Manta
01-09-10, 08:09 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Manta
I picked this up at the Madison bike swap today. I intend to flip it and would like to know more about it. A google search and a BF search did'nt yield much info. Anyone familiar with Manta?
Tange 5 w/PG seamless tubes and forged drops w/integrated hanger, 600 Arabesque bits, Shimano VIA?? hubs...
Tange 5 w/PG seamless tubes and forged drops w/integrated hanger, 600 Arabesque bits, Shimano VIA?? hubs...
Last edited by r0ckh0und; 01-09-10 at 08:34 PM.
01-11-10, 05:06 PM
#2
Senior Member
Thread Starter
No one is familiar with this brand?
It has a JAPAN decal at the bottom of the seat tube..........so I can only assume it was made under a larger japanese builder.....but who?
It has a JAPAN decal at the bottom of the seat tube..........so I can only assume it was made under a larger japanese builder.....but who?
01-11-10, 07:11 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
hmmmmmmmmmmm......sorry about that 
thought I did that, but apparently I missed a step.
My searches have yielded similar unanswered queries both here and on oldroads........
thought I did that, but apparently I missed a step. My searches have yielded similar unanswered queries both here and on oldroads........
01-11-10, 07:30 PM
#5
sultan of schwinn
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Based on the crankset, I'd venture the guess that the 600 bits were a later addition. If you want to flip it, it might be worthwhile to strip it from the 600 parts and replace them with decent middle of the road suntour friction bits and sell the 600 parts on ebay. This frame has a RD hanger, DT shifters, it is Tange, looks pretty decent... but with that crank, the 600 parts are kind of an overkill imho
01-11-10, 08:06 PM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Crankset matches the 600 bits............FD, RD, levers, forged drops w/integrated hanger and seamless tubing.........seemed like a good investment at the time, plus the paint is good.
Rear hub and BB need repacking, tires, tubes, headset need replacing and I picked up some bartape that matches the blue really well.
Rear hub and BB need repacking, tires, tubes, headset need replacing and I picked up some bartape that matches the blue really well.
01-11-10, 10:16 PM
#7
sultan of schwinn
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Originally Posted by r0ckh0und
Crankset matches the 600 bits............FD, RD, levers, forged drops w/integrated hanger and seamless tubing.........seemed like a good investment at the time, plus the paint is good.
Rear hub and BB need repacking, tires, tubes, headset need replacing and I picked up some bartape that matches the blue really well.
Rear hub and BB need repacking, tires, tubes, headset need replacing and I picked up some bartape that matches the blue really well.
wow. Didn't realize that those came with protectors... interesting
08-20-10, 12:23 AM
#8
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I've got the same bike, except mine is dark blue. It also has full Shimano 600 components. Strangely enough, the only other Manta's I've seen are in Wisconsin.
08-20-10, 06:16 AM
#9
Thrifty Bill
Tange 5 is the worst grade of Tange cromoly. Still decent, but nothing special. Components are pretty decent. Condition looks great.
Most Japanese bikes are pretty interchangeable, I would not waste a lot of time trying to ID the brand. If it is not showing up on google, then you know its pretty obscure, and very likely a private label brand (made by someone else). There were a lot of Japanese bikes that got relabeled as store brands: bike shops, department stores, whatever. Some of them are pretty decent like yours. Others are not.
Most Japanese bikes are pretty interchangeable, I would not waste a lot of time trying to ID the brand. If it is not showing up on google, then you know its pretty obscure, and very likely a private label brand (made by someone else). There were a lot of Japanese bikes that got relabeled as store brands: bike shops, department stores, whatever. Some of them are pretty decent like yours. Others are not.
06-16-11, 10:02 PM
#10
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red Manta
Just an update post about the Japanese made Manta.
A customer at the shop where I work just donated an old road bike in good shape (we donate all such bikes to SOPO, a bike co-op in Atlanta). This bike was in such good shape that the boss decided to keep it around. The Manta has Shimano Arabesque 600 components, good paint, lugs outlined in yellow (except the BB shell), centerpull brakes.
Only thing not in good shape were the dried to oblivion gum brake hoods, which can be replaced with easy to find duplicates.
Ironically, the owner had nearly new knobby cyclocross style tires on the 27" rims.
The frame does indeed look like numerous others we've seen, but styled up a step (nice brass headbadge too).
The frame rode well, but the bike is heavy. Think I'll keep my mid-80s Bridgestone and Trek.
Not a collector bike, but very nice eye candy.
A customer at the shop where I work just donated an old road bike in good shape (we donate all such bikes to SOPO, a bike co-op in Atlanta). This bike was in such good shape that the boss decided to keep it around. The Manta has Shimano Arabesque 600 components, good paint, lugs outlined in yellow (except the BB shell), centerpull brakes.
Only thing not in good shape were the dried to oblivion gum brake hoods, which can be replaced with easy to find duplicates.
Ironically, the owner had nearly new knobby cyclocross style tires on the 27" rims.
The frame does indeed look like numerous others we've seen, but styled up a step (nice brass headbadge too).
The frame rode well, but the bike is heavy. Think I'll keep my mid-80s Bridgestone and Trek.
Not a collector bike, but very nice eye candy.
