Classic & Vintage - What's a1974 Takara 10 speed worth?

Have a very fast 74 Takara. That I want to modify with some different components,or should I leave it alone?

I say have your way with it!

You could buy the "best" bike today, and it would be outdated tomorrow. The big thing is that if you really like or love the bike, make it and yourself happy. Mod it however you feel like. Being comfy with your machine is what it's all about.

You wouldn't happen to have a photo of that bike would you? I just bought a 1981 Takara 12spd "Deluxe Touring" model and will be making it my "road" bike. I didn't know Takara was making bikes back in '74, but I know nothing of the company.

Pat

This may help you................

http://oldroads.com/index.html

You could buy the "best" bike today, and it would be outdated tomorrow. The big thing is that if you really like or love the bike, make it and yourself happy. Mod it however you feel like. Being comfy with your machine is what it's all about.

You wouldn't happen to have a photo of that bike would you? I just bought a 1981 Takara 12spd "Deluxe Touring" model and will be making it my "road" bike. I didn't know Takara was making bikes back in '74, but I know nothing of the company.

Pat

Sorry to re-vive this old post, but I recently came into a beautiful Takara road bike. I am not sure of the vintage, but my guess is early to mid 1970's. The color is a sky blue kind of color, which is very pretty. It has Sugino cottered cranks (52 and 40 teeth I think), Suntour 7 derailleur, stem-mounted shifters, dia-compe center pull brakes and 27 1 1/4 Araya rims. The components are in absurdly good shape-no rust and all chrome is shiny. A sticker says it has Takara classic tubing or something like that. I am in the process of turning it into a fixed gear/single speed. It rides beautifully--so much nicer than my normal road bike. It is amazing how much more comfortable the geometry is on the older bikes.

Other than on this forum, I have found scant info about Takaras.

I recently bought a Takara that fits the description given in the original post for my brother as a tune up project. Mine however, has rust and the components are dirty. What should I do about that? Should I take the derailleurs off and scrub them down with a pas of steel wool, or should I go at it with the de-greaser. Also, what is the best way to get rid of rust and bring the shine back to the bike? Thanks in advance for the help

Oxalic acid will help with the rust. There are a number of threads dealing with this. Take a look around, I think we have some recent threads on cleaning bikes.

Welcome to Bike Forums.

Oh, and photos before and after are mandatory. Also, serial number information would be good.

East Hill

Yes! Pictures!!!
My brother has a 74-6? 10 speed that he still rides several days per week. He bought it new.
Had the Sun Tour derailleurs until somebody kicked the rear one into the spokes. Replaced with a cheap Shimano off an xmart bike. I destroyed the front one when the chain broke! Shimano to the rescue again, but now the front shifts "backwards".

I already got quite a bit of the rust off, but I will post some after pictures...if I can figure it out...I am such a newbie...
Thanks for the help. What kind of products have Oxalic acid in it?

http://www.google.com/search?q=site:www.bikeforums.net+oxalic+acid&ie=UTF-8

East Hill

I parted out a Takara a while back after some consideration. If the bike fits you, grab it with one hand on the top tube and lift it. IF you say to yourself, "OOmph", then part it out. If it doesn't fit you, skip the lift test and just grap your dis-assembly wrench.

Rusty frames have to be damned nice to be worth fooling with or riding around on 'as is" looking like a bum.