Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Mystery 1970s Road Bike

Hey guys, I'm a student at UC Davis which is probably the bike capital of the United States and I am relatively new to the whole bike scene. I recently acquired two identical 10 speed road bikes from dad; one red and one silver. He got them in Japan while he was stationed there during his days in the military in the 1970s. I currently ride the red one around campus. The problem that I have is that I am having trouble finding out more on the bike's brand. I've searched the internet but could not find anything. The bike appears to be a KRS brand with a Kings Road name on it. It has shimano parts and sugino cranks.

The silver one has remained in a box unopened and unassembled and has never seen sunlight in America. Just recently over spring break, I opened the box and found out that is was still wrapped in Japanese newspaper from the 1970s. The box that it was shipped in was a Bridgestone box but I'm not quite sure if the bike is actually a Bridgestone.

I am debating on whether it would be worth it to convert the red one, which is exactly the same as the silver one, into a fixed gear bike.

I took a bunch of pictures in hope that somebody can help me out.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcruz689/sets/72157604401908145/

Is this bike a rare find? Or is it just some cheap old road bike?

I'm guessing may not be that special judging by how the back axel supports were assembled but thats just me.

Thank You for reading

-Josh

pretty cheap, but cool with the box and all the other misc. bits. low end components etc. seems exactly like the sort of bike a serviceman would pick up overseas for just riding around

i so want to happen upon a find like this. how awesome would it be to build up a 30 year old road bike out of the box. congrats homie.

It's definitely a cheap bike boom thing, probably worth something as a fixed gear or single speed to someone who doesn't know bikes too well, or to some crazy collector on eBay.

If you want to find out about the brand, ask over at Classic & Vintage (http://bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=181).

Cool find. I'd definitely convert the one that's already been ridden. And I'd probably keep the other one packed up, since if I wanted a vintage road bike, I'd throw gears back onto my old Bianchi crit frame.

Even if it isn't the best old find, it's still pretty bad ass.

Neat bike, but pretty low end I think. This is a give-away:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/2390825578_5999753252.jpg?v=0

http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/

these people would appreciate it.

I think it would be a fun bike to set up as a townie, with North Road or similar bars and a wire basket. Ride to class in style, man!

are both bikes (red + gray) identical?

Yeah, they are pretty much the same as far as I can tell. Same parts, the only difference is the color and that the red one is a little worn from riding.

Based on that detail alone, I figured it wasn't going to be too great.

not high quality stuff, but what a neat time-capsule! just looking at the pics was fun. I'd convert the one you are already riding if you rrrrreeeeeaaaly want to. but this pristine one would be great to keep as is or sell to someone who might appreciate it for being NOS and perfect.

and, chide your dad for not buying something blingier!! ;)

That is such a sweet time capsule. From the looks of it, the frame is pretty cheap only judging by the clamped on drop outs. They kind of scare me actually.

But I am not professional, and I love the idea of how that bike had never seen daylight until now.