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Bridgestone Grand Velo in pearl orange; anyone know what it is?
I saw a pearl orange Grand Velo from about 1986 that is all original. The bike looks really sharp but the owner wants a lot more than a typical white and red one. He called the orange one a team bike but there isn't any special indication as to what it is. Has anyone seen one or better can anyone shed any light? I'd appreciate any help. I can take pictures tomorrow when I see it again.
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Originally Posted by ronp6
(Post 13752613)
I saw a pearl orange Grand Velo from about 1986 that is all original. The bike looks really sharp but the owner wants a lot more than a typical white and red one. He called the orange one a team bike but there isn't any special indication as to what it is. Has anyone seen one or better can anyone shed any light? I'd appreciate any help. I can take pictures tomorrow when I see it again.
I had the "typical" red and white "3000" model, and to be frank, I have never seen a pearl orange model. Nice bikes though, well worth a look. I liked the ride of these better than my RB-1s. BTW There was a 2000 as well. Can't remember exactly, but I think the major difference was components. I would take another 3000 or 3100 at the right price. http://sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/...-velo-2000.jpg http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgest...-velo-3000.jpg http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgest...ne-1987-06.htm http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgest...ne-1987-05.jpg http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgest...ne-1987-06.jpg Orange Grand Velo http://active-s.com/blog/img/bsc_gv_1.jpg |
Thanks for the reply. They look like a nice ride. The orange looked lighter than the one you showed. The components on the orange bike were Suntour Superbe Pro like the 2000 you showed. That was always one of my favorite friction systems.
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Gomango, I didn't get the picture of the 3100 catalog page the first time I opened it and just read it. The owner probably means the orange one is a 3100 that is the hand built pro bike as described in the catalog. The rear derailleur is a Surperbe Pro like the 3100 not the Superbe of the 2000. Since you had a 3100, what do you think of $650 for a brand new one right out of the box?
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Originally Posted by ronp6
(Post 13753022)
Gomango, I didn't get the picture of the 3100 catalog page the first time I opened it and just read it. The owner probably means the orange one is a 3100 that is the hand built pro bike as described in the catalog. The rear derailleur is a Surperbe Pro like the 3100 not the Superbe of the 2000. Since you had a 3100, what do you think of $650 for a brand new one right out of the box?
This may get moved to appraisal, so don't be shook if it does. Does the bike fit you? How was it stored? Any rust? Rubber and lube will need to be checked and replaced. Other than that, I'd take a brand new 3100 for that price in a heartbeat. If you do buy her, please come back with tons of pics. They are very nice bicycles, and again, I'd take one before a RB-1. They had fairly quick handling, so hang on tight in the turns. ...and try not to grin too much. :) |
Thanks for the input. I think it is the 3000 that I hadn't seen on Sheldon's site. It is my size and I expect to have to go over the brakes and repack the hubs and bottom bracket. I should own it tomorrow and will send along pictures.
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Originally Posted by ronp6
(Post 13753142)
Thanks for the input. I think it is the 3000 that I hadn't seen on Sheldon's site. It is my size and I expect to have to go over the brakes and repack the hubs and bottom bracket. I should own it tomorrow and will send along pictures.
To be honest, any of three would be exciting finds for me. Can't wait to see pics! Good luck. |
Bring on the orange 3000!
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I would like to see this thing
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I'd LOVE to see pics too :)
Whats the diff between the 3000 and the RB-1? |
Originally Posted by Epicus07
(Post 13758451)
I'd LOVE to see pics too :)
Whats the diff between the 3000 and the RB-1? The 3000 was a fairly spry performer, and liked to be tossed into turns. The RB-1 felt heavier and deader, and handling was a little on the vague side in comparison. In addition, the 3000 was rock solid on a fast descent, while I was never quite positive about the RB-1's ability to come back down from speed. It felt a lot like my De Rosa SLX. Part brakes and tires I realize, but just one guy's opinion. Finally, I loved the look of the 3000 and the 3100, and am truly interested to see an orange 1986 or so 3000. Might just be a real looker! |
Originally Posted by gomango
(Post 13753094)
...They had fairly quick handling, so hang on tight in the turns.
...and try not to grin too much. :) A perfect bike for fast solo rides imo. Mine's the lesser model, white with red trim, it came with tubular rims with Bridgestone tubular tires! Crank is the old-style Mighty, hubs are sealed Suntour and it has that beautiful engraved stem. |
Originally Posted by dddd
(Post 13759062)
Actually, these had a very tri-specific geometry. My 56cm has a very steep seat tube angle, short top tube and a shallow head tube angle. Steady as a rock, but not really sluggish by any means.
A perfect bike for fast solo rides imo. Mine's the lesser model, white with red trim, it came with tubular rims with Bridgestone tubular tires! Crank is the old-style Mighty, hubs are sealed Suntour and it has that beautiful engraved stem. At least three guys I knew rode them and used them for crits. I think they over purchased at the shop in Minneapolis and had a pretty decent sale at one point. The line wasn't so clearly marked for tri bikes as now though. At least we didn't know any better. My wife rides a Felt b2, and we joke she needs to be careful when she turns the bike around on the road. Any pics of yours dddd? I'd love to see the bike, as there aren't so many about these days. |
The 3000 and 3100 were hand built bikes made by the people who built the NJS Pro racing bikes. The RB1 was built like other Bridgestones. Gomango, that probably explains the liveliness you remember from the GV compared to the RB1.
Sorry about not posting the pictures yet but I will. I also baught a NOS GV 2000, a NOS 1985 MB1 and a NOS Grand Velo frame along with some 1981-1983 Sirius so I will post some pictures next week for your viewing enjoyment once I clean them up. I have been very busy all week just staring at them. What I have found out is that Grand Velo was treated as a separate group who hand built mostly professional racer's bikes. The same group still make 45% of the professional racer's bikes in Japan but now labeled Bridgestone but they don't export. They were sold with a Bridgestone headbadge but not bridgestone decals until decided to market them in the US in 1984. That is cooincicently when Grant started at Bridgestone. If anyone has more information I'd like to hear it as information on these is scarce. |
Originally Posted by ronp6
(Post 13774885)
The 3000 and 3100 were hand built bikes made by the people who built the NJS Pro racing bikes. The RB1 was built like other Bridgestones. Gomango, that probably explains the liveliness you remember from the GV compared to the RB1.
Sorry about not posting the pictures yet but I will. I also baught a NOS GV 2000, a NOS 1985 MB1 and a NOS Grand Velo frame along with some 1981-1983 Sirius so I will post some pictures next week for your viewing enjoyment once I clean them up. I have been very busy all week just staring at them. What I have found out is that Grand Velo was treated as a separate group who hand built mostly professional racer's bikes. The same group still make 45% of the professional racer's bikes in Japan but now labeled Bridgestone but they don't export. They were sold with a Bridgestone headbadge but not bridgestone decals until decided to market them in the US in 1984. That is cooincicently when Grant started at Bridgestone. If anyone has more information I'd like to hear it as information on these is scarce. Take that back. They had a smaller 3100 hanging on the wall for a couple of years. If the snow we received today melts early enough, I'll ride over there tomorrow. See if I can drum up any additional info on Grand Velos. They carried XO-1s as well, and that was where mine came from originally. BTW What size is the GV frame, which model, and will it be offered at some point? And finally, congratulations. I like all of the models you picked up. My youngest son sold his super nice MB-1 last fall for a silly amount of money. In fact, a friend has a MB-0 hanging in his garage that has been tempting me for the last decade. I am highly intrigued by this pearl orange model of yours. I think I paid about $500 for the 3000 back in the day. Might be off on that though. Any chance of a sneak peek? :) |
Sorry to tell you this but the frame is a 51 with a 52 top tube both measured c to c. I'll take some pictures but it is the same as this frame except for size.
These pictures came out over saturated on this computer and I don't know which computer is seeing what others will. The bike is a pearl orange and not as bright as I am seeing these. Hopefully the pictures aren't too large. http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...GVIMG_5765.jpg http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...GVIMG_5764.jpg http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...GVIMG_5763.jpg http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...IMG_5761-1.jpg http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...GVIMG_5760.jpg http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...GVIMG_5758.jpg http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...loDSC02891.jpg http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...DSC02883-1.jpg http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...loDSC02880.jpg http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...IMG_5787-1.jpg |
That's a super cool ride.
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Thanks. I can't wait to take it out.
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Sorry that wasn't what I intended to do.
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Brand new aren't they? :)
All four, including the orange Grand Velo, are super nice. What year do you suppose the earlier Grand Velo is? 1970s? http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...V2IMG_5771.jpg http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...usDSC02462.jpg http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...B1IMG_5766.jpg |
I saw a picture of the welder in a Japanese ad that has this orange frame and a pearl red one and it is dated 1975 but I was told they used those colors for many years. I'll check for a serial number database for Bridgestone in case they are in the same series. They would have to be late 70's when the bike shop opened to early 80's before Bridgestone imported the 3100, 3000 and 2000 I would think.
It all came from a bike shop that locked the doors in 1985. Most of the Sirius were in the original boxes and many were sealed. I still have 5 left with some spoken for. I can get Altairs, 300's and a 500 if I act fast. |
Originally Posted by ronp6
(Post 13778003)
I saw a picture of the welder in a Japanese ad that has this orange frame and a pearl red one and it is dated 1975 but I was told they used those colors for many years. I'll check for a serial number database for Bridgestone in case they are in the same series. They would have to be late 70's when the bike shop opened to early 80's before Bridgestone imported the 3100, 3000 and 2000 I would think.
It all came from a bike shop that locked the doors in 1985. Most of the Sirius were in the original boxes and many were sealed. I still have 5 left with some spoken for. I can get Altairs, 300's and a 500 if I act fast. Thank you for bringing all of these to our attention. What a fun opportunity. |
The red one on the stand is already in the hands of an active poster. They have all gone to real bike people. I want to sell them locally and that hasn't been a problem but if anyone if near Boston feel free to PM me.
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This sounds like a little defunct shop in Southern Maine... I went there a few years ago and couldn't believe the stash of NOS Bridgestone bikes.
The owner had a 52cm orange Grand Velo frameset on the wall. I asked him if there were any 54cm frames, but he wasn't sure, and he didn't seem all that interested in checking. I went back there a few times. The shop was still there, the windows were covered, the place was never open, no phone, ...nothing. BTW, ronp6, I tried to PM you, but I'm still a newbie here and don't have enough posts to do that yet... So, if there's a 54cm frame/bike in the lot I'm game ;-) Ed. |
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