Classic & Vintage - Who knows anything about my older BRIDGESTONE SUPER LIGHT ?

I was on my way out of the flea market early Sunday morning when I saw a new vendor truck pull in with a pair of handlebars sticking out of the pile, so I followed it of course, not expecting much but was so pleasantly suprised to see this getting uncovered as he unpacked. He had a no-brainer price tag on it and once again I was on my way out, only this time with a fancy new ride. In fact i did ride it out.

There really isn't much that I can find about the earlier bridgestones, just the RB/MB/XO generation.

So this seems like it was a real fancy bike BITD.

ALUMINUM lugged frame and almost All Aluminum parts. Many parts have the bridgestone name on em. Alloy cranks with the BS badge, Alloy fenders with at least the front fender flap, says bridgestone, BS grips, cool chrome chainguard.

Any ideas on year? Im thinking early/mid 80s

This bike is very japanese, I wonder how many were imported.

And it really is super light... Considerably less than 30 LBS at least, I'll throw it on the scale today and grab a serial number

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/k3davis/bikes/Bridgestone%20Super%20Light/IMG_0218-1.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/k3davis/bikes/Bridgestone%20Super%20Light/IMG_0219-1.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/k3davis/bikes/Bridgestone%20Super%20Light/IMG_0220.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/k3davis/bikes/Bridgestone%20Super%20Light/IMG_0221-1.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/k3davis/bikes/Bridgestone%20Super%20Light/IMG_0222.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/k3davis/bikes/Bridgestone%20Super%20Light/IMG_0223.jpg

I think it is a mid-70s bike. I don't know that much about it. But I think those are cast aluminum "lugs" and the main triangle is probably aluminum as well. Here's a C.Itoh frame I got rid of several years ago. I wondered what those tabs on the seat/chainstays were for... now I know... mounting a kickstand.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee161/baxter67/PIC00045.jpg

very interesting. is that coaster brake? that would make a great 7 or 8 spd IGH

No Its a freewheel , I thought it would make a sweet 3 speed too, maybe I'll lace a sturmey in there.

I put it on the scale and it tips em at just under 28 lbs.

its interesting that this and that Itoh frame look to be exactly alike. I wonder if they came from the same factory?
I cant imagine there were too many places at this point that were doing full lugged aluminum bikes.

That is a very funky bike. I like it.

+1

It has character.
Way good.

Funky! Is the seatpost a quill-type with a wedge and a bolt on the top?

Neal

Funky! Is the seatpost a quill-type with a wedge and a bolt on the top?

Neal


Yep.

Yes C.Itoh and Bridgestone were from the same factory. They also made a version with these same cast aluminum lugs and stainless steel tubes called the Submariner (supposed to be saltwater proof). The OP's is certainly intended for the JP domestic market.

These frames are so neat.

I dont believe the seatpost is a quill type... the seatpost pinch bolt is the same as that one holding the rack on.

That isn't a pinch bolt, unless someone cut a slot in the lug. Bridgestone/Kabuki/C. Itoh used a cast aluminum lug that wasn't flexible enough to use a pinch bolt, thus the wedge seatpost.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/japan.html
"The Kabuki line used some unusual construction techniques, specifically, a system of sticking the frame tubes into a special mold and forming cast aluminum "lugs" in place around the ends of the tubes. The most notable of this line was the "Submariner" which used un-painted stainless steel tubing, and was marketed in seacoast areas for its rust-resistance. Because the cast aluminum lugs were not flexible like steel lugs, these bikes didn't use a conventional seat-post binder. Instead, they used a seat post with an expander wedge like that of a handlebar stem...you had to remove the saddle from the seatpost to adjust the height, then re-install the saddle! Even sillier, many of these frames had what looked like a conventional seatpost bolt mounted in a projection of the rigid lug, simply to provide a place to mount a cable stop for the center-pull caliper brake!"

ok cool, i stand corrected. I hadnt gotten that far into it yet i guess, ASS-u-ME