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Steve Bauer - What have I got?

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Steve Bauer - What have I got?

Old 06-23-22, 03:53 PM
  #1  
strathconaman
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Steve Bauer - What have I got?

Hi Everyone,

I picked up a vintage frame on the local Facebook marketplace. I have built it up and rode it a few times.

Of course, now I am in love with it, and before I spend $$$ I want to know what I have.

It is labeled a "Steve Bauer" but it also has a decal from Tony Beek (a local painter) on it. It has a Vortex Equipe decal on it. Fork is a Tange, and the frame is likely Tange as well.

But there is no serial number, and no indication that it ever had one. It may have been a custom build early in Steve's bike retail gig, or it might have been "relabeled" during a later respray.

In any event, I love how it rides. Can someone tell me more about it?

(and don't judge me on how filthy everything is)

Here are the photos:












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Old 06-23-22, 04:00 PM
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That looks much nicer than any Canadian Tire Bauer I've ever seen. You could call Tony...he would likely know if you can reach him. Best painter in TO back in the day.
It's likely @T-Mar can help you out.
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Old 06-23-22, 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by clubman
That looks much nicer than any Canadian Tire Bauer I've ever seen. You could call Tony...he would likely know if you can reach him. Best painter in TO back in the day.
It's likely @T-Mar can help you out.
The Vortex was the top, standard production model in the Steve Bauer line in 1986 and 1987. It used Tange Prestige and Shimano Dura-Ace. The few Vortex that have surfaced have had serial numbers that are consistent with Maruishi in Japan. The Vortex Equipe was introduced for the 1988 model year but was bumped down to 2nd spot by the Levante, which used Columbus SLX and Campagnolo Chorus. I don't have specs for the Vortex Equipe but given the Tange forks, I suspect it is also Prestige. What is the seat post diameter?
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Old 06-23-22, 07:23 PM
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Wow I haven't seen Tony Beek's name for years - he did an amazing job on my Ducati 900SS refinishing way back in the day......
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Old 06-23-22, 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by T-Mar
The Vortex was the top, standard production model in the Steve Bauer line in 1986 and 1987. It used Tange Prestige and Shimano Dura-Ace. The few Vortex that have surfaced have had serial numbers that are consistent with Maruishi in Japan. The Vortex Equipe was introduced for the 1988 model year but was bumped down to 2nd spot by the Levante, which used Columbus SLX and Campagnolo Chorus. I don't have specs for the Vortex Equipe but given the Tange forks, I suspect it is also Prestige. What is the seat post diameter?
Seatpost is 27.2mm
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Old 06-23-22, 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by markk900
Wow I haven't seen Tony Beek's name for years - he did an amazing job on my Ducati 900SS refinishing way back in the day......
I would love to see that!! Bezel-drives drive me nuts!
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Old 06-24-22, 04:43 AM
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Originally Posted by strathconaman
Seatpost is 27.2mm

That increases the odds of it being Prestige, as the standard seat tube for all the other Tange double butted tubesets of the era typically used 26.6mm posts. A 27.2mm post would indicate either Prestige, a custom spec seat tube or something other than Tange. However, when we consider that it has a Tange fork and that the Vortex of the two previous model years employed Prestige, then Prestige becomes be the major candiate, by a substantial margin.

Last edited by T-Mar; 06-24-22 at 04:47 AM.
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Old 06-24-22, 08:39 AM
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Originally Posted by T-Mar
That increases the odds of it being Prestige, as the standard seat tube for all the other Tange double butted tubesets of the era typically used 26.6mm posts. A 27.2mm post would indicate either Prestige, a custom spec seat tube or something other than Tange. However, when we consider that it has a Tange fork and that the Vortex of the two previous model years employed Prestige, then Prestige becomes be the major candiate, by a substantial margin.
Thanks! So it is likely a 1988 model. Do you know if they were still spec'd with Dura Ace?
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Old 06-24-22, 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by strathconaman
Thanks! So it is likely a 1988 model. Do you know if they were still spec'd with Dura Ace?
It's no older than 1988, provided that is the correct model name. It could be slightly newer than 1988, as Steve Bauer bicycles survived into at least 1991. I strongly suspect that it was Dua-Ace equipped, if it is 1988. Bauer's contract allowed him to compete on his eponymous brand in Canada, rather than the bicycle of his pro team sponsors. The bicycle he rode in the 1988 Montreal Grand Prix was Dura-Ace equipped, rather than the SunTour Superbe Pro components of his Weinmann - La Suisse pro team.

Regardfless of what was OEM, if this was my frame, I'd be installing Dura-Ace. In my opinion, it was the best high grade group during 1988-1991.
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Old 06-24-22, 06:47 PM
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But it is kinda cool that Steve got to ride Superbe for a Pro Team. Not many did.
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Old 06-24-22, 07:09 PM
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That bike looks amazing, I wouldn't change a thing!
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Old 06-25-22, 06:18 PM
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Originally Posted by T-Mar
Regardfless of what was OEM, if this was my frame, I'd be installing Dura-Ace. In my opinion, it was the best high grade group during 1988-1991.
Sorry, I am a Campy guy. And those shift cables hanging out the side of 7400 brifters drive me crazy.
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Old 06-25-22, 07:58 PM
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Very nice, I've been following Steve Bauer bikes for a while now and most are lower grade quality but high prices but this model looks worth it.
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Old 07-28-22, 08:04 AM
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Here was the repaint plan:

Here is where I am at:




A week or so of hardening and I will build it back up again!
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Old 07-28-22, 09:58 AM
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That looks amazing so far!
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Old 07-28-22, 11:19 AM
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wow, looking great so far and love that colour scheme. When can I bring over the frame that I need to have restored?
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Old 07-28-22, 11:33 AM
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Originally Posted by clubman
But it is kinda cool that Steve got to ride Superbe for a Pro Team. Not many did.


The Ronde van Vlaanderen has been won on Suntour Superbe Pro in 1989. And much more, check here.
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Old 07-28-22, 11:42 AM
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Always loved those diamond-shaped water bottle brazeons. My first high-quality frame (Paramount) had them, and so I always associated them with a nice frameset.
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Old 07-28-22, 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by fabiofarelli

The Ronde van Vlaanderen has been won on Suntour Superbe Pro in 1989. And much more, check here.
Hartstikke leuk!
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Old 07-28-22, 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by strathconaman
Here was the repaint plan:

Here is where I am at:




A week or so of hardening and I will build it back up again!
That is nice. Is it getting (or already have) a coat of clear over the top?
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Old 07-28-22, 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted by himespau
That is nice. Is it getting (or already have) a coat of clear over the top?
Yes. I actually used a "matte" clear on it...because that is what I had on the shelf. I have used it on other bikes before, and it is so durable. Mainly because with a matte finish you can't even tell when it is scuffed or scratched until it is into the base layers.
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Old 07-28-22, 01:18 PM
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Great work! Nice bike cave and cute baby, too. How did you manage the clean lines on the circular patterns at the color transitions. Masked by hand, custom vinyl cutouts, or…?
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Old 07-28-22, 01:21 PM
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The little maple leaves hidden in with the bubbles sure are cool.
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Old 07-28-22, 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by gthomson
wow, looking great so far and love that colour scheme. When can I bring over the frame that I need to have restored?
Yeah. My painting skills are of "workman like quality". Considering I paid $100 for the frame and fork, I didn't want to spend $$$ on someone who can do it right.


The Colnago behind it has a professional respray on it. It wasn't cheap.
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Old 07-28-22, 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by gaucho777
Great work! Nice bike cave and cute baby, too. How did you manage the clean lines on the circular patterns at the color transitions. Masked by hand, custom vinyl cutouts, or…?
Custom vinyl cutouts. All the lettering is paint as well. First coat white, then letters. Then orange, transition bubbles applied, then blue.
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