Classic & Vintage - Not sure how you C&V'ers feel about restomods... but here goes!

So I've been riding my Maruishi RX-6 as my daily commuter for almost two years now, and I was growing tired of riding drops day-in and day-out.
It was time for a change, but I really wanted to try continuity with the looks of the bike, so I started searching around for a new cockpit setup. I wanted to go with new parts, as my LBS doesn't have too much in the ways of nice vintage parts, and I wanted the parts to fit in nicely with my Shimano croupset.

I was a bit skeptical of the Dia Compe's - would they function well/ would they fit in with the rest of the bike? But I think everything has really come together nicely.

Anyways, here's a before picture, taken two years ago in the same spot:

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4153/5172289550_0cc7598ebc_b.jpg

And then the new setup: (sorry, pictures aren't quite as vibrant, it was overcast today ;P)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8165/7593354358_cb5d89bdc9_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8024/7593359528_af8b536eda_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8282/7593360010_d6bdac1d0f_b.jpg



Tell me what you think! And for you C&V purists, I actually have the entire cockpit setup from before in storage at the moment so that one day I can go back to it if I feel the need.

Oh yeah, the new setup feels awesome!!

I'll be the first to congratulate you , it looks great! Nice stuff.

I used to have some of those Sparrow bars on a fixie. So I can dig it! Looks like a nice townie.

What's wrong with that?

Man your ride looks awesome! Those D/C levers and the grips go well together!

:thumb:

Hot bike! She looks spotless.

Most of us are ok with mods. Robbietunes throws modern groups on everything, drilliumdude puts holes in vintage components, khatfull is a pro at polishing parts that were never intended to be that shiny, and I mix and modify campy parts till they suit my needs.

Hot bike! She looks spotless.

Most of us are ok with mods. Robbietunes throws modern groups on everything, drilliumdude puts holes in vintage components, khatfull is a pro at polishing parts that were never intended to be that shiny, and I mix and modify campy parts till they suit my needs.

+1 on the mods... heck, I use mountain bike drive trains on my road bikes, and I even have a Rock Shox suspension fork on one of them! :p

Very nice, I am do similar with a torpado....... so no complaints.

+1 on the mods... heck, I use mountain bike drive trains on my road bikes, and I even have a Rock Shox suspension fork on one of them! :p

one of their road forks? I may need a link to that so we can avoid going too far off topic.

I like that very much.

What a great looking bike! Nice job, and welcome aboard.

Looks great. Tastefully done, and even has a hint of retro about it. Very nice job!

Hey, after 2 years with the same ol' same o, go ahead change it around. Good for you ! You did right by keeping the originals around when you decide to go back.

Regards

You didn't cut, weld or drew anything, so it can be brought back, no problem. But I think it looks great as it is now.

Beautiful! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fI8834iCgo#t=02m58s)

http://cdn.avsforum.com/b/be/be408f33_Clap1.gif

:thumb: Which size Sparrows did you end up using?

You didn't cut, weld or drew anything, so it can be brought back, no problem. But I think it looks great as it is now.

+1...you did nothing that can't be "undone" in the future if you change your mind or decide to sell it.

Beautiful! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fI8834iCgo#t=02m58s)

http://cdn.avsforum.com/b/be/be408f33_Clap1.gifditto.

That looks great, congrats.

I think you actually get the best pictures of subjects like this on overcast days. The diffuse light evenly illuminates the subject with no giant glare spots or black shadows.

Oh, and what's that flashlight holder? Looks useful.

Hey guys - thanks for the support!

To clarify a few things:
1) I actually have the entire cockpit intact. I pulled the original Sakae Ringyo stem, brake cables, and housings out in one fell swoop. As it sits, I could swap to the originals in < 5mins.
2) Before anyone asks, the rear brake caliper is flopped around because the tolerances on the rear brake stay are really tight, and when I upgraded tires, it was the only way I could get it to fit without rubbing.
3) The Sparrows are the 520mm version. Saw the 490mm's on a few bikes online and thought they looked a tad funny, so I went one size up. Stem is a Nitto Technomic 100mm x 225mm (which is HUGE btw).
4) That flashlight/ flashlight mount came from dealextreme's website. Took forever to get to me (like two months) but functions really well as a headlight and only cost me about $35-40 for the whole setup (flashlight, mount, two batteries and charger). Was a great deal, but thought I was getting gipped for a little while there.

Now, the only thing left to do here is get a new seatpost. This bike is a tad too small for me, but I really love it, so I'm in the market for a new post. If anyone has any leads on a good 26.6 post (I know, they're hard to come by), please let me know!!

Not vintage, but Thomson offers a 26.6 that would look nice on there. I actually have one that I at be willing to trade pending the length, setback, and condition of yours. My Thomson is silver, 0 setback (the only way they offer 26.6), and very long.

I also have a bladed carbon post that fits a 26.6 frame :)

Thanks for the info on the Sparrow bar size, your eye is right, the 520's look perfect on a larger frame. The flipped rear brake just adds to the coolness of the build. Good luck with your seatpost search.

Looks nice. One question though. You wrote: "I was growing tired of riding drops day-in and day-out." Why were you not riding on the hoods or the bar (at least from time-to-time)? I rarely ride in my drops, even when not commuting.

S

Looks nice. One question though. You wrote: "I was growing tired of riding drops day-in and day-out." Why were you not riding on the hoods or the bar (at least from time-to-time)? I rarely ride in my drops, even when not commuting.

S



I didn't say riding in the drops. I said drops, as in drop bars. 90% of the time I ride on the hoods.

Ah, right. Must have just been my brain inserting words which weren't there. I see "drops" and immediately think the drops must be used...

S

Very nice. I love the new setup.

ditto.

Did you click the link in Beautiful!?

Not vintage, but Thomson offers a 26.6 that would look nice on there. I actually have one that I at be willing to trade pending the length, setback, and condition of yours. My Thomson is silver, 0 setback (the only way they offer 26.6), and very long.

Very tempted by this, I've been eyeing the Thomson's, but I don't know if I can deal with no setback. Thus, I've been looking for SR's and Dura-Ace's on the fleabay. If you are still interested, shoot me a PM with your email, as I can't send PM's yet.

That looks really nice. I've been planning on doing something similar for my wife with a mixte frame, but with using integraged brake/shift levers instead of leaving the dt levers.

Thought I would give it a quick update - I found a cheapie seatpost in the right size down at the co-op today. Doesn't quite fit the bill for being 'period correct' but it will do until I can find another. (currently bidding on something on ebay)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8013/7624405186_ec307d70ec_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7108/7624406122_96a6dc3d2c_b.jpg

That is a really nice looking bike.

OH the OUTRAGE of completely destroying........


Ha, just kidding ! Looks killer. Not to mention, it's YOUR bike, do it up how you want to and enjoy !

Cheers,

Joe