Originally Posted by
TejanoTrackie
It is truly a beautiful bicycle and based on its quality, it could certainly be considered a "classic", provided all the components are from the same era. I do not consider it to be "vintage", as I reserve this term to what is commonly refered to as "old school", such as non-index shifting, non-aero brake cable routing, toe clips and straps etc. A vintage bicycle is not necessarily premium quality, whereas a classic is.
LOL!
In my opinion, you have that exactly backwards.
Every bike is a "vintage" bike, some more than others. Vintage refers to the year of manufacture. This one is a vintage early 1990 bike which is old enough to even bother calling it "vintage". In my eyes, it is a relatively modern vintage, coming at the end of the era.
Now, the question becomes, is it "classic"? White tires? Frightening paint job? The brakes? Click shifting? Nope, in my opinion, this one is not classic. At least not yet.
I like the red base coat color. If they'd left it at that, I'd have no problem with the paint job.
I have no real problem with the brakes but they were a flash in the pan, only made for a few years. They may be rare but not "classic".
I love my click shifting bike. It just isn't "classic". Click shifting was a relatively new thing back 1990. Friction shifting was, and remains, "classic".
White tires? Well, I don't know what to say here, other than to say tan sidewalls are "classic".
Did I mention that seat yet? OUCH!
It looks like a great bike, it's just not for me.