Classic & Vintage - SR bike

Does anyone have any info on SR bikes?

The SR stood for Sakae Ringyo. They are best known for their components.

In the 80's they made some nice lugged steel bikes.

They also made a lugged aluminum bike that is both lighter and stiffer than the Vitus it resembles.

I have one. Amazingly light bike for its day. I treasure it for fast sprints around town.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j72/martinheldt/litagebluff-1.jpg

there was some debate about whether the SR bike makers were the same as the SR component makers, I always thought they were the same company, but I could be wrong :) ...don't recall who won the debate...nice stuff anyway, whether it was 1 company or 2.

there was some debate about whether the SR bike makers were the same as the SR component makers, I always thought they were the same company, but I could be wrong :) ...don't recall who won the debate...nice stuff anyway, whether it was 1 company or 2.

I thought Sakae Ringyo (SR) was a sort of conglomerate of Japanese component makers. In other words, smaller companies that each specialized in something joining forces to make a larger company that made several things (stems, seatposts, cranksets, etc.) Anyone else heard this? I could very well be wrong. I was thinking Suntour might have even had an interest at some point, to try and improve their position against Shimano-

Only since someone posted a photo and question a week or so back. I've been a fan of Japanes bikes for over 30 years and never saw or heard of SR bikes 'till then. You may see a thread on them. I'd venture a guess that the company SR would not have been invloved in anything less than mid-level to better frame.SR was always a formidable supplier on components,they Sugino and others. If the frame has a label stating chromoly or butted something to that effect, it's OK or better.In which case it will say 1024 on the fork.This meens it's a $300 or so bike in it's time,less if it's pre-77 which I doubt.If you can see a label stating Mang..something or chrmly..??, it's a bike of greater value. If it has 27" wheels, it's the former,ie. steel 1024 fork. In any case ,all things being equal,it's "worth" what most Japanese bikes were at the time,todays market is based on condition and over-all appeal or completeness, components etc. SR cranks were rarely on bikes over the $500 mark,with notible exceptions which don't apply to you or your bike. SR bike..probably SR crank. Most bikes made in Japan are "valued"the same.Again there are excptions that don't apply to that bike ,I'm sure.

What kind of bike are we talking about? I flipped this SR branded bicycle awhile ago.
44688
I was under the impression that it was a re-branded bike imported mainly to the West Coast, and that they were low to mid level bikes. The one pictured above was decent enough for what it was. I've heard some of their racing/touring models were quite ridable. The component group will usually be a tip off as to how good the frame is.

It would help if the OP narrowed down what type of bike they are inquiring about.

I thought Sakae Ringyo (SR) was a sort of conglomerate of Japanese component makers. In other words, smaller companies that each specialized in something joining forces to make a larger company that made several things (stems, seatposts, cranksets, etc.) Anyone else heard this? I could very well be wrong. I was thinking Suntour might have even had an interest at some point, to try and improve their position against Shimano-

Suntour was the confederation of several manufacturers. Oddly enough Sakae Ringyo eventually bought the Suntour name from Maeda Industries.

I can only speak for the two Sakae's I've seen. The steel bike was stunning in the finest royal blue I've seen.

I only ride my aluminum framed Prism 2 -3 times a month. When I do it is Hemingways' problem all over again and I dash off hammer and tongs.

Oddly enough Sakae Ringyo eventually bought the Suntour name from Maeda Industries.

Ah, that makes sense, that's probably where I got the idea Suntour had an interest in SR, but it sounds like it was really the other way around-

Suntour was the confederation of several manufacturers. Oddly enough Sakae Ringyo eventually bought the Suntour name from Maeda Industries.

as far as i know, suntour was an independent company, though when they offered complete gruppos they were suntour branded components from a number of manufacturers (brakes by dia-compe, cranks by sugino, etc.)

also, i think SR bought more than the name from Suntour; the other day i was looking closely at a current Fuji mountain bike with SR Suntour suspension fork.. the remote lockout cable ran through a piece of the classic Suntour stainless steel housing as used with their retrofriction barcons

I have seen SR Suntour suspension forks lately too. Both on bike shop bikes, and a MTB at Wally world.,,,,BD

I think after Shimano put them out of business they joined forces, at least that's what I always though. They sell mostly BMX and MTB stuff.
http://www.srsuntour-cycling.com/SID=si32751264f512aef727ce1a5253705b/index.php

We might both be right. The oft-posted "Sunset for Suntour" article says this:


In late 1989, Mori Industries Inc., a Japanese steel tubing company, bought Sakae Ringyo Ltd. Sakae made handle bars, chainwheels, pedals, and seatposts. In mid-1990, Mori bought Maeda SunTour. Essentially, Mori assumed SunTour's debts. Shortly afterwards, Mori combined the two acquisitions. The new company was named SR SunTour.

We might both be right. The oft-posted "Sunset for Suntour" article says this:

Thanks, that's interesting-

I had two SR branded, lugged steel road bikes in the mid eighties - a 'Semi Pro', with Shimano 600 components, and a 'Professional' which came with a nicer steel frame, lighter wheels and full Durace componentry. Too bad I'd given the Semi Pro to my brother by the time I T-boned a car on the Pro and pretzled the frame. I was also stupid enough to give that Durace group to another brother rather than hang onto it.

I just recently found a Semi Pro for $150 on Craig's list which is identical to that one I rode in college. I am in the process of refurbishing it - as opposed to restoring it. The spokes are corroded enough that a wheel rebuild will be needed in order to ride it with confidence, and the frame has just enough nicks and scrapes to require powdercoating. But otherwise the bike is complete and in pretty good shape. I could probably have haggled a few dollars off the price, but I was jazzed to see a 'blast from the past'.

And the mechanic down at the LBS was tripping on the components... said they're better made, if a bit heavier, than the stuff he's selling today. If it rides like I remember it did, it should be pretty sweet when it's done.

DanO

PS; I know that SR also made some lower range recreational bikes with stem mounted shifters and lower spec componentry.

The origin of SR bikes has been debated here and on the forums at Classic Rendezvous and oldroads.com. Some owners are confident that they were made by the component maker, Sakae Ringyo. Others claim that they were made by a company that had a very similar name, Sakai Royale, although I suspect that may just be a misnomer for Sakae Ringyo.

Here is an exchange on the subject (http://oldroads.com/arch/LTW2003_5_223_59_47_AM.html)from the archives at oldroads - see second thread on the page.

About eight months ago, I had an email exchange with a Canadian who had a "Semi-Pro" listed on ebay. He was clearly convinced that they were not made by Sakae Ringyo. He told me that there were two Canadian entrepreneurs whose initials were "S" and "R," who had them fabricated in Japan and imported them to North American through Vancouver BC, with distribution throughout Canada and in a few shops in Seattle and San Diego. He seemed quite authoritative, but provided no more than his own say-so to back any of it up. Since I was considering bidding on the bike, I wasn't inclined to sour our relationship by demanding backup sources.

Anyway, it's sort of an interesting controversy.

I joined this forum just to find out about my old road bike. It is an SR Sport Racer. stamped "made in Japan". I am the original owner and bought it in a Seattle bike shop in the late 70's I guess. It is in great shape and is bright orange. I need to take some pictures to post. I was thinking about giving it to the Goodwill, but now I may sell it or hold onto it. The SR discussions are interesting.

Norskie, you aren't from Minnesota, are you?

No - native of Seattle. Lots of Norwegians here as in MN.