jordan_cav

i have here an old Ricardo bike. i think it is from mid to late 80s because it came with the old 27" wheels but the gears are also indexed. it looks like a really neat bike and the lugs are amazing. the bike is very light at about 10kgs. it has a double butted tange steel frame and its components are shimano SIS. some things about this bike make it seem very valuable but other things make it seem bottom of the range (e.g. i thought SIS only came on the lower range bikes). i am trying to figure out what bike this is. it has no serial number that i can find. the only idea i have is that it is a ricardo elite sx or a ricardo viva but my ricardo does not have the same decals, in fact all the decals say is 'RICARDO'. in short, i am basically trying to find out what this bike is and whether it is valuable.
here are some pictures of the bike...
https://postimg.org/image/u673005jl/
https://postimg.org/image/jxelu6hht/
https://postimg.org/image/w0jxhqsk1/
https://postimg.org/image/5tiqlsaa9/
https://postimg.org/image/e0aqdd0cx/
https://postimg.org/image/sxj7eddld/
https://postimg.org/image/k3sax9qmp/
https://postimg.org/image/9uztrg2kx/
https://postimg.org/image/726m7f28h/
https://postimg.org/image/kx9i3mm1d/
https://postimg.org/image/u6bodquxd/
https://postimg.org/image/qnzohcu1d/

cb400bill

Thread moved from Forum Suggestions & User Assistance to C&V Appraisals

T-Mar

The Exage Sport shift levers, if OEM, would place this circa 1988. However, the rear derailleur is a lower Light Action model and the front derailleur appears to be an even lower level Tourney. The swaged Tracer crankset is typical of private label, department brands, however the frame itself has some quite nice workmanship. I definitely wasn't expecting long point lugs with cutouts and reinforcing tangs on the inside of the fork blades. The forged dropouts with adjusters are nice and the transition to the stays is very neat, though the presence of single eyelets still suggest a lower end model.

Regardless, I see enough to warrant further investigation of the frame, as it may be a seamed, butted CrMo. Given the apparent era and Australian distribution, the frame is probably Asian. If you pull the fork, you will likely find the tubing manufacturer and a date code on the steerer tube. The seat post diameter will give us a good idea of the level of tubing. The serial number may also provide clues to the date and manufacturer.