Classic & Vintage - Newbie question about my old Specialized Allez

I bought a Specialized Allez frame back in '83, I was 19 at the time, now 45; and built it up with some nice parts at the time. I rode the bike for 5-6 years and then basically just stored it away in my garage. I took up Mt. biking in my 30's, got married, kids, and then stopped riding.

So after reading some of the other posts on old Allez frames that were built by 3Rensho, I thought my bike looks like it may be one. So finally my questions. 1. does this look like a 3Rensho Specialized frame that may be worth something. 2. Since I want to get back into riding again would upgrading the bike with new components be a good idea. The bike has 126mm rear hub spacing. It would have to be bent to 130mm to accommodate the 'newer' hubs/wheels. If the bike is worth something should I just leave it 'as is'.

Here is a list of parts on the bike. I put the bike together myself (except the wheels) and still have all my receipts after 26 years.

'83 Specialized Allez 52cm
Campy Nuovo record front and rear derailleurs, shifters
Modolo Speedy brakes and levers
Cinelli Stem and Handbar
Suntour Superb Cranks, BB, 6-speed cog
Shimano DuraAce headset
Shimano 600 hubs 36-hole
Mavic Mod-E2 rims
Specialized Turbo S tires
MKS Esquartz pedals
SR Laprade seat post
Flite Ti saddle (from mountain bike, not original)

Thats a nice clean looking bike. I wouldn't hesitate to update the components for a couple of reasons.

1. You can keep the old stuff and switch back if you ever wanted to
2. Since it was bought as a frame and built up there is not catalog correct build to spoil.

You should be able to spread the rear stays without any issues too. It's really impressive that at the age of 19 you kept all of your reciepts.

VERY nice bike!

Question for you: What would you upgrade?
I'd leave it as is. But, brifters sure are convenient...

it has the "right" offset forkcrown to be a San Rensho product, and the lugwork looks crisp enough, too. I wouldn't "update" anything myself, except as personal taste I'd put aside the Campy NR stuff and use something Japanese. Oh, and the Speedys I'd replace with Modolo Pros (or something JP).
NICE bike!

It would look real good with a Suntour Superbe Pro gruppo.

And a Selle Italia Turbo saddle.

I say if you want to ride the bike with new components on it put new components on it. You will definitely enjoy it!

Save all the components and if you ever want to revert back the them for nostalgia or to sell the bike they will be in better shape then if you leave them on and ride with them.

You will not need to "bend" anything to put a 130mm rear wheel on the bike. You will just spread the dropouts ever so slightly when putting the wheel on (2mm on each side; really a minuscule amount )

I can identify with your story...sounds pretty much like me! Upgrading can be very entertaining and meaningful when picking up biking again but, thats a nice looking ride, is it really necessary? You´ve got good components all over, so it must be something like a Dura Ace-gruppo you want if upgrading should make a real difference... Be nice to it and ride it as it is!

it has the "right" offset forkcrown to be a San Rensho product, and the lugwork looks crisp enough, too. I wouldn't "update" anything myself, except as personal taste I'd put aside the Campy NR stuff and use something Japanese. Oh, and the Speedys I'd replace with Modolo Pros (or something JP).
NICE bike!

I agree - I think that's a 3Rensho-built Allez. The lugs, crown, and color look right to me. Beautiful frame.

Mobiewan - I have to agree with all the others, that your bike is a 3Rensho Allez...and it's in great shape. I have been keeping my eyes open for one, in my size, for a little while now. If you want to upgrade to a newer group, I think you would be very happy with the results - and if you aren't attached to your old components, you could probably fund a good portion of your upgrade by selling them off on ebay. They all look to be in excellent condition and of good quality.

This Allez shows some important details. The cable routing above the BB, allez script on the seatstay caps and true 3Rensho lug detailing and offset crown contrast to the earlier Allez and Sequoia framesets with under BB cable routing but same graphics. I hope you keep the bike as-is and really enjoy it. It is a beautiful example of a landmark bicycle.

Jim

The frame is easily a great platform for anything you want to do to it, including leave it as is.

The components are easily able to finance a portion of going "modern."

Campy Nuovo record front and rear derailleurs, shifters, sell for $60
Modolo Speedy brakes and levers, sell for $40
Cinelli Stem and Handbar, I'd sell the bar, pretty aggressive for a old guy like you. $20
Suntour Superb Cranks, BB, 6-speed cog, easily sold, I'm thinking $50 or more, but not sure if I'm way low..
Shimano DuraAce headset, keeper.
Shimano 600 hubs 36-hole, sell the wheelset, $75-$100
Mavic Mod-E2 rims, see above...
Specialized Turbo S tires, ride 'em if you think they're safe.
MKS Esquartz pedals, sell em, $15
SR Laprade seat post, if 27.2, sell it, $10
Flite Ti saddle (from mountain bike, not original), sell it for $20
with luck, you gross $250 to $280.

Now, to replace. Red bike, white lettering, and jazz it up.
105 or Ultegra 9 or 10 speed shifters/levers, lot of them out there, figure $150
Black nashbar, or Forte, or Tektro dual pivot caliper for $45
Cinelli handlebar, maybe a 66 or 64 in your width, $40
105/Ultegra 9-sp crankset/BB, figure $60-$70
Good used or aftermarket 8/9/10 wheelset, $150
Used clipless pedals or good clip-ins, $40
Black CF 27.2 seatpost, $30
White Flite Ti saddle or equal, $40.
Cable housing (white Jagwire from China) and white wrap, figure $45
with luck, you spend only $500.

Now you're into it for $300 more, but you're modern, awesome, and you'll like it.
That's if you're patient and find decent deals, which can be done.

Best option is a donor bike. Find some modern aluminum bike for sale with a modern group and wheels, $300-$500
Buy it, swap the stuff over, and then sell everything else. If you modernize, no real reason to keep old stuff.
I think you'll find fairly good interest in your present set of parts. I just hit local CL and found 3 bikes from $200-$400 with STI groups and everything you'd need. With a donor bike for $400-$500 w/good stuff, sell yours, figure $300 in it. That's a pretty solid $300 goal to shoot for when the dust settles.

If you don't modernize, that's still a great bike.

The cheapest modernization would be Sora or RSX shifters/levers. Figure $80-$100.
Swap in a 7-sp freewheel for $30, and get a 7-sp Shimano RD for $30.
However, if you modernized for $160, you'd be a far cry away, component-wise, from what you can do for about double that...

The unknown variable is the fun you'd have doing the work. That's kind of where we set the hook around here...