Ozzibob

Folks, I have enjoyed reading a little bit of specialised history. I have just purchased a specialised, (very unsure of age) but is a chrome frame, old shimano gearing, and serial number GC8 3735 it also has J2 stamped on bottom bracket. Is quite a lovely old bike and I would dearly like a bit of history any ideas would be appreciated. I have attached pics below.
regards
bob

noglider 

If that saddle is at the right height for you (or if you think it is), the bike is too big for you.

Ozzibob

Noooo Its just the pic of Ebay when I bought it, Its been delivered but I haven't even put the wheels on yet. I plan on giving the frame a polish, refresh gears etc, then will set it up properly. Im 6'2 so if anything bike will be a tad small its only about 59 cm seat tube, 57.5 top. Im after some info as to what it is. The stickers etc look like late addons

gugie 

Take some more pictures and post them. It appears to me to be a late 80's Sirrus, but chromed? All the production ones were painted.

Here's an old thread that might be helpful.

Ozzibob

Thanks, the frame in the older thread looks identical cept mine has the specialised fork, interesting that another chrome or polished version has turned up. Also is a similar size. I have emailed "that guy Zac to see what he eventually found out about it. Is the serial number of any use?

McBTC

That looks like a vintage road bike (probably 70s or so given the downtube shifters). Specialized, however, is not a vintage company. I had one of the 1st bikes from Specialized: a Stumpjumper, which apparently was introduced in 1981. They were imports. I believe I purchased my Stumpjumper in about 1985. They were production mountain bikes, made of steel (heavy, no butts and no supsension) 15 speeds with Suntour gearing and were mass produced to take advantage of the new (at the time) mountain bike market that was at that time comprised of custom-made bikes by makers like Gary Fisher.

gugie 

Let us know what you find out. Google "specialized serial numbers" and you'll find that there is no secret decoder ring for these, and Specialized doesn't provide any help, from what I gather.

Here's a good link for some history: Some Specialized history It includes a post from Tim Neenan, who was their first frame designer.

Ozzibob

Great thanks, have had a look through the info available, so i reckon late 80's Sirrus prob 87 or 88, built by Giant in Taiwan. Whilst serial numbers not a great deal of reference I expect that where similar probably are indicative of age and build. Some of the other forums show serial numbers as GD8 .... built by giant and allegedly an 87 Allez so the GC83735 is somewhat consistent with this. My bike has the cable routed under the bottom bracket and a straight fork crown, although interesting the fork crown has an indented S (specialized symbol) on the top of both left and right side of fork crown.Did see somewhere though that unicrown forks where not until 90's.

thinktubes 

Nice bike. Looks like the brake levers are hooked up right=front, left=rear. RU in the UK?

Ozzibob

Australia, yes is a nice addition to a few bikes in the shed
Pake Single speed, Giant Anthem MTB, BMC SLT01 team, Mongoose Maurice SS, Colnago Titano Oval master, etc

DMC707

********** Downtube shifters were used well into the early to mid 90's

Specialized marketed the Allez steel frame road bike in the mid to late 80's and forward - the originals were very nice lugged steel frame bikes

BradH

Mid-late '80s Allez. The lugged fork crown and normal chainstays indicate this. Late '80s saw the transition to the unicrown fork and the larger "direct drive" chainstays. In about 1990 the Sirrus got eyelets on the rear dropouts, but other than that, the frames are identical as far as I an tell. Component group and decals seem to be the differences between a Sirrus and an Allez in the time that frame would have been made. Really nice bike you have there!