Vintage Lotus Road bike?
05-20-11, 11:15 AM
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Vintage Lotus Road bike?
Well... my friends have been picking up good deals on cool vintage bikes all week... while I'm stuck at work chatting on Bikeforums.net...
I have not see it in person but was sent these picture of a vintage lotus...
Other info on the bike... shimano 600 rear derailleur and tubing is 2001 tange mangalloy (sp?). Frame say made in Japan... or so I'm told.
Any idea on approximate year and value?
Thanks
I have not see it in person but was sent these picture of a vintage lotus...
Other info on the bike... shimano 600 rear derailleur and tubing is 2001 tange mangalloy (sp?). Frame say made in Japan... or so I'm told.
Any idea on approximate year and value?
Thanks
05-20-11, 06:46 PM
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Like Lt. Ripley said on Aliens, "I'll tell you what I know". This is my best educated guess given the photos.
With Lotus it seems there is a lot of conjecture.
Solid Seat tube decal and painted head tube is post 1981.
Crank may not be original, pedals definitely not. Yet the chain ring looks drilled for a guard.
Steel head set is a lower-end bike. Under a Classique.
It doesn't have Shimano 600 Brakes so that rules out the Eclair.
I'm guessing an Excelle or Unique given that those two bikes came in black and used Dia Compe Brakes instead of Shimano 600 to match the derailleurs. The crank is hard to see in the photos. Without original saddle, pedals or crank identification, that's all I know.
1982-1983 Excelle or Unique is my educated guess.
Hope that helps some.
Tim
With Lotus it seems there is a lot of conjecture.
Solid Seat tube decal and painted head tube is post 1981.
Crank may not be original, pedals definitely not. Yet the chain ring looks drilled for a guard.
Steel head set is a lower-end bike. Under a Classique.
It doesn't have Shimano 600 Brakes so that rules out the Eclair.
I'm guessing an Excelle or Unique given that those two bikes came in black and used Dia Compe Brakes instead of Shimano 600 to match the derailleurs. The crank is hard to see in the photos. Without original saddle, pedals or crank identification, that's all I know.
1982-1983 Excelle or Unique is my educated guess.
Hope that helps some.
Tim
05-22-11, 08:09 PM
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I was thinking Excelle as well... Any idea on value... my friend may want me to sell it on consignment for him.
05-25-11, 11:13 AM
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What is a lotus Excelle worth? I was thinking $200 ish.
05-25-11, 08:31 PM
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All cleaned up, polished and ready to go, $200. As is, bar tape issues, dirty lever hoods, overall needs a thorough cleanup, $100 to $125, assuming you do the work.
As far as date, just look up the date codes. Just about every component on that bike will be dated.
As far as date, just look up the date codes. Just about every component on that bike will be dated.
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