graphics makes me wonder if this was a repaint.

Paging shnibop

Two Unhelpful Cents
 

The "EFs" on the Shimano dropouts are a model designation, not a date code.

https://velobase.com/VeloImages/Fram...2E2152798.jpeg

Link to Velobase Listing.

holy smokes merziac you're right, that has got to be a SSN! In this day and age, hard to imagine someone wanting to do that, but it used to happen frequently, I forgot. Thanks machinist42 for the tip on the Shimano model designation, I am not very familiar with the Shimano dropouts. billytwosheds I can't find evidence of a repaint thus far....

that certainly is an "offset" Konno style forkcrown! Has to be a significant clue!

looks like a yoshi konno built allez to me - congratulations it's a terrific bike !

I'm pretty sure that's a 3Rensho built Allez. The color (which I believe you'll find is a perfect match for Rust Oleum Cherry Red) is the same as my '83 3Rensho Allez. I read something somewhere about there having been (at least) three 3Rensho runs, distinguished by different seat stay caps and Shimano vs. Campy dropouts. I don't know the particulars. The offset crown, chrome dropouts, and long lugs seal it in my mind.

I'm with @andy k on this one. I acquired two of these Kono built frames in 2017. A 54 with the "Allez" seat stay caps...two small for me so I sold it, and a 56 with the stylized "S" seat stay caps that remains in my fleet. Heaps of digging indicated the "Allez" seat stay caps were from the 1980-1981 era and the "S" followed for frames built in the 1982-1984 period.

Interesting to me was the earlier frame had the shift cables running under the BB and the later frame had the cables running over the top, as shown on the @75lechamp example. I reached out to Tim Neenan in the spring of 2017 about what prompted the design change. 'Damned if he didn't get right back to me! Tim stated he had spec'd the bikes to have the shift cables run under the BB, but Yoshi Kono took some liberties. Tim also provided this pic, which I've posted before, showing himself, Yoshi, and Yoshi's daughter outside the shop in Japan. 'Thought this was pretty cool.

Dean

https://live.staticflickr.com/4591/3...429cdc30_z.jpgJapan 001

To that end, it might be prudent to edit the OP and re-post that BB shell photo with the number blurred/smudged.

But the decals on this one are from the 82-84 period, so it must be a transitional model or a repaint, and it doesn't look like a repaint to me

Yep, I don't *see* anything in the paint that suggests it was redone. Chalk up the stay caps and graphics combo to a transition period.

It's a nice bike any way you look at it. And my size :twitchy:

I am inclined to agree, this must be a transition model - later downtube graphics, with the older seat stay caps. Now starting to collect parts for this one. I am thinking mostly Suntour Superbe, although I think I will keep the Dura Ace headset, which seems unique. I saw this picture - apparently a very early Allez which is at the Specialized corporate offices, and it has that same DA headset.



https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9b3dbc963.jpeg

A little more fuel for the fire..... Here's a full view photo of the bike I sold with the "Allez" seat stay caps and under the BB shift cable routing. Graphics appear to match those in Post #13. Definitely not a repaint and the finish was near perfect other than a scratch on the right side of the top tube....it pained me to sell it, but the frame was too small and I only keep bikes I can ride. Some trivia, the frame wore a R+E Cycles (Seattle) shop sticker....'just 75 miles and a ferry boat ride away from me. Sigh.

Dean

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...68e4f41e_k.jpgIMG_1655

First ride!
 

Took the first ride, about 22 miles out to Golden... rides exceedingly well, the equal of my other 3Rensho Allez....


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...68d219519.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b7e3333f8.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a2828144e.jpeg