Falcon Black Diamond
 

Could anyone help I am renovating a Falcon Black Diamond,and would like to know the year of manufacture approx frame number is 2166 any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance John

What color is it?

Colour is dark red metallic on headset falcon badge has designed by Ernie Clements if that helps

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...I don't know of a data set for Falcon frame numbers. Mostly, you date them by appearance (color, decals, etc.) and components.
There are some online catalog page resources you can find by Googling. Then you try to compare with what you have.

The brand is not well documented, compared to some others. Part of the issue seems to be the various ownership changes for the Falcon name.

Thanks for that could it possibly be 1966 with it only having 4digits ie using the last two numbers for year of manufacture. 2166

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...anything is possible. If you get to the point where you have ten or more posts and can upload some decent drive side photos of the bike, the components, and the frame details (joining at the seat lug and head tube, lug profiles, etc.), someone will come along and give you a better idea of a ballpark estimate on date. The frame number will just confuse you on these. Falcon used red metallic as a color in many different model years, some going back to the 60's, some more recent in the 80's.

The geometry of the frame and the components is the best dating clue.

Many Thanks for that 3 alarmer,

In all likelihood it is a mid seventies bike. When the bike boom started in 1971 Falcon ramped up production and boatloads were imported to the U.S. Especially red ones. A Falcon Black Diamond with aluminum rims, cranks, centerpull brakes, stem, and bars compared favorably with it's European competition in the $125 entry level range. It outshone a similarly priced Schwinn at that time. I wouldn't sink too much money into as it's not a great frame but if its very thin paint, decals, and components are in good shape it can be cleaned up to be a nice looking bike.

On the other hand, the early 60's Black Diamonds were lovely bikes made with Reynolds 531. I agree the OPs example is likely from the bike boom early 70's, but on the off chance it's an early one, here's what they look like. Note the lug design.
Shown in "as found" condition with modern 700c hybrid wheels jammed into the frame.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...13b823bdc2.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3c9028224b.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...be6b47b912.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1c5ee24d59.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...78e7cb70d7.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...218a45a2cf.jpg

Thank you all I do think I may have the earlier frame
as it has the ornate lug design. Same handlebar stem, it has metal wheels not alloy,It doesn’t have centepull brakes but the conventional caliper type
and alloy cranks, it doesn’t have the 531 tubing motif
but an imprint on the frame where a decal has been

pic assist

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...df909f04c.jpeg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...adc00408d.jpeg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fd7ad2bc7.jpeg

Judging by the photos, it looks like a 1970's era model

It has "center pull" brakes.

I have the same bike (lugwork, fork crown, seat stays, pump braze-ons, dropouts, etc.) but mine is the "Eddie Merckx" version in orange. The main tubes may be Reynolds Plain Gauge. I always thought mine had Reynolds tubing because it had a 26.4mm seat post but cleaning it up I noticed that the seat tube has a vertical seam inside, so not so sure now.

Reynolds or not, it's a good frame if if fits you. I took mine on a week long trip through southeastern Wisconsin with a pair of medium size saddle bags and the ride was very comfortable.

The other thing I just noticed is that your headbadge is a sticker rather than a badge, mine has a sticker as well, but it's of Eddie Merckx.


.......

I have the same bike too, circa 1975. Yours has cottered cranks, which makes me think it is a little older.

I converted mine to a single speed and ride it around town for errands.

There are two different bikes pictured in this thread, the OP's has a Japanese alloy cotterless crank

Thanks for that, one point my bike has the tapered square crank pin , and not cotter pins regards John

Here is my Falcon. Bought circa 1974 and sold it to a friend. Decades later, he gave it back to me, wheels trashed. I converted it to a single speed errand runner.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...35c03592c9.jpg

To help out on the dating, here's the one I had for a couple of years, definitely Bike Boom era (73-74), wheels and derailleurs are not original. While definitely the bottom of the line bike (no chrome on the lugs, nothing special about the tubing), it was a damn nice rider. Unfortunately, one frame size too large for me to really get comfortable, ended up selling off the frame, most of the rest of the parts had been put aside in the hopes I'd find a 56/58 frame, but they ended up lost in the fire.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...78b7305af.jpeg

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from information provided in pic assist images -

frame -

constructed with Agrati lug pattern "AM" ART. 000.8040/U

upper head lug is item N. 000.8044

lower head lug is item N. 000.8043

seat lug is item N. 000.8049

bottom bracket shell Agrati N. 000.8507

welded fork crown is NERVEX Pattern Nr. 4

dropouts Cyclo

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fittings -

Sugino Maxy chainset

Kyokuto (KKT) Top Run pedals

Shimano Titlist gear ensemble

Weinmann 610/750 brakeset

Weinmann bimetal stem, a rare item

Normandy solid axle hubset

Rigida SUPERCHROMIX rims

galvanized spokes

Bluemels mudguards

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odd that a clamp-on chainstay stop is in use while braze-on stop appears sound

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Information regards Falcon Black Diamond
 

Hi Bblair
Many thanks for the info on my bicycle very
informative, I have just got the frame in primer and
am ready for colour now, having got most of the parts ready for re assembly, I will send you a pic
when I’ve finished her if you wish , Kind Regards ,
John Mott,

I’ve got a Falcon Black Diamond, had it since I was a teenager in the late 70s. Mine is a 1978 model (I've proved that from a 1978 catalogue). I’ve stripped it down for respray and renovation, and found date stamps on the back of the Weinmann callipers. Check those on yours, it should help narrow the date down.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...88d8472f5.jpeg


I’ve been posting update on my progress on my blog
http://falconrestorebike.wordpress.com/