rockeratr

I have found two vintage American Eagle 10 speed road bikes for sale. I don't know much about the brand name other than it being the predecessor to Nishiki. Can you tell me more about this model? I can't find any other models that look like this and actually have "AMERICAN EAGLE" on the side of the frame. I will attach the only picture I have right now.

What is the name of this model?
What year was it made?
Are the wheels 700c?

I greatly appreciate any help.
Thank you.

Aubergine 

Nice old bikes. They are not high end, though, with the cottered steel cranks and stem shifters. The wheels will be 27 inch, not 700c. I will leave details to others who are more experienced that I.

oddjob2

The above American Eagle bikes never made it great in America as they are low end Japanese built. As Aubergine said, claw RD, turkey levers, cheap cranks, high tensile frame, suicide shifters, and 27" rims. One I received in trade when I was a noob was heavy as a boat anchor.

rockeratr

Thanks for the info. Do you have any insight on what the bikes would be worth assuming they are in ridable condition? What could they be sold for if they are restored and in good condition?

Aubergine 

Maybe 75-100 if you find someone who likes shiny.

wrk101

$50 as is, if you spend another $50 to $75 per bike replacing all the consumables, bearings, grease, cables, housings, tires, and about 4 to 6 hours of time, you could get $75 for one. Find any problems and the $75 per bike estimate is too low. This assumes you have the time/tools/space/skill to do the work yourself. Pay a shop for all that work and its more like $200 per bike to fix them up.

Low end bikes from the 1970s are not worth restoring unless they have sentimental value (belonged to a parent, was your old college bike, etc.). Then they are worth refurbishing.

You are talking 45 year old bikes there. Grease gets old, really old. Brake pads get rock hard, tires dry rot, cables rust, etc. It turns out for projects, I find it better to aim higher. It costs the same $75 to refurbish a bike that might be worth $300 when you are done, and take the same 4 hours. In the 1970s, nice bikes were far less common. It was the bike boom, where anything with two wheels was easy to sell. By the 1980s, the boom was over and brands had to either upgrade their products a lot, or die.


No, the wheels are not 700c. When you see stem shifters, cottered crank, stamped drop outs, claw RD hanger, etc., you will have 27 inch wheels. Heck, even the American Eagle Semi Pro from that era had 27 inch wheels (several models up). If you want 700c wheels, you should look at mid to upper level road bikes from the 1980s.

rockeratr

Thanks again. I might still pick these up if I can get them for like $20 each. Glad to know what I am getting into.

cb400bill

Thread moved from C&V to C&V Appraisals.

Hummer

Some frames were made in the USA and some where made in Taiwan.

T-Mar

While these look like they may be the later Taiwanese manufactured models there have been several documented cases of American Eagle bicycles manufactured in Japan by Kawamura. In fact, Cohen, who owned the brand at one time, is on record stating Kawamura as a source.

SkyDog75

By whom? American Eagle was a brand name belonging to West Coast Cycles, an import company, who had no manufacturing facilities.

As far as I’m aware, Kawamura built WCC’s frames in Japan until the late ‘80s when production was shifted to Giant in Taiwan.

Hummer

I do not know who distributed this particular "American Eagle" brand.

I do know that it is not a Kawamura built "American Eagle".


This red frame was made in Taiwan. The country is named on the seat tube decal. The head badge is not the same as the first West Coast Cycle and Supply (WCCSC) American Eagle head badge, which had no eagle.

These "American Eagle" bicycles may have been distributed by WCCSC, but there is no indication on the frame as to who distributed the bicycle.

This leads me to believe that there are/were two American Eagle brand names of bicycles. In Korea there is an American Eagle brand name. I don't know how long this brand name has been in existence. The OPs bicycle may be from the Korean branded American Eagle.

I have also seen "American Eagle" bicycles that were made in Allentown PA. The decals are similar to the OPs, but not identical.

SkyDog75

Made in Allentown? Then built by Ross, perhaps? That’s where they were located.