Identifying a vintage bike I picked up
10-10-16, 10:22 AM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Identifying a vintage bike I picked up
Hi everyone,
been following the forum and specifically this thread for a while but this is my first post
I picked up this old (very rusted) road bike on craigslist for free. I simply want to tear it apart and learn everything I can from it, not looking to sell it afterwards or anything,but would definitely like to leave it in working condition.
So the guy that gave it to me thought it was a Raleigh Gran Sport, however after tearing everything apart and cleaning some of the rust on the frame, the paint job doesn't seem to fit the Gran Sport pictures and catalogues I have seen. Normally the Gran Sport has white and blue paint (either majority white or majority blue), or some other form of combinations with white. This one, however is all white.
The decals are mostly gone, but they are black and gold. One of the decals definitely says "sport", the "gran" however is not evident. The other decals say "10 speed".
The serial number is 9 digits, starting with what appears to be RJ454XXXX. From what I've managed to piece together online, it seems as if it was a June '74 model from Canada.
Does anyone have any idea of what it could be?
Attaching some pictures from before and after I tore it apart.
Pictures
thanks!
been following the forum and specifically this thread for a while but this is my first post
I picked up this old (very rusted) road bike on craigslist for free. I simply want to tear it apart and learn everything I can from it, not looking to sell it afterwards or anything,but would definitely like to leave it in working condition.
So the guy that gave it to me thought it was a Raleigh Gran Sport, however after tearing everything apart and cleaning some of the rust on the frame, the paint job doesn't seem to fit the Gran Sport pictures and catalogues I have seen. Normally the Gran Sport has white and blue paint (either majority white or majority blue), or some other form of combinations with white. This one, however is all white.
The decals are mostly gone, but they are black and gold. One of the decals definitely says "sport", the "gran" however is not evident. The other decals say "10 speed".
The serial number is 9 digits, starting with what appears to be RJ454XXXX. From what I've managed to piece together online, it seems as if it was a June '74 model from Canada.
Does anyone have any idea of what it could be?
Attaching some pictures from before and after I tore it apart.
Pictures
thanks!
10-10-16, 10:35 AM
#2
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With the one piece crank, the seat stays & the way the rear dropout is attached to the stays, I serious doubt that it is a Raleigh of any sort. Most likely an American brand from the 1970's.
10-10-16, 11:09 AM
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Just like one of my bikes, the top of the seat stays seems questionable and seems to let on about the bike;
That one sticker, where it says Certified, I think that is image number 11 looks a bit like an AMF sticker.
My guess is an AMF Roadmaster type of bike, other ideas are Murray, Open Road and so on. An American type of bike.
That one sticker, where it says Certified, I think that is image number 11 looks a bit like an AMF sticker.
My guess is an AMF Roadmaster type of bike, other ideas are Murray, Open Road and so on. An American type of bike.
10-10-16, 02:43 PM
#4
Bikes are okay, I guess.
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BMA certification sticker is Bicycle Manufacturers Association of America, so the bike was likely produced Huffy or Murray.
10-10-16, 03:37 PM
#5
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Those cheap crimped-on sheetmetal dropouts and the Ashtabula crank tells me that it's an early '70's American made bike of nefarious quality. Taking this thing apart will only teach you how cheap bikes of 40+ years ago were made, not how modern bikes are. When you are finished, if the bike works, you will have a $10 bike.
10-10-16, 06:35 PM
#6
Senior Member
It was free and so what the heck, tear it down and see how it goes.... As you get into the bike hobby you'll be able to distinguish between lower end bikes and better quality bikes. So since you've got it down to the frame,this would be a great time to learn how to paint a frame.
10-11-16, 06:52 AM
#8
feros ferio
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Sears Free Spirit, perhaps? (Made by Huffy or Murray during that era.)
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
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Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
10-11-16, 07:22 AM
#9
Semper Fi
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Its a good idea to use this bike as a learning tool, you can get a good grasp of how a friction derailleur works, and just some plain old maintenance tasks can be explored. You aren't sacrificing a potential gem, or some valuable icon from the past, just returning an old bike to working condition, regardless of what value someone else puts on it. Good on you for a positive outlook and for using this as a learning experience.
Bill
Bill
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Last edited by qcpmsame; 10-11-16 at 09:55 AM.
10-11-16, 07:29 AM
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It's definitely not a Canadian manufactured Raleigh from 1974. During this era, Raleigh Canada didn't use "J" as a month indicator. Also, they didn't use that style dropout or the oversize shell for one piece cranks.
I concur that the bicycle is low entry level, almost certainly USA manufacture and possibly a private label brand for a chain store. The serial number had me thinking Ross but I haven't seen one with that distinctive dropout style. I've seen some similar but not identical dropouts on some Rollfast.
I concur that the bicycle is low entry level, almost certainly USA manufacture and possibly a private label brand for a chain store. The serial number had me thinking Ross but I haven't seen one with that distinctive dropout style. I've seen some similar but not identical dropouts on some Rollfast.
10-11-16, 07:40 AM
#11
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Just like one of my bikes, the top of the seat stays seems questionable and seems to let on about the bike;
That one sticker, where it says Certified, I think that is image number 11 looks a bit like an AMF sticker.
My guess is an AMF Roadmaster type of bike, other ideas are Murray, Open Road and so on. An American type of bike.
That one sticker, where it says Certified, I think that is image number 11 looks a bit like an AMF sticker.
My guess is an AMF Roadmaster type of bike, other ideas are Murray, Open Road and so on. An American type of bike.
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In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
10-11-16, 03:37 PM
#12
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Thread Starter
So I think I may have found what this is!
After you all mentioned this was a deparmtent store bike, I searched online for a while. Then I took a hard look at the first picture, which is the one that clearly says "sport", and it looks as if the first part says "euro".
So I'm fairly confident now this is a Ross Eurosport.
There's a whole other thread on this bike here
After you all mentioned this was a deparmtent store bike, I searched online for a while. Then I took a hard look at the first picture, which is the one that clearly says "sport", and it looks as if the first part says "euro".
So I'm fairly confident now this is a Ross Eurosport.
There's a whole other thread on this bike here
