Hubertus

600 ax groepset


Aero cover!


Shimano 600ax and Tange aero frame

I own a nameless early aero bike with a special Tange frame and a Shimano 600 ax group on it. I have seen these being branded as: Jan Janssen, Norta, Diamant and Plum.
No doubt there are many more.
Show me yours ! Do they qualify for Eroica events as the year is 1982?

CliffordK

Hmmm, Here is @Hubertus' Album.
https://www.bikeforums.net/g/user/493655
https://www.bikeforums.net/g/album/12422088

But, alas, no Shimano 600AX bike.

Here is my thread about the SR Semi Pro.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-aero-way.html

I haven't had a chance to do much with the bike yet. Another project for "soon".

I have acquired some replacement brake hoods, and do plan to try to clone them sometime.

clubman 

A recent gift to me was this partial Belgian Superia Gemini ax. Dressed up in Guerciotti clothing. The catalog shot after.

T-Mar

The last time I looked, they still had the rule prohibiting aero brake cable routing and aero levers.

CliffordK

I think the Italians were a bit repressive with their Eroica rules, but I believe those are changing to be more accepting. And, they did have exceptions for parts vintage before their "cutoff".

I doubt many people would be turned away at the gate.

rccardr 

Hubertus

The SR is very much like my own bike. The guerciotti frame isn't.
I still have to find out how this site works. Can you look at the pictured in my album?

T-Mar

The OP's bicycle is one of the quasi-aero frames with the down and seat tubes formed to an elliptical profile only in the mid-section. This was a cost concession that permitted conventional lugs to be used, as well as standard, clamp mount front derailleurs and round seat posts. If desired, they could also use the clamp mount shift levers. These are more common than full aero frames and were offered in more brand names. Given the Tange tubing, it is likely Japanese in origin, in which case the serial number may disclose the manufacturer and build date. Photo assist...

CliffordK

There are several differences between my SR and your "unknown" bike.

1. Cone Shaped headset on my SR-Semi-Pro
2. Aero (AX) shifters on the SR-Semi-Pro
3. Non-round seatpost on the SR-Semi-Pro (note the seat tube is round at the bottom).
4. Non-round lower headtube lug.
5. rear brake cable routed below the Top Tube.
6. I like @Hubertus' front cable clip.

There are also quite a few similarities between the bikes. It is possible they are the same, but different years.

However, I would imagine there is a common tube set, and lugs. I need to move my pump peg, and I'll verify my tubing type.

RobbieTunes

Wasn't there a Lotus with AX?

CliffordK

Oh, Huffy made an AX based bike too.

Although, that one was the Huffy Aerowind based on the Shimano Adamas AX groupset. But, it would be important to note that Shimano made a full line of "aero" groupsets from simply "AX" to "Adamas AX" to "600 AX" to "Dura Ace AX".

And, of course, these were built into a range of bikes.
"

Hubertus

As I understand it. Shimano designed the entire aero bike, including the Tange frame and all the Little details. This complete bicycle then was sold by various manufacturers under their own brand.
I wonder how many there are. I spotted a Shogun recently on Pinterest.

T-Mar

The only aero bicycles that Shimano had direct input on, were the show models that they had contract built to display their AX component groups. The majority of Asian manufactured brands aligned with Shimano had aero models. Among those not already mentioned, that immediately come to mind, are Araya, Miyata, Nishiki, Panasonic, Tsunoda, Takara, Univega and Velosport. Many of these were contract manufactured by other companies, so the best indicator of origin is the serial number.

Hubertus

The serial number is: 2B12795. Can anyone make Sense out of that?

Lemond1985

Sorry for the OT question, but can anyone else confirm this? I just watched part of the '86 TDF where Lemond won it using aero brakes (and clipless pedals!). Seems kinda silly to ignore facts like that in deciding which pre-1988 equipment to allow and which to forbid. I would definitely be OK with clipless pedals if they were pre-1988, but it's not my ride.

T-Mar

The serial number format is consistent with that used by M-a-t-s-u-s-h-i-t-a of Japan. They are best known for their Panasonic brand of bicycles but also contract manufactured for other companies, including Schwinn. The frame was manufactured in very early 1982..

RobbieTunes

T-Mar

Putting aftermarket 600AX calipers on a Comp TA does not make it an 600AX aero bicycle.

RobbieTunes

I had to mount them on something. Nice catch on the model.
I have the seatpost, too, so I'll swap that in to further the heresy.

One quickly forgets any aero advantage when trying to actually stop the bike with these calipers/angled rims.

You have to understand, my reality is, well, different.
I was actually just showing the brakes, that's all.

Hubertus

I must agree with T-mar, but these brakes look good on any bike.

Dieptriest

Speaking of branding. A case of aftersale branding.
Pick-up a bike build with a Tange Aero 600 tubeset branded Colnogo??
I think just a Shimano Aero 600 AX frame with a dishonest brand sticker on it.

Norda, JanJanssen, Miyata and more used a Aero 600 Framsets or Tubesets.
and the Tommasini Air Prestige look like it.

Dieptriest

embankmentlb

There were Suntour equipped aero bikes also!

embankmentlb

lt is not about an actual date but rather a spirit of the old verses the new.
Campy C-record was a bit late to the aero game but it IS the pinnacle of the aero group sets. How many grand tours were won with it?

RiddleOfSteel

@embankmentlb has finally shown us a large picture of his Vista Aero Course! I have one, too (that I am selling to thin the herd--not advertising it, just saying)--1982 in 64cm form. Bought it with this nicked up powder coat job and was able to shine it up a little. Heavy frameset at 3500g for frame/fork/headset. Rides strongly.