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Zunow Z-1 modern build

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Old 11-22-21, 01:28 PM
  #1  
RoboIsGod
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Zunow Z-1 modern build

Wow it's been a minute since I've posted! Anyway here's my pandemic project bike. Frame is a Zunow Z-1. Probably from the 80's, I'd appreciate any other info. I went with a SRAM Riva/Force mix for the drivetrain; Sim Works (Nitto) cockpit; Pacenti wheels; Fizik Saddle; Tanaka cages; Panaracer Race C Evo 4 tires.

The bike is a dream to ride. The paint has chips and is pretty delicate at this point. I'm considering a complete restoration but would want all of the decals reproduced as close to original as possible. I'd welcome recommendations on places that could do this.

Anyway, here are some pics:










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Old 11-22-21, 02:10 PM
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i love that build! you leaned into the all-black components look and pulled it off well. it contrasts well with the red frame and overall is a very cohesive ensemble. I have a Z-1 Pro-Form that I one day hope to do a similar resto-mod on.
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Old 11-22-21, 02:18 PM
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Awesome build! The black components complement the frame in a way that belies the decades between their production. I have always wanted a Zunow but we don't see many of them on the west coast of Canada.
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Old 11-23-21, 08:07 AM
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Old 11-23-21, 08:32 AM
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Looks great, I’d leave that frame as is.
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Old 11-23-21, 08:44 AM
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I like the build. I'm with sloar, I'd leave it alone. I don't know what you mean by "fragile" paint. Is it beginning to flake and/or peel? The "touch-ups" can be improved upon. Get a better color match.
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Old 11-23-21, 08:59 AM
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Originally Posted by sloar
Looks great, I’d leave that frame as is.
Agreed on both accounts. It's your bike tho, so do with it what you will and don't worry, we will have opinions about everything, everything. :-)

How would you characterize the ride, more of a crit bike or century?
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Old 11-23-21, 12:45 PM
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Wow that's an aggressive setup for the drops.
The deep red with black components looks great.
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Old 11-23-21, 12:49 PM
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Old 11-23-21, 02:22 PM
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Thanks for the kind words y'all

The paint is flaking/peeling, and quite easily at that. So I have to treat the bike very carefully, more-so than I'd like to. Also the seat tube head lug has some deeper looking bubbling in the paint. I'd really like a sand-blast and then some proper paint to protect the frame for many more years of riding.
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Old 11-23-21, 02:23 PM
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Well compared to what I'm used to riding (modern race bikes) the geo is definitely more "century". That being said I love the way it corners/handles. Much smoother and more predictably. Though the angles are probably slacker, it is still very responsive.
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Old 11-23-21, 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by RoboIsGod
Thanks for the kind words y'all

The paint is flaking/peeling, and quite easily at that. So I have to treat the bike very carefully, more-so than I'd like to. Also the seat tube head lug has some deeper looking bubbling in the paint. I'd really like a sand-blast and then some proper paint to protect the frame for many more years of riding.
As an FYI, there are currently no options for repro decals for late model Zunows. I.e. the graphics where the "O" in Zunow is an explosion. All of the available repros are for the older graphics where there's a spade in the "O". So if you blast and repaint your Zunow, you won't be able to restore it completely.
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Old 11-23-21, 11:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Catnap
As an FYI, there are currently no options for repro decals for late model Zunows. I.e. the graphics where the "O" in Zunow is an explosion. All of the available repros are for the older graphics where there's a spade in the "O". So if you blast and repaint your Zunow, you won't be able to restore it completely.
Hmm a friend was telling me about a company that will do decal reproductions in addition to paint. Of course I don't remember the company...
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