d2702

Hello friends!

I'm curious about the Shimano 105 Golden Arrow groupsets, potentially just the derailleurs and shifters but maybe the whole set.

I'm curious about two things:

1 - What was the reputation of those components? I'm looking for something solid and reliable. Doesn't have to be the top of the line as long as it works well.

2 - If I'm hunting for those parts in my area which mid-80s bikes came with those components that I can hunt for as donor bikes? (There's always ebay but I don't mind stalking craigslist a little bit.)

Thanks in advance! (And bonus points if you want to share some pictures of Golden Arrow parts on your own bikes.)

kermie

My 1985 Panasonic DX3000 came with the Golden Arrow derailleurs and downtube shifters, so 1985 time frame would be a start on finding some. I have had no issues with mine, but I have only had the bike for 2 years.

jdawginsc 

So few Japanese marquees specified Shimano during that time period (1980-1985) so I was trying to think of brands that did...Miyata, Nishiki, Centurion. Then indexing and Deore flipped the script if I recall. Completely forgot about Panasonic. Was wondering what Bridgestone, Kabuki, Mariushi and others used.

Fuji was Suntour bending IIRC.

Even Euro brands that went away from Simplex/Huret went toward SunTour. AD, Bianchi, some Gitane it seems, Motobecane. Raleigh?

ARx, Cyclone, Sprint, Superbe were great friction stuff.

T-Mar

First generation Shimano 105 (aka Golden Arrow) was introduced for the 1983 model year and produced though to the end of the 1986 model year. It was the first homogenous group designed specifcally for lower mid-range sport bicycles. According to Bicycling's techical editor, frank Berto, it "simply destroyed the competition. It looked expensive and it performed well."

Bicycles of the era spec'd with 1st generation Shimano 105 included;

Miyata 310
Panasonic DX-3000
Shogun 600
Maruishi Raodace RX7
Ross 292
Fastab Eagle
Raleigh Grand Prix
Miele Tempo
Bianchi San Remo

One thing that hurt 105, particularly in 1986,was that it got passed over for indexed shifting, while both the groups above it (New 600EX) and below it (Light Action) received indexing. This caused manufacturers to do so component juggling at price points that would normally have been 105 bicycles, in order to spec indexed shifting. 105 would receive a complete redesign for the 1987 model year, becoming 2nd generation New 105.

d2702

Thank you all! The hunt begins!

And your assessment: "A picture is worth a thousand words, but only if taken from the drive side." couldn't be more true. Paging through local sales sites and it feels like most pictures are taken from the non-drive side. It's not randomness like 50/50, it feels more sinister. Some kind of cabal targeting bike enthusiasts?

Those tips are gold: https://newhaven.craigslist.org/bik/...505315776.html

Wrong cost and way to expensive but this gets me a lot closer.

jdawginsc 

I am surprised that my guesses of Nishiki and Centurion were wrong. I would have thought they might have spec’ed it since Miyata did.

jdawginsc 

I noticed the EBay per item prices have gone up significantly on Golden Arrow. Interesting.

nlerner

IMO, SunTour friction mechs from that era work much better than Shimano Golden Arrow or Arabesque of the same period.

T-Mar

Golden Arrow (105) and Arabesque (600 EX) were offered concurrently only in 1983. New 600EX (1984-1987) is a more valid comparison. However, I do agree that SunTour shifted better, at least until Shimano brought out versions with SIS indexed shifting.


The disadvantage with SunTour was that they always lagged behind Shimano at introducing a complete group for a given price point.. Even when there was a complete SunTour group available, you were just as likely to find Sugino crankset and Dia-Compe brakesets spec'd with SunTour derailleurs, just because the bicycle manufacturers could save a few dollars. It was a time when consumers when beginning to place more emphasis on a homogeneous group. When 105 was introduced, a complete group at its price point ($300 US) had only been a pipedream. Having 105 on your bicycle became a status symbol.


Shimano introduced 2nd generation New 105 with SLR, SIS and aero brake cable routing in 1987. By the time that SunTour introduced Accushift and a complete group at that price level. New 105 was so superior that it dominated the lower mid-range market. SunTour never recovered.

nlerner

So how did the Cyclone, Superbe, and Superbe Pro groups figure in this history? Too high end, even Cyclone?

T-Mar

Superbe and Superbe Pro were top end groups, roughly on par with Dura-Ace, though typically priced lower. The Dura-Ace group was introduced four years prior to Superbe, while Dura-Ace EX was introduced a couple of years in advance of Superbe Pro.

Cyclone didn't even become a group until almost 10 years after the original 600 group was introduced. When it did get a group, it was 3rd generation New Cyclone, while the 600 series at that time was 4th generation New 600EX. Prices were comparable between Shimano and SunTour at this level.

So, 105 being below New 600EX, would also be considered below the Cyclone variants. SunTour did not have a group at this level, during the Golden Arrow era. Bicycle companies wanting to spec SunTour derailleurs had to piece something together to compete with 105. Unless the consumer was very knowlegeable about components, they really didn't know what they were getting for their money. Often, the high profile rear derailleur was above the level of the other components, in order to provide a slightly more competitive price and/or profit margin. There were lots of components that a designer could play around with, in order to hit a target price. At least with 105, the designer could spec a homogenous group, increasing consmer confidence that the major components were at the same level and would function properly together, just like on the higher level, full group bicycles.

Forum members often criticize Shimano for their group proliferation and the lack of freedom that it provides. However, it was a trend that was initiated by feedback from the consumer and driven up the supply chain by the bicycle shops and bicycle companies. They liked having bicycles that were readily distinguishable at every price point. It eliminated a lot of confusion and made things simpler for the novice buyer and salesperson. One has to remember that the vast majority of bicycles sold are at the lower price points where buyers are less knowledeable and a homogenous group actually makes more sense from both marketability and functionality perspectives.

Attached is 1986 pricing from a major USA mail order retailer. It shows the relative group prices of New Dura-Ace versus Superbe Pro, and New 600EX versus New Cyclone. At this time, both Shimano groups were indexed, while SunTour was still friction. Please note that when I was talking in my previous post about 105 having a $300 US price point, that was for complete bicycles and not just the component group.

d2702

Working off of T-Mar's list:

Confirmed -
Miyata 310
Panasonic DX-3000
Shogun 600
Maruishi Roadace RX7

Not yet seen -
Ross 292
Fastab Eagle
Raleigh Grand Prix
Miele Tempo
Bianchi San Remo

New additions -
Bianchi Sport SS (from 82-86, I think)

The Golden Boy 

What bike would this be going on?
Are you interested in Golden Arrow because it looks cool?

FWIW- the Shimano Z series components are most often described as the same level as Golden Arrow- and that opens up a lot. I really like that it's not group branded- just "Shimano."

non-fixie 

In my area 105 Golden Arrow was hugely popular on 2nd tier models, exactly for those reasons: it was competitively priced, it looked good and it worked well.

My 1984 Raleigh Corsa:

Mr. 66

I put those on my Ron Cooper