Classic & Vintage - Reproduction vs Original Vintage Parts

The subject of reproduction versus original vintage parts has been a hotly debated topic of late. Unfortunately, very little new discussion is taking place. Instead, people repeat the same arguments for and against over and over. What is needed is a poll, so here it is.

The debate is centered around two camps: Those that believe reproduction parts are somehow bad (against), and those that want choices for restoring their vintage rides to nice cosmetic and operational condition, without paying outlandish prices for doing so (for).

The against camp thinks if it's not original, it's not as 'good'. While this argument has some merit in the concours show ring, and helps push prices for original items higher, it's not really accurate. Interestingly, many people in this camp have expensive repaints (not original), which feature at least some reproduction decals. Further, many roll with original Campy gum hoods, but not on original tires, tubes, spokes, grease, etc. Many in this camp look upon reproduction parts with derision.

The for camp likes original parts when they can get them, but they ride their bikes, and understand things wear out if you use them. They take the custom car restoration approach, which is to make the overall package nice within their budget, using a combintation of original (e.g. Campy headsets, BB's, etc.), and some reproduction or newer parts (e.g. paint, decals, lever hoods, tires, bearings, etc.). Many in this camp feel the against camp members are practicing snobbery, and wonder why all the fuss.

Note: We are not going to get into the argument here, about reproduction parts that are clearly reproductions, but which are sold as being original. Or where the seller avoids answering the question of a potential buyer about whether they are original. Everyone agrees fraud and lying are bad.

Here's your chance to weigh in, and we'll see who the majority is.

wow - folks still care about this?!
e-RICHIE©™®

wow - folks still care about this?!
e-RICHIE©™®

You didn't think the world was miraculously purged of obsessive people did you? :D

lol, e-RICHIE, haven't seen many posts from you lately, surprised it was this that prompted a post. I'm far too young to remember when this was cared about - but I suppose I'll humor the OP to say I'd rather go with the part that gets me on the road and does the job it's intended. If it's original equipment, and that's what I'm going for on the bike, all the better. If it's a repo and it's half the price of the original and looks the same (and probably performs better / lasts longer), all the better as well. Live is too short and there's not enough hours in the day to ride let alone worry about if your derailleur is an original or repo as long as it's not going to leave you stranded far from home.

-- now returning to studying about things that do matter (at least to me who has an exam in a few hours).

Excuse my ignorance but, are there that many repro parts around?

When somebody says repro parts in bike language, are they referring to gum hoods, decals and paint only? I guess we could also include cables, cable hosings, brake pads, did I miss anything else?

And, using only Campy yellow grease for vintage Campy parts?

lol, e-RICHIE, haven't seen many posts from you lately, surprised it was this that prompted a post. I'm far too young to remember when this was cared about - but I suppose I'll humor the OP to say I'd rather go with the part that gets me on the road and does the job it's intended. If it's original equipment, and that's what I'm going for on the bike, all the better. If it's a repo and it's half the price of the original and looks the same (and probably performs better / lasts longer), all the better as well. Live is too short and there's not enough hours in the day to ride let alone worry about if your derailleur is an original or repo as long as it's not going to leave you stranded far from home.

-- now returning to studying about things that do matter (at least to me who has an exam in a few hours).


this http://www.richardsachs.com/articles/rsachsperiod.html took up nearly
a decade of my life and i continued with it after the project ended. i love this
stuff but see no absolute right way to get it done. i've pasted and posted
extensively about it on my blog http://richardsachs.blogspot.com back when
i was more tethered to the hobby.
e-RICHIE©™®

I see this in the same vein as any other emotional issue with bikes etc.

It is not a problem to me for someone to use parts for the looks, nor is it a problem if someone does really care that they have the genuine article.

As for me, I have neither the money, nor the inclination to be concerned with whether a bike has the genuine parts. I buy bikes to ride! As long as the parts are at least as reliable as the items they pretend to be, I have no problem.

I voted that I'm in favour of them and here is my thinking on the subject:
It varies from bike to bike.
My RIH is a 1975 model and it has semi melted world logo hoods.
With the exception of tires the bike is all original (including discoloured
bar tape) AFAIK.
I have no intention of repainting or restoring the bike, its more like preservation,
so for this particular bike I would tend towards NOS (if I can afford it). It
should be noted this isn't one of my daily riders.
The Pog frame I just bought has already been repainted by the
original owner, and will get a repaint and new repop decals (I could not
find period correct original decals). As its a pista frame and I intend to
ride it at velodrome initial build will be a frankenbike, whatever fits gets
put on. Eventually I would like to refinish with all period correct pista
components.
I should note that none of my bikes will ever be a concours winner,
nor entered in any competitions. I like to ride them
and if that means using reproduction parts so be it.
e-RICHIE yes this is still a big tsuris even amoung us
little pishers.

IT's all about the difference between a restoration and a renovation. The restoration by e-RICHIE of the Masi is a thing of beauty, but the original frame is worthy of the effort. Repro parts on that frame would be like a moustache on the Mona Lisa. On the other hand I see nothing wrong with taking an older mass produced steel frame, cold setting the spacing to 130 mm, and outfitting it with a modern drive train or converting it to a fixie.

this http://www.richardsachs.com/articles/rsachsperiod.html took up nearly
a decade of my life and i continued with it after the project ended. i love this
stuff but see no absolute right way to get it done. i've pasted and posted
extensively about it on my blog http://richardsachs.blogspot.com back when
i was more tethered to the hobby.
e-RICHIE©™®

Very nice Masi, and a good read about it too. If I had the pleasure of restoring such a frame, and had the means to do so, I think I would do much the same as you did. Anyways - I should be studying. But reading about beautiful vintage bikes are so much more interesting!

One more generation (I think) and the point of reproduction parts will probably be moot. Although it seems like the supply of Campy stuff is endless, it will dry up, as the 40's-50's parts supplies seem to be doing. Then the good stuff will get really, really expensive, and the consumable stuff like the hoods and brake pads will become unobtainable. If the bike is to be ridden, it'll have to be ridden with reproduction stuff...and bikes are made to be moving works of art, experienced in a way that no other artwork can be experienced (excluding, say, a Ferrari F-50 or a ducati 750GT).

I like the highest quality ones, the ones that are truly authentic in appearance and feel and fit, and use them. Even concours autos -- the 100-point cars - must rely upon excellent quality reproduction parts. Without the parts, the show would soon be over. The ride much sooner. JB Froke

I like the highest quality ones, the ones that are truly authentic in appearance and feel and fit, and use them. Even concours autos -- the 100-point cars - must rely upon excellent quality reproduction parts. Without the parts, the show would soon be over. The ride much sooner. JB Froke



a-effin-men, brutha!
e-RICHIE©™®