eric_454

I bought one of the Japanese Paramount road bikes night before last. Measures 56 cm and 33 inch standover. It may be just a hair small for what I'm used to but it is very smooth and easy to ride. (remind me to buy a French valve pump) The Contis are old and need replaced, but everything else seems fine. What can i expect ffrom this bike and how can I make it better?
Or should I sell it now?

Lazyass

I have a series 5 and used to have a series 3. The 5 just has a little better 105 group. Mine is original except for the stem, seatpost and Ultegra/Ritchey OCR wheelset. I did buy a set of $6 Diamondback brake pads at Dicks Sporting goods of all places and it turned them into some of the most powerful calipers I've ever had. Didn't expect that. You can expect it to be a nice ride I guess, don't know what else to tell you. With the oversized tubes and flared seat tube it rides a little stiffer than the average steel bike but the bottom bracket has very little flex which like. I suggest a lighter modern wheelset with a spacer to run the 7 speed cassette if you want to mod it. If you like it ride it, if you don't then sell it I suppose. I've had mine since the '90's and I'm keeping it forever. They are going way up in price on ebay.

canam73

What do you need from it?

I have series paramount and 2 Waterford bikes. I like the ride on all of them.

denny1969

My dad had one, and it was a nice ride. I actually liked the fit better than my personal bike.

The only thing that I could add to a possible upgrade that has not been mentioned is to install a brifter setup.

I'm sure that you are going to be giving it a tune up, so enjoy.

Dennis

roccobike

So you picked up one of these right? At first I changed the downtube shifters to 7 speed RSX brifters, that was a good move.

Then I liked the brifter change so much, I changed the entire drivetrain to Campy Chorus 10 speed with Ksyriums. That was a disappointment. I thought it would be a fast bike, but it's just like the other steel bikes I have and no competition to the two carbon bikes. Too bad cause it looks awesome, IMHO. It's your call if you want to keep or sell. As a vintage steel bike, it's way cool with a great ride. But its not a new carbon bike.

FYI, I'm keeping mine as it's just too good looking a bike to sell and it does have descent performance.

jerrycan42

Nice Paramount, but those older, more traditional geometry bikes looks silly when they're setup for comfort (i.e. stem not slammed)

roccobike

That's due to a double fusion in my neck. My carbon bikes both have elevated bars due to this injury. Wish I could lower it, but I can't.

eric_454

Finally, I am able to upload a pic. I understand the neck injury, as I have a herniated C6-C7. I need a taller stem to continue riding this bike. I love the thing but I believe I'm going to sell it.

eric_454

My 87 Traveller, before new tires. Barn find. I love this big beast.