Classic & Vintage - Shimano 600 Arabesque Parts List

Hey guys, I'm trying to get a grouppo together for my frame and i'm having a tough time tracking what exactly was different between the regular shimano 600 and the 600 arabesque. Yes I searched extensively. I want to complete a Arabeseque grouppo but can't seem to find every component.


here is what i've gathered so far:

Front derailluer (arabesque)
Rear derailluer (arabesque)
shifters (arabesque)
crankset (arabesque)?

What I can't find in arabesque are the following:

Bottom bracket
headset
levers
brakes
seat post
quill stem

Do they make these in Arabesque or were they part of the regular shimano 600. Is this the correct list?

As far as I know or can remember, Arabesque was offered as a full group, with the exception of the stem and seat post. I've had several bikes that have had the levers, brakes and headset for sure. Pretty sure the bb was as well. It'll be called 600EX in your searches, although later 600EX did not have the scrollwork like Arabesque.

This page (http://www.velobase.com/ViewSingleGroup.aspx?GroupID=fdd9d3ff-38c7-439c-b9c7-e28c90d1ef87) over at Velobase includes a bunch of Arabesque style components. I'm not sure if all on your list had that Arabesque look you want.

I may have a spare set of clamp-on Arabesque downtube shifters; if you're interested shoot me a PM. Not sure if the bottom bracket was 6400 series for Arabesque or not.

I just sold a 1981 Miyata 912 that came equipped with a full Shimano 600 EX "Arabesque" group. Most of the components (excepting FD, RD, shifters) didn't have any of the decorative engraving, but looked quite modern. If you're going to do the full Monty, then be aware that the rear hub came with a first-generation Uniglide freehub, which according to Sheldon Brown (q.v. on that subject), won't accept a replacement from later generations. If I were doing your project, I would try to find a freewheel 600 EX hub, if those existed. I took some indifferent photos of everything broken down, and they're here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13175746@N05/sets/72157612728748460/

You will not find an "arabesque" BB, you can only find a period appropriate shimano cup and spindle BB of the correct length (what was it? 116mm?) personally I'd just use a new 115mm cartridge. As others have noted, no seatpost or stem exists. The brakes did (but they do happen to suck). So REALLY you are only missing the brake levers and calipers and the headset. The brake levers were an exact copy of the ubiquitous low end dia-compe lever often seen with turkey wings and the lever which accepts those repo dia-compe hoods, the geometry is an exact match.

Here is an illustration from the book "The Dancing Chain" showing what would be (according to the caption on the next page) the complete 1976-1978 600-EX group. Most looks fairly standard with really only the derailleurs and shifters being rather uniquely decorated. Not certain how these parts may have changed over the years, and perhaps other pieces were also modified to make a more uniformly fancy grupo.

BTW: The prefix letters for the part numbers refer simply to abbreviations for the French name for each of the pieces ("JD" = Jeu de Direction = headset, etc.).

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3283697891_2d7fc88963_o.jpg

My wife's completely original 1980 Norco was equipped with the full 600EX arabesque group (except headset for some reason): only difference to Charles' pictures was that the pedals were marked as Pro Vic like in the Dancing chain picture of the group; the Norco also came with the same handlebar/stem as the Miyata; a Suntour seatpost; and Dura Ace cable clamps for the top tube.

Mark

The Arabesque BB spindle is marked "for self-extracting bolts" or something to that effect, but it appears to be a typical spindle, otherwise. The cranks polish nicely if you remove the anodizing. I used Tricolor derailers and hubs because my wife wanted indexing.

http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/40499/2190745890068014369S600x600Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2190745890068014369iEvVKf)

Thanks for all the replies! I def know that i want the Arabesque components, now its just a matter of time finding the entire groupo. :)

Serge

This page (http://www.velobase.com/ViewSingleGroup.aspx?GroupID=fdd9d3ff-38c7-439c-b9c7-e28c90d1ef87) over at Velobase includes a bunch of Arabesque style components. I'm not sure if all on your list had that Arabesque look you want.

just fyi: BCrows - changed the link in your post to one that works. Searches on VeloBase expire after a short time (something I've considered changing, but haven't quite figured out how best to do yet). I changed it to link to the Shimano 600EX Group page which lists all the parts in the set, including the Arabesque parts. :)