crewdoglm

Can someone elaborate on the use of this decal? What frames were adorned with this and what series of Dura-Ace is the sticker associated with? Photos if you got em'...GO

Bianchigirll 

I think that came on higherend bikes that wore the Dua Ace from the period before the 7400 indexing group came out but after that chunky looking aero stuff.

Andrew R Stewart 

I agree. One could search and study Shimano component catalogs to find the first year that these colors and font were introduced in their marketing materials. I would guess early to mid 1980s. Andy

3speedslow

It looks similar to the ones on early Sekine which were DA equipped. But that one might be earlier with the system compo series designation.

crewdoglm

Thanks Andy. I just found that sticker graphic in an archived 1982 catalogue. There were two versions of the sticker. Not seeing any vintage frames with thing on there which seems odd.

Andrew R Stewart 

The whole component sticker thing was really not a bike brand/manufacturing OEM thing then. Sure some riders placed those little Campy oval decals on their rods before 1982 but the "as delivered" cosmetics usually didn't have the components stated like that. It was a couple of handfuls of years later when there were still friction shifting bikes and non Shimano equipped ones offered that the decaling of the components became a marketing advantage. And why would a bike manufacturer spend the cost (however small) to do something that didn't add consumer appeal. Until having Shimano parts met that need there was no advantage to place a decal on the bike.


Now It was Shimano that strongly marketed their components being an advantage (over SunTour, campy, Huret, Simplex and others) and this push really took off in the early 1980s. Hence my estimate of the decal's era. An ironic aspect of this is that it is in the big box markets that this component brand badging is the strongest. The general public tend to only be familiar with the biggest brand names. (We still get customers asking for Schwinns...) The passionate riders already know what the bike has, component wise, by just looking at it. The general public doesn't and therefore needs a decal to convince them the bike is a "good one" Andy

nlerner

I usually associate that decal with first or second generation Dura Ace circa 1974. You can see it on the downtube of my '74 Norman Fay, which came with Dura Ace cranks and mechs (sorry I don't have a closeup shot and that frame has since been repainted):

T-Mar

The subject decal was introduced in 1977 and used on the 1st generation Dura-Ace road and (standard) track groups. Circa 1980, when Shimano converted their numbering system, these became known as 7100 and 7500 series, respectively. These groups continued to be offered concurrently with Dura-Ace 10 (7000 series) Dura-Ace EX (7200 series), Dura-Ace AX (7300 series), which had their own decals. The last year for the subject was decal was 1984.

There was an earlier Dura-Ace decal, used 1972-1976. It was similar in overall appearance but had different text.

The introduction of the subject decal coincided with several changes to the 1st generation Dura-Ace road group. These included a proper Dura-Ace rear derailleur (as opposed to Crane), an optional version of the front derailleur, optional bar end shift levers and revised brake levers with oval holes. Consequently, it is often called 1st generation, 2nd version, Dura-Ace.

The decals were typically included with individually boxed components, as sold by LBS and mail order houses. Most of the samples found on bicycles were placed by the owners. They were rarely applied to bicycles at the factory.

FBOATSB

https://www.bikeforums.net/15097206-post10.html

scroll down to the fourth pic

Vintage Raleigh

I bought a set of Dura Ace cranks new in 1976 that had a decal in the packaging similar to the one mentioned.
Most lightweights were built to spec around that time except for Bianchi's. Australia was a very small market and only imported bikes for kids.

tricky 

How the heck did you remember that?

Vintage Raleigh

Very first set of new (affordable) high end parts. I was bike mad even then as a 14yo.
I had to back track to work out what the year was though!

skoda2

Greetings, purchased this Romic as a frameset in 1974, however had to wait until 1976 before I was able to afford 1st. Gen Dura Ace components. Pictured is the frame decal that was in the box with the components.
Regards

plonz 

Just wanted to say great Romic.

I've kept an eye out for one of these but they're pretty scarce. Would be cool to own a hometown Houston frameset.

The Golden Boy 

With the big time pulleys!!!

crewdoglm

Thanks very much.