ID (Japanese?) Bike
07-31-23, 01:39 PM
#1
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ID (Japanese?) Bike
Super newbie here tryin to ID a bike. I recently nabbed a project bike and am trying to get an ID that I feel confident with. I can't post pictures yet but I have an album labeled "Brown Bike" with the pictures of; the bike, the serial #, the badge, and a catalogue page I found online that seems to be very similar.
The # on the bottom bracket is "CS 301750"
The Badge is metal, features a large v and as the word "Silk"
My research so far makes me think it is a 80's Katakura and the color looks original making me think it might be something similar to the camping & touring model (page found in the album)
Anyways I loved the look of the bike, at first I was just interested in fixing it up a bit but the more I hunt for pieces and parts the more I'd like to see it restored. Now, I'm not sure if different parts and components are original to it, so getting a positive ID seemed like the first step in figuring it out.
Thanks in advance for any help!
The # on the bottom bracket is "CS 301750"
The Badge is metal, features a large v and as the word "Silk"
My research so far makes me think it is a 80's Katakura and the color looks original making me think it might be something similar to the camping & touring model (page found in the album)
Anyways I loved the look of the bike, at first I was just interested in fixing it up a bit but the more I hunt for pieces and parts the more I'd like to see it restored. Now, I'm not sure if different parts and components are original to it, so getting a positive ID seemed like the first step in figuring it out.
Thanks in advance for any help!
07-31-23, 02:26 PM
#2
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07-31-23, 05:05 PM
#3
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The picture is not really detailed enough for me to properly consider quality level. The stem shifters and 27" wheels suggest an entry level steed, The fact that the 27" rims suggests, to me. not bottom of the line. Other than that, without better pictures, I can't offer much more help.
That said, there is nothing wrong with restoring an entry level bike. This old Torpado, an entry level Italian steed from the late sixties, set me back a few hundred bucks to get it looking like this...
Is it fun to ride? Yes but do not expect snappy performance. The Torpado, is a plodder not a racer, but a hoot to ride, none the less.
That said, there is nothing wrong with restoring an entry level bike. This old Torpado, an entry level Italian steed from the late sixties, set me back a few hundred bucks to get it looking like this...
Is it fun to ride? Yes but do not expect snappy performance. The Torpado, is a plodder not a racer, but a hoot to ride, none the less.
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08-01-23, 09:03 AM
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The cottered cranks, stem shifters and side pull brakes suggest that the bike doesn't have too much in common the "Touring and Camping" bike in the catalogue.
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08-01-23, 10:50 AM
#5
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Amitch I can confirm you have a Katakura Silk bicycle. Matches this one: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ilk-sport.html
As others have noted, it's a low-end model from the bike boom era. I haven't seen this headbadge used on models for the Japanese market, so it may be that yours was intended specifically for the USA market, which means it won't be found in the Japanese Katakura catalogs.
As others have noted, it's a low-end model from the bike boom era. I haven't seen this headbadge used on models for the Japanese market, so it may be that yours was intended specifically for the USA market, which means it won't be found in the Japanese Katakura catalogs.
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08-01-23, 01:29 PM
#7
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The picture is not really detailed enough for me to properly consider quality level. The stem shifters and 27" wheels suggest an entry level steed, The fact that the 27" rims suggests, to me. not bottom of the line. Other than that, without better pictures, I can't offer much more help.
That said, there is nothing wrong with restoring an entry level bike. This old Torpado, an entry level Italian steed from the late sixties, set me back a few hundred bucks to get it looking like this...
Is it fun to ride? Yes but do not expect snappy performance. The Torpado, is a plodder not a racer, but a hoot to ride, none the less.
That said, there is nothing wrong with restoring an entry level bike. This old Torpado, an entry level Italian steed from the late sixties, set me back a few hundred bucks to get it looking like this...
Is it fun to ride? Yes but do not expect snappy performance. The Torpado, is a plodder not a racer, but a hoot to ride, none the less.
08-01-23, 01:38 PM
#8
Newbie
Thread Starter
Thanks for pointing those out, I had noticed the sifters were in a different spot but couldn't find any examples of them starting off on the stem. I was wondering if they maybe were moved later? Or was that a common placement at the time?
08-01-23, 02:04 PM
#9
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Thread Starter
The picture is not really detailed enough for me to properly consider quality level. The stem shifters and 27" wheels suggest an entry level steed, The fact that the 27" rims suggests, to me. not bottom of the line. Other than that, without better pictures, I can't offer much more help
08-01-23, 05:04 PM
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Yes, stem shifters were quite common for a while. They're likely to be original.
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08-02-23, 12:04 PM
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08-02-23, 06:37 PM
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The model looks like Katakura Silk Speedmaster.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...road-bike.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...eedmaster.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...road-bike.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...eedmaster.html
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