Originally Posted by
EZbot
i got one of these sakae ringyo frames nos off ebay from jones bicycles in long beach for $150. the seatstays are interesting fastback sort of wishbone style. i tried to research but never found much. they were called "litage", "prizm", and there were other two versions i found that were essentially branded campagnolo and also 3rensho. there was also a carbon fiber version and mtn bike offering as well. late 80s i think.
The Litage and Prism were similar but different models. Both used a unique bonding sysyem developed by SR, which they called Litage and had advantges over the common method of painting glue on the tubes and shoving them into the lugs. The SR lugs had internal sleeves which fit into the tubes. At the end of the sleeve was a raised lip, much like that on a soup can. This lip provided an interference fit that held the tube in place, permitting alignment. Then the adhesive was injected through a hole in the tube. The lip at the end of the sleeve prevented the glue from spreading into the tube and it filled the spave between the tube and sleeve. The injection method provided a complete, consistent fill, unlike painting on the adhesive.
Both frames were made in Japan, but the Prism used higher strength Easton tubing imported from the USA. The Prism also used 1/8" oversize top and down tubes to increase rigitiy while manintaing the weight advantages. Graphics were anodized on to the frame and the weight was under 4lbs. Cost was $700 US circa 1990, when it came out.
I don't have the same detail for the Litage, but it should be slightly less expensive and older. If you want to know the exact age, both frames typically used Ishiwata CrMo steerring tubes which should have an alpha-numeric date code. The single numeral will be the last digit of the year of manufacture. This should date the frame to within a year, taking into account delivery lag and stocking practices.
As previously stated, the OP's frame is neither a Litage nor Prism, as indicated by the lug style, but appears to be an earlier model. While it is an earlier model, it may not necessarily be older, as SR would most likely the latest technology under their own brand, while offering an older model to other companies.
Originally Posted by
kpug505
Thanks T-Mar! You're the man! Where do you come up with all this info BTW?
About 40 years experience as an avid cyclist, mechanic, engineer, competitor, coach, race promoter, etc. Plus 40 years worth of catalogs, magazines and other cycling related literature that were never thrown away.