Best production C&V Japanese racing bike?
08-16-16, 07:12 PM
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Best production C&V Japanese racing bike?
So what is the best production Japanese C&V racing bike ever made? By production, I mean a bike you could have walked into a shop and bought as a complete bike. A team miyata is near the top of my list but my vote goes to the Bridgestone RB-1 from 1992-94 which were the iconic Grant Peterson designed B'stones. The team miyata is a superb bike with investment cast lugs and miyata's splined tubing. That said, the RB-1 can take a 28c tire (which is pretty unusual for a racing bike designed around short reach brakes) and, IMHO, just rides right.
What is your favorite? Why? No poll here; if you want to play, you need to take a stand.
Here is my 1993 RB-1:
What is your favorite? Why? No poll here; if you want to play, you need to take a stand.
Here is my 1993 RB-1:
Last edited by bikemig; 08-16-16 at 08:22 PM.
08-16-16, 07:41 PM
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If 3Rensho qualifies as production, they're at the top of this list for me.
Full disclosure: I've never owned nor ridden one. I've just totally bought into the hype.
I'd throw Specialized Allez into the mix as well.
Full disclosure: I've never owned nor ridden one. I've just totally bought into the hype.
I'd throw Specialized Allez into the mix as well.
08-16-16, 07:44 PM
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I had a Pro-Miyata that was an absolute rocket.
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08-16-16, 07:44 PM
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My daughter's Team Fuji is trick. It's incredibly light, and she's very fast on it.
(not quite in final form)
(not quite in final form)
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08-16-16, 08:09 PM
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If you want only production then Fuji Professional and Miyata Team are the best of the best. But if you go down the road of custom than 3Rensho, Zunow and Katakura Silk Olympic Team bike; I forgot Panasonic had some really nice bikes too like Team Europe Team Japan, and Team America bikes
Last edited by rekmeyata; 08-16-16 at 08:15 PM.
08-16-16, 08:12 PM
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I put a lot of miles on my '93 RB1. It handled great but I found the bottom bracket to be quite flexy. I'm really liking my recently aquired '93 Paramount PDG 2.
08-16-16, 08:29 PM
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Sekai 5000! The 4000 was a very nice and pretty bike, as good as most upper end stuff in the late 70s, but the 5000 was on a whole new level. A ultra light and extremely exclusive level.
Last edited by coolkat; 08-16-16 at 08:33 PM.
08-16-16, 09:11 PM
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Ironman.
Last edited by jetboy; 08-16-16 at 09:17 PM.
08-16-16, 11:52 PM
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I would put the '80s Pana-Schwinns up there in the consideration, in my humble opinion (and limited experience)--certainly no discounting of the previously mentioned bikes, which are stellar and ones I'd love to own.
Crummy picture but this is Penny, my '85 Peloton in one of her previous forms. This setup had her at 21.0 lbs, pedals and all. Absolute acceleration with those light wheels, and when I put them on my '89 C'dale, the impression was that she didn't give up much of anything in the stiffness/liveliness department.
Though if my '84 Super Sport (below Peloton, still Japanese built) is anything to extrapolate from, an '84 Peloton would be even better with its shorter wheelbase (by 7/8" with the 25" frames, per my measurements) and slight geometry differences. The SS really coils up and strikes when out of the saddle--need more of that!!
Crummy picture but this is Penny, my '85 Peloton in one of her previous forms. This setup had her at 21.0 lbs, pedals and all. Absolute acceleration with those light wheels, and when I put them on my '89 C'dale, the impression was that she didn't give up much of anything in the stiffness/liveliness department.
Though if my '84 Super Sport (below Peloton, still Japanese built) is anything to extrapolate from, an '84 Peloton would be even better with its shorter wheelbase (by 7/8" with the 25" frames, per my measurements) and slight geometry differences. The SS really coils up and strikes when out of the saddle--need more of that!!
08-17-16, 12:19 AM
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I've got to say, I can't imagine it gets much better than an RB-1 (although I'd love to try out some other candidates as time goes on!).
I love my '92.
I love my '92.
08-17-16, 02:01 AM
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I would vote for Koga Miyata .... I've owned a Koga Miyata Road Champ, but sold it as it was too large for me .... mine weighed just over 9kg and was very fast (including hills)
I'd love a Koga Miyata Full Pro with the old dura ace groupset:
I'd love a Koga Miyata Full Pro with the old dura ace groupset:
Last edited by dim; 08-17-16 at 02:13 AM.
08-17-16, 04:08 AM
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Any of the higher end road bikes Koga made together with Miyata while their cooperation lasted. My 1980 Gent's Racer was a sub 10 kg bike, even at the time, and it takes 28 mm tyres.
08-17-16, 05:03 AM
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The 1988 Centurion Ironman. Quick acceleration,great handling,Italian geometry and the OEM components were second only to dura ace in the Shimano line. In fact the tri color 600 hold up very well even by today's standards minus the brifters.
Side note: I think the team Miyata is great because of the front derailleur tab, but wasn't as accessible (perhaps limited production) so Ironman gets my vote.
Side note: I think the team Miyata is great because of the front derailleur tab, but wasn't as accessible (perhaps limited production) so Ironman gets my vote.
Last edited by texaspandj; 08-17-16 at 05:26 AM.
08-17-16, 05:07 AM
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I sold it 6 years ago like an idiot, but my '89 Koga-Miyata FullPro was the raciest, quickest handling bike I've ever had, and that includes modern bikes. When you started pedaling you just wanted to hammer the hell out of it. Beautiful bike, full 7400 DA including the stem/post.
08-17-16, 08:26 AM
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If I had to own only one Japanese racing bicycle from a mass volume manufacturer, it would be the top line Eddy Merckx manufactured under license by Miyata and equipped with black, Ist generation, Dura-Ace. While they weren't up to the standards of the later Team Miyata, there's something about owning an Eddy Merckx and black components on an orange frame.
From a performance perspective, I'd have to go with a late 1980s Team Miyata with STB and New Dura-Ace.
From a performance perspective, I'd have to go with a late 1980s Team Miyata with STB and New Dura-Ace.
08-17-16, 08:35 AM
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I'll vote Lotus Supreme and the Lotus Aero Supreme - they were BEAUTIFUL, very nicely made...top parts. Top everything. They were built as flag ships to establish a line and it shows.
Team Miyata is right there too.
I don't count Koga Miyata as Japanese, but man they had some beautiful machines.
Team Miyata is right there too.
I don't count Koga Miyata as Japanese, but man they had some beautiful machines.
Last edited by KonAaron Snake; 08-17-16 at 08:47 AM.
08-17-16, 08:44 AM
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If I had to own only one Japanese racing bicycle from a mass volume manufacturer, it would be the top line Eddy Merckx manufactured under license by Miyata and equipped with black, Ist generation, Dura-Ace. While they weren't up to the standards of the later Team Miyata, there's something about owning an Eddy Merckx and black components on an orange frame.
From a performance perspective, I'd have to go with a late 1980s Team Miyata with STB and New Dura-Ace.
From a performance perspective, I'd have to go with a late 1980s Team Miyata with STB and New Dura-Ace.
08-17-16, 09:02 AM
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...does anyone know who made these for Bianchi ? (1985 Professional) It has long been a favorite of mine.
08-17-16, 09:20 AM
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Panasonic often gets overlooked, they had a large presence in the pro peloton but not so much in retail sales outside of Europe. I have a PR 5000 that is very well made and a rocket, their PR 6000 was the pro-level frame that many great riders were able to podium with after Ti-Raleigh became the Panasonic racing team.
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08-17-16, 09:34 AM
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08-17-16, 09:45 AM
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Best production C&V Japanese racing bike?
The best one I ever had was a Specialized Allez Pro. I built it up as a junk bike and, wow, was it nice to ride. Was it the best? Probably not but it was the best one that has come my way and a lot of bikes have come my way...
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08-17-16, 12:19 PM
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