Classic & Vintage - Vintage Dura-Ace Group needs frame!

Hi,

I'm in the process of collecting a nice vintage Dura Ace gruppo. I already have: crankset, brake levers, RD and have just bid on a ver nice set of brake calipers (if need be, i'll post pictures)

I'm thinking of putting the gruppo on a nice vintage frame that will do the gruppo justice. But I have no idea from which period these parts are. I simply bought the parts on their 'vintage' look .

Does anyone know what type of frame these parts were originally installed?

Thanks!

pics, post some pics

pics, post some pics

What he said!

I too am looking for a vintage frame for my next build, but alas Dallas seems to be a wasteland when it comes to finding decent frames.

That early group came as OEM on the Austro-Daimler Vent Noir:
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/AustroDaimler/76/Vent%20Noir.jpg
The naughty bits in question:
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Dura-Ace-74/

In the late '70s it was often referred to as "Do You Race?", and considered close to Campagnolo, but not quite there... In some ways, it was better, and was less costly too. Besides that Vent Noir, I'm sure there were Japanese builders that spec'd the early DA as OEM, but I don't remember who. Many people built up their customs with it though, so you might want to get a US or British built custom to hang it on...

Ok, ok. Here are some pics. the levers are in the worst shape. But the RD and crankset look quite nice. No play in the RD as far as i can feel. I''l be polishing these babies up ( the levers are aluminium right?) and I've got the calipers coming in the mail this week. Now I only need a FD, seatpost, headset, stem and some NOS hubs ( freewheel, not the early UG freehubs). Enjoy!

Oh and Other Guy, thank you very much for the link. Judging from the catalogue, I seem to have parts from different era Dura Ace Gruppos. But hell, I'm not that anal about period correctness. I hope... Oh no, now i HAVE to get that Crane Long cage FD! damn!

all of those parts work together - dura ace EX, just not the earliest stuff. The Cranes are actually pretty easy to come by, it is the dura ace lever set with safety levers that is rare (or the black parts, and in particular the rear derailleurs and headsets). I gave up on a black headset finally.

I built a Trek 930 frame with the vintage dura ace parts. The 1981-82 catalog calls it a 959 Pro. This one is a very nice ride - I used the black DA group, so the parts are really too old for the frame. So what? The rider's too old too.

Does anyone know what type of frame these parts were originally installed?

Well, since you're living in the Netherlands, a Koga Miyata frame seems logical. Top end Koga's were fitted with Dura Ace: I don't know everything about it, but models like Pro Racer, Road Racer or the more common Gents Luxe S or Gents Racer S had this group, or Shimano 600. They were pretty common in the 70s, early 80s.
Problem is, you will probably find a complete bike and not just a frame.

Come to think of it, Batavus offered their top model, the Professional, primarily with Dura Ace EX components, the frames were fitted with Dura Ace specific gear lever bosses. Campagnolo was an option.

Batavus hangs Dura Ace on a Batavus

I like it. . .

That early group came as OEM on the Austro-Daimler Vent Noir:
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/AustroDaimler/76/Vent%20Noir.jpg
The naughty bits in question:
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Dura-Ace-74/

... Besides that Vent Noir, I'm sure there were Japanese builders that spec'd the early DA as OEM, but I don't remember who.

Fuji for sure - Fuji "The Ace" - I still have mine, was the bike following my PX10 - vintage '73, I think the first appearance of DuraAce, even before it hit the market as a Gruppo Offering.
Problem (as with most Fujis of that period) was that you had basically 3 size offerings, smallest (don;t remember what size that was) 22.5 and 24. I opted for a 24 which was a big mistake. At that size the Japanese made the toptube long enough to accommodate takeoff and landings from most middleweight bombers.
Within one season I stripped all the DuraAce and moved it to a new Orero. Eventually sold the Orero (big mistake) but kept the Fuji and still have it.
I kept the Brakes though. They were (and still are) some of the finest stoppers I've ever owned.
Also still have the DuraAce Wheels (hubs are going to be built into a set of 'Crit' wheels w/ Ultra6, 13 -19 freewheel for racing next year), seatpost was too short for any adjustment options. Derailleurs were okay, but Suntour was better. Cranks were delux (same as shown in the thread here). Seat was some Japanese Cinelli copy torture device. Handlebar stem was Nitto and in recognition of the 'truck' chassis they built, they gave a 90 CM stem and 38 cm bar - talk about steering a semi with dinghy tiller. Downhills of any speed were death-defying and frightful beyond belief. But I still have that frame (built up with ersatz) and ride it for a whole month every year, when visiting the parents in NJ.
The wheels and brakes are awesome, though.
I should rummmage for a pic...

Batavus hangs Dura Ace on a Batavus

There's no escaping it!

Brochure is from 82 or 83.

Thanks for the many suggestions guys! sr70guy, I was thinking of using a Koga Miyata, but indeed, all that is on offer is complete bikes. I would then of course have another group for spares or yet another build up. The Dura ace hubs seem especially hard to come by. I saw one NOS set on ebay, but that was 42 dollars and another 6 days till end of auction, never mind the shipping ( from US).

All the really good stuff seems to be across the pond somehow. Sr70 guy, you wouldn't happen to have anything lying around would you? :-) Cool brochure by the way, who is the racer, Peter Post?

Oh yeah, about my handle, I'm not particularly into Batavus, although they are much less finicky to work on than Gazelles, as I'm learning now at the shop.

The reason I chose Batavus was thatthe frameset I had available to build my first bumbike fixie happened to be one :http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/aug/IvoTierie.htm

If anyone knows how to change handle without creating a new account, let me know. Oh and I''l keep you posted on the Dura Ace project!

Cheers!

The Dura ace hubs seem especially hard to come by. I saw one NOS set on ebay, but that was 42 dollars and another 6 days till end of auction, never mind the shipping ( from US).
All the really good stuff seems to be across the pond somehow. Sr70 guy, you wouldn't happen to have anything lying around would you? :-) Cool brochure by the way, who is the racer, Peter Post?

The racer is Jan van Dam, I don't particularly remember him, but he was a member of the Batavus team around 82.
I do have lying around what I think you are looking for, but ... .
Depends on what hubs you're looking for: the very first ones (screw-on freewheel type) I don't have. The next one is Dura Ace EX, and has the 6 speed cassette system. The main problem is, where to get new sprockets if you wear them out. Hard to get, I'd think. Easier to find a usable freewheel than those sprockets.
I'll send you an email to the adress in your fixie site.

BTW, you also seem to be looking for a front derailleur; again, what type? The first, with cut-outs in the cage, or the EX type? And again, I do have lying around ..., etc.

FYI, there is a set of NOS D/A shifters on e-bay right now. item#7196563434.

'Rasher

hey shipping from the US ain't all that bad!

Marty

roadrasher, thanks for that tip on the virgin shifterset!

Sr 70 guy, Yes, I'm certainly looking for an FD, the EX variety. The hubs, well, I too was thinking freewheel as they are much easier to come by, but I think you can fit modern Hg sprockets on an UG body. I saw my boss do it just last week. But I understand that the hubs you have are NOS?

Does anyone know what the general shipping rates from US to Netherlands are?

Grtz

Ivo

The hubs, well, I too was thinking freewheel as they are much easier to come by, but I think you can fit modern Hg sprockets on an UG body. I saw my boss do it just last week.
Ivo

If your uniglide hubs are 126mm, I have purchased uniglide cassettes on ebay - 7 spd. I have 2 sets of these (http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-Shimano-7-Spd-13-21t-Cassette-New-0531_W0QQitemZ7197198978QQcategoryZ42332QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) and am quite pleased with them, currently on 2 sets of Shimano Sante uniglide wheels. I know he lists 'US' as shipping, but you never know until you ask...

There are other sellers listed as well... with just a simple 'Shimano uniglide cassette' search.

Batavus,

I've shipped a few things (shoes, brakes etc.) to Rotterdam from
here in sunny texas. The tricky part is the Duty, not the shipping.
if you do win something over here let me know, they can ship to me
and I can forward it on if need be (and be mindful of customs and duty).

I don't think I ever paid more than $30 USD to ship stuff to the
Netherlands.
heck shipping bike and 2 frames from there to here wasn't so bad either.

Marty

Just for kicks, among the very many bikes that I own is a Japanese made Araya. It is 100% cromoly throughout and the frame is also 100% chromed underneath the light blue paint job. I have converted it to an upright hybrid type bike but I still use the original old Dura-Ace Campy copy sidepulls, double crankset, Crane rear derailleur and original aluminum wheels with low flange Dura-Ace hubs. It's a nice vintage bike that rides well and the equipment will last for eons. Totally out of date compared to today's ridiculous 20 speed stuff, but well manufactured with a great finish. Just thought I would contribute this 2 cents.

...bikes that I own is a Japanese made Araya....

I would very much like to see your Araya, as I too have one. I think they weren't in the complete bike business very long...Mine is at post #55 in the Classic and Vintage Rides thread

That early group came as OEM on the Austro-Daimler Vent Noir:
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/AustroDaimler/76/Vent%20Noir.jpg
The naughty bits in question:
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Dura-Ace-74/


May I ask, is there a specific reason why the Dura-Ace chain appears to be nonexistent in that catalogue? I've been trying to locate the part number of the original Dura-Ace UG 6 speed chain so I can locate the correct chain I need on eBay. Sellers should realize that a photo of the item, not just the box, helps...there's more then one series of Dura-Ace Uniglide, and Fleabay folks don't seem to realize that.

Take care,

-Kurt

Batavus, If you are looking for a Dura Ace EX seat post, I have an extra one. It's New Old Stock, complete with instruction sheet, size 26.6 mm. The manufacture date code is EI, September 1980. If you are interested send me a private message.

If I could get up to date with using our digital camera and figuring out how to post a picture, I will try. I believer that these Arayas were imported into the US by Service Cycle Co. of Commack , NY in the late 1960's. My Dad owned a bike shop for 30 years and we sold them. There were 2 models that I remember. One was a basic road bike with the first SunTour powerstem shifters and derailleurs that I had ever seen. The other one was a "top end" model with tubulars and higher end VGT derailleurs. I owned one of these bikes for a while and when I had the chance to get the current Araya that I own, I did. Reminds me of that original one.