Classic & Vintage - 1984 Focus RS-500 - Yeah, I never heard of it either.

I have a Craigslist app for my phone which will update multiple fields, and let me view the results. I have it set to refresh the usual spots for bikes, including "Garage sale" that has the word bike in the description.

Well up popped "Mens road bike" in a listing around 2 months ago, so I emailed about it, and figured for $20.00 asking price, I'm on board. Drive the 30 minutes to go find the bike, stashed in the garage with a "sold" sign on it. She held the bike all day! Awesome. I looked it over, picked it up, but it wouldn't have mattered for 20 bucks, it was going home with me.

As received -

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After a bit of work. And by a Bit, I mean OA bath, and hours of cleaning. I think the bike had been leaning up against the wall outside a house for a while, had some surface rust and plenty of nicks. One side of the BB bearings were rusted pretty well, and the other side was fine.. water must have been pooling on one side.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=197669&d=1302661421
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I googled the bike, the brand, nothing much comes up. Tange tubing, with Suntour Cyclone fd and Rd with Diacompe sidepulls, and Araya Aluminum 700c wheels. It has a more aggressive geometry than my Univega, but not as agressive as the Pinarello.

Edit - I just realized I went over the bars with the rear brake cable :lol: oh well, more work!




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cool. something about it looks a bit odd, but i like it.

I like the 2011 Focus RS-500 better. Ain't evolution great!

197695

How does it ride? After all that work, I hope you find it fun!

nice. I always went over the bars with both brake cables. I think it looks wrong to do it the other way, but that's a matter of taste.

nice. I always went over the bars with both brake cables. I think it looks wrong to do it the other way, but that's a matter of taste.

I always go over with the front, but I've done either for the rear. Depending on the stiffness of the cable housing and the location of the first braze-on, the most graceful path doesn't necessarily equal the absolute code of the Style Nazis.

There was a builder that threw a fit when his show bikes were set up with the rear brake cable snaking under the bar - which was it?

-Kurt

How does it ride? After all that work, I hope you find it fun!

The "Around the block" ride felt pretty good, I'm so used to my Grand Touring that this felt small at first. I may just keep this as my "Fast" bike.

You'll find a number of Focus's in Toronto...some shops sold them. I've seen road, hybrid and mountain versions. Fire engine red with yellow trim was common. Decent well made Japanese, as usual?

Yeah, it feels like a decent bike! No Columbus or 531 , but its no gas pipe monster, I'm thinking I will take it out on Friday for a 15 or so, let it stretch its legs and do what it was designed to do.

As far as I know, Focus is a pretty decent German bike. Ain't too shabby for $20!

I bought mine at a swap meet in california for $65 cleaned it up a bit new tires, tubes, mks pedal w/cages, seat, grip tape, front/rear lights and new derailer cables. I use it for excercise and on occasion ride it to work. Pics to come when i get home tonight. I have been seeking info on my bike since last year. I was surprised when I saw this thread I am very happy with my bike.

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i just realized mine is an RT-550.

Looks A LOT like a Giant to me. Giant made bikes for a lot of brands.

THESE Focus bikes are not German, they are Japanese. I have a foggy memory of it being a brand of Araya?