Something followed me home today
10-16-22, 06:58 PM
#1
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Something followed me home today
The story was the owner I bought it from bought it from the original owner, who was a racer of some local noteriety. He said he owned it for about 20 years, but he barely rode it. If it was raced, the guy was really good at keeping the rubber side down! The 20 year time frame could mean that the guy I bought this from did the drive train "upgrade", but he has no recollection. I asked him to gkeep an eye out for any random parts during a garage clean up, and to give me a call. You never know!
1983 LOTUS Legend; the only year with Columbus tubing and the script Legend lettering. Spec sheet says fork crown reinforcements added in 1984, but who know, because this one has them.
The good: Columbus SL frame built by Tsunoda, Superbe brakes, Superbe Hubs. The paint is very nearly showroom pristine, with one small chip where the brake caliper hit the down tube. Chrome looks as good as the paint. Nice Sugino Mighty Comp crankset, although the drilled chain rings are missing.
the bad: The suntour drive train (Cyclone II top mount shifters, front and rear derailleurs) were changed out with Sachs Huret Rival Aria 7000. (RD date code 0490). The worst of it is the missing top mount shifters, I wanted them. Looks like it was also converted to 8 speed at that time. Spacing looks like 135mm (can that be right?). Alignment looks good though. Waterbottle basically shattered as I was squeezing it on the way to the rubbish bin! Not sure of the size, my guess is 56, so I will likely be moving this one along after I harvest some parts, and clean and overhaul the greasy bits. A shame, because i need a sport bike in the inventory.
This may be the first Lotus I have seen in person
Columbus SL
Columbus SL
This should clean up nice
Superbe Hubs
Superbe brakes
SN:EK01950
1983 LOTUS Legend; the only year with Columbus tubing and the script Legend lettering. Spec sheet says fork crown reinforcements added in 1984, but who know, because this one has them.
The good: Columbus SL frame built by Tsunoda, Superbe brakes, Superbe Hubs. The paint is very nearly showroom pristine, with one small chip where the brake caliper hit the down tube. Chrome looks as good as the paint. Nice Sugino Mighty Comp crankset, although the drilled chain rings are missing.
the bad: The suntour drive train (Cyclone II top mount shifters, front and rear derailleurs) were changed out with Sachs Huret Rival Aria 7000. (RD date code 0490). The worst of it is the missing top mount shifters, I wanted them. Looks like it was also converted to 8 speed at that time. Spacing looks like 135mm (can that be right?). Alignment looks good though. Waterbottle basically shattered as I was squeezing it on the way to the rubbish bin! Not sure of the size, my guess is 56, so I will likely be moving this one along after I harvest some parts, and clean and overhaul the greasy bits. A shame, because i need a sport bike in the inventory.
This may be the first Lotus I have seen in person
Columbus SL
Columbus SL
This should clean up nice
Superbe Hubs
Superbe brakes
SN:EK01950
Last edited by mgopack42; 10-17-22 at 06:57 AM.
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10-16-22, 07:34 PM
#2
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Thread Starter
I noticed anothr small paint chip on the seat tube below the Columbus sticker, but that is the magnification. The spec sheet says recessed brake mounts, but the brakes are nutted, I will need to check that out. More pics to follow.
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10-16-22, 07:47 PM
#3
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could it have traveled all the way from Honshu to upstate NY and then back out to California or was there a west coast office at this time?
was Maeda's headset partner Tange?
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could it have traveled all the way from Honshu to upstate NY and then back out to California or was there a west coast office at this time?
was Maeda's headset partner Tange?
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10-16-22, 07:51 PM
#4
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Great score! The Lotus head badge is one of the best.
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Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
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Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
10-16-22, 08:36 PM
#5
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Sold in SoCal if the sticker is original. Head set is 600, likely a carry over from the first gen which was full 600 Arabesque
10-17-22, 06:36 AM
#7
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Thread Starter
More pics:
Chrome socks look good
8 speed
MIssion Valejo Anyone know this shop?
I never saw a blue Araya sticler before.
sachs-Huret Aris Rival 7000 RD
Forged Sugino crank, missing original "drilled" chain rings with sachs-Huret Aris Rival 7000 FD
Missing the top mount Cyclone II shifters (bummer) sachs-Huret Rival "upgrade"
Chrome socks look good
8 speed
MIssion Valejo Anyone know this shop?
I never saw a blue Araya sticler before.
sachs-Huret Aris Rival 7000 RD
Forged Sugino crank, missing original "drilled" chain rings with sachs-Huret Aris Rival 7000 FD
Missing the top mount Cyclone II shifters (bummer) sachs-Huret Rival "upgrade"
Last edited by mgopack42; 10-18-22 at 04:33 AM.
10-17-22, 06:40 AM
#8
I don't know.
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huh. The name Rival was used before SRAM. I learnt somethin today.
That's a handsome bike.
That's a handsome bike.
10-17-22, 06:40 AM
#9
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Thread Starter
Last batch:
Chrome fork socks look great as well.
Legend in script, with Columbus tubing nails this as a 1983 model.
Tsunoda built. SN reflects this too
Nitto bars, even though SR are speced
Microshift, 8 speed sachs-Huret Rival. I guess tat this was how SRAM got into drive trains, through aquisition...who knew! (I bet a lot of you, just not me!)
Chrome fork socks look great as well.
Legend in script, with Columbus tubing nails this as a 1983 model.
Tsunoda built. SN reflects this too
Nitto bars, even though SR are speced
Microshift, 8 speed sachs-Huret Rival. I guess tat this was how SRAM got into drive trains, through aquisition...who knew! (I bet a lot of you, just not me!)
10-17-22, 06:51 AM
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Really nice looking bike. I had a Centurion Elite RS with the top mount SunTour shifters . They were nice but , to me, not much different in use. It also had the Cyclone MK 2 group which was one of the best shifting set ups I have tried. I just got a set of wheels with Superbe HF hubs (same gold stickers) . I have yet to try them out but they seem very nice. I had never seen them before I got the wheels so I have no idea. The general consensus on this forum is favorable. It looks like that bike will ride very nicely, good score.
10-17-22, 08:44 AM
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I have 2 84 Lotus Legends. One is an Ice Blue Legend and the other is an Oxide Green Legend Compe. Both have recessed brake nuts and head tube decals instead of the badge. They also have the fork crown/seatstay engravings. The Compe does not have an aero shifter boss since it came with Campy parts. The other main differences between the Legend and the Compe are the frame geometry and the dropouts. The Compe has Campy DOs without eyelets. Very nice score. The Oxide Green is a very nice color in person. Pictures don't do it justice. That might be a 58 with the way the badge is positioned on the head tube. Make sure and record the year/model/size/color/serial number on the Asian serial number guide sticky.
10-17-22, 09:08 AM
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Oh wow! That's going to clean up so well. What a fun project.
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10-17-22, 09:18 AM
#13
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Nice score Mark!
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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10-17-22, 10:56 AM
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Very great condition.
10-17-22, 01:24 PM
#17
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That's a very fine bicycle.
The few bits you feel it's missing, can become your quest(s).
Because the shifters match the derailleurs, I would not change just the shifters. Keep what you have but put a set screw in the threaded hole of the shifter boss. Use a little clear or black silicone as a sealant and thread locker.
The few bits you feel it's missing, can become your quest(s).
Because the shifters match the derailleurs, I would not change just the shifters. Keep what you have but put a set screw in the threaded hole of the shifter boss. Use a little clear or black silicone as a sealant and thread locker.
Last edited by Bad Lag; 10-17-22 at 01:28 PM.
10-17-22, 03:32 PM
#18
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That is beautiful. Eventually I will find my Lotus Supreme, but that is an amazing bike.
Interesting about the Rival stuff.
Interesting about the Rival stuff.
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
10-18-22, 05:51 PM
#19
Junior Member
If and when you replace the shifter cables on this beauty, with the current Sachs shift levers, I would consider moving them up the downtube so that the aero lever boss acts as a stop for the lever clamp.
Great find!!
Great find!!
10-18-22, 07:17 PM
#20
Senior Member
You lucky bastige. 
I presume it's freewheel. If so - and if the freewheel is worn badly enough to need replacement - you might want to check out my post earlier today on the "Are you looking for one of these?" thread. It contains a link to a vendor with a Sachs-Malliard 12-19 8-speed corncob freewheel for sale.
I presume it's freewheel. If so - and if the freewheel is worn badly enough to need replacement - you might want to check out my post earlier today on the "Are you looking for one of these?" thread. It contains a link to a vendor with a Sachs-Malliard 12-19 8-speed corncob freewheel for sale.
Last edited by Hondo6; 10-18-22 at 07:28 PM.
10-18-22, 07:38 PM
#21
Senior Member
FWIW: if the guy you bought the bike from only owned it for around 20 years, it's possible the original owner did the RD/FD/freewheel 8-speed upgrade. Per the Disraeli Gears website, the Sachs-Huret Rival 7000 RD was designed around 1990 - and the Huret name appears to have disappeared from Sachs branding circa 1992. Both occurred 30 years ago or more.
10-18-22, 07:48 PM
#22
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FWIW: if the guy you bought the bike from only owned it for around 20 years, it's possible the original owner did the RD/FD/freewheel 8-speed upgrade. Per the Disraeli Gears website, the Sachs-Huret Rival 7000 RD was designed around 1990 - and the Huret name appears to have disappeared from Sachs branding circa 1992. Both occurred 30 years ago or more.
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
10-18-22, 07:56 PM
#23
Senior Member
Per Disraeli, the first Huret Rival came out in 1981 or 1982 - the 2850-00. The Rival name continued, with numerous design revisions, until well after SRAM bought the Sachs bicycle components operation (the SRAM Rival 22 was available as late as 2014).
10-18-22, 09:14 PM
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Lovely Lotus... I couldn't help but notice and wonder why you're calling the SR crankset a Sugino Mighty Comp? SR is Sakae/Ringyo and Sugino is Sugino. Different companies! This is what appears to be one of SR's top offerings of the era, a RY-5 or "Royal-5" model.
VeloBase.com - Component: Sakae/Ringyo (SR) RY-5, Royal-5
VeloBase.com - Component: Sakae/Ringyo (SR) RY-5, Royal-5
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10-19-22, 06:03 AM
#25
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Thread Starter
FWIW: if the guy you bought the bike from only owned it for around 20 years, it's possible the original owner did the RD/FD/freewheel 8-speed upgrade. Per the Disraeli Gears website, the Sachs-Huret Rival 7000 RD was designed around 1990 - and the Huret name appears to have disappeared from Sachs branding circa 1992. Both occurred 30 years ago or more.
Last edited by mgopack42; 10-19-22 at 06:13 AM.