What were/are top-end japanese frames?
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What were/are top-end japanese frames?
Asking for a friend - well, no, not a friend, just a fellow who asked me; but he says he wants period correct original condition 80's 56-58cm as he wants to put a Superbe Pro groupset on it. I do not know what his budget is but if he knows all those words I suspect he's not looking for cheap. Bikes that recent aren't my thing, what should he look for?
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Team Panasonic
Fuji Opus III
Team Miyata
3Rensho
Zunow
Bridgestone RB-1
Centurion Prestige
Fuji Opus III
Team Miyata
3Rensho
Zunow
Bridgestone RB-1
Centurion Prestige
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Last edited by cb400bill; 05-29-21 at 08:12 AM.
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Schwinn Peloton and Schwinn Prologue, both made by Panasonic for Schwinn.
Miyata 1200
Miyata 1200
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Yep, to echo the above comments.
Fuji Opus III is superb:
With Superbe Pro, good stuff!
My Prologue was a bit rough cosmetically but such a fine ride!
Dura Ace goodness
Tange Prestige is quality stuff!
Fuji Opus III is superb:
With Superbe Pro, good stuff!
My Prologue was a bit rough cosmetically but such a fine ride!
Dura Ace goodness
Tange Prestige is quality stuff!
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I'm very happy with the Nishiki Competition. I am also on the the bandwagon for the Univega Gran Premio, and Miyata Professional, those round out my Japanese built.
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Any of the top models from the Japanese marks, beyond the ones mentioned above, Univega made some beautiful bikes. Well, they were built by Miyata, but still beautiful.
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I do like my 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10 mountain bike, which reportedly nearly matches a high end Panasonic model in geometry and Tange Prestige tubing specs.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
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Univega Competizione -- mine is an 82 that had Cyclone MKII stock, but I think the next year (?) they started using Superbe. Made of Champion #1.
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What about the top end of Lotus bikes, during the time when they were being built by Tsunoda? My Supreme is build out of Tange Champion #2 tubing.
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I’m loving my 3Rensho and the workmanship is really beautiful.
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Hope your friend/acquaintance is ready to pay some serious coin for both a top-flight frameset as well as Superbe Pro groupset (if he doesn't have it already). Market is NUTS right now.
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What model year? Kawamura frames improved substantially during the 1970s. I happily put 40K miles over 20 years on my 1971 American Eagle Semi-Pro / Nishiki Competition until the seat tube lug broke away from the bottom bracket shell, and only later learned how much better some of the European frames of the time were.