1980s Japanese bike with Tange Prestige tubing?
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 451
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 236 Post(s)
Liked 171 Times
in
104 Posts
1980s Japanese bike with Tange Prestige tubing?
I've been tasked with finding a 1980s vintage Japanese steel road bike that is constructed from Tange Prestige. Anyone have some brands/models that come to mind? I know Panasonic and I believe Nishiki had Tange Prestige models. Other than that I'm drawing a blank. Ideas?
Likes For tendency:
Likes For jiangshi:
#3
Disraeli Gears
Oddly, Nishiki's "Prestige" model (a pretty nice bike) did not have a Tange Prestige tubeset -- at least not the 1986 model that I had first-hand experience of. I think that was Tange Infinity, which if I remember correctly was seamed double butted.
#4
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 451
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 236 Post(s)
Liked 171 Times
in
104 Posts
I'll check out Centurion and Lotus -thanks.
Likes For tendency:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
Likely not what you're looking for but the Bianchi equinox was made of prestige tubing. It is a really neat cross bike.
#6
Full Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: The Lou
Posts: 340
Bikes: 82 Trek 710, 90 Trek 750, 86 Vitus, Nishiki Cervino, 1989 Bianchi CdI, 2 Nashbars, an Italian Steel MTB, Sears Spaceliner, and a 74 Schwinn Speedster. I also manage a fleet of Volcanic Patrol bikes, 83 of them.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 109 Post(s)
Liked 234 Times
in
120 Posts
New NOS 59.5cm Tange #2 double butted CroMoly road bicycle lugged frame & fork
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12471106678...m=124711066780
This is a non-named frame that a now closed bike shop in the north suburbs of Chicago (RRB) had built for the shop for sale between 1995 and 2000. I bought one and in the middle of building it. Very nice frame, can't say anything about the ride as its not finished yet.
He has different sizes ad colors.
Also not an 80's frame.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12471106678...m=124711066780
This is a non-named frame that a now closed bike shop in the north suburbs of Chicago (RRB) had built for the shop for sale between 1995 and 2000. I bought one and in the middle of building it. Very nice frame, can't say anything about the ride as its not finished yet.
He has different sizes ad colors.
Also not an 80's frame.
Likes For Jmpierce:
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,394
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1561 Post(s)
Liked 1,734 Times
in
974 Posts
Off top of my head:
Centurion Prestige
Bianchi Alfana
Panasonic DX6000
Shogun Ninja
Univega Superstrada (late model)
Performance Focus (Taiwan made)
Medici (US made)
Centurion Prestige
Bianchi Alfana
Panasonic DX6000
Shogun Ninja
Univega Superstrada (late model)
Performance Focus (Taiwan made)
Medici (US made)
Likes For icemilkcoffee:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,671
Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,
Mentioned: 156 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2323 Post(s)
Liked 4,988 Times
in
1,776 Posts
May not fit your definition of Japanese but some of the Panasonic built Schwinns are Prestige. Also some of the early 90's PDG Series bikes.
1987 Prologue
Prologue TT
Schwinn says these were Prestige.
Early 90's PDG Paramount
1987 Prologue
Prologue TT
Schwinn says these were Prestige.
Early 90's PDG Paramount
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
Likes For jamesdak:
#11
Master Parts Rearranger
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Portlandia's Kuiper Belt, OR
Posts: 4,403
Bikes: 1982 Trek 720 - 1985 Trek 620 - 1984 Trek 620 - 1980 Trek 510 - Other luminaries past and present
Mentioned: 221 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1556 Post(s)
Liked 2,024 Times
in
989 Posts
Tange #1 and Tange #2 are not Prestige, guys. OP is looking for Prestige only.
Vintage Land Shark and Davidson road bikes (both custom builders) are made with Prestige tubing. I have had the pleasure of experience with both, and they are most definitely worth it.
Vintage Land Shark and Davidson road bikes (both custom builders) are made with Prestige tubing. I have had the pleasure of experience with both, and they are most definitely worth it.
Likes For RiddleOfSteel:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 3,265
Bikes: '82 Univega Competizione, '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '83 Mercian KOM Touring, '85 Univega Alpina Uno, '76 Eisentraut Limited
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1088 Post(s)
Liked 1,205 Times
in
701 Posts
I know you’re looking for vintage, but aren’t current steel frame offerings from Soma made with Prestige?
Likes For noobinsf:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: South of the Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 4,122
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1119 Post(s)
Liked 2,255 Times
in
1,311 Posts
Does early 90's count? Diamondback Prevail TG
#14
Full Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: The Lou
Posts: 340
Bikes: 82 Trek 710, 90 Trek 750, 86 Vitus, Nishiki Cervino, 1989 Bianchi CdI, 2 Nashbars, an Italian Steel MTB, Sears Spaceliner, and a 74 Schwinn Speedster. I also manage a fleet of Volcanic Patrol bikes, 83 of them.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 109 Post(s)
Liked 234 Times
in
120 Posts
Doh!!! Senior moment.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,394
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1561 Post(s)
Liked 1,734 Times
in
974 Posts
If you're not hung up on the '80s criteria, a few more from the 90's:
'93 and '94 Fuji Roubaix
early 90's Nishiki NFS Prestige (one on Ebay now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/nishiki-nfs...-/254291443423)
Bianchi Virata
Early 90's Jamis Eclipse
'93 and '94 Fuji Roubaix
early 90's Nishiki NFS Prestige (one on Ebay now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/nishiki-nfs...-/254291443423)
Bianchi Virata
Early 90's Jamis Eclipse
Likes For icemilkcoffee:
#18
Newbie
Interesting to see examples of Tange Prestige TIG welded. Seems that TIG welded steel frames didn't become prominent until early 90's. I have a Concorde with TIG'd Tange Prestige OS tubes.
For OP the Panasonic made frames are some of the best examples of Tange Prestige, including the ones they made for Schwinn as the Paramount OS.
For OP the Panasonic made frames are some of the best examples of Tange Prestige, including the ones they made for Schwinn as the Paramount OS.
#19
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 451
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 236 Post(s)
Liked 171 Times
in
104 Posts
If you're not hung up on the '80s criteria, a few more from the 90's:
'93 and '94 Fuji Roubaix
early 90's Nishiki NFS Prestige (one on Ebay now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/nishiki-nfs...-/254291443423)
Bianchi Virata
Early 90's Jamis Eclipse
'93 and '94 Fuji Roubaix
early 90's Nishiki NFS Prestige (one on Ebay now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/nishiki-nfs...-/254291443423)
Bianchi Virata
Early 90's Jamis Eclipse
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 580
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 254 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 182 Times
in
141 Posts
Short version: the classic 80's Prestige was 7/4/7 butted, whereas the current "Prestige"
EDIT: Later in that thread it says SOMA uses heat treated tubing, which would seem to mean the 7/4/7 Prestige JPN rather than the plain Prestige. So it's closer to the vintage Prestige, but still with larger diameter on most models than a vintage race frame (28.6 top tube and 31.8 down tube vs 25.4 and 28.6 in 80's).
Last edited by AeroGut; 05-18-21 at 06:20 AM.
Likes For AeroGut:
#21
Senior Member
Panasonic DX-5000 was Tange Prestige in some years. Lugged and a nice rider.
Likes For Shrevvy:
#22
Catching Smallmouth
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: In a boat
Posts: 590
Bikes: 1990 Specialized Sirrus Triple, 1985 Trek 460, 2005 Lemond Tourmalet, 1984 Schwinn LeTour 'Luxe, 1988 Trek 400T, 1985 Trek 450, 1997 Lemond Zurich, 1993 Diamond Back Apex, 1988 Schwinn Circuit, 1988 Schwinn Prologue, 1978 Trek TX700, Sannino
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 88 Post(s)
Liked 134 Times
in
79 Posts
I bought my wife a Novara Team frame & fork. Sticker says Tange Prestige. It is lugged. I'm not sure who made it for REI but it seems to be very nice.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,658
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1609 Post(s)
Liked 2,590 Times
in
1,224 Posts
Have to be Japanese?
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/bik...317540160.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/bik...317540160.html
Vintage Medici pro strada 58 - $700 (san rafael)
image 1 of 10
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 654 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,036 Times
in
1,874 Posts
Discussed in this thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/framebuil...e-quality.html
Short version: the classic 80's Prestige was 7/4/7 butted, whereas the current "Prestige"that SOMA uses is 8/5/8. There is also a current "Prestige JPN" higher grade that is 7/4/7 like the vintage version, but additionally heat treated. SOMA also uses oversized tubes on many models, which further makes them heavier and stiffer than a classic Prestige frame.
EDIT: Later in that thread it says SOMA uses heat treated tubing, which would seem to mean the 7/4/7 Prestige JPN rather than the plain Prestige. So it's closer to the vintage Prestige, but still with larger diameter on most models than a vintage race frame (28.6 top tube and 31.8 down tube vs 25.4 and 28.6 in 80's).
Short version: the classic 80's Prestige was 7/4/7 butted, whereas the current "Prestige"
EDIT: Later in that thread it says SOMA uses heat treated tubing, which would seem to mean the 7/4/7 Prestige JPN rather than the plain Prestige. So it's closer to the vintage Prestige, but still with larger diameter on most models than a vintage race frame (28.6 top tube and 31.8 down tube vs 25.4 and 28.6 in 80's).
The bottom line is that Soma Prestige is the same quality of tubing but the designers chose a different set of options (possibly even somewhat customized) that were not the lightest. Lightest is not always best. Sometimes you want a little more durability or stiffness. Tange's myriad of Prestige options gave designers the flexibility to design for a particular end result.
Last edited by T-Mar; 05-18-21 at 12:04 PM.
#25
Fuji Fan