Classic & Vintage - should I bother with my Maruishi frame?

Hey folks,

This is my first post to the forum, and I'm a serious bike noob. I've been searching the site for this make, and I've found a few helpful items, but no info specifically on the model I have. I'm riding a Maruishi RX-5 road bike, which looks to be from the late 80's-early 90's. The seat tube sticker says it's Tange 900 double-butted steel. It's a mish mash of swap meet parts that I bought as-is from someone, and I'm wondering if it's worth the effort and money to build this frame up with new components, or if that's even possible. The occasional paint nicks are present, but there's no rust.

Ideally, I want to build this thing with new or recently used Tiagra or 105 parts, but will I have to stick to parts of the frame's vintage? Also, for the sake of argument, let's say I go all new -- if I go for the full drivetrain, brakes, and new hubs/wheels (say Alex or Mavic with Shimano hubs), will I brush up against or even surpass the price of a comparably equipped shiny new bike?

Thanks...

I have the RX7 with exage on it. It is no where near the quality of newer bikes. The frame is Ishiwata but feels heavy compared to my 531. I am selling it and would not attempt to upgrade it when there are much better frames to be had. Just my 2 CS.

well i put together a great bike out of an old tang 1 frame, youll have to cold set the rear triangle to get new drive train parts in but i have all new parts on mine now and it runs like a beast

I have the RX7 with exage on it. It is no where near the quality of newer bikes. The frame is Ishiwata but feels heavy compared to my 531. I am selling it and would not attempt to upgrade it when there are much better frames to be had. Just my 2 CS.Well, 531 was made in everything from heavy straight gage to superlight butted stuff.

Hey folks,

This is my first post to the forum, and I'm a serious bike noob. I've been searching the site for this make, and I've found a few helpful items, but no info specifically on the model I have. I'm riding a Maruishi RX-5 road bike, which looks to be from the late 80's-early 90's. The seat tube sticker says it's Tange 900 double-butted steel. It's a mish mash of swap meet parts that I bought as-is from someone, and I'm wondering if it's worth the effort and money to build this frame up with new components, or if that's even possible. The occasional paint nicks are present, but there's no rust.

Ideally, I want to build this thing with new or recently used Tiagra or 105 parts, but will I have to stick to parts of the frame's vintage? Also, for the sake of argument, let's say I go all new -- if I go for the full drivetrain, brakes, and new hubs/wheels (say Alex or Mavic with Shimano hubs), will I brush up against or even surpass the price of a comparably equipped shiny new bike?

Thanks...You can likely buy a better used bike with what you want on it for less. Does the n00b have any tools or knowledge of comonents,comaptibility and building bikes? Not that it can't be done,but too many pursue a bad idea just because they have 'something' to start with.

It cost me around 700$ to rebuild my mtb.
I'd not bother with lower end frames -(not dis'n your bike).

Mind you, my roommate\mech and I rebuilt a Peugeot PX-10, with a new Shimano drive, older Shimano 600 derailers\cranks.
Newer Mavic rims\Suzue hubs.

Basically I stripped my triathelon bike and sold him the parts cost (bought used).
About 300$ with the new bb, used parts -mech install + the 100$ for the PX-10 frame =$400 for a sweet bike.

Can be done, but you need either money or lots of parts\bikes for cannibalization.
I don't think you can get much of a road bike for 400$ new, his retro bikes is now much better.
Still, if he had been smarter, he'd have got me to source out a better frame.
As I told him, the parts can be fitted to a better rig later.

I'd say no -but that is exactly what I do -with some limited skills of bike building.
Good luck with the decision.

i repainted and rebuilt my rx-5 as a fixie, mostly with parts i had accumulated, and i like it. a lot.

but i have a problem... the headset is on its last legs. if anyone knows whether this is likely to be a jis or iso fork crown race diameter, i would greatly appreciate that information. and if i should post this somewhere else instead, i would also appreciate that information.

Any comments on Tange 900 double butt?

My main bike is Tange Ritchey Logic super tubing.

I like Tange -they make a range of tubings, some better I've been told.

as a rider, i don't notice any functional difference between it and my previous 531 frames. it doesn't seem as light as my roommate's fuji track (which is steel, but of a much more recent vintage), but it's definitely on the lighter side.