Notable low- to mid-range frames with long top tubes?
01-25-15, 10:59 AM
#1
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Notable low- to mid-range frames with long top tubes?
Hi. For my current city bike project, I'm looking for a '70s or '80s touring-type frame with a long top tube.
Basically, I'm looking for another frame like my '84 Peugeot P-something, on which the top tube is 60cm, with a 58cm seat tube.
The tubing isn't all that important; decent cromoly (I really like Peugeot's Carbolite 103) would be nice, but since the bike will be carrying heavy books and groceries in Wald steel baskets, a pound here or there doesn't make a huge difference.
So: can you recommend notable frames from the '70s or '80s with top tubes slightly longer than their seat tubes, which are fairly common and likely to pop up used in a not-very-bikey part of the country?
Basically, I'm looking for another frame like my '84 Peugeot P-something, on which the top tube is 60cm, with a 58cm seat tube.
The tubing isn't all that important; decent cromoly (I really like Peugeot's Carbolite 103) would be nice, but since the bike will be carrying heavy books and groceries in Wald steel baskets, a pound here or there doesn't make a huge difference.
So: can you recommend notable frames from the '70s or '80s with top tubes slightly longer than their seat tubes, which are fairly common and likely to pop up used in a not-very-bikey part of the country?
01-25-15, 11:48 AM
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Just reading your title, I was going to recommend a French bike, then I read you want something like your Peugeot. So it makes perfect sense. Many of the French bikes of that period had long top tubes compared to similar bikes coming out of the US and the UK. The French had a different fit philosophy, and built bikes around a more stretched out fit. Look at Motobecane, Jeunet, LeJeune...
01-25-15, 12:58 PM
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I would also say look at some French stuff a lot of there touring sports bikes had longer top tubes and wheelbases, that where an inch or more longer. I would be partial to a Moto or Gitane touring model.
01-25-15, 01:28 PM
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repeating hearsay (but I did own one A-D Inter 10 that fit this profile) many Austrians seem to have longer top tubes. If they all follow this pattern you might search for cheaper Austro-Daimler models, Puchs and perhaps some of the older (but not crappier) Austrian bikes sold by Sears.
One exception to the French stereotype: Gitane TdFs from the '70s had a noticeably shorter top tube.
One exception to the French stereotype: Gitane TdFs from the '70s had a noticeably shorter top tube.
01-25-15, 01:58 PM
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If you expand your search to prior to 1960, pretty much all bikes had a top tube typically 2cm longer than the seat tube.
01-25-15, 02:10 PM
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My '92 Specialized Crossroads has a 53cm seat tube, 60cm top tube, center-to-center. I realize it isn't the vintage you seek, but may fit all your other criteria. It's also got canti & rack bosses, a 1" steerer and is designed for 700C (or 29-er) wheels/tires. Oh, and they're easy to find cheap. If you can tolerate tig-welded CroMo, this may be just the ticket.
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01-25-15, 04:17 PM
#7
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A Hybrid made for straight bars if they do like MTBs do ..
1976, I built My Own frame to get that .. So, No toe clip overlap with Mudguards..
You could Hire one Built using classic techniques , if not up to DIY. and no one finds one for You.
60cm, with a 58cm seat tube.
You could Hire one Built using classic techniques , if not up to DIY. and no one finds one for You.
Last edited by fietsbob; 01-25-15 at 04:25 PM.
01-25-15, 04:26 PM
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repeating hearsay (but I did own one A-D Inter 10 that fit this profile) many Austrians seem to have longer top tubes. If they all follow this pattern you might search for cheaper Austro-Daimler models, Puchs and perhaps some of the older (but not crappier) Austrian bikes sold by Sears.
One exception to the French stereotype: Gitane TdFs from the '70s had a noticeably shorter top tube.
One exception to the French stereotype: Gitane TdFs from the '70s had a noticeably shorter top tube.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
01-25-15, 05:59 PM
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the top tubes on both my motos are almost an inch longer than the seat tubes. the gj has an inch longer stays compared to the gr.
'76 gr
'80 gj
'76 gr
'80 gj
01-25-15, 06:13 PM
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OK, it sounds like I'm looking for another Peug, or maybe a Crossroads. The plan is to use a Sturmey-Archer S-5 five-speed in the back, which might be a little odd with a Specialized, but heck, why not (if the rear spacing is narrow enough).
3speedslow, if you happen to see a Dawes Galaxy near Jacksonville, let me know.
Keep those suggestions coming!
3speedslow, if you happen to see a Dawes Galaxy near Jacksonville, let me know.
Keep those suggestions coming!
01-25-15, 06:25 PM
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One thing I remember really well about my youngest brother's Gitane, back in the 80's was that it had such a long top tube. It was the "Criterium" model which was certainly not a touring model, but I'm thinking maybe Gitanes tended to have longer top tubes than other French manufacturer anyway(?), as even though his bike's frame was only sized 1cm bigger than mine and his bike's head tube was quite steep to give "Criterium" type of hanlding, his top tube looked like it belonged to a frame at easily 3 cm bigger than my Peugeot PSV.
01-25-15, 08:06 PM
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My 80's Raleigh Technium with the 6061 (?)AL main triangle and steel stays had a much longer TT than ST. Wasn't my style, and one reason I sold it fairly quickly.
01-26-15, 02:12 PM
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I think Lemond's traditionally have longer top tubes than seat tubes. I'm not totally certain but I thought that was true for the early ones.
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