3rensho '83 possibly '84 Specialized Allez
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3rensho '83 possibly '84 Specialized Allez
Found one - and she's a beaut. Curiously, this one, which is clearly a 3rensho frame, came with (according to the catalog) the 1984 Tange fork. The obvious conclusion is San Rensho built what appears to be a very small percentage of the '84 Specialized Allez's. Gorgeous frames - if I give a good ding to the top tube or downtube with my index finger the frame rings like a tuning fork for a good 15 seconds - something I've only seen on the finest steel frames.
ahhhh..those beautiful 3rensho lugs..
another dead-ringer clue it's 3rensho built: the 'EO Medalist' bottom bracket simply stamped with the frame size.
ahhhh..those beautiful 3rensho lugs..
another dead-ringer clue it's 3rensho built: the 'EO Medalist' bottom bracket simply stamped with the frame size.
Last edited by tendency; 04-20-21 at 05:18 PM. Reason: clean up pics
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Wow. Beautiful. Post some pictures after it's finished.
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Looks great!
Can you post a close up picture of the downtube shifter boss? It looks like something unusual is going on there.
Can you post a close up picture of the downtube shifter boss? It looks like something unusual is going on there.
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found one - and she's a beaut. Curiously, this one, which is clearly a 3rensho frame, came with (according to the catalog) the 1984 tange fork. The obvious conclusion is san rensho built what appears to be a very small percentage of the '84 specialized allez's. Gorgeous frames - if i give a good ding to the top tube or downtube with my index finger the frame rings like a tuning fork for a good 15 seconds - something i've only seen on the finest steel frames.
ahhhh..those beautiful 3rensho lugs..
another dead-ringer clue it's 3rensho built: The 'eo medalist' bottom bracket simply stamped with the frame size.
ahhhh..those beautiful 3rensho lugs..
another dead-ringer clue it's 3rensho built: The 'eo medalist' bottom bracket simply stamped with the frame size.
Last edited by URCinelliIsFake; 12-11-22 at 12:23 AM. Reason: grammar
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Turns out I was mistaken. I tracked down the seller and he said the person that he had bought it from had put a carbon fiber fork on it and disposed of the original
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Very nice steel bike , lovely frame. I like it much better than what specialized procudes today. Specialized made a very limited number of commemorative allez in reynolds 853 tubing very expensive specialized allez 40th anniversary in reynolds 853 and only built in 74 examples
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I was at Merz’s house over thanksgiving and saw what looks like it’s twin.
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I'm a bit confused re: the original fork.
Were the Allez frames (built in the Konno shop) given Tange forks (I would presume the frame tubes to be Ishiwata, but is that correct)?
If the entire frameset was made from Tange tubing did the Allez use the Konno offset fork crown or...?
Were the Allez frames (built in the Konno shop) given Tange forks (I would presume the frame tubes to be Ishiwata, but is that correct)?
If the entire frameset was made from Tange tubing did the Allez use the Konno offset fork crown or...?
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Found one - and she's a beaut. Curiously, this one, which is clearly a 3rensho frame, came with (according to the catalog) the 1984 Tange fork. The obvious conclusion is San Rensho built what appears to be a very small percentage of the '84 Specialized Allez's. Gorgeous frames - if I give a good ding to the top tube or downtube with my index finger the frame rings like a tuning fork for a good 15 seconds - something I've only seen on the finest steel frame
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I'm a bit confused re: the original fork.
Were the Allez frames (built in the Konno shop) given Tange forks (I would presume the frame tubes to be Ishiwata, but is that correct)?
If the entire frameset was made from Tange tubing did the Allez use the Konno offset fork crown or...?
Were the Allez frames (built in the Konno shop) given Tange forks (I would presume the frame tubes to be Ishiwata, but is that correct)?
If the entire frameset was made from Tange tubing did the Allez use the Konno offset fork crown or...?
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No, 3Rensho built Allez's were all made (fork included) from Ishiwata 019. I was mistaken that the 84's had a Tange fork. The original fork on mine had 1) been replaced by a carbon model by first owner, 2) 2nd owner got rid of carbon and put a generic Tange steel fork back on it. I currently have it built up w/ a 3Rensho track fork.
Realize I probably missed it along the way.
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No, 3Rensho built Allez's were all made (fork included) from Ishiwata 019. I was mistaken that the 84's had a Tange fork. The original fork on mine had 1) been replaced by a carbon model by first owner, 2) 2nd owner got rid of carbon and put a generic Tange steel fork back on it. I currently have it built up w/ a 3Rensho track fork.
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Those vintage Allez frames are the only road frames Specialized had made that are worthy of a place in my collection. Have a fork made to fit the bike. Should be somewhat affordable.
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IMO, all of the early Specialized frames were very well made. I don't know if I'd consider a 3Rensho-built Allez with a replacement fork to be any more collectible than an average Allez from the same period, but it would still be a very nice bike.
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A decent custom fork runs $5-700 all day long now days.
You can buy some pretty nice donors for that kind of coin.
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Anyhow, I wanted to see if he had a cache of the offset fork crowns to build up into a replacement fork but alas, he's looking for some as well I figure if I ever did get a replacement fork built up for it I'd have him do it as it would be about as close to original provenance as I can get.
Last edited by tendency; 12-12-22 at 09:09 AM.
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I went so far as to contact Koichi Yamaguchi who has been working out of Rifle Colorado for a number of years now and is still building bikes. He was one of Konno's first master builders who left in the early 80s soon after 3Rensho was starting to build the Allez's. He had some interesting info having built a number of the early Allez's. He said they originally used Cinelli fork crowns until they ran out then switched to Yoshi's offset design.
Anyhow, I wanted to see if he had a cache of the offset fork crowns to build up into a replacement fork but alas, he's looking for some as well I figure if I ever did get a replacement fork built up for it I'd have him do it as it would be about as close to original provenance as I can get.
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I'm just quoting from what Koichi told me via email. As I recall, there have been a few 'mystery' early Allez's, posted on this forum, that did not have the offset fork crown and people were kinda stumped by them. Maybe they are some of these very early 3Rensho built models.
Last edited by tendency; 12-12-22 at 02:00 PM.
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