orangeology

found this on CL, and wondering if it's worth doing something on it.
https://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/2783878144.html

it's with crappy components, but the frame looks alright to my non-expert eyes. decent lug job, chrome finish and the shape of dropouts etc.

just wanted to know about the frame, as i have never heard of it.
it says made of Arai 631 "japanese knockoff of Reynolds".

you folks think i should give a try saving the frame for a fun rebuilding or something?
thanks

Doohickie

Department store junk I think. The bike looks kinda cool though. My guess is that 631 is just hi ten with a fancy sticker.

wrk101

While most of the Vistas I have seen were low end discount store junk, this frame is better. Chrome stays, RD hanger, DT shifter bosses. Paint is in mediocre condition, bike overall in poor condition. But if you have an ample parts selection, and in a hot market, it looks like a deal.

Araya 631 is more of a marketing ploy built off of Reynolds 531. Although I avoid repaints, this one looks like a candidate. Most of the parts belong in a scrap bin, so you are really just buying a frameset.

orangeology

trying to negotiate the price for the frameset only. and yes, anything else looking pretty bad.
somehow the frame is attractive to me too, although it's hard to see the rust situation through the pic.
thanks for the inputs!

shrinkboy

cb400bill

^^^Chain is a bit loose...^^^

flash2070

I had a really nice one! It was called the "Silver Shadow", made in Japan, with shimano Altus components. It had a lugged frame probably weight about 26 pounds. This one was not dept store junk. :-)

Flash

orangeology

talked w. poster. he's willing to sell frameset parting out, at 55clams.
btw,
looked at the photo again, and it IS "Silver Shadow"—although said Silver Star in the header—marked on TT.
only trouble is that i need to bring tools to take it out.
let's see.

thanks!

wrk101

I say go for it! (assuming it looks OK in person: no dents, minimal rust).

AZORCH

I restored my neighbor's Vista - I'd never heard of the marquee before she wheeled it over to my studio. Not bad looking but nothing terribly remarkable about the bike. Since then, I've run across a couple of others, including two last weekend in a pile of bikes at a flea market. As I recall, the head badge on my neighbor's bike was kind of cool (for all that is worth!)

jacksbike

This was a good quality bike that was imported in the early 70's by Service Cycle Supply of Commack, L.I., New York. Originally it was a nice bike, on par with some of the low end Fuji Sports-10's of its time period. This bike certainly needs a lot of work, I would definitely bargain the seller down.

T-Mar

Vista was reportedly Columbia's relatively upscale, Japanese made brand. The Silver Shadows I've seen were late 1970s and used CrMo butted tubing and Shimano 600 components, but the few Araya 631 decals I've seen never mentioned butted and the Araya frames, so I assume this is a slightly different era. Most of the Araya manufactured frames that have popped up appear to be from the early 1980s but his one looks like it may be boom era. I'd appreciate the serial number, if you get it.

orangeology

it's gone sold while i was snailing...
maybe next chance.