Classic & Vintage - What type of shifters are these?

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jet sanchEz
12-23-06, 02:52 PM
Hi gang, I am not sure what to think of these.....are they older RSX Sti shifters? I cannot tell from looking at them, maybe someone here can help me. Also, any ideas on what type of bike this might be? It looks pretty rough but it might be a fun winter project, I am bored :/
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/img4297634.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/bike.jpg
Gary Fountain
12-23-06, 04:45 PM
Hi - I would guess that the shifters are an 'entry level' Shimano shifting system. I don't know much about Shimano of the late 80's to early 90's but they probably changed gears quite adequately when new. How do they change now? Perhaps they need adjusting to get them in tune with the freewheel. Perhaps they're warn and won't shift accurately to every cog on your freewheel.
The frame does appear to be a much earlier item - or is it? My initial reaction was that the head tube lugs appear to be similar to good quality nurvex but the fork crown looks cheap. Perhaps my initial reaction to the lugs was a little too wishful. I was also taken by the chroming on the fork ends. My guess is that the frame is probably an average quality frame from the 80's era.
If you are bored, strip it. Sand it back; protect the chrome though. Paint it (red). Clean up the parts. Put it back together and go for a ride. That should cure the boredom.
I would be interested as to what others make of the frame. Is it a quality frame?
mtnbiker4791
12-23-06, 04:51 PM
Looks like an old raliegh frame to me. The shifters look like RSX 7 or 8 speed. How they got them to work with what looks like a 6 speed freewheel beats me. I mean you can make it sorta work but not real well. Looks like someone was trying to polish a turd
jet sanchEz
12-23-06, 08:52 PM
Yeah, the chromed fork/stays are what interested me and the crank seems okayish but yeah, it does look like it might require a fair bit of work. It is a police auction as well, so it could have come from the bottom of a lake for all I know. Thanks for the input, red does sound pretty nice, I will see how the auction goes.
RX100 or RSX. You can read the writing on the levers better than we can...
cudak888
12-23-06, 09:49 PM
Looks like Japanese knock-off Nervex-type lugs to me - forgot if it was Fuji or Nishiki who did this. Think it was Fuji.
Fork is either the matching original fork, or a fork from a Schwinn Continental/Super Sport/etc.
Polished-up turd is pretty much what it is.
-Kurt
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