Chuckk

I picked this up this weekend, and thought it was odd enough to get its own thread.
I believe it's an '81 Vista Aero Adamas.
It caught my eye as an old aero bike, but then I noticed it was labeled as Tange Aero tube, and had more Adamas AX components than I've ever seen before.
The original owner claimed that it was a $600 bike when new - but I don't know that it really had that big a markup.
FirstFlight bikes has a Dura Ace version with a much better built frame

Interesting stuff though.
Downtube, fork blades and seat stays are all aero. Label claims Tange Aero. Lugged construction.
Rear derailer is like nothing I've seen, and is interesting because it uses a wrap around cable guide instead of a casing to direct the cable pull.
Brakes are the center pull roller style, and the aero levers are really odd looking.
Above the tube shifter mount.
Peculiar "roll off" on the Sugino seat post milling. Seat stays are brazed onto the outside of a stamped seat lug.
Front derailer cable wraps around to the drive side to pull sideways.
Hubs have the flanges offset to allow all spokes to be inserted from the center.
Six speed cassette rear.

Anybody remember these?

rotharpunc

weird, but very cool. Does it fit you? even if it didn't, I'd consider keeping it just as a conversation piece to hang on the wall

T-Mar

Adamas AX was Shimano's upper, entry level Aerodynamic group, below Dura-Ace AX and 600 AX. There was lower, unnamed series of AX parts that included Positron derilleurs. It was produced circa 1981-1983. There was lots of trickle down technologoy from the higher groups. The Direct Cable Mechanism on the rear derailleur eliminated the friction of the cable housing. The brake caliper desgin was called Para-Pull. The inital lever pull brough the pads very close to rim, after which the pad stroke matched the lever stroke. The design also ensured balanced braking between the left and right arms, provided you centered them properly. The hub flange design was called Direction 6 and facilitated wheel building and reportedly resulted in a stronger wheel.

I had a Dura-Ace AX group. While it did not fare well in the marketplace, it was a novel, technologically advanced and excellent performaing group. My favourite feature were the Direct Drive pedals, which provided an extremely stable platform by putting the sole of the shoe on the pedal axis. Unfortunately, this feature did not trickle down to Adamas AX.

Chuckk

The serial number is on the offside of the seat tube toward the bottom and is ARYG######.
Does that give any hint to who built these frames for Vista?

T-Mar

Yes, it was built by Araya. Please provide the full serial number.

Chuckk

Numbers in private message (I always wonder if that's smart or just paranoid)

Masi AeroAX DA for sale on ebuy now

T-Mar

The Campyphiles on this forum will cringe in horror when they see that.

Chuckk

Cleaned her up and got her rolling today.
Tires and bar tape and she'll be a bike again.

embankmentlb

Wow, that cleaned up really nice! Funny, every Vista i have ever seen has like a 25" frame. Mine included.

Deltwith73

trying to het info

Chuckk

Araya - wish I'd kept that bike, it rode very nicely.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ber-guide.html