Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Zunow from the 80s

Howdy All,

I just pickup a very large frame zunow (japanees) road bike. I think it is from the 80's. Its in great shape but the frame is big... 62 cm.

Shimano 600 components except the crank and chain ring are Shimano Sora... look new and not original to the bike. Avocet seat good shape, Campagnolo shifters... not sure if that is original.

the Shimano break hoods were dry rotted bad so I took them off

see pics http://s969.photobucket.com/albums/ae176/synergisticsllc/Zunow%20Japeneese%20Road%20Bike/

Wheels are Arya with Durace hubs

Crome lugs and front fork. This is a sweet bike just needs a tall rider

check out picture and let me know what you think or if you have any other info... I could not find a serial number. What is a fair asking price for this bike?

Not sure if I should put more into this bike... maybe a new yellow chain to match the frame, find a yellow racing seat? or just get it running smooth and find it a tall owner who can appreciate this sweet bike.

One of these days I'm going to find some thing this cool that fits me (5'9")

Great find! I don't know enough to estimate the value, but Zunows can definitely sell for some coin depending on the model. Probably at least $300 for the frameset alone if in very good condition, likely more. Also, Dura Ace AX components sell for big dough (search ebay completed listings), but I'm not sure about 600 AX. Probably some decent coin, too. Because you are missing the original crankset, you'd be better off parting it out (from the perspective of maximizing your profit). If you'd rather find it a good home and keep it complete, you'll have to expect a more modest profit. Are you sure the hoods were toast, because they are very difficult to find and very expensive when you do find them.

And please, clamp on the seatpost! You can pinch a frame tube the way you have it clamped in your workstand.

EDIT: Here, I searched ebay for you: http://completed.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=shimano+600+ax&_sacat=7294&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&LH_Complete=1&_odkw=shimano+ax&_osacat=7294&bkBtn=1

I agree with JYB: it's a very fine frame and tho the market of folks who know and appreciate this brand is small, they can fetch good prices. Condition is important, the large size also limits the pool of prospective buyers, and I'd leave all the 600 AX stuff in place since that is "correct" for this bike and offer it as a "nearly complete" package on eBay...or find the crank to complete it (a bit of a gamble).

I'm going to go play the lotto to try to buy this off you

hold on the line for PMs

EDIT: In all seriousness, big Zunows are few and far between (I've never seen on that big and coincidentally my preferred size).

This is one of the more "quiet"/ungaudy paint schemes. I'm happy about that, because if it was one of the clown-colored ones I'd be on my way to sell off organs to get it.

does someone have an idea of a $$number?

They come up so rarely for sale, it's hard to tell. I've been watching ebay for months and probably only 2 or 3 have surfaced.

Here's another resource for information, which might help some establish a value, or at least discover more about this particular frame: http://search.bikelist.org/?SearchString=zunow&SortBy=MsgDate[d]&pg=1

does someone have an idea of a $$number?

A few months ago, I passed on a 53cm with Shimano 600, Z-1 monostay. It was on the bay for $750 BIN. I have seen a couple of frames in 56-58cm size go for $600-$700. These were in excellent condition. The only thing to do is put it out there and see what it garners.

Although I don't have any knowledge of your bike or it's value, I feel compelled to let you know that I absolutely love it. (It's my size too!) I envy you!

Anything that's truly handmade and 62cm out of Japan is ridiculously rare. If I were you, I'd clean the bike carefully and polish up all the parts a bit and then put it on Ebay with a $1k buy it now and see how much interest you get. I wouldn't sell it for less than $750 as I'm pretty sure you could get that easily. Dents, paint defects and component scratches are all your enemy on this bike so be careful with it.

I'm working on cleaning this bike up a bike... although it doesn't need much. I will take better pictures and repost... where would you suggest I repost if not in the valuation forum.

Hold on a sec folks. Before we get all jizzy, there's something that's been needling me since this was brought to my attention yesterday. Do you guys remember about a year or year and a half ago there was a thread addressing some concern over a possible fake Zunow (ZuNOT I think it was coined)? If I recall it was eerily similar to this one: large frame, which has been pointed out, is very unusual; also the pAint scheme was not typical Zunow madness, but closer to an early 80s 3Rensho. I want to say it too was kitted with 600 ax. I'm certainly not implying anthing on the part of OP; in fact you do sound genuine in wanting to know what it is you have. I do think it warrants further authentication before it falls under scrutiny in an eBay listing or what have you. I ain't the guy to do it. I'm just starting to explore Japanese stuff and am far from knowing what there is to know about the high-end machines. Perhaps some additional photos and a separate thread will help validate.

I had a reliable Japanese friend tell me something similar...

How am I to tell? I've tried finding as much info about zunow as possible but there isn't alot out there. If anyone has any information to support the authenticity of my zunow one way or the other please let me know.

close up pics of the head tube and seat tube lug areas, fork crown, the bottom and top of the bottom bracket, and the rear brake bridge would help.

I don't think anybody would fake a chrome-plated engraved stay cap like that. But, contact the shop in Japan and ask them for confirmation.
http://www.zunow.net/
I think the fork looks very generic, could be a plain vanilla Tange.
Another thought is this: 3Rensho offered a "budget" frame called the Athlete that was plain and simple compared to their custom Keirin frames. Maybe Zunow did the same.

NEW Pictures of my Zunow

http://s969.photobucket.com/albums/ae176/synergisticsllc/Zunow%20Japeneese%20Road%20Bike/

I cleaned the zunow up a bit and took some better pictures. I've tried contacting Zunow and another zunow owner with a similar frame but no response yet. I road the bike last week despite it being way to big for me... nice ride... super light frame.

I would say this frame is a 9/10 due to a few small nics in the paint.

After doing some digging I'm thinking this is probably a late 80s or early 90s frame and after all my research I have no reason to suspect that this frame is a fake zunow.

I'm offering this bike for local sale in Colorado but if I don't get a taker in the next few weeks I'll probably put it on ebay. Although I really don't want to ship this bike due to my last bike I shiped with FedEx arriving with significant damage... (there were holes punched through the box and it lookes like they layed the box flat and put some thing very heavy ontop... that will be another post/ rant)

Thanks for looking and all your comments

No question in my mind this is a genuine Zunow.

In my experience, most shipping damage is a consequence of inadequate/poor packing.

this bike is now on CL in Colorado, and it has attracted attention from the CR list (all positive, BTW)...good luck in your sale, I'm sure the buyer will be pleased!

Thanks and I appreciate all the info I got from the forum. Now on to my next bike hunt... what will I find next... thats what I love finding different bikes... riding different bike. If this zunow was even close to my size I wouldn't part with it... but then I probably would be worried about it getting stolen or scratched and wouldn't ride it.

this bike is now on CL in Colorado, and it has attracted attention from the CR list (all positive, BTW)...good luck in your sale, I'm sure the buyer will be pleased!

And I'd judge from those responses the asking price is fair. Also, it's likely this is an early 80's model (also mentioned on CR).