Classic & Vintage - 1980 SR (The Final Heritage Word)

As promised...The "final word" from SR Suntour itself....

Dear Lee,

Thank you for your inquiry.

Sorry, our office does not have any information regarding SR, Suntour, or SR
Suntour products prior to 1998.
OTHER THAN:
Sakae Ringyo has been a well recognized component parts manufacturer in
Japan from 1950's through 1985.
They changed their name to SR Suntour after 1985 take over of the Suntour
brand name.

We are aware that some frames were built for Sakae Ringyo and offered in
their catalog as late as 1988.
These were listed as "Litage" model.
Made with 5056 aluminum tubing and aluminum AC4C Accurad lugs.
These were thermal bonded together.
As far as we know, SR did not offer fully equipped bicycles.
(Does not look good for component suppliers to compete with the major
bicycle brands they are selling parts to.)

And the frames were not available after the factory moved from Japan to
Taiwan.

We did "hear" about some nice road frames made in California during the late
1980's with SR name.
We do not have any data on that.

Best regards,
Robert Methven
Aftermarket/Technical
USUL Distribution/SR Suntour USA
PO Box 61988
Vancouver, WA 98666
Tel: 360-737-6450
Fax: 360-737-6452
email: service@usulcorp.com
www.srsuntour-cycling.com
Toll Free: 888-822-5577 (except Western WA)

....thank you SR

....and yes, that old 80's SR I picked up on E-Bay for $49.99 is indeed a "Litage"...one of the finer tight frames I've ever ridden and is now my urban death maze commuter of choice. Just because someone pays $10.00 for a frame at a garage sale and finds out it's Japanese....really ought to do more than just stare at it.

Thanks

So..... the "SR" bikes with a seat tube decal & a head tube badge were the ones made in Californina (or maybe a plant in Mexico near San Diego) not by "Sakae Ringyo" in Japan?
Vintage is 1979, model is "SemiPro", made with 4130 CroMo steel lugged frame, Tange fork/drop-outs, kitted with mostly Shimano 600 Arabesque and a few SR bits like stem & seatpost. No "Made in ____" labels anywhere on the bike.

Will the real SR please stand up?

BTW.. I don't loose sleep over all this; I just ride the bike and enjoy it!

Hey Particleman, thanks for sending me a copy of the email!

Chief, your bicycle is Japanese, based on the advertising copy. From the original 1979 ad, " Japan is proud to introduce the superior quality of the SR bicycle..."

T-Mar,
Again, thanks for the expertise.
I always suspected the bike was Japanese, but I had gotten some conflicting words from others who have encountered my bike.

T-Mar,
Again, thanks for the expertise.
I always suspected the bike was Japanese, but I had gotten some conflicting words from others who have encountered my bike.

You're welcome, Chief. I guess there is always the possibility that the later models were manufactured elsewhere. However, given the vintage, yours would appear to be Japanese.

I'm also trying to hunt down a Sake Ringyo ad that, if I recall correctly, has the same emblem as your seat tube. If it is a match, that would confirm the relationship.

I think the bicycle pictured in the ad is the same model as yours. It appears to have Shimano 600EX.

Thanks for the info! I bought the bike from the original owner,who said she she bought it in San Deigo. We have a great shop here in OKC. Celiestial Cycles that specialize in S.S. & Fixies that is helping me (a newbie) with the project. I will post more pics once I get it back from the powdercoatersthanks again Kevin