80's Lotus SX
06-29-11, 09:38 AM
#1
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80's Lotus SX
Got one of these the other day for around $100. All shimano parts, Sugino crankset, decent shape. Took it for a 6 mile ride yesterday, was a blast to ride. BTW this is my first road bike, wanted something cheap so I could gauge interest.
Already interested in upgrading some part, but need some answers. The stock handlebars are bent a little and the brake hoods do not line up, its very annoying. I want to upgrade the handlebars but are a little uncertain about the size. Its either 25.4 or 26, but I would like to know for sure. They are Kusuki alloy bars, on a Kusuki S-Win stem.
Also, the shifters are on the stem, and I would like to move them to the bars. Any recommendations of going about this? Generic brands are OK with me, but I have no idea what parts I need other than bar shifters.
Heres a pic of this bike, let me know what you think:
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Already interested in upgrading some part, but need some answers. The stock handlebars are bent a little and the brake hoods do not line up, its very annoying. I want to upgrade the handlebars but are a little uncertain about the size. Its either 25.4 or 26, but I would like to know for sure. They are Kusuki alloy bars, on a Kusuki S-Win stem.
Also, the shifters are on the stem, and I would like to move them to the bars. Any recommendations of going about this? Generic brands are OK with me, but I have no idea what parts I need other than bar shifters.
Heres a pic of this bike, let me know what you think:
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
06-29-11, 10:42 AM
#2
Thrifty Bill
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Digital caliper, $9.99, Harbor Freight, per my posting a couple of days ago. Be sure to get a coupon, or its $20.
Seat post clamp is backwards.
I love my Lotus, they had some really fine bikes in the 1980s.
Seat post clamp is backwards.
I love my Lotus, they had some really fine bikes in the 1980s.
06-29-11, 10:58 AM
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Get yourself a set of Suntour Barcons, a lovely bar end friction shifter. You already have the down tube cable stops so new cables should be the only other thing needed.
Here is a set on my Legnano Gran Premio. They will work and install even better on the OP's drop bars...
Here is a set on my Legnano Gran Premio. They will work and install even better on the OP's drop bars...
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"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
06-29-11, 11:17 AM
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The shifter I have are actually index shifters. Im not sure how that changes things when moving to friction shifters. But the handlebars need to go, so putting them on these drop bars isnt an option unfortunatley.
06-29-11, 03:01 PM
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Can you give us a better pic of the bars. You mention the hoods don't line up, are you sure they're not just in need of positioning. I have a Lotus Challenger, it was indexed on the stem, i just put a set of Sunrace clamp on indexed downtube shifters on and it shifts beautifully, and quite frankly is one of my favorite rides. Tange tubing, it works for me.
