Jimsl78

I have been looking for a suitable frame and fork to use up some "take off parts" I've accumulated over the past year and recently found this frame. It has Shimano "Aero" decals and the dropouts have Shimano stampings. I know that Shimano never made frames so I think this might be Tange steel? It is chromed with some pretty fancy lug work and braze ons. There is no serial number. The seller claims it was a limited production used to promote the 600 groupset. Can anybody confirm this? Is there any value in this? because I'm considering removing the decals and building it up "unbranded"

andr0id

Leave the Shimano stickers on and build it up with Campy.

degan

If my memory serves there was a similar bike posted somewhat recently.

bikemig 

How much does the seller want? You can probably do better esp. if the S believes it has "collector" value.

Seabass_First

I like it... i say buy it and build it up with areo stuff!

Jimsl78

I have a Shimano 600 groupset, with Ambrosio wheels and Cinelli drop bar. I don't care for these decals unless this frame has significant value.

Jimsl78

(I already bought it.) just trying to determine if it has any value.

bikemig 

Why would an unknown frame of uncertain provenance have significant value because of a few random stickers that you can buy cheap off the Net?

bikemig 

Remove the stickers, build the bike, have fun. It looks like a nice frame but the stickers do not add collector's value to the bike.

Jeff Wills

Shimano certainly had the resources to have "no-name" frames built to display parts at trade shows. Without having documented history of the frame from a trusted source, there's no way to distinguish one from a generic frame with Shimano stickers on it.

If this frame is intact, straight, and fits you... build it and ride it.

francophile 

This hurr? https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ano-frame.html

Seabass_First

Honestly, its hard tell from the pictures, but I think striping the frame of the stickers would ruin any value it has or WILL have. If you just want a cheap frame to build up i can trade you a much higher end frame but with out as much novelty. I think you have a really special frame. don't strip it. Your's might be the only example out there (or one of very few) and once you destroy the stickers it will be gone forever.

Seabass_First

disagreed.

smontanaro 

Google turned up these links:

Australian Cycling Forums - Shimano "Aero" Decals Or "Standish" Aero Decals
The ClaremontCyclist: Vintage and Classic: SR Bicycle with Shimano 600ax...
Standish Aero Shimano
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ano-frame.html

bikemig 

Post 10 pretty much nails it. The stickers don't prove anything and they are easy enough to recreate if the OP wants to do so one day.

degan

No actually, though the bike in the link you posted is the same as the one I'm thinking of. The thread featured a complete bike. Unfortunately using the keywords "shimano" and "frame" in the search turns up approximately 1,000,000 threads.

embankmentlb

I don't see anything that indicates it is AERO other than decals. The tubes don't look oval or teardrop shaped. The braze-on's are all wrong for Shimanos aero groups. It may be a very nice frame otherwise.

JamesRL

I think the braze ons for fenders/racks would indicate this isn't a high end racing frame. But it might be a chromed mid level frame with the paint stripped off and the stickers added. Fork crown slopes a bit so probably late 80s. Looks nice, I would take off the stickers, build it and ride it.

Bikerider007

I would not remove unless I knew for sure they weren't legit. It can add value if they are and they don't look in bad shape to me.

Lascauxcaveman 

It would take a special kind of collector to put much value on this mid-grade frame over its utility. If you could find that collector, sell it to him and get a better frame to build. Maybe consider taking up Seabass' offer? This one doesn't look like it has the 'squashed' tubing of other (Yamaguchi built) Shimano Aeros I've seen online, so maybe it is just a re-stickered generic frame? Here's a link of one I'm talking about, with the squashed tubes: Picasa Web Albums - Jeff Bell - Shimano Bicycle (it a gallery of ten photos, so you can click through if you want to see more than just the first one)

It's hard to see from the pix, but it doesn't look like the chrome is in very good shape, either. Detailed pics would be a big help, as usual.

Jimsl78

Actually the picture is from the sellers ad and it's before the bike was cleaned and polished.
The chrome is actually in nice shape. It doesn't have "squashed tubes" like the pic you gave a link to.
I will get some detail pics showing the lug work and braze on's. This by no means is just a generic frame. Also it's not my "holy grail" bike. (I already have that and then some) I'ts just a frame worthy of inheriting a nice take off groupset left from another other build. Thanks all for the info. I will proceed to build it up with mostly shimano 600 parts and leave the stickers on for now. After, if I decide I really like this frame I will strip it down and paint it leaving it un-branded, just leaving a little chrome bling on the chainstay, lugs, and fork.

francophile 

I recall the article you're talking about, from like 2-4 months ago though, I feel like (I have no concept of time, though).

This is usually where I go to Google versus the forum search feature. More granular results. You may need to re-submit this search by tapping the magnifying glass once the link loads. https://www.google.com/webhp?q=site:...imano+frame%22

Not saying you'll find it there, but that was the best I could get. I swear the frame in the thread I think you're talking about had Shimano brand sticker on the DT and ST, it was white or chrome (can't recall)?

Seabass_First

This bike made ma think of this thread, its a bike made by (what i know as) a rim manufacturer.

Toomanytoys

I too have seen a few bikes branded as Shimano, probably for promotional reasons. Go ahead and build it with the stickers on, you can always remove them later.

Jimsl78

I have never seen this on a frame before, check out the detail pics of the brace behind the bottom bracket, the rear brake bridge and the water bottle bosses. The chrome actually looks better without the flash.

This is why I thought it might be special