trackmachine

Is anyone familiar with Condor track frames from the mid nineties? I'm strongly considering buying a frameset from my LBS, but I don't know much about the bike. Apparently it's from the mid 90's. The fork and frame are lugged, and the tubes are not oversized. The bike shop owner guesses that the steel is reynolds since it's a british bike; probably butted....maybe 631? Anyway, the frame and fork are matte black with, if i remember correctly, yellow/red/white lettering. The seat stay caps say "condor". Only the fork is drilled for a brake. There are no cut-outs in the BB shell. The fork is a straight blade.

Does anyone know what model this could be? There is no painted model name on the tubes nor is the type of steel indicated. I doubt this is anything special, but I want to make sure I'm not buying some 4130 piece of crap for the money I'm spending. Also, the bike shop owner mentioned that he purchased several of these frames because it was the last year Condor was making a lugged track frame.

Any thoughts or helpful advice? Thanks!

ImOnCrank

Buy it. Or better yet buy mine! I picked one up about 3 months ago when I moved to england. It's the 1985 version of the one you're describing. If it's the same as I'm thinking it's 531c and an absolute blast to ride. Super comfy ride but still solidly track. Nothing by Condor is a 4130 piece of crap. Especially from their lugged stuff. All handbuilt in London or Italy. If that's one of the london bikes it's a solid piece of machinery for sure and if it's an italian then it's built by De Rosa and that probably needs no explanation.

salmonchild

they have a brand new lugged track frame in their window, special edition but not the last...

trackmachine

Update: I couldn't resist and bought it. Here are some pics:

https://www.putfile.com/trackmachine

sohi

excellent buy. that is very nice especially with the straight fork. amazing how difficult it seems to be
for manufacturers to make such an elegant frame these days. the new condor lugged track frame has
holes for a waterbottle mount...aarggh..

absntr

Very nice. Is there much of a market for used or NOS track frames in the UK? Bob J, Mercian, and the like?

jim-bob

mmm, practical braze-ons.

sohi

like for shifting cables and derailers?

jim-bob

I like those, too. You'll never catch me stripping braze-ons off a conversion.

trackmachine

This may be opening a whole new can of worms....but i went into the shop intending to order a soma rush. Any thoughts on my decision?

rvabiker

gorgeous bike...It would be hard to belive that a soma would be a better frame/buy.

dolface

yes. buy the condor.

fixedpip

Aye, but its smaller. Lots of messengers in London use 'em. See a lot of folks in Hackney (its the new mission ) riding track bikes. New bikes are quite expensive here so the second hand/NOS is where most folks get their gear from (trickles down from the racers and folks with deep pockets)

Nevertheless track/fixed is a very niche thing for street riding, but its slowly picking up.



Oh and as for trackmachines decision, I'd take a lugged Condor frame over a Rush anyday. Its got more character, its a lot rarer, they really last and are well built machines. I was always a little disappointed with my Rush as it lacked sparkle when riding it. I'm back on lugged steel and it just feels better, livier. Hard to state exactly why.

Have fun with your new toy.

techone

Beautiful! I have a late 70's Condor lugged track and the quality is the best I've seen in person. Superbly filed lugs with nice cutouts, nothing too fancy tho. Rides like a dream. (think I need to build it up again...)
You could send Condor an email and see if they can date it for you. Usually all they need is the serial no.

And I'm gonna kick ImOnCrank's arse if he does indeed sell that Condor stateside!

ImOnCrank

You want it sweetiecheeks? Bring it on. It just got back to the usa. Dunno if it'll sell though (HINT FRICKIN HINT PM me for pics).

Trackmachine, sweet buy you are going to love rocking that thing. Condor's lugged frames are so so sweet to ride.