Classic & Vintage - Department store bike that doesn't know it's cheap

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soonerbills
08-21-09, 04:32 PM
Another that I saved from the dump. it's a OTASCO Flying-O that was made ? mid 80's
i'm not sure if I should upgrade a little or just clean and sell. It's got something going for it but I'll be damned if I can put my finger on it..... or maybe I just sick


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/soonerbills/013-5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/soonerbills/016-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/soonerbills/017-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/soonerbills/018-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/soonerbills/019-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/soonerbills/020-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/soonerbills/021-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/soonerbills/026-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/soonerbills/022-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/soonerbills/025-2.jpg

wrk101
08-21-09, 04:47 PM
I donate bikes like that to my favorite charity.
soonerbills
08-21-09, 05:56 PM
Me and my kin ARE my favorite charity!
this place is has gotten too big fer it's britches:(

jgedwa
08-21-09, 06:01 PM
Which Roots groupo is that?

jim
Chombi
08-21-09, 06:01 PM
It actually does not look that bad for a "department store" bike. I wonder if it's a re-labeled bike from a bigger company....uhhmm...seconds maybe??

Chombi
84 Peugeot PSV
turtlewoman
08-21-09, 06:24 PM
I think it looks like a nice bike. Not top of the line but definitely one that will get you from here to there and back again!
USAZorro
08-21-09, 07:41 PM
Some of the components are sketchy, but the frame looks decent. I bet it would be a pretty good rider if built up with a bit of care.
stringbreaker
08-21-09, 08:22 PM
Hey its a lugged frame and if you clean it up the average person won't know it from a high zoot Italian job and the experts, well who cares. Clean it up and see how it goes for ya. I like it
bbattle
08-21-09, 08:25 PM
That would make a great commuter bike or dare I say it, SS/FG conversion.

That level of shifters and derailleurs gives me the willys; I donate them and go for better stuff.
soonerbills
08-22-09, 07:06 AM
Thanks for the comments and sorry for being touchy earlier!
What I find interesting is the level of construction for a department store bike. Though obviously a Taiwan built machine I don't know what audience they were shooting for. The frame seems to be on a level that's out of touch with the cheapo wheel set and the bar/stem. The Roots group seems to be a mid 70's set as my research shows that is when the Sunrace name started to show up on stampings mixed with the "Roots" logo. A cheap set but better than most department store bikes of the era were equipped with i think. But the bike screams 80's to me otherwise.
Anyways I find the frame worthy of a upgrade so i think that's what it will get.
txvintage
08-22-09, 07:31 AM
A "Department Store" bike from that era is not the same as today. Read the "What were you riding on July 20, 1969" thread and see how many of us were riding what was then considered a department store bike. The construction wasn't hand crafted but it wasn't junk either.

I think it is a great commuter waiting to happen. A trip to the spares box for some middle of the road Suntour and a wheel upgrade should turn out a nice grocery getter/urban assault bike.

I like it.