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Old 05-11-23 | 08:35 AM
  #16  
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Catnap
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Ridgewood, Queens

Bikes: Zunow, 3Rensho, Look KG196

Here's my obligatory comment that folks seeking vintage frames with brazed-on center pull brakes should consider looking at Yahoo JP auctions and Mercari, both of which folks in the USA can shop via Buyee.com. These types of bikes are much more common in Japan, where they are typically referred to as "sportif" style (borrowing a French term). Bridgestone made them as part of their Eurasia, Atlantis, and Diamond lines, spanning the mid-1970s through the 1980s. Eurasias can often before found under $600 for a complete bike or $100-200 for a frameset. More info on them here. Beyond Bridgestone, there were many high-end custom frames of this type made in the 70s by Toei, Zunow, 3Rensho, Vivalo, Holks, Gan Well, Cherubim, Shinkin Pegasus, and others. I forget which factory made the Centurion Pro-tours for export to the USA, but I have also seen the same frames sold domestically in Japan under other brand names.

I had a Pro-Tour about a decade ago that I stripped down to the chrome, converted to 650B and built up as a townie. Article is located here.

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Last edited by Catnap; 05-11-23 at 08:40 AM.
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