Hey everyone. I just bought an SR "semi-pro" twelve speed. Googling around for information I see lots and lots of people saying, "Hey, I've got this SR bike, does anyone know anything about it?"
Since this is the last SR bike thread here to have some recent activity I thought I'd post an aggregation of the information (most of it other people's guesses) plus some details about my bike. I apologize if this information is repeated up thread or is flat out wrong.
- Indeed the "SR" in the name seems to imply some connection with Sakae Ringyo. However as mentioned in several places there is some sizable doubt that SR ever manufactured complete bicycles... or at the least had anything to do with these late 70s or early 80s road bikes.
- There is some rumor that these bikes were manufactured in Mexico with some connection to Windsor? But I haven't seen any specific information that advances this tip.
- San Diego keeps popping up either as a place where these bikes were manufactured, sold or imported.
And that's all I've got so far, if anyone has new info please share...
About my bike:
Its mostly second generation Shimano 600 aka 600EX aka "Arabesque" (although these components are only stamped "600".) This is the six speed group that has all the fancy details. Parts include the shifters (friction, of course), brakes, brake levers, cranks, and freewheel.
Other parts include a SR "laprade" style seatpost, and SR quill style pedals. This bike originally came with SR "custom" bars and stem, but the previous owner swapped them out for Cenilli parts.
The wheels are odd-ball. They are fancy alloy Araya rims laced to Shimano hubs (not sure of the model hubs, but they have the black bands over a tiny hole in the center of the hub. They don't appear too special.) Whats odd are that the rims are double walled, eyeleted, 27 x 1" (NOT 27 x 1 & 1/4, mind you) rims drilled for presta valves. I've only come across one other pair of 27 x 1" rims and never ones this nice nor drilled for presta. Tires are 27" x 1" 100psi Specialized, although I don't think they are original. The headset appears nice, but is unmarked.
The frame is notable in several areas. Its Tange Champion No. 2 butted tubes with forged dropouts stamped Shimano with adjuster screws. (I don't think I've seen Shimano dropouts before.) The fork is a lovely Tange chrome fork with a very pretty drooping fork crown. The dropouts are stamped Tange, go figure. The serial number M3E36487 is stamped on the bottom bracket shell.
Other than the Tange label, there is a "JAPAN" sticker on the very bottom of the seat tube. The SR and "semi-pro" stickers (to be removed very soon) are applied above the paint. The badge on the head tube is a raised metal "SR" riveted to the tube. There are no other markings on the frame from what I've found and all in all it appears very plain, but attractive. Its not a flashy frame, but seems well built and reasonably lightweight. Its one of the nicer Japanese frames I've come across, although you wouldn't mistake it for a high end Lotus or other top shelf Nipponese frame.
To my the eye the frame most closely resembles several mid-range Centurion frames I've come across which have seemed generic as well.
I've torn the bike apart and I'm currently cleaning everything and replacing the consumables. I don't know if I'll keep it - it was sort of an impulse buy, so if anyone is interested send me a private message. (I'm in Chicago.)