I love this thread!
Just eyeballing the photos, though, this thread seems to confirm my observation about C&V Japanese frame geometry: they all look like they're about 2-3cm shorter in the top tube than comparable English or French bikes of the '70s and '80s (e.g., my Raleigh International or Peugeot P8). I love everything else about the Japanese bikes, but the reach and wheelbase tend to be shorter than I'd want for a stable tourer. Do y'all agree? Notable exceptions?