Kabuki12

Some of you may remember me posting about whether a 1978 Raleigh Professional frame with headset and BB was worth $150. It is in need of paint but the frame seemed in good shape with no dents or dings , just surface rust and chipped up paint. Of course you guys did not talk me off the ledge, you pushed me into purchasing(like I needed any help). It has been just sitting on my stand and I go back every once in a while and mess with it , first taking the BB apart and headset. Both had fresh grease and were in good shape.
The wheels I had intended on using were Rigida 27” with HF Campy Record hubs but that was a no go, this bike needs 700c. After looking around for decent wheels that would be appropriate with my budget, I decided on buying a bike on Craigslist for $125, just for the wheels! Nice Mavic G40 with SS spokes laced to early Phil hubs and Campy flat skewers. The donor bike was very nice but way too small, some on the CR list believe it may be a lighthouse built frame. Some of the other stuff will help with some of my other bikes.
The rest of the stuff I had already so today I finished building it . I rode it up and down the cul de sac at my house and then climbed a steep hill to really test it out. It worked well the way I have it set up , so I will ride it tomorrow for my Sunday ride.

As purchased right after I bought it

xiaoman1 

I am glad that you bought it but what a tease......where are the pics of the build?
Best, Ben

Kabuki12

After finishing the build


British Isles handlebars with GB stem from my bin


Showing the front view

Kabuki12

Sorry Ben I’m still working on it, my iPad is soooo slow!

Rear view showing the nice Phil hubs

WGB 

Judging by the head tube, are you 8 feet tall?

I'm 6'2 and ride 63cm frames but yours look massive!

Kabuki12

kind of deceptive. It is a tad over 25” center to top on the seat tube. I am just over 6’ but with a 35” inseam.

Kabuki12

the pics finally loaded!

Whit51 

Nice build! IMHO the Pro is one of the most beautiful vintage bikes, especially in that color.

xiaoman1 

Kabuki12,
I really like it.....just the right amount of patina for me....I am really glad that you snagged it.
BTW, Who has a 35" inseam........
Best, Ben

Kabuki12

All legs as me Irish Mum would say!

steelbikeguy

on the subject of head tube length.. I find myself confused by the head tubes on the Pro's too, and I've got an International (size 24.5 c-t) and a Raleigh 753 Team (60cm)!

Of course, I've also got a 25" Hetchins with a rather high BB, and the head tube seems pretty long by comparison to my Raleighs...



Don't the Pro's usually have fairly high BB's too?

Steve in Peoria (barely avoids bodily injury when straddling the Hetchins)

Pcampeau

This looks like a pretty good parts assemblage despite not everything being original equipment. Tough to beat Phil hubs. I’ve got a 1978 MKV in the 24 1/2” size and it’s handling is just dazzling, as much fun as anything I own. Mine was a basically complete machine when I purchased it but with much non-original spec. I’ve slowly aquired the original parts over the last few years and now it’s nearly right. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this. Nice job!

Kabuki12

yea, I think some bikes look much taller and it could be that the BB height is part of it. That is one cool Hutchins , it also looks taller than a 25” frame. The curly stays are so cool on those bikes. When I built the Pro I was not sure that I did the measurement right on my pre-setting. It was just right when I swung my leg over. I have been riding 25” frames since the seventies and this one looked so tall but I measured it a couple of times and it was 25 c-c. I may try 175 lgth cranks if I can find a set when I get it painted later on, I have them on my same sized ItalVega and I like them.

Kabuki12

For the most part I just used parts I had which are earlier than what should be on this bike. I did find the Team Professional Brooks for it . I have a set of Phil hubs on my Windsor and love them. As I go along , I may try to find the correct parts , like later brakes . I have the correct curved skewers but I really like the flat ones.

poprad

I love that you kept the patina and that you used parts on hand. Something about this build just gels, it's very well done. Congrats and thanks for sharing!

Kabuki12

thanks, this was definitely a budget minded build!

bikingshearer 

Very, very nice. I look forward to seeing it in person.

Kabuki12

OK so I did just over 40 miles and it went very well. The only thing I would change is the gearing on the freewheel. I will have to talk to pastorbob on about some kind of change in the “gap “ in the range. Otherwise, this is a fine bike with plenty of spirit ye tame enough to ride all day. It is a bit more comfy than my Competition GS maybe because the Pro is my perfect size and the Comp. Is about 60cm like the Medici, ok for 30 miles or so .

You can see a bit of a gap between the second and third cogs with very little difference between the two high gears.

I had to stop for a blessing from our local Sea Goddess!

75lechamp 

I remember your posts about this bike, as I had recently acquired a '78 Pro MkV myself and had some of the same thoughts. Glad you decided against the repaint; I did as well. Had the bike out today on my daily ride out to Golden, it's a great ride!

Kabuki12

wow yours looks nice , I think it is in better shape than mine, no matter the bike doesn’t know the difference and I really don’t see the patina while I’m pedaling along! While I was out today I noticed how balanced the bike is, it tracks nice and straight. For a moment I lifted my hands off the bars to stretch a bit and it didn’t wander at all. It could’ve been because of the fit .

JackJohn

That’s a beautiful bike and you did an excellent job with the build, enjoy the ride!

Wildwood 

6'1+" and my inseam is 35". Wingspan is 3.5" wider than height. 60cmX58, 18-19cm head tube is my perfect. Gimme a 120mm stem. Largest frame I ever successfully rode was Raleigh SuperCourse in the 25" size, but it didn't stay with me long, nor the 25"Trek600

@Kabuki12 - my fav Pro color. Not a cheap repaint. I have passed on $700-800repaints more than once.

xiaoman1 

Wildwood,
Much appreciated....Thanks for pointing out one my physical challenges, however they do have a few benefits, one being able to sit reasonably comfortably when I have to travel coach.......
Best, Ben

pastorbobnlnh 

As best I can see, you are running a Suntour ProCompe (they often have a dark outer bearing race/retaining ring) when compared to their fraternal twin, a Suntour Perfect.

While I can't be 100% certain, it appears to have a 15T as the first sprocket, followed by possibly a 16T as the second, and a 20T, 21T, or 22T in the middle. The two smallest sprockets thread to the body and the final three are splined (final four are splined on ProCompe/Perfect bodies sized for 6 speeds).

Generally speaking, ProCompe/Perfects begin with a 14T and max out at 34T. There are exceptions.* However, if your frame can handle a larger first sprocket, you can start with the current 15T and then jump to a 17T or 18T, which are the largest threaded sprockets Suntour made specifically for the ProCompe/Perfect bodies. However, if you are adventuresome, Suntour made silver threaded sprockets for their Winner family of models, which, IIRC, go all the way to 24T. These Winner sprockets are threaded the same as the ProCompe/Perfect sprockets.

This is how I built my "Mega Range" narrow/Ultra spaced, 6-speed, 17-21-26-30-34-38, "Mountain Crusher" ProCompe.


*There is a rarer Perfect 6-speed model (usually not marked as "Perfect") which has three threaded sprockets with the first a 13T, and there is the hard-to-find 38T sprocket which fits these bodies.

Kabuki12

I would probably go to a 17 or 18 as you suggest. I will look to see if I have a spare FW to use and then mail this one to you for the "massage" that it may need. It is very smooth , but who knows? So , do you have one of those sprockets that you could switch out for me? As far as low gear , I think 28 is my limit on this set up . I really don't want to change derailleurs . If I need a higher gear for blasting down hill , I can always put a 53 tooth chain ring on , but I don't do that anymore. Joe