juvela

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this Sakae Ringyo chainset is early enough that it may exhibit the odd three degree taper

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zookster 

This one is for sale local to me. I am interested, but is that fork bent? 70's Montgomery Ward 10 speed.

JohnDThompson 

IME, pretty much all bike-boom era, low to mid-level Italian bikes had a nasty weld seam across the bottom bracket shell.

Ironfish653

That's the Bridgestone Diecast (later Techniart) construction;. The main tubes, whether Hi-ten, CroMo, Stainless or in this case, Aluminum, are swedged on the ends and placed in a jig, where the aluminum "lugs" are cast in place. It's a sturdy, if slightly overbuilt bike; the AL main tubes are extra thick and they have a steel reinforcing spline at the ends. !That bike, as it sits, weighs just a tick under 30 lbs. Apparently, they were concerned that aluminum might not be strong enough, so they used a lot of it.

Deal4Fuji

My 1st real bike purchased from a bike store is entry level and I think considered gas pipe. I still have this '82 Fuji Supreme with ValLite 414 (which is still Hi10 I think). I'm kind of proud of this gas pipe on gas pipe photo Also have a '75 Continental & '73 Grand Prix and ride them proudly just as they came from the showroom except for turkey levers & saddles.

In better light and matching tires

3speedslow

Mine as I found it, 70’s Puch built for Sears. Still riding it with parts upgraded.

Wildwood 

Does Hi-Ten count as gas pipe?
Not in my book, but likely on this forum.


Gives up about 2 pounds over a more refined tubeset for frame + fork. And since it is NOS ‘90s with internal rear brake cable routing, I built it with Campy Veloce Ergo.

More pics if it quals as gas pipe.

Murray Missile 

Hmmmm, I don't know.......... Super Course, Reynolds 531 main triangle, might be grounds for disqualification.......... I guess we can let it pass on the stamped dropouts though.

Murray Missile 

I had a Supreme way back when. I can't believe I actually rode it with that much seat post showing and a Technomic stem! I'm not that tall LOL, not even close. I see so many things on that bike I woudn't do now............

Chuck M 

This bike checks of most of the boxes in the OP having a hi-tensile frame, steel wheels, stem shifters, safety levers, and spoke protector. I did replace the foam grips with cotton bar tape and I removed the Pletscher kickstand. And I don't give a damn what anyone thinks of Takara, I had one in high school and I have two of them now. Solid, bulletproof bikes typical of the bike boom. But this one I bought was so close to N.O.S. I wanted it even though it is a bit too small for me.

bwilli88 

It rides just like my 74 Grand Prix, and I forget that it has that 531 Main.
So here is my Grand Prix.

uncle uncle

I always like my specials guaranteed.

Murray Missile 

THAT'S more like it! I should probably include my '72 Gitane Interclub. It's currently undergonig a complete renovation and conversion to single speed. I have around 6 or 7 ongoing projects,I keep telling myself to finish the ones I've lready started but I don't listen.

beng1

I don't think bikes with lugged frames count as being gas pipe. And any bike with aluminum crank arms or rims is definitely not a low-end bike.
The common bikes sold by retailers in the 60s/70s, at department and hardware stores to people who wanted to spend the least money, did not have lugged frames and had hardly any alloy parts at all, and they weighed 35-40 pounds.

A lugged frame bike may have straight-gauge tubing, but it is thinner wall than the tubing used on bikes that did not use lugs such as the Huffy, AMF , Columbia and low-end Schwinn bikes. The low-end Schwinn's were real anchors, but they were usually more expensive than the other USA made bikes, so a lot of blue-collar kids did not get them.

My parents bought me a Columbia 10-speed back in the 70s and it had no frame lugs of course, and it had almost no alloy components at all that I can remember, usually only the stem and some shifting components might be alloy on these bikes, but not all of them. I can't remember what happened to my Columbia after I totaled it out in a bad wreck around 1979 where I smashed my face into the pavement and got amnesia for a while. The bike was scrapped for sure, but I don't remember how, usually I can remember stuff like that. There was a pond back in the woods that most metal scrap ended up in, good chance it is in there.

Anyway, a few years ago I bought this 1973 Huffy because it was my size and the same quality as my old Columbia, and I have put over 3000 miles on it since then, most of this forum are familiar with it. It is a very fast well sorted bike, not the best handling, but good enough;

AdventureManCO 

Respect.

merziac

Atalla






Bianchi

Mr. 66

It been a couple of years since this was last used

Sierra

For me it's pure nostalgia.
When I became aware of 10 speed derailleur equipped bikes as an 11 year old in 1963 I thought they were really exotic I was riding a 3 speed Schwinn Traveler at the time.
I picked up a brochure from the neighborhood Schwinn dealer and saw the 15 speed Sierra & Superior models. Now those were just hyper-exotic!
I kept my eyes open for one for decades but they were not to be found in my area.
With the advent of the internet I was finally able to find one.
Seems kind of stupid now, but when I joined this forum in 2003 I used the bike model name as my forum name.
I have many better bikes now, but I still cast my eyes fondly on this one. It takes me back to being 11-12 years old, when life was much simpler.
My 1963 Schwinn Sierra(not bone stock).

Pompiere

I bought this Takara at a thrift store to scavenge some parts. Mainly, I wanted the crank for my Kabuki, plus it had alloy wheels and it was only $5. After I took off what I wanted, I used parts from the bin to make it back into a useful bike. Since the frame was too small, I used a riser stem and flat bars. The weather has been crappy, so I I haven't ridden more than to the corner and back, but it looks promising so far.


Takara Advantage

dddd

Wouldn't a model like yours have had at least Durifort tubing?

Nice example I have to say! Those 60's Geminianis offer a fine riding experience.

Mr. 66

The fork is Durifort, the frame is labeled Flash with a lighting bolt. If I recall correctly the frame and fork weight with hs was 7.5 lbs.

And yes rides very fine!! The rd needs some alignment it has some clutter in the lower gears. The bars have some sag, I have some Pivo bars, close to period correct, that may get called into duty for the green machine. Thanks

SoCaled 

OK I will play, bought this a while back for the thumb shifters, made the mistake of inflating the tires and taking it for a ride. Reminds me of a diesel Mercedes, takes some effort to get it going but once you do feels unstoppable. Thumb shifters work great, very different than my other bikes, but a fun ride.

Sorry for the lousy (nds) pic, too lazy to drag it out of the stairwell

jjames1452 

Back in the mid-1980's my brother rode TOSRV on a blue Varsity. He had no issues. I rode it on my custom built (by me) Schwinn Traveler with a Suntour drive including sealed bearing hubs laced to Araya Al wheels. (I loved that bike - still love Suntour!!!!)

Murray Missile 

Just be glad you weren't feeling nostalgic about some behemoth with tanks and a luggage rack you had in grade school...........

1989Pre 

On Christmas morning, 1970, I saw the most glorious thing ever: A shiny, red "Sears Adult Bicycle", with a gas-tank headlight, streamers, saddlebag and a bell. I wish I still had it.