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Show Us Your Techniums! (Technium? Technia?)
Since tech is a Greek root, maybe I'm really asking to see your Technios. Whatever the plural, googling around reveals we've had a lot of Technium threads here over the years (mostly along the lines of "Anybody ever heard of a Technium before?") but no "show us" thread yet, so here it is.
Tell us what you know for sure about yours. Tell us what you think you know about yours. Dates, materials used, which frame parts are steel/aluminum/titanium - there were lots of combinations, apparently! If you have access to Raleigh USA catalogs post 'em up. It seems from the late 1980s 'til the early 2000s, all the Raleigh catalogs available online are scarce and UK-specific? I'd love to be proven wrong on that, so post links if ya got 'em. Drive side shot of my Raleigh Technium Pro: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4320/...889f7a41_k.jpg What I know: Aluminum main tubes (Easton E9). Stays, BB, seat cluster & head tube unit are all steel, with 4130 cro-mo steel fork. Made in "Seattle." (Kent, WA.) Speculation: Based on the Shimano Exage Action brakes, I think this bike was originally specced with that group. Everything else was changed around at some point before I picked it up, and the parts it's currently wearing are a mis-mash updating to my taste. Speculation: 1990 model year? Based on the R90******* serial number and pics of a lot of purported '91 models posted online that look similar, but not exactly like this bike. Or maybe the '9' means 1989? UPDATE: @T-Mar provides the key to decoding USA TEchnium serial numbers: The serial number format for a Technium should be Rydddyxxxxs where: R=Raleigh yy = numerals indicating year ddd = numerals indicating day of year xxxx = numerals indicating sequential frame number s = letters indicating shift, where A= morning and B= evening Example: R902810735A indicates 735th frame built during the morning shift of the 28th day of 1991.
Originally Posted by T-Mar
(Post 19760839)
Here's the 1990 Technium info from my catalogue & price list.
Road: 1990 Olympian, Shimano 300EX, $375-$425 1990 Supercourse, 6061 T8 aluminum, w/CrMo stays & fork, Shimano 400EX, $45-$525. 1990 Grand Prix, 6061 T8 aluminum, w/CrMo stays & fork, SunTour Radius, $550-$625 1990 Prestige, Easton E9 aluminum, w/CrMo stays & fork, Shimano RX100, $600-$700 1990 Pro, Easton E9 aluminum, w/CrMo stays & fork, Shimano 105SC, $875-750 ATB: 1990 Obsession, 6061 T8 aluminum, w/CrMo stays & fork, Shimano 300LX, $450-$500 1990 Heat, 6061 T8 aluminum, w/CrMo stays & fork, Shimano 500LX, $525-$575 1990 Instinct LX, Easton E9 aluminum, w/CrMo stays & fork, Shimano Deore LX, $575-$650 1990 Instinct XCD, Easton E9 aluminum, w/CrMo stays & fork, SunTour XCD, $625-$7000 1990 Chill, Easton E9 aluminum, w/CrMo stays & fork, Shimano Deore DX, $675-$750 1990 Peak, Easton E9 aluminum, w/CrMo stays & fork, Shimano Deore XT, $950-$1050 Hybrid: 1990 Olympian CX, 6061 T8 aluminum, w/CrMo stays & fork, Shimano 300LX, $425-$450 I believe I also have 1991 & 1992 price lists. I also have sporadic info on pre-1990 Technium models from road tests, advertisements, etc. I will slowly add these to the thread. The OP may want to ammend post #1, to include these, to make it an easier to find resource. 1991 models. Sorry, no info on stay & fork mat'l. Road: 1991 Olympian FT, 6061 T6 aluminum, Shimano 300EX/LX, $435 1991 Supercourse FT, 6061 T8 aluminum, Shimano 500EX/LX, $560 1991 Grand Prix, 6061 T8 aluminum, SunTour Radius, $535 1991 Pro, Easton E9 aluminum, Shimano 105SC, $760 1991 Competition, Reynolds 531, Shimano 600 Ultegra, $1200 1991, Team, Reynolds 753, Shimano Dura-Ace STI, $2000 ATB: 1991 Obsession, 6061 T8 aluminum, Shimano 400LX, $515 1991 Heat, 6061 T8 aluminum, Shimano 500LX, $585 1991 Instinct, 6061 T8 aluminum, Shimano Deore LX/DX, $625 1991 Chill, Easton E9 aluminum, Shimano Deore DX, $750 1991 Peak, Easton E9 aluminum, Shimano Deore XT, $1050 Hybrid: 1991 Olympian CX, 6061 T8 aluminum, Shimano 300EX/LX, $475 1992 line: Road: 1992 Olympian, 6061 T6 aluminum,CrMo fork, Shimano 300EX, $419 1992 Supercourse FT, 6061 T8 aluminum, CrMo fork, Shimano 500EX/LX, $625 1992 Pro, Easton E9 aluminum, CrMo fork, Shimano 105SC, $854 1992 Competition, Reynolds 531, Reynolds 531 fork, Shimano 600 Ultegra STI, $1406 1992 Team, Reynolds 753, Reynolds 753 fork, Shimano Dura-Ace STI, $2317 ATB: 1992 Heat, 6061 T8 aluminum, CrMo fork, Shimano Deore LX, $636 1992 Chill, Easton E9 aluminum, CrMo fork, Shimano Deore DX, $782 1992 Peak, Easton E9 aluminum, aluminum fork, Shimano Deore XT, $1094 1992 Sheer, Easton E9 aluminum w/carbon fibre wrap, Rock Shox Mag 20, Shimano Deore XT, $1552 Hybrid: 1992 Dash AL, 6061 T8 aluminum w/CrMo stays and forks, Shimano 300LX, $460 1992 Dash MAX, 6061 T8 aluminum w/CrMo stays and forks, Shimano 500CX, $545 |
If memory serves, the USA Technii were made between '87 and '93 at the plant in Kent, WA, just south of Seattle. Raleigh needed Boeing's expertise in bonding dissimilar metals and so decided to settle nearby.
I don't have a current Technium but I have flipped a boatload. Love 'em. Ride is very smooth for the era on most. And no, I haven't ever seen one come apart. |
Originally Posted by bargainguy
(Post 19393623)
... And no, I haven't ever seen one come apart.
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1 Attachment(s)
Sold this one in 2015. Still have the wheels... SR sealed hubs & Arraya 27" rims. Great riding bike.
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Thanks for showing your Techniums, guys. I've been riding mine since I bought it in 1990
as a leftover. This bike has been just pure awesome, especially after I put the aluminum fork on and dropped a couple pounds. It now weighs 20 lbs. I can't say enough about the Technium. It is just flexible enough to be comfortable on long rides, but when I want some speed, I just reach into the drops and pull it out. I am not what I would call a strong rider, so I have not reached the limit of what this bike can do. I usually take it out for 60-milers in the summer and my pace is about 16. I have to admit that one reason I ride the Technium is because it is U.S. I am proud to do-so. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c8b05ca935.jpg Manufactured June 8, 1989 Repainted in May 2000 by The Color Factory All components upgraded and hand-picked by me Frame: 58cm seattube c-c, 57cm toptube c-c. 6061-T8 Alcoa aluminum maintubes (Vickers hardness 136) Tange chrome-moly stays, lugs, headtube, dropouts and b.b. shell Fork: Kinesis Road-D threadless alloy 1" Crankset: Campagnolo Veloce (53-39) Bottom bracket: Campagnolo Veloce Chainrings: Stronglight 5083/Miche Supertype Rear derailleur: Suntour Cyclone 6000 Front derailleur: Suntour XCM 3040 (original part) Shifters: Suntour (Blaze) Accushift (set to friction) Rims: Sun Venus 700c, 28H rear, 20H front Hubs: Royce RH30 rear, Hope Mono Pro 3 front Spokes: DTSwiss single-butted 14g Skewers: Campagnolo Victory Stem: ITM The Big One 110mm Handlebar: Scott LF Liteflite 40cm Handlebar tape: Control Tech yellow Brake Calipers: Campagnolo Veloce Brake levers: Cane Creek SCR-5C Brake blocks: Fibrax 310 Sprint Headset: Cane Creek 110 Classic Chain: Sachs PG Freewheel: Sachs A.R.I.S. 14-28 (6-sp) Seatpost: Campagnolo Chorus 18cm, 26.8mm Saddle: Terry Falcon Y Pedals: Speedplay Frog Ti Tires: IRC Paperlite Plus (23mm) Bottle cages: Specialized Rib Cage Bottles; Kleen Kanteen 27oz Comp: VDO A8 |
Originally Posted by bargainguy
(Post 19393623)
If memory serves, the USA Technii were made between '87 and '93 at the plant in Kent, WA, just south of Seattle. Raleigh needed Boeing's expertise in bonding dissimilar metals and so decided to settle nearby.
I don't have a current Technium but I have flipped a boatload. Love 'em. Ride is very smooth for the era on most. And no, I haven't ever seen one come apart. Thanks for the good word on the Techniums, barg! The Techniums actually came out in '86. :) |
That's a beautiful hill-climbing bike, Lasc. Your seat tube lug is like the ones on the 753 Team Techniums (and the cousins from England, the Dynatechs).
Originally Posted by Lascauxcaveman
(Post 19393608)
Since tech is a Greek root, maybe I'm really asking to see your Technios. Whatever the plural, googling around reveals we've had a lot of Technium threads here over the years (mostly along the lines of "Anybody ever heard of a Technium before?") but no "show us" thread yet, so here it is.
Tell us what you know for sure about yours. Tell us what you think you know about yours. Dates, materials used, which frame parts are steel/aluminum/titanium - there were lots of combinations, apparently! If you have access to Raleigh USA catalogs post 'em up. It seems from the late 1980s 'til the early 2000s, all the Raleigh catalogs available online are scarce and UK-specific? I'd love to be proven wrong on that, so post links if ya got 'em. What I know: Aluminum main tubes (Easton E9). Stays, BB, seat cluster & head tube unit are all steel, with 4130 cro-mo steel fork. Made in "Seattle." (Kent, WA.) Speculation: Based on the Shimano Exage Action brakes, I think this bike was originally specced with that group. Everything else was changed around at some point before I picked it up, and the parts it's currently wearing are a mis-mash updating to my taste. Speculation: 1990 model year? Based on the R90******* serial number and pics of a lot of purported '91 models posted online that look similar, but not exactly like this bike. |
I just sold this one, it was at a local resale store for a month or two. It had been sitting beyond the edge of a overhang so I had to clean up some rust on the brakes, they were stuck when I got it. Couldn't figure out the exact year, and I don't think I have the serial number anymore. Did have an Alcoa aluminum sticker on the down tube. Was a little too tall for me, I really liked the blue/pink combo.
http://i.imgur.com/4LGYYND.jpg |
Just dragged home a Technium Olympian, though I'm not sure how to post pics. "Upgraded" over time with a mix of parts. Campy rims, RX100 rear der. 600 shifters on tri bars. Odd set up.
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http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...t/SDC10546.jpg
Here's a Technium Trilite I had briefly 6 or 7 years ago. I got a nice deal on it, but it was way too small. I was mostly after the Cyclone 7000 parts, the Stronglight headset, white anodized Dia Compe brakes and the hard anodized Araya wheelset that came with it. |
Originally Posted by 1989Pre
(Post 19393950)
That's a beautiful hill-climbing bike, Lasc. Your seat tube lug is like the ones on the 753 Team Techniums (and the cousins from England, the Dynatechs).
A few more shots of the bike in post #1 - https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/...c16ff46f_b.jpg Weird, cheap Chinese "vinyl" (I think it's actually some kind of neoprene) bar tape applied by Bibendum's evil twin :rolleyes: Hard to beleive that's just one layer; it's so puffy. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4307/...9c69500a_k.jpg Took off the motley oxidized alloy single pivot brakes to add some more blackness with the Tekro calipers. Added more chrome with them, too. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4316/...b8096bee_k.jpg The Exage 400 RD seems to match the one on the blue bike posted by @mzr, above. Maybe that's what it came with? I just assumed this thing would have come with more "race bike" type stuff. The triple on mine is a Sugino XD, added by me. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4307/...e08266e4_z.jpg These Shimano Light Action shifters came with the bike when I got it; only they were attached to the riser stem that was on the bike! https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/...542c9c0f_k.jpg |
I refurbished and sold a small 86 Technium 440 a couple years ago. Awesome color, accushift shifting, and Alcoa aluminum. It was a nkce entry rider once fixed up, but overall just not memorable...except for a coupe neat things.
1- loved how the seatstays connected to the seat tube and integrated the seatpost bolt. 2- it was originally sold at Modern Bike back when that place was an actual local bike shop and not an online retailer. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/553/2...dbe8493b_k.jpg |
5 Attachment(s)
A few I've worked on....
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Originally Posted by bargainguy
(Post 19393623)
If memory serves, the USA Technii were made between '87 and '93 at the plant in Kent, WA, just south of Seattle. Raleigh needed Boeing's expertise in bonding dissimilar metals and so decided to settle nearby.
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
(Post 19394369)
And, IIRC, the frames and fittings were designed by Tim Isaac, after he left Trek and before he started Match Bicycle Company.
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Originally Posted by 1989Pre
(Post 19394708)
John, did Tim Isaac refer to the Vitus or Alan frame designs when he conceived the Technium?
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I have an '89 PRE that my son rides fixie. One cool and tough bike. Here is a pic from a few years back...
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/RevRyp/null-4.jpg http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h8...B84D62B8A7.jpg |
I still need to tear down this Technium. This is how I found it:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YebLBogB4X...324-779257.JPG |
1 Attachment(s)
Technium Olympian that I know next to nothing about, really been messed with along the way. RX100 RD that someone had put on doesn't have a long enough cage for the drivetrain, Campy rims laced to mismatched hubs, 600 shifters mounted on the wonderful tribars....
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Always wanted the Olympian
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Originally Posted by sdn40
(Post 19410336)
Always wanted the Olympian
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Originally Posted by Lascauxcaveman
(Post 19410460)
Any special reason? Do they differ from the rest of the line in any way that you know of? When I started this thread, I was hoping to find out more about the many, many variations Technium. I bought two of them from a guy last spring and they are very different bikes.
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
(Post 19394821)
I'm sure he did. While I don't know any specifics of his work for Raleigh USA, at Trek he had samples of Vitus, AlAn, SR, and other bonded, non-ferrous frames to study while designing the Trek bonded aluminum frame.
I see that Trek used the Alcoa aluminum, like Raleigh USA did on the Techniums. Trek used the T6, though, while Raleigh USA used the T8. These are the only companies I know of, in the 80's, that used Alcoa, or, at least, advertised it on their bicycles. Not sure if this is related to Tim Isaac. I'd like to learn about how he derived the formula that permitted him to use aluminum tubing in common, steel-diameters on the Techniums. Perhaps this is the reason for going with the T8. The Easton E9 on Lasc's Technium is, I think, a step above the Alcoa T8, but I don't know the Brinell or Vickers numbers for the E9. I once heard a rumour that some Techniums were made from 7005, but I have never seen one, so I am tending to doubt it. |
531 steel Technium with aluminum lugs --- little bitty size --- cute little bike -- looked great with its tri color 600 group (until I stripped it )
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...psw4ztdotw.jpg |
Originally Posted by higgins617
(Post 19411073)
Pretty sure the Olympian was/is an entry sort of touring rig. Triple and cantis were original equipment, at least as far as I can tell with this one.
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