Originally Posted by surreal

Hi.

I just bought an 85 300, but the diamond-frame model. I like it plenty, but like the OP, i intend to make some radical changes. There'd already been some fairly major mods done by the previous owner (wheelset, crank, RD), but i'm liable to go whole-hog.

As some ppl had mentioned, there aren't bosses for D/T shifters. I think bar-cons'd be the best bet for folks planning on using a derailer system.

The brakeset is dia-compe 500. If memory serves me (it's been a week since i started tearing my latest ride down), there's at least 4mm of downward play in the brakeset. riding the bike in to work a few times, i found the brakes to be adequate, but barely so. The new rims were some cheapish alloy jobs, but i weigh an eighth of a ton, so braking might be better for the OP.

I agree with the person above when s/he said that making it "as light as possible" is a questionable money-pit. Regardless of how cool the frame is, it's made of straight-gauge 4130 steel. My 23" diamond frame is heavy; i imagine that a mixte, with the extra tubes, is even heavier. It'll never be a lightweight bike. A better focus would be on reliability/durability/ comfort.

I recently got an old fuji mixte for my ol' lady, and we're doing that up as a 3speed with drum brakes. this is what inspired me to grab the old B-stone for cheap; i intend to hook it up as either a SS or 3speed with drums, which sidesteps brake compat issues, and allows for even more rubber in there, should we desire.

Good luck. enjoy the build. There seems to be a recent resurgence of interest in semi-decent japanese-made bikes of the 70s and 80s, but thereare still plenty of deals to be had. I got the late 70's mixte for my wife b/c the VO, riv, and soma mixtes are expensive, with overly-wide 132.5mm spacing in most cases. For $50, i got a complete bike with very little wear-n-tear, and some components worthy of keeping. Ya done well, so far, i reckon

-rob