Vintage600EX

After over 16 months of working on finding parts, the bike is officially restored. The original post can be found here:

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/85985-vintage-shimano-600ex-restoration-part-i.html

Cyclart did a fantastic restoration on the frame and decal printing, and all the parts are identical or as closely matched as possible to the originals. There are of course some differences, including:

1. Rare BR-6210 Brake Set
2. SR Four Sir Milled Seat Post
3. 120mm Shimano 600ax handlebar stem (original was a 100mm)
4. 117.5mmx68mm thinwall Shimano Track BB
5. Bridgestone 27" Fork (Naniwa forks are just too hard to come by these days)

If you are planning on restoring a 27" bike of this era there are a few things I learned:

1. Give plenty of time for locating spokes, especially when using 27" rims and shorty hubs
2. If your fork is damaged, ask for a miracle as replacements are near impossible
3. Get schrader rims and use presta convertors (a tube saver for sure)
4. Find a replacement set ASAP as you may never find some parts again
5. Don't trim any cables until all adjustments are made
6. Choose your bottom bracket wisely
7. Only go with the finest restoration shops.
8. Take your time putting everything together (I spent 2 weeks)

And now, on with the pics:





















In PART III, we'll take you on a tour and our first time out racing. This will include top speed and other performance indicators.

silversmith

Love that glossy wet-look.

Nice!

cyclotoine

Are those hubs 105 or 600? I have the same hubs I think, but the clips are rusty, they are on my to do list for an overhaul/polish...

the bike looks fantastic btw!

roughrider504

Great job on that bicycle! That inspires me to do the same with my bike.

Wil Davis

What a gorgeous looking bike! Nice job with the restoration - I'd be afraid to take it out in case it gets dirty!

I was wondering if the front wheel was originally 36h x4. I recently built new wheels for my Schwinn Super Sport, and went with 32h x3 both front and back (mainly because the hubs I got on eBay were 32h). The original wheels were 36h x4 and the spokes always struck me as looking very cramped, especially on the small-flange hub on the front. I rebuild the original wheels 36h x4 on the back (larger flanges), and 36h x3 on the front - IMHO they look nicer, and it's easier to replace broken spokes…

Nice paint!

- Wil

cyclotoine

I'd also like to know what kind of lugs those are. they look like the same that they would have used on high end Nishiki's at the time. In particular I am thinking of the Comp someone recently posted.

Vintage600EX

Thanks for the wonderful compliments!

To answer some of the questions, both front and rear are 36x3 cross and they're absolutely necessary with the 1" Ukai rims. I wouldn't go any less on training wheels or touring wheels. You can get away with 32's on pure racing or track wheels, but unless your running wider rims, they'll need truing up quite often.

The original pattern was a 36x4 because the spokes were higher gauge than these (smaller diameter). Even then they were a little flimsey. And everything but the seat, stem, handlebars, and pedals is Shimano 600EX.

Cyclart did an absolutely fantastic job on the finish. I had a ton of repairs and decals so the price was up there (frame, fork, dropouts, etc.), but if you're looking at just a refinish, it's quite affordable.

Wil Davis

You say that the wheels are currently x3 - it's just that they look like x4 in the pics… perhaps I'm missing something here (after all, it is 4:40 a.m. and I've just had a 4 hour battle trying to upgrade Norton 2003 to Norton 2006 - Gordon Bennett!!!!)

- Wil

Wino Ryder

WOW....thats a good lookin bike. Excellent job on your restoration. The vintage "600" parts are really in a class all their own.

Rabid Koala

It looks like brand new! Very nice job!!