Bike Forums - View Single Post - Touring 80s frames

02-04-13 | 03:32 AM

#26

mkeller234

Rustbelt Rider

Joined: Oct 2008

Posts: 9,105

Likes: 390

From: Canton, OH

Bikes: 1990 Trek 1420 - 1978 Raleigh Professional - 1973 Schwinn Collegiate - 1974 Schwinn Suburban

I'd agree that there are a whole lot of good touring bikes from the 80's, many of them very similar.

I've got a Lotus Eclair that I really like, it's my second one. I'd agree with balindamood that it rides very nicely without any load, I can't say one bad thing about the ride, it's superb. There are a few quirks:

- The Eclair does not have a whole lot of tire clearance. I have 1 1/4 in tires, and it would be a squeeze to get fenders in. Apparently that is common with a lot of 80's touring bikes.
- The Eclair has 2 bottle positions, none on the seat tube. Mine came with a frame pump on the seat tube.... still an odd choice.
- The Eclair has those weird Shimano down tube bosses. Not insurmountable, but it's a hurdle to install bar-ends or brifters. I did install bar-end shifters, so it's totally do-able.

DSC06722 by mkeller234, on Flickr

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