1981 Japanese 650B Randonneur
02-28-11, 05:19 AM
#1
R20, 650B, Touring
Thread Starter
1981 Japanese 650B Randonneur
I'm doing up my favourite old tourer, painted the frame on the weekend, must say I'm pretty happy with the finish. I need to rebuild the rear wheel again, it needs a bit of dish 
Bill P
Bill P
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02-28-11, 07:38 AM
#2
Senior Member
Very nice! Looks like 650B with Hetres? What make is it? I thought the Japanese infatuation with French-inspired Randonneurs was more recent, but I guess they've been building them for a long time.
More pictures, please! She looks like a beauty.
More pictures, please! She looks like a beauty.
02-28-11, 07:42 AM
#3
Senior Member
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02-28-11, 02:45 PM
#6
R20, 650B, Touring
Thread Starter
Thanks for the interest! I will take more pics as I complete the project. She was originally shod with Michelin World Tours and I am looking forward to riding on Hetres, they are a very nicely made tyre. The Honjos are new, she originally had rinko style Honjos, same pattern.
Heres a pic from her glory days in 1983
I am unsure of the frame builder and would very much like to find out who built her. The SN is TCC80110 (IIRC) and I did wonder if TCC was for Toei Cycle Co, but it doesn't look like a Toei, more like an Alps. If anyone can help me with ID I would be grateful.
Bill P
Heres a pic from her glory days in 1983
I am unsure of the frame builder and would very much like to find out who built her. The SN is TCC80110 (IIRC) and I did wonder if TCC was for Toei Cycle Co, but it doesn't look like a Toei, more like an Alps. If anyone can help me with ID I would be grateful.
Bill P
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02-28-11, 02:47 PM
#7
Senior Member
Wow! That's some photo, Bill!
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02-28-11, 02:56 PM
#9
PanGalacticGargleBlaster
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Nice. I take it its originally built for 650B?
there's a lot to like about that old setup
there's a lot to like about that old setup
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02-28-11, 02:57 PM
#10
Senior Member
Thanks for the interest! I will take more pics as I complete the project. She was originally shod with Michelin World Tours and I am looking forward to riding on Hetres, they are a very nicely made tyre. The Honjos are new, she originally had rinko style Honjos, same pattern.
Heres a pic from her glory days in 1983
I am unsure of the frame builder and would very much like to find out who built her. The SN is TCC80110 (IIRC) and I did wonder if TCC was for Toei Cycle Co, but it doesn't look like a Toei, more like an Alps. If anyone can help me with ID I would be grateful.
Bill P
Heres a pic from her glory days in 1983
I am unsure of the frame builder and would very much like to find out who built her. The SN is TCC80110 (IIRC) and I did wonder if TCC was for Toei Cycle Co, but it doesn't look like a Toei, more like an Alps. If anyone can help me with ID I would be grateful.
Bill P
Since you mentioned ALPS, I did a quick Google search, and came up with this 2006 blog entry from the early days of Velo Orange:
A few days ago I learned, through a private e-mail, that Hagiwara-san is closing the ALPS frame shop. I see that the announcement has now been made public on his web site.
As you may know, ALPS has long been one of the finest constructeurs in Japan, and in the world. Hagiwara-san stopped taking orders from outside Japan some years ago. He wanted his bikes ridden, not admired.
As you may know, ALPS has long been one of the finest constructeurs in Japan, and in the world. Hagiwara-san stopped taking orders from outside Japan some years ago. He wanted his bikes ridden, not admired.
Interestingly, the ALPS bike in the picture is the same color as your bike. Did you repaint it the same color?
02-28-11, 05:24 PM
#11
R20, 650B, Touring
Thread Starter
Yes. Purpose built as 650B. She has " Super Champion Made in France" rims, Mafac cantilever brakes and indented chainstays. I had difficulty getting 650B tyres in the 80's, she's running a pair of horrible wheelchair tyres in the pic above. Thank goodness nowadays for the internet!
Have you tried contacting TOEI? Not yet. I need to make up a photo set of the key frame features and ask around.
Did you repaint it the same color? I've had the original bike paint matched and I've resprayed it with metallic automotive paint. Expensive but looks good!.
Bill P
Have you tried contacting TOEI? Not yet. I need to make up a photo set of the key frame features and ask around.
Did you repaint it the same color? I've had the original bike paint matched and I've resprayed it with metallic automotive paint. Expensive but looks good!.
Bill P
02-28-11, 06:51 PM
#12
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Wonderful! I too am looking forward to more pics and specs.
Alps is a good guess, or how about a Grand Bois??? (they have been making frame sets for a long time).
Cheers,
Chris
Alps is a good guess, or how about a Grand Bois??? (they have been making frame sets for a long time).
Cheers,
Chris
02-28-11, 08:49 PM
#13
R20, 650B, Touring
Thread Starter
Hi Chris, I've asked a Grand Bois owner who he thinks made it, no luck. His Grand Bois serial no format is 5 digits, no alpha characters. Any Toei owners want to chime in with their serial number formats? There's a Tokyo Cycling Club (TCC) I should ask them for an opinion ...
Heres some more pics from the shed.
Heres some more pics from the shed.
02-28-11, 08:54 PM
#14
PanGalacticGargleBlaster
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I saw the thumbnail pic with the 5 pin cranks and my first thought was "Man, I hope he used the Sugino arms and not TA or Stronglight" 
I love the chainstay protector. Does it do double duty as a slingshot?
I love the chainstay protector. Does it do double duty as a slingshot?
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02-28-11, 10:23 PM
#15
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02-28-11, 11:18 PM
#17
R20, 650B, Touring
Thread Starter
Thanks for the encouragement!
I need it- have a look at what she looked like 18 months ago when I realised it was feasible to resurrect her.
( Warning!. The following images may offend C& V bicycle lovers)
Bill P
I need it- have a look at what she looked like 18 months ago when I realised it was feasible to resurrect her.
( Warning!. The following images may offend C& V bicycle lovers)
Bill P
03-01-11, 10:22 AM
#18
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My Eyes!!
The Goggles, they do Nothing!!
Single speed with Vertical Dropouts...adventurous
The Goggles, they do Nothing!!
Single speed with Vertical Dropouts...adventurous
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03-01-11, 10:33 AM
#19
Senior Member
03-01-11, 05:40 PM
#20
R20, 650B, Touring
Thread Starter
03-15-11, 06:20 PM
#21
R20, 650B, Touring
Thread Starter
National Ride to School Day here and its her maiden voyage since the major rebuild. As sweet as sweet as she ever was. 
03-15-11, 06:25 PM
#22
No one cares
NICE job
. I don't get why the brake cables are so long, but whatever.
. I don't get why the brake cables are so long, but whatever.
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Jack Taylor Super Tourer Tandem (FOR SALE), Jack Taylor Tour of Britain, Px-10, Carlton Flyer, Fuji The Finest, Salsa Fargo, Santa Cruz Tallboy, Carver All-Road .
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03-15-11, 06:32 PM
#23
R20, 650B, Touring
Thread Starter
Yeah. I usually loop them a bit tighter but I was thinking of being a bit more of a showoff this time round.
If you see old pics of Singers etc they seem to me to be a bit longish too.
I can always shorten them.... Bill P
If you see old pics of Singers etc they seem to me to be a bit longish too.
I can always shorten them.... Bill P
03-15-11, 06:34 PM
#24
No one cares
in any event, it looks really really great. Are those Hetres?
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03-15-11, 06:41 PM
#25
R20, 650B, Touring
Thread Starter
Yes Grand Bois Hetres. I've never used them before but they have really good reviews. Nicely made tyre. The originals were Michelin World Tour and I reckon they were a couple of mm wider than the Hetres. Bill P
