mooncountry

Alright, I'm pretty brand-spankin' to the whole bike-build thing. I'll be taking a class/getting guidance from this awesome non-profit near me in January/February, but I'd like to have my frame and components together before that starts.

I just picked up this guy on Craigslist:


And I've somehow gotten this dream inside my head that I want Shimano 600 Arabesque all over it, although the more I think about it, the more I think maybe that floral business would look cooler on a midnight-blue bike, and not one with this red/black fade. In any event, I'm looking for at least a Shimano 600 groupset (Arabesque or not), and am trying to figure out what I need to know in order to buy the right thing.

What I know so far is this: the big chainring is a 52, and I'd prefer a 50 or 48, if possible. The bike's currently a 6-speed, but I'll be switching to a 7 (primarily for ease of buying parts--I'm not absolutely wedded to the idea). And (plz don't be upset), lastly, I want to put either bar-end shifters or these butterfly shifters on.

What kind of restrictions am I setting up for myself--I think especially with regard to the shifters? From some real preliminary research, it appears that sizing of a rear derailleur might not matter so much? And that there are only 2 options for a front? But perhaps I'm not that good at the search function here, because I don't think I've found the answers I'm looking for yet.

If anyone can shed some guiding light on what I should be looking for as I start to scour ebay/craigslist -- or can point me in the direction of good forum threads for this -- it would be greatly appreciated.

I'm super-excited to start this project, and since I have a month before the building begins in earnest, want to start looking for parts now so I can hopefully get a good deal or 2.

Thanks!

oddjob2

You are on the right track IMHO. I would think Arabesque would look out of place with a high contrast fogpainted frame, which is very late 1980's. I would suggest you consider 600 tricolor, 600 ex, or 105, depending on what's available.

If you can find another bike with the group set you want, it's often a less expensive or a free route to getting parts. I have a shelf full of 600, 105, Cyclone, Arabesque, that I have accumulated in such manner.

icepick_trotsky 

Bar end shifters would be totally appropriate for a bike of that vintage. If you're using friction derailleurs like the Arabesque, you really don't have to worry about compatibility at all. The shifters just pull the derailleur left and right. The derailleurs themselves don't care how many gears there are. Suntour barcons rule.

mooncountry

Yeah, the original dream was to find a straight-red frame, with which I think the arabesque would have looked nicer. with the black/red, I'll probably just go for 600 (or whatever I find). And thanks for the tip about stripping parts from bikes. I actually just found one that's not my size but does have full arabesque -- if I can knock a couple bucks off the price I might just snatch them up for the next project, sell the frame, and walk away with a groupset for much less than ebay prices. I'll keep my eye out, thanks!

mooncountry

That's exactly what I wanted to know, thanks! I've been told, I think, to be careful about mixing/matching components -- some Campagnolo won't work with Shimano, etc. Is that just because the French are finnicky? Would I be fine with full Shimano 600, but with Suntour barcons?

icepick_trotsky 

Campagnolo is Italian and Shimano is Japanese, but yes, the French are finnicky nonetheless. Those compatibility problems are related to indexed shifting. You shouldn't have to worry with friction.

RobbieTunes

I have a complete 7-sp 105 group, to include wheels, if you are interested. DT shifted.
I'll PM you.

Otherwise, anything from the 6-sp indexed era up will be fine.

mooncountry

Heh. Well, I did say I was new to this..

icepick_trotsky 

I don't think the OP has enough posts to PM.

likebike23

I would not go with the Suntour Command shifters because Suntour's 7 speed spacing requires that you use a Suntour 7 speed freewheel. Those freewheels are harder to find and expensive. If you want to go with bar ends, Rivendell sells the pods and spacers to which you can attach your current 6 speed shifters or 7 speed if you wish.

RobbieTunes

I pm'd him.
Now that you mention it, I forgot to put in my email address.

Trotsky was an answer on Jeopardy last night. Do not ask me how I know this.

BradH

That will be a really nice ride. If it's anything like the '88 400 I have you'll have tons of room for fenders if you want them.