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-   -   Specialized Sirrus (https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/492023-specialized-sirrus.html)

abarth 12-05-08 12:28 AM

Specialized Sirrus
 
I got myself a very good condition Sirrus last night. I think it is from the mid 90's. It has Shimano RX100 groupo on it. Took it out today and rode it for 20 miles. It felt decent, not as comfy as the Panasonic Touring and not as quick as my Japanese Raleigh Competition. The lug works look so utilitarian so boring. Any body know anything about the 90's Specialized Sirrus? I don't think this is made by Miyata. I think it is made in Taiwan but can't find any sticker. It weights about 24-25 lbs., it is pretty porky. If you have any information about this model please share it. Thanks
http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSCF3963.jpg
http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSCF3967.jpg
http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSCF3966.jpg

Sirrus Rider 12-05-08 12:49 AM


Originally Posted by abarth (Post 7967899)
I got myself a very good condition Sirrus last night. I think it is from the mid 90's. It has Shimano RX100 groupo on it. Took it out today and rode it for 20 miles. It felt decent, not as comfy as the Panasonic Touring and not as quick as my Japanese Raleigh Competition. The lug works look so utilitarian so boring. Any body know anything about the 90's Specialized Sirrus? I don't think this is made by Miyata. I think it is made in Taiwan but can't find any sticker. It weights about 24-25 lbs., it is pretty porky. If you have any information about this model please share it. Thanks
http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSCF3963.jpg
http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSCF3967.jpg
http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSCF3966.jpg

Unfortunately, my area of expertise is on the '87 to 90's Sirrus; however, I can add that the 90's Sirrus were the start of evolving the line to the 700c hybrids of today. The '87 to 90's had no braze-ons for racks. 91 and later (like yours) got rack braze-ons Also, like the '87 to 90's Sirrus it's the same steel frame as the Allez of the same vintage. Only difference was color and paint quality (the paint on the Sirrus tends to be a little soft) and components on the Allez was higher end. I also suspect that Specialized started to mess with frame angles after 1990 relaxing them and moving the Sirrus line to a "Sport Tourer" category.

My experience on frame weight and feel differs from yours my '88 feels pretty nimble. It was no heavier than other mid-level bikes of the day like the Dave Scott Centiurion or Cannondale's Racing bikes.

abarth 12-05-08 01:17 AM

Hey thanks. Regarding the braze-ons, did you mean the eyelets on the rear dropouts? My has no rack braze-ons on the seat stays, just the eyelets on the rear dropouts and none at the fork.

Sirrus Rider 12-05-08 01:26 AM


Originally Posted by abarth (Post 7968001)
Hey thanks. Regarding the braze-ons, did you mean the eyelets on the rear dropouts? My has no rack braze-ons on the seat stays, just the eyelets on the rear dropouts and none at the fork.

Yes. I have seen similar vintage with eyelets on the front fork as well. '87 to 90's didn't have any at all. If you have eyelets you can get a rack on it with a single stay to the brake bridge. (Or even P-clamps to the seat stays.)

rufus 12-07-08 07:39 PM

You've got a Sirrus from 1991. In 1990, Specialized relaxed the Sirrus geometry to parallel 73 degree angles, dropping the head angle back a degree. While it may not be the sole cause, it seems that from that point on, the Sirrus was no longer the in-demand entry-level racer that the previous models had been. I know previous years had gotten raves from the bicycling magazines for their handling; as good or better than racing bikes costing hundreds or even thousands more. It didn't help that they also changed decal designs for your model year, and I have to say, not particularly good-looking.

They also had dropped the steel Allez in 1990, going with their carbon tubes for bikes of that name. So your frame is probably the same as that used by earlier Allez and Sirrus models. Just spec'd with the newly introduced RX100 group to keep it around the $550-575 price point. If I had to guess, I'd say probably made by Giant.

Should be a good ride, despite its heftiness. I know mine from 1989 is.

rugerben 12-07-08 07:54 PM

Hey, I have a on old Sirrus. It's actually my favorite road bike that I've ever ridden. Super fast and nimble. The guy who had it before me really screwed around with it. It's got Deore LX fd and rd, and a 54t big chainring (and the smallest on the cassette is 12t)!!!! The thing is an absolute beast! When I top out on the gears I run a really low cadence. I've topped out at 58.7mph according to my speedometer. (It was a good steep long hill). At that speed, it was rock steady and just gliding along. I know that I have disgraced many a lycra clad, plastic bike riding roadie on my Sirrus.

I'm not sure what year mine is. It's black with yellow writing on it. Very light weight feeling frame. It has no accommodation for fenders but it has eyelets for a rear rack. It also has Wolber aluminum rims with LX hubs, but I feel like they may be aftermarket.
Anybody know what year it is? I was told it was a 91-92, but from the descriptions given here, I'm not sure anymore.

Sirrus Rider 12-07-08 09:02 PM


Originally Posted by rugerben (Post 7982311)
Hey, I have a on old Sirrus. It's actually my favorite road bike that I've ever ridden. Super fast and nimble. The guy who had it before me really screwed around with it. It's got Deore LX fd and rd, and a 54t big chainring (and the smallest on the cassette is 12t)!!!! The thing is an absolute beast! When I top out on the gears I run a really low cadence. I've topped out at 58.7mph according to my speedometer. (It was a good steep long hill). At that speed, it was rock steady and just gliding along. I know that I have disgraced many a lycra clad, plastic bike riding roadie on my Sirrus.

I'm not sure what year mine is. It's black with yellow writing on it. Very light weight feeling frame. It has no accommodation for fenders but it has eyelets for a rear rack. It also has Wolber aluminum rims with LX hubs, but I feel like they may be aftermarket.
Anybody know what year it is? I was told it was a 91-92, but from the descriptions given here, I'm not sure anymore.

Sounds about right. Someone did do some upgrading with MTB parts you should have RX100 derailleurs on it. It's my semi-intelligent guess that yours is the alternative color scheme from the red lettering/black frame.

rugerben 12-07-08 10:11 PM

Ahhhh ok then.

It has RX100 DT shifters, and RX100 brake levers and brakes. But as I said, LX front and rear derailleurs. I really like it. I've actually been considering throwing brifters on it. I was REALLY tempted last week when Nashbar had Ultegra brifters for $150 incuding housings, cables, etc... and they would have worked with my triple crank. Man what a set up that would have been.

But alas, my broke student butt decided I was better off with food and heat than those fancy new-fangled brake things those kids use these days.

Sirrus Rider 12-08-08 01:40 AM


Originally Posted by rugerben (Post 7983055)
Ahhhh ok then.

It has RX100 DT shifters, and RX100 brake levers and brakes. But as I said, LX front and rear derailleurs. I really like it. I've actually been considering throwing brifters on it. I was REALLY tempted last week when Nashbar had Ultegra brifters for $150 incuding housings, cables, etc... and they would have worked with my triple crank. Man what a set up that would have been.

But alas, my broke student butt decided I was better off with food and heat than those fancy new-fangled brake things those kids use these days.

The previous decades' Sirrus ('87 to '90) came with Shimano 105 anything above that group level would be pure gravy! Cost versus value my fantasy Sirrus would have Shimano Ultegra. In fact, what I have planned for my '07 is to outfit it with Dynohub lighting (Shimano DH-3N71 on the front) and a rear wheel based on an Ultegra eight speed cassette rear hub. the only hold up (other than money) is I need to come up with a single silver Mavic CXP 33 rim for cheap.

abarth 12-08-08 01:52 AM

Thanks for the info. I thought 1993 was the first year for the RX100 components. At least the earliest bike with the RX100 that I could find was 1993. According to T-Mar, the 1991 Sirrus had Suntour components. Up until 1994 the basic Allez had lugged steel frame. Starting 1995 the basic Allez had TIG welded steel frame. I did a pictures comparison between a late lugged steel Allez and the Sirrus. The frames look about the same except the seat stays on the Allez are attach to the seatpost clamp bolt and the Sirrus' just below the clamp bolt. Wonder why they did the steeper seatstays angle?

Anywho, I put another 30 miles on it. I found the Sirrus goes pretty fast on the straight but handling feels kind of slow. I guess this is a good thing if you are doing 50+ down hill. I still can't decide if I am going to keep it or sell it to make some money. I guess I will put my wife on it to see if she like it. BTW rugerben, my came stock with grayish Wolber rims.

j. hughes 12-08-08 09:55 AM


Originally Posted by rufus (Post 7982223)

They also had dropped the steel Allez in 1990, going with their carbon tubes for bikes of that name.


I think they made a steel Allez until at least 1994. I have a 1993 Allez Pro that is lugged steel.

rufus 12-08-08 07:05 PM

That's when they brought the steel Allez back, with custom designed .8-.5-.8 oversized butted tubes, and beautiful long tapered lugs. Much better, and lighter, frame than what was used for the previous steel Allez and Sirrus frames.

USAZorro 12-08-08 07:25 PM

I picked up one about two years back. It was a couple years earlier than that though I'd presume. I rode it about 2 blocks and decided it wasn't right for me. Gave it to my daughter's boyfriend of the time. Reasonably light, but the geometry just didn't work.

rugerben 12-08-08 08:20 PM

Actually, Zorro, I don't know if you remember, but it was actually you that found the bike for me.

I showed up here about a year and a half ago saying that I needed a good, fast, road bike. My requirements were that it not be too expensive, be light, steel, and have good geometry for fast road riding (as opposed to touring/commuting, etc...).

You popped up the link to an eBay add for the Specialized, and I bought it. It was an awesome find. I love that bike.


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