kimronthomas

Hi folks,
After a lot of frustration with the NYC bike market, I've finally gotten myself a new steed, and I need a little help on the ID.

Here she is as described in my auction:

This lovely early seventies Falcon is in excellent condition, both mechanically and cosmetically. The bicycle is so nice that I came pretty close to adding it to my own collection but there are already too many bicycles in the collection to justify adding yet another.

The Falcon’s Measurements are:
Seat Tube(c-c): 57cm
Top Tube(c-c): 57cm
Stand Over Height(approx): 84cm(33”)
Chain Stay(c-c): 44cm
Wheel Base(approx): 1040mm
Drop Space: 120mm

This Ernie Clements designed Falcon features a full Reynolds 531 tube set. The stays and forks are also Reynolds 531. The beautiful full wrap around seat stay, the long tapered lugs and the gorgeous Falcon head badge complete a beautiful Ernie Clements vintage road bicycle frame set. The beautiful candy blue paint and gorgeous chrome like art is in very good condition but there are a few blemishes to prevent this beautiful old English bicycle from qualifying as mint. The frame set chrome is in excellent condition. All in all, this is one beautiful vintage road bicycle frame set.

The component grouppo is a wonderful vintage match for this great old bike. Campagnolo transmission leads the way. Campagnolo high flange hubs with straight blade skewers are laced to Rigida rims. An old version GB steering stem supports old logo Cinelli handlebars. The stem still bears the original Belluri sticker, something I have not been lucky enough to run across until now. Weinmann quick release levers are mounted on the bars and actuate Weinmann center pull 610 Vainqueur brake callipers. The original red brake pads show little wear and will offer many miles of use in the future.

The pics (click for more):


And some of the more helpful info I've come across in my research:
https://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Falcon-74/
https://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/v/...ection/falcon/

More to come...

Charles Wahl

Is there a question here?

Do the chainstays carry the "San Remo" decal (used on several Falcon models)?

Robert Broderick includes 1973 and 1974 Falcon catalogs among his collection:
https://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/v/broderir/Catalogs-Posters
Unfortunately, that area is password protected, though I think that you could email him to find out what it is.
I posted some information gleaned from one of these catalogs recently:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...falcon+catalog
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...falcon+catalog

Your bike looks like one of the "metallic" or "flamboyant" finishes. Based on nice components, I'm betting that it was one of their pricier models.

kimronthomas

Right, so sorry if I was unclear ("I need a little help on the ID" = What is this bike?). Neither I, nor the seller, know the model of this bike. I have done as much research as I can (I've dug deep into every resource I can find online; Broderick's password-protected site is the only thing I've yet to view) and am trying to access the wealth of expertise I know exists here.

I agree - this has to be metallic or flamboyant (I haven't seen any frames identified clearly as flamboyant, so I can't speak to it), and the gruppo, as well as the chrome-tipped fork I've seen in catalog scans leads me to believe San Remo as well. I've provided all the information I have thus far, and realize serial numbers, stamps, close-ups will aid in the ID; I'll provide them as they are available.

You're right, Charles, you've provided some great stuff in the past (seriously, I've read everything I can find). I'm also trying to ID the paint; I don't think it's the light blue - could it be Racing Blue?

So:
(1) What is this bike?
(2) To aid the ID, I have provided all the information I have here, and will continue to do so.
(3) Thanks!

evwxxx

Interesting. A GB (british) stem with a Belleri (french) sticker on it? And steel cottered cranks on an otherwise mostly high-end component list? Never saw one tricked out like that before, but doubt it is a San Remo model.

kimronthomas

Great eyes, evwxxx - I hadn't noticed that incongruity. What do you think would explain that? And I'm equally caught up on the strange crankset. Once I get my hands on it and get a better look at serials/stamps, do you, as a professed Falcon lover, have some suggestions on how to shed a light?

Here are some pics of another BFer's gold San Remo, which has what looks like, to my eyes and despite being rather hidden, a similar crankset.





Thanks for your thoughts!

Charles Wahl

Racing blue is the color of the team bikes, and a couple other high-end models -- it was a solid light blue, as seen on one of the bikes on the Classic Rendezvous site.
https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Bri...Jerry_Moos.htm

Flamboyant finishes (I believe) are those done with translucent color coat over silver undercoat, unlike metallics, where the metal particles are in the color coat.

Your bike is made with straight gauge tubing, according to the seat tube Reynolds decal. It may be the model 78, with a slightly darker finish from a different year:
https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Bri...lcon_cat_1.htm

The non-butted tubing makes for a bit heavier frame (I have one myself; the tubing is even seamed!), but I think that the craftsmanship is excellent nonetheless.

evwxxx

Falcon made several models back in the late 60's/early 70's, and they were sold in odd places for "good" bikes. Black Diamond was one of the models. I got my 62 Falcon for Christmas, my folks bought it with blue chip stamps (anybody remember those?), although there was one just like it on display at the local Western Auto store in our small town. In 1971 or so I went with a friend of mine to a Sears Roebuck store at a shopping mall and he purchased one with Reynolds 531 tubes and cheap campy parts (Valentino deraillers). I believe both of these were Black Diamond models (I know mine was).

MKahrl

I have a San Remo with steel cottered cranks and a 531 straight gauge triangle. The San Remo name was used on models 76, 98,96,94,92,90, and 80. This one fits the description of a Model 92.

I've sometimes thought the silver foil Falcon panels indicated early seventies because I only ever saw white Falcon panels in bike shops after 1974. But I could be wrong. Falcon also started putting inexpensive Sugino Maxy cotterless aluminum cranks on even their least expensive Black Diamonds by 1974.

This assumes of logical and chronological progression of upgrades and improvements but during the bike boom when companies like Falcon had to increase production eight fold in just a couple of years they were scrambling for components and cottered cranks were still being used on a lot of bikes throughout the decade.

rbman

You are correct, San Remo was used across the product line from the top down to mid-level bikes. The catalog at Bulgier is owned by a friend of mine, I did the scanning and uploaded it. It was from 74. The highest end Falcon(s) did not use the "claw" hanger for the rear derailleur, but most of the line did.
As was the case particularly in the 70's the product descriptions were intentionally vague, and parts could vary widely for the exact same model.
That said, they do ride nicely, and are quite durable.

I've got 2 Falcons. One is a 71 bottom of the line (bought with newspaper route money) which has been restored purely for nostalgic purposes. A very striking purple. (This was the 70's, see pic)

The other is interestingly enough, an Ishiwata Double Butted Magny frame imported to Canada in the mid 80's and I believe assembled in Toronto, complete with Falcon head decal that denoted Falcon Canada. Quite light and well built. Has chrome Tange fork, a number of Shimano 600 components, and Sansin Gold annodized hubs.
I'd post pics, but it is in pieces for a complete restoration.