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Help me ID this bike? First vintage purchase.

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Help me ID this bike? First vintage purchase.

Old 01-21-15, 09:26 PM
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Help me ID this bike? First vintage purchase.

Came across a nice little 56cm that was advertised on CL as either a 70/80's Sekai--he didn't know the model or year.

After a few hours of Googling and searching BF, I'm feeling more lost than when I started as this bike is giving me mixed signals as I look around the frame and components, decals have been removed so no easy answer.

I spent some time researching this amazing thread on Sekai database: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...l#post13167348

My initial thought was that it was a 500 and here is my evidence FOR that theory: Suntour shifters on downtube, dia compe center pull brakes, Suntour Honor RD...that's it from my notes earlier.

Here is my evidence AGAINST it being a Sekai: No serial # under the bottom bracket or anywhere to be found really (after searching thoroughly found the # 9852 on the seat tube), The emblem on the head tube doesn't match anything I've seen when searching for Sekai's logo.

Here is a picture of the logo (unfortunately the only pic I have at the moment):


I'm not concerned that he pulled one over on me or anything. I love this bike whether its a Sekai or a Huffy , just curious as to it's origins. Will post more pic's tomorrow when the sun comes out! Thanks y'all for any help!
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Old 01-22-15, 09:38 AM
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Honor was the rock bottom of the SunTour line. I am surprised it has downtube shifters instead of stem-mounted, which are more common on low-end bikes, which I suspect this one is.
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Old 01-22-15, 09:54 AM
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More photos of the lugs and seat cluster would be helpful.
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Old 01-22-15, 04:54 PM
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Alright, more pics:



Quite certain it is a Sekai, as evidenced by the Sekai sticker on the seat tube (don't know why I didn't remember that in my first post).

What threw me off was the emblem on the front. It looks like a "TW" (maybe Tiger Woods ), as referenced in my first post. Still have found nothing on the Internet about this symbol and now have a new theory: The TW stands for Tamura W(orldwide?), since Sekai was started by the Tamura brothers. Grasping at straw tips on that one.

Thank you John E and Icepick for the quick response. Hope these photos help.
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Old 01-22-15, 05:16 PM
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have seen bicycles with this head emblem locked up in public places. never paid much attention.

since you have researched the badge you know it was created by a retail shop in seattle. there is no sekai factory per se. this looks to be a rock bottom model and quite early by the look of her. badge launch was 1973.

r.e.i. carried sekai for a number of years and my home is only about two km from one of their stores so i see many of them toodling about town and locked up in racks.

is there a purpose to the yellow tape on the seat tube? something there someone did not wish to show? or done to protect finish from a clamp now gone?

happy to read you now have her sorted. enjoy your ride.
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