Did LOOK make steel bikes?
05-12-22, 03:53 AM
#1
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Did LOOK make steel bikes?
Hi Guys,
So I have been seeing some LOOK cromoly frames pop up on auction similar to this one GLYPHS! - LOOK CHROMORI MODEL UNKNOWN ROAD RACER SIMA... (yahoo.co.jp) lately. I know that as a company they have existed since the 60s so and but I rarely see any classic steel LOOK bikes so I was wondering if they ever made any cromoly models. If so, what were they any good? What kind of steel did they use? If anyone had any old magazine scans that would be cool. They arent really in my crosshairs, I am just curious as to how they were as a steel bike manufacturer.
Thanks,
Fish
So I have been seeing some LOOK cromoly frames pop up on auction similar to this one GLYPHS! - LOOK CHROMORI MODEL UNKNOWN ROAD RACER SIMA... (yahoo.co.jp) lately. I know that as a company they have existed since the 60s so and but I rarely see any classic steel LOOK bikes so I was wondering if they ever made any cromoly models. If so, what were they any good? What kind of steel did they use? If anyone had any old magazine scans that would be cool. They arent really in my crosshairs, I am just curious as to how they were as a steel bike manufacturer.
Thanks,
Fish
05-12-22, 04:57 AM
#2
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If I recall correctly, the frames were contract built and branded with Look. Well reviewed BITD.
05-12-22, 06:10 AM
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20 years ago there was an older gentleman, an artist actually, who used to ride one similar to the one in the link in the original post. Gerald's was 753 tubing, I think, and it was a lovely bike.
05-12-22, 06:47 AM
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perhaps a bit outside the scope of c&v, but here are some pics from a 1998 LOOK catalog.
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05-12-22, 07:09 AM
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One of our Bay Area colleagues has one. Pops up in the where’d you ride thread from time to time.
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05-12-22, 08:28 AM
#7
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. Did any of their steel frames win major races?
05-12-22, 08:30 AM
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05-12-22, 09:30 AM
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05-12-22, 12:17 PM
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not sure who built the 1998 frames but with Columbus Nemo, Neuron and Brain you got some quality tubing, too bad the only steel fork is straight-blades, but...1998...
05-12-22, 01:31 PM
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If anything, LOOK's steel frame bikes seem to fetch a much better price than their carbon tubed bikes, which is ironic because the carbon tubed frames was LOOK's claim to fame, and their KG86 was the first carbon bike to win at Tour De France.
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05-25-22, 04:16 PM
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@gaucho777 has a beautiful Look that he might be persuaded to show us here..
Yes, LOOK made steel frames starting in 1986 with the La Vie Claire paint scheme. They followed with other steel frames as shown above, in addition to the carbon offerings. Note that the original LOOKs were made of 753r rather than 753. I've heard 500 of the original steel LOOK frames with La Vie Claire paint scheme were made.
Since you twisted my arm, I'll show it off (again). Fwiw, note that mine does not have it's original paint:
Last edited by gaucho777; 05-25-22 at 06:00 PM.
05-25-22, 04:23 PM
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05-26-22, 07:26 AM
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I have owned this Look for about 25 years. It is not ridden very often and that is a shame. When it is ridden I always marvel at just how smooth it is. C-record is marvelous stuff. The frame was repainted before it came to me. There are some errors in the graphics from the original. As this was all done pre- internet, Cycleart did the best they could at the time.
Last edited by embankmentlb; 05-26-22 at 07:33 AM.
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05-26-22, 09:14 AM
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Forgive the late reply. I haven't been on the forum much these past couple weeks, but I have been riding my LOOK a lot lately. Purchased frame new in 1987, and still my favorite bike after all these years.
Yes, LOOK made steel frames starting in 1986 with the La Vie Claire paint scheme. They followed with other steel frames as shown above, in addition to the carbon offerings. Note that the original LOOKs were made of 753r rather than 753. I've heard 500 of the original steel LOOK frames with La Vie Claire paint scheme were made.
Since you twisted my arm, I'll show it off (again). Fwiw, note that mine does not have it's original paint:
Yes, LOOK made steel frames starting in 1986 with the La Vie Claire paint scheme. They followed with other steel frames as shown above, in addition to the carbon offerings. Note that the original LOOKs were made of 753r rather than 753. I've heard 500 of the original steel LOOK frames with La Vie Claire paint scheme were made.
Since you twisted my arm, I'll show it off (again). Fwiw, note that mine does not have it's original paint:
05-26-22, 11:50 AM
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Look
Sorry for being late to this. Apologies if I am repeating other folk. Back in the day here in the UK a well respected mail order shop did great trade in buying up and selling old stock not far past when it would of originally sold. The top end frames exactly as in that catalogue [catalog]scan with the Neuron/Genius tubing were excellent frames. The rumour, unsubstantiated, was they were subbed out to Cyfac [people say the Fignon era Castorama Raleighs all came via Cyfac].
At the same period this shop had Coppi’s with again top range pipes/chrome lugs/airbrush finishes which were definitely brazed by a top Italian frame shop. As an aside and hope I am correct here, when Boardman went for the Athletes Hour record he was going to get the frame built locally. But Look [he would of been on carbon looks with Gan etc?] insisted they provided it as per his measurements, etc.
At the same period this shop had Coppi’s with again top range pipes/chrome lugs/airbrush finishes which were definitely brazed by a top Italian frame shop. As an aside and hope I am correct here, when Boardman went for the Athletes Hour record he was going to get the frame built locally. But Look [he would of been on carbon looks with Gan etc?] insisted they provided it as per his measurements, etc.
Last edited by cb400bill; 05-26-22 at 12:28 PM. Reason: Mod edit for clarity
