SchRadler

Veering off course here toward a Vent Noir mixte thread, but if you ever decide to "settle" for the matte black, here's a better deal. For $0.01 more than the ebay listing you get these gorgeous gold wheels with the original black DA hubs AND a 1976 issue of Bicycling featuring a review of this bike.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...64871221476745

Murray Missile 

Just got home with this...... and no, it's not an optical illusion. The fork blades do trail the centerline of the headtube slightly. Bent or made that way? I'll make a separate thread with more pics and details.

rekmeyata

Yes, it is an Olmo as someone has already said. The big clue was the headset, but then the badge matched the same shape as an Olmo badge, so it's an Olmo.

rekmeyata

Every tall bike that I ever seen the forks seemed to be bent back just a tad, not sure if that was due to the extra length of the fork combined with the bike manufactures didn't make the fork any more stouter than a regular size bike combined with rider weight and time; OR, it could be that the headset is worn and the play moves the fork back just a tad which gives it the appearance of being bent.

OlderNotWiser

Impact damaged or otherwise, she is puurrrty!

Murray Missile 

No play or binding in the headset. I put a straight edge down the headtube and the fork blades do trail but not as badly as it appears in the picture.

rustystrings61 

It seems to me that I read somewhere on this forum that Peugeot built their forks like this from the start, with a certain amount of "trail" built in. Is my memory failing again? Am I misremembering?

rustystrings61 

I didn't know Uri Geller was on this list! *ducking*

tarinalynn

These are some great saves! I am excited to get started on the 1987 Kuwahara Butte XL mtb I just yanked from a rust pile. Pics when the forum allows a newbie to post ‘em. (3of10)

mkeller234

Great accidental find today when I was picking up my groceries. Miyata 912, outside a sports store with a buy it now price. Pink is the theme of my day!

OlderNotWiser

With my recent find (posted upthread) I have to agree that pink & black steeds are for winners!!

rekmeyata

You are there, does it look the same bend when you eyeball it in the exact same position as the camera was in?

It could be very slightly bent and bent at the steerer tube slightly, or it's an illusion, or the bike was built that was as one poster mentioned.

Murray Missile 

Bent right where the steerer tube meets the crown. I'm going to find some bar stock to just fit inside the steerer for support and give it a little "nudge" then inspect for signs of cracking or fatigue. If it passes back in it goes. Been in QC for 43 years, much of it doing just that type of inspection. Plus I picked a metal working tip or two along the way so I trust me.

rekmeyata

Ok, that's what I thought I saw too. Since the bend is very slight, I doubt it would be cracked or fatigued, they probably were a big rider and hit a pothole or something that bent it just a hair. I see that a lot on large frame bikes like yours. They should have built the forks more stout on those large size bikes.

oneclick 

You may have to finesse the insert if the steerer has two different ID's, as it would if reinforced at the bottom. If it is, try to find a quill stem that has an ID the same as the smaller steerer ID, use that as a sleeve for your bar.

Murray Missile 

I also have a PXN10 and a PRN10 frameset and the forks don't trail like this.

Murray Missile 

Thanks for the heads up!

Murray Missile 

And wheels, saddles, etc.

rekmeyata

Actually the wheels weren't that bad, they generally came from the factory with 36 spokes regardless of the size of the bike. I still have a set of Torelli Master Series wheels I had built with 36 DT Revolution spokes on the front and 36 DT double butted Competition spokes for the rear, I can't recall the gauge but they were the thinnest gauge of the 2 Comp spokes offered at the time. I never had any problems with those wheels, and a lot Clydesdales rode on 36 spoke wheels without issues, Tandem and touring bikes sometimes came with 40 spoke wheels at least on the rear wheel.

I didn't think the saddles were that bad either, heavy compared to todays saddles, but the all steel seat rails held up great whereas today the ones with CF rails break, and the AL rails bend, but the padding in those old saddles didn't last as long as the ones do today while the covers back then lasted longer then they do today.

Weird stuff like pedals today don't last anywhere near as long as the old clip pedals did, and neither do todays shoes, todays shoes are lucky to make it 5 years, whereas I still have a pair of clip style shoes I've had since 1981 and are still wearable...well they would be still wearable if my feet hadn't gotten wider!

Overall I believe bikes from the 80's especially were built way better for long life application then they are today...as long as you didn't need the largest frame made and weighed a lot. Geez, I remember testing riding a slew of bikes in 1984 before I bought a Trek 660, you would be surprised as to how many of them were flexy has you cranked on the power going up steep grades, that was the reason I stayed away from the Trek 760 with 531P tubing as well, it flexed like crazy but the later found out it had a 165 pound rider weight limit and I weighed 160 at the time. Tange Prestige had a weight limit of 150 pounds. The worst flexing bike I tested was a Peugeot PY10, I didn't even take it up a grade and that darn thing was flexy like a wet noodle, so I took it back to the store after going down one side of a block, I don't recall the weight limit on that probably 75 pounds!

As crazy as this sounds but I believe that Miyata triple butted splined tubing and Fuji quad butted frames were better than anything that Reynolds or Columbus put out. Had I known that back in 84 when I bought the Trek 660 I would have probably bought one or the other in the high end category.

Murray Missile 

I'm on a roll! Picking up a Volkscycle Mark XV tomorrow with full Arabesque. I don't know must be the camera angle but the fork looks a little bent.......... Hard to tell with that mangled frame.




It was another one that was too cheap, full Arabesque and a functioning (Soubietz?) gen set for $40, delivered! We were having a hard time getting together so I could pick it up. The guy lives 5 minutes from my work and has an appointment on the other side of town and will be going right past about lunch time so he offered to bring it by on his way.

It's here, except for collision damage it's in great shape. It was raining during the hand off so I just did quick look over for now.

dweenk

Not a dump save, but a catch. This popped up on CL yesterday, and I bought it this morning.

Some details:
Vitus 172 butted frame, 172 forks
Nervar cranks
Simplex derailleurs (branded Motobecane) and shifters
MAFAC Competition brakes, levers with good half-hoods
Rigida alloy rims
Original Motobecane bar "wrap"
Motobecane branded headset
Sella Italia Anatomic saddle
Seatpost, SR LaPrade fluted
Stem is SR, 80mm
Hubs - Normandy
Pedals - I don't know (appear to be Japanese MKS clones)
Handlebar - alloy, laurel leaves around a Motobecane "M"
Spokes - zinc plated I think and clean
Freewheel - Suntour Pro-Compe, 6 speed
Tires - Michelin Elan, 630x23

And that is all I have for now.

Murray Missile 

Got it home and looked it over some more, handlebars are bent, both sides are pulled forward forming a shallow "U". The fork is pretty close to being in line with the head tube but it clearly was not at some time. Lots of cracked and missing paint on both blades about 4 inches below the crown. All the components look good though, both rims are true AND match, must have replaced the front one, they have high flange Shimano hubs and no name aluminum rims with zinc plated spokes. It has 3 "Dura Ace" top bar cable guides. Gen set is a "Union", it will probably end up on my Raleigh LTD 3. At the moment the plan is for all the Arabesque to go on my Gitane Interclub. I'll keep the head badge, it's kinda cool and save anything of use but the frame and fork are toast. Still well worth what I paid though.

On 2nd thought I may build it back up with orphan parts as a dedicated bike for my stationary trainer. I have plenty!

dweenk

I pumped up the tires, raised the seat post and stem, and took it for a spin around the neighborhood. There is nothing wrong with it.

I'll be working on cleaning it up, and that should be an easy task.

shoota 

What is a "gen set"?

dweenk

I am quoting myself here, but why not.
New photos: