Originally Posted by
Lascauxcaveman
It would take a special kind of collector to put much value on this mid-grade frame over its utility. If you could find that collector, sell it to him and get a better frame to build. Maybe consider taking up Seabass' offer? This one doesn't look like it has the 'squashed' tubing of other (Yamaguchi built) Shimano Aeros I've seen online, so maybe it is just a re-stickered generic frame? Here's a link of one I'm talking about, with the squashed tubes:
Picasa Web Albums - Jeff Bell - Shimano Bicycle (it a gallery of ten photos, so you can click through if you want to see more than just the first one)
It's hard to see from the pix, but it doesn't look like the chrome is in very good shape, either. Detailed pics would be a big help, as usual.
Actually the picture is from the sellers ad and it's before the bike was cleaned and polished.
The chrome is actually in nice shape. It doesn't have "squashed tubes" like the pic you gave a link to.
I will get some detail pics showing the lug work and braze on's. This by no means is just a generic frame. Also it's not my "holy grail" bike. (I already have that and then some) I'ts just a frame worthy of inheriting a nice take off groupset left from another other build. Thanks all for the info. I will proceed to build it up with mostly shimano 600 parts and leave the stickers on for now. After, if I decide I really like this frame I will strip it down and paint it leaving it un-branded, just leaving a little chrome bling on the chainstay, lugs, and fork.