Originally Posted by
T-Mar
Your Avanti SL is from September 1984. That's in the grey region where it could be 1984 or 1985 model. The SL ("Super Leggara" - they spelled it incorrectly) was quite a step up from the original Avanti of 1982. The tubeset was Ishiwata EX CrMo versus hi-tensile steel, The rims were aluminum versus steel and the front hub was spec'd with a quick release. The brakeset dropped the safety levers and was upgraded with hoods. Pedals were also upgraded to an aluminum quill style. Gearing was tighter, courtesy of a 14-26T freewheel. The frame rec'd forged dropouts, top tube cable tunnels and bottle bosses.
The standard Avanti was still in the 1985 lineup and by that time had rec'd upgrades of top tube cable tunnels and aluminum rims but the derailleurs had been downgraded to an Honor/Spirt combination.
I see you've replaced the brakes on the Avanti SL but everything else looks like it could be OEM, excepting consumables.
I guess it makes sense you were initially referring to just the '82 model year - so it does add up that the beige Norco is a Monterey
That's just how I bought the Avanti.
I've changed a lot on it since (700c wheels, 3spd Campy Veloce crankset, 8spd SRAM rear, brifters, Mafac Racer brakes since for some reason the ones on there were no-name rusted brakes). Just trying to source a tool for the Campy crankset to actually get it put together and ride it!
Looking to make this beige one into my commuter to replace a Nishiki Regal that I've been having various tinkering issues with (bent crank I replaced with the one from the Avanti, creaking from BB after cleaning & re-greasing it all, shifting isn't smooth - maybe stretched chain? The guy I bought it from was a backyard mechanic coming from an automotive factory and the whole thing was covered in grease, all over the wheels, frame, etc. Had to clean the wheels several times to restore proper braking power. Just haven't had a good go with it and hoping to part ways after building this one up for my commuter instead. Think I prefer a flat bar for a commuter instead of drops anyway, so I can keep the Nishiki more original this way.