Originally Posted by lukathonic
Strange. If that's the case, then why do so many road bikes from the 70's and 80's have 27" wheels? Even models made outside the Imperial measurement dynasty? For example, I had a Takara. That's not Takara, Kansas if you know what I mean.
If it was imported to the U.S., then it was made with 27" wheels for the U.S. market. I would bet that the same bike in Japan would have had 700c wheels. The change to a standardized wheel size allowed Takara to make one version of its models for sale in every market, instead of different versions for different markets. I would also bet that all those 27" wheeled road bikes were either made in the U.S., or made for the American market, and if they were made for the American market, and sold at home as well, there are 27" versions, and 700c versions.