Classic & Vintage - Bridgestone Antares L.D.T.

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA

View Full Version : Bridgestone Antares L.D.T.

Sagecoast
09-11-09, 07:51 AM
Greetings,

I am trying to get more information on the original equipment of my Antares. I have found the 1982 catalog, but mine is equipped with a later Shimano SIS rear dérailleur, and a Shimano 600 EX Arabesque in the front. I'm curious if the bike was originally Arabesque? In 1982 they used Sun Tour BL. Would anyone know how many years the bike was produced? I know of 1982 and 1983.

My thanks in advance, Tim

T-Mar
09-11-09, 03:41 PM
It sounds like you have replacement derailleurs. Bridgestone went to model numbers in 1984 and that SIS rear derailleur would be at least a 1986. I can confirm that the 1983 Antares also used BL as OEM.

I suggest you start looking at component date codes. Refer to components page of the Vintage-Trek website. It will tell you the formast and how to decode them. If you can find a several components with date codes within the same year, it is generally safe to assume that componets are original and the bicycle is more than one model year newer than the date codes.
Sagecoast
09-12-09, 06:55 AM
Thanks T-Mar, I checked some components and they vary from '79 to '83. So I am guessing 1983. Now if I get lucky enough to find a set of BL dérailleurs.

Thanks again, Tim