Classic & Vintage - How Good is Shimano Golden Arrow

I'm looking at what parts to use to build up my Raleigh Gran Sport. All I really need are downtube braze on shifters, and derailleurs. My plan had been to use the Shimano Light Action that was on there, suplemented by an RX100 rear mech I've got, but then last night I won an auction for a Golden Arrow rear mech, and an Arabesque front mech.

Now, I'm thinking that if I'm gonna use Shimano, it would be nice to use something with a bit of panache, and wondering about trying to aquire the shifters and missing mech from either of those gruppos, but, are they much good? Also, did either group include brakes? I've got Weinmanns lined up (who likes slowing down anyway), but Golden Arrow stuff is so pretty..........

arrow stuff is awesum but for sheer wow factor i recon u cant go past arabesque !

Do they shift well though? And which shifts better?

I have the Golden Arrow 105 on two of my bikes and it works very well.

I've got Golden Arrow on my Barracuda Mk.I. Shifts well, though the somewhat flexy frame causes some ghost shifts on the newer 7sp HG freewheel I'm running on it when I start really pounding on it. I love the look of the Golden Arrow group.

BobHufford posted this a while back in response to my posting of a Miyata 312 with Golden Arrow shifting group: http://homepage.mac.com/bigalips/PhotoAlbum2.html

If they are good enough for a Paramount...

So, yes, there are Arrow brakes available. Can't personally vouch for the performance of the mechs as I have yet to fully recondition the bike. In the short test runs I made with no lubing or tuning, they worked fine - but it didn't look like they had seen much use as the bike looks virtually unused. I'd be curious about opinions as well.

My Raleigh has a gold frame rather like that one, which is definitely making me think Golden Arrow. Were there levers with the branding too? I guess that at the very least, I'm looking for braze on levers, FD, and calipers now then......

I have the 600 shifters & derailleurs on my Grand Jubile. They work great with their 600 double crank & after a bit of tinkering, the front derailleur handles a Stronglight triple despite being advised by a couple of LBS mechanics that it wouldn't work. I only tried it because my favorite Mechanic said it was worth a try. If you want to run a triple crank, I found the height of the derailleur above the crank was critical, needs to be close as possible to the big ring and then required a slight angle to the chain line to work well with the smallest ring. Don

BobHufford posted this a while back in response to my posting of a Miyata 312 with Golden Arrow shifting group: http://homepage.mac.com/bigalips/PhotoAlbum2.html

If they are good enough for a Paramount...

That's an early PDG, isn't it?

Not bad, but the Golden Aero derailers look too cheap for it. The brakeset is decent, however.

You think Shimano could have put a bit more polish into the Golden Arrow groupset...

Take care,

-Kurt

It was mid-range equipment, like 105 today. Worked fine (except the swaged crank), looked OK, didn't cost too much, like most Shimano mid-range stuff. Extra polish would have cost more and not encouraged people to buy 600 or Dura-Ace.

My 1984 Raleigh USA Super Course came with a Golden Arrow RD and a FD that has the arrow logo but is black instead of gold. The bike sat unused from 1987 until a little over a year ago. I cleaned and lubed the derailleurs and they work great. They've never been adjusted. They don't have the finish of some other derailleurs but, to me anyway, they look just fine.

Joe C

Unless you really like 600EX's Arabesque styling, I would go with the 105 Golden Arrow. While 105 is ranked below 600EX, it is more modern. 600EX made it's debut in 1978 and was replaced in 1984, while 105 was introduced in 1983. Basically, the 105 took the lessons learned in 600Ex and improved upon them. It's not finished as well as 600EX but should perform on par or better. The few places I might retain 600EX would be the hubs and bottom bracket. Both groups had brakes.

My memory must realy be fading. I didn't think the 105 crankset was swaged.

I didn't think the 105 crankset was swaged.
Both options existed, I saw more swaged ones.

I was about to mention that the crank was different on the linked one above than the one on my Barracuda Mk.I

http://thecuda.com/hd_PB201245.JPG

The first piece of 105 G.Arrow that I bought was a set of downtube shifters to replace the stem shifters on the old Schwinn Traveler I bought when I first joined BF's. I loved the look of them so much I ended up buying the NOS partial group (minus brakes and levers) from sydney in Nov of last year. Now have over 700mi on the bike and the group including a number of 40-50mi rides.

My Miyata 512 came with a Light Action RD and a 'black arrow' 105 FD. I swapped it for a Sun Tour because it worked backwards from what I was used to. I suspose I could strip out the black paint and fill it with gold......
Top

I have a F & R golden arrow derailler set. I am starting this frame from scrach. I have super record headset weinmann 610 F & R brakes. I am trying to peice the frame together. can you recemend a crank and bb compatable to the deraillers and frame? thank you. Kevin

And of course if you like your "Golden Arrow" shiny, they do polish up nicely!

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee315/minority_01/P1GoldenArrowreara.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee315/minority_01/P1GoldenArrowcranka.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee315/minority_01/P1brakea.jpg

I upgraded my 83 Le Tour with Golden Arrow, and it was the first time I had ever used it. I may get flamed for this, but it shifted every bit as good as Cyclone M-II IMHO. I was impressed, to say the least. Polish the hell out of it, and it will look even better.,,,,BD

Here's a picture of one version of Golden Arrow brake levers. These are NOS. No arrow logo but the pantographed Shimano name is painted gold.

Minority, that is a nice clean bike! Cool!!

I have Golden Arrow derailleurs and shifters. No levers or calipers. I'm debating about selling them. I just can't decide though.

Minority, that is a nice clean bike! Cool!!

Thanks, glad you like it.

There are a few more pics here

http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=8086335&postcount=275

I flipped a Miyata 310 this year that had golden arrow on it. I suppose I could have gotten more by selling the golden arrow separately and slapping some other bits on it, but even if the buyer didn't know the difference, I don't like doing that. I'm not sure I understand what all the fuss is with Golden Arrow.

There's a pile of golden arrow stuff in the vintage parts section of eBay right now.

Really? I just looked and I found 2 sets of NOS shifters in stores and that was it

It's all gone! No turkey sandwiches, no turkey gravy, no turkey a la king! Gone! All Gone!

The other night there was a fd, rd, brakes, and those downtube shifters. Now all I see is some Arabesque and Deerhead.

PlatyPius, if you do think about selling them, PM me.

can someone tell me if the 2 piece version of the golden arrow crank is worth getting to match the gear on my Muyata 310. Right now I have the Signatuire crank as issued but thought the golden arrow would look cool. Buddy has one but it is the 3 piece with the arms and spider apart? is the performance problematic and does it creak? or is it cool for the short runs to and fro?

The worst that can happen is that the crank fails, creaking and movement while pedaling. It doesn't fail by spinning freely, so you won't fall off. If it has been used to any noticeable extent and was going to fail, it would probably have done so by now.

You should realise that older bikes were rarely fitted with 'groups', other than Campag-equipped racers. It was commonplace for manufacturers to 'mix and match' to get the best value for money.

I will take that as a no go and stay with the Miyata signature crank it was produced with. And i'll tinker with the bike less and ride it more ;)

The last thing i need is another part in the garage that I don't use

ALthough I like any and all old school panto parts. Anyone got a 3TT or Cinelli "Bianchi" Panto quill stem in a 120 for another bike I don't use but dust and polish and look at a lot? hahah

thanks

BTW on the 85 Miyata range I had both a 710 and a 310. The 310 105 group lookes beter and performs better than the Suntour Cyclone IMHO. And the 710 is supposed to be the more Rece of the 2

war Shimano

last add. a bottle of wine, ebay and bike forums is not a good mix for a broke bike nerd tonight

good night