Steve Bauer - What have I got?
#1
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Steve Bauer - What have I got?
Hi Everyone,
I picked up a vintage frame on the local Facebook marketplace. I have built it up and rode it a few times.
Of course, now I am in love with it, and before I spend $$$ I want to know what I have.
It is labeled a "Steve Bauer" but it also has a decal from Tony Beek (a local painter) on it. It has a Vortex Equipe decal on it. Fork is a Tange, and the frame is likely Tange as well.
But there is no serial number, and no indication that it ever had one. It may have been a custom build early in Steve's bike retail gig, or it might have been "relabeled" during a later respray.
In any event, I love how it rides. Can someone tell me more about it?
(and don't judge me on how filthy everything is)
Here are the photos:
I picked up a vintage frame on the local Facebook marketplace. I have built it up and rode it a few times.
Of course, now I am in love with it, and before I spend $$$ I want to know what I have.
It is labeled a "Steve Bauer" but it also has a decal from Tony Beek (a local painter) on it. It has a Vortex Equipe decal on it. Fork is a Tange, and the frame is likely Tange as well.
But there is no serial number, and no indication that it ever had one. It may have been a custom build early in Steve's bike retail gig, or it might have been "relabeled" during a later respray.
In any event, I love how it rides. Can someone tell me more about it?
(and don't judge me on how filthy everything is)
Here are the photos:
#2
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That looks much nicer than any Canadian Tire Bauer I've ever seen. You could call Tony...he would likely know if you can reach him. Best painter in TO back in the day.
It's likely @T-Mar can help you out.
It's likely @T-Mar can help you out.
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That looks much nicer than any Canadian Tire Bauer I've ever seen. You could call Tony...he would likely know if you can reach him. Best painter in TO back in the day.
It's likely @T-Mar can help you out.
It's likely @T-Mar can help you out.
#5
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The Vortex was the top, standard production model in the Steve Bauer line in 1986 and 1987. It used Tange Prestige and Shimano Dura-Ace. The few Vortex that have surfaced have had serial numbers that are consistent with Maruishi in Japan. The Vortex Equipe was introduced for the 1988 model year but was bumped down to 2nd spot by the Levante, which used Columbus SLX and Campagnolo Chorus. I don't have specs for the Vortex Equipe but given the Tange forks, I suspect it is also Prestige. What is the seat post diameter?
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That increases the odds of it being Prestige, as the standard seat tube for all the other Tange double butted tubesets of the era typically used 26.6mm posts. A 27.2mm post would indicate either Prestige, a custom spec seat tube or something other than Tange. However, when we consider that it has a Tange fork and that the Vortex of the two previous model years employed Prestige, then Prestige becomes be the major candiate, by a substantial margin.
Last edited by T-Mar; 06-24-22 at 04:47 AM.
#8
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That increases the odds of it being Prestige, as the standard seat tube for all the other Tange double butted tubesets of the era typically used 26.6mm posts. A 27.2mm post would indicate either Prestige, a custom spec seat tube or something other than Tange. However, when we consider that it has a Tange fork and that the Vortex of the two previous model years employed Prestige, then Prestige becomes be the major candiate, by a substantial margin.
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Regardfless of what was OEM, if this was my frame, I'd be installing Dura-Ace. In my opinion, it was the best high grade group during 1988-1991.
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But it is kinda cool that Steve got to ride Superbe for a Pro Team. Not many did.
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Very nice, I've been following Steve Bauer bikes for a while now and most are lower grade quality but high prices but this model looks worth it.
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wow, looking great so far and love that colour scheme. When can I bring over the frame that I need to have restored?
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Always loved those diamond-shaped water bottle brazeons. My first high-quality frame (Paramount) had them, and so I always associated them with a nice frameset.
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The Ronde van Vlaanderen has been won on Suntour Superbe Pro in 1989. And much more, check here.
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#21
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Yes. I actually used a "matte" clear on it...because that is what I had on the shelf. I have used it on other bikes before, and it is so durable. Mainly because with a matte finish you can't even tell when it is scuffed or scratched until it is into the base layers.
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Great work! Nice bike cave and cute baby, too. How did you manage the clean lines on the circular patterns at the color transitions. Masked by hand, custom vinyl cutouts, or…?
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The little maple leaves hidden in with the bubbles sure are cool.
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#24
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The Colnago behind it has a professional respray on it. It wasn't cheap.
#25
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Custom vinyl cutouts. All the lettering is paint as well. First coat white, then letters. Then orange, transition bubbles applied, then blue.