In the end, it was a casual "down and back" to build this bike up, and I needed only 1 hr 15 min to complete the task. [take the parts down off one frame, and put them back on another]
Final weight came at a healthy 10.21 kg or 22.47 lb. Boy do I sound lame, slightly begrudging a fully STI-equipped bike at
only 22.47 lb. My '85 Paramount was just over a pound lighter, so there you go. In the general scheme of things, 22.5 lb is light and more than acceptable for a vintage roadie with STIs/Ergos.
The test ride for this bike went well. A very good "introduction" that concluded with me needing to only make very minor adjustments. The extra weight of the frameset did not hamper the bike's performance. It never felt harsh--just the opposite. Sure-footed, stable, very solid, yet comfortable and accommodating over quite crummy pavement. Quite eager to dance and rock out of the saddle--much more so than my '85 Paramount which gave this Sirrus its components--and it didn't matter where you were in the gear (behind or on top of it). For steering, it was lighter and smooth at low speeds and "swooping" at high speeds. Lean into it at 20 mph, and feel it perform the 'dive' you want and then swoop up and out of the lean/curve.
This bike basically channeled my Davidson Impulse. Eerily similar! So when I got back home, I immediately hopped on the Impulse for a back-to-back test. Indeed my feeling was correct, though in the end, the Impulse proved superior as it was even lighter and more playful upon out-of-the-saddle acceleration and climbing. The Impulse's steering is a touch lighter at lower speeds and remarkably neutral through a faster turn. Some bikes 'take' your front wheel on an aggressive turn and others loudly communicate that "you steer it!" The Sirrus feels heavier, the Davidson more lithe, which makes sense. Enthusiastic out-of-the-saddle behavior is an appreciated characteristic of mine, of which the Impulse and Schwinn Prologue are supreme at manifesting. Steering characteristics are their own thing, and I typically have no preference, preferring to enjoy that part of a particular bike.
I fully endorse someone getting a vintage Sirrus as they will be rewarded with quite a bike!
As to the fate of this Sirrus, I honestly don't know. It's similarity to the Davidson puts it in an odd position. Hilariously, both bikes are 1) white 2) Campy headset-quipped yet... 3) with Shimano drivetrains 4) have black wheels/a general "panda" color scheme 5) minimal (to none) with graphics. In a lot of ways, the Sirrus is a junior Impulse from my experience here. High praise, but I may just find myself choosing the Impulse as it's "the better bike." Again, this is some proper first world problems stuff. The Sirrus would be just fine as a person's or my only bike. As to the "Battle of the 62s" it...sank the Paramount, at least when it comes to what I like from a bike. Dang.
Picture of the assembled Sirrus. Pardon the saddle angle (tilted back after settling) and handlebar angle (looked more normal when building it). Good looking bike for sure.
