OK, I'm knee deep in bottom bracket & shifters right now.


Should I start a different thread?

UPDATE: Link to Photos Here:


https://www.flickr.com/photos/130319151@N06/?

Unusual Univega Font by velocivixen, on Flickr

Font is of Italvega. Note the stylized "V". Not sure when Univega switched the font to current Piccadilly font.
Suntour Cyclone Front Derailleur by velocivixen, on Flickr

Front Derailleur after cleaning.
Steer Tube 1977 Univega by velocivixen, on Flickr

What do those numbers mean?
Head Shot 1977 Univega Gran Rally by velocivixen, on Flickr

Note the chromed sloping crown fork.

That looks really nice. Hope to see it in person on Saturday.

I take care of two old Univegas for a friend. I've been impressed, they seem like solid, quality bikes. We fit 32 mm tires and they ride like clouds.

Don't you have some nice alloy fenders laying around?. Would look very pretty with the cream paint.

With a change of calipers, i bet that would make a nice 650B rando bike.

Pearly goodness. That sloping fork with a center pull is pretty cool.

Univegas tended to perform quite well compared to their equivalently priced competitors back in the day. IIRC, they used to spec slightly thicker gauge downtubes and chainstays, and they really would get up and go if you stomped on them. They'd cheap out a bit on BB, pedals, and other stuff like that though. I sold a lot of them at my after school LBS job.

[MENTION=63590]jyl[/MENTION] - I have 700c VO hammered fenders laying around, but I wouldn't be able to use the tire wiper things.
[MENTION=424205]Salamandrine[/MENTION] - I'm beginning to think the bike is a 1978 because the Tange fork was made November, 1977. All the other component codes that I can find are various middle months of 2017.

I'm interested in the font and the fork. Why this fork? Other person said it looked more "Italian", so is this a leftover fork from an Italvega that they used on this bike? The bike frame says "Made In Japan" on sticker and goes along with the Miyata serial code dating. When did they switch to the current font that most people know? I found a photo of an 1978 BMX Univega with the same font.

I know that this was a transition time from Italy to Japan, so I'm wondering if they just didn't have their new font figured out. But why this fork? I'm pretty sure it's original to the bike. Just curious.

Pedals are Kyokuto and have cleaned up well. I disassembled, cleaned & relubed them. I won't be reinstalling all 4 reflectors on them. I will likely put my VO half toe clips on so my foot won't slide. I also am not using the chainring guard, nor the headset spacer for the reflector. I will keep the Flickstand but not sure I'll install it. It's in like new condition and they don't make them any more.

You can install the tire wiper on the end of the fender. That would be my preferred option. Front fender - bolt to underside of fender, a bit back from the fender tip, so that the wiper part extends forward and just peeks out at the tip of the fender. Rear fender - bolt to chainstay bridge or to that end of the fender, so that the wiper part extends down toward the ground just aft of the BB.

Or, you can also install wider tire wipers that go around and under the fender. I think rootboy makes/made them.

Or, you can skip the tire wipers.

I think you have that photo upside-down. 90-hb makes perfect sense to me...

Ok, I can see that. So what does it mean? Color code? The date code on it is 7K (November, 1977 - or some year ending in 7).

Who's pulling whose leg now, I wonder? (hoisted by my own petard!)

Put the fenders on for Saturday, it's gonna be a wet one!

Since the fork clearly has a Tange steerer, it's probably not anything leftover from the old Italvega stock, just something in that Ital-style...

No, don't start a different thread. This bike is much yummier than I expected. I love that fork crown!

The BB clearly needs lots of solvent.

Are the shifters giving you trouble? I've used those, and they were flawless from beginning to end.

Yeah, it could be early 1978 then. I originally guessed 77 cuz that was the last year Motobecanes had clip on cable guides, and IIRC everyone else followed pretty quickly.

The whole hipster retro bicycle with cool fenders thing is actually pretty funny to me now. Back at that time, fenders were incredibly uncool - up there with brylcreem and highwaters. Bikes would have been immediately stripped of the goverment regulation reflectors, spoke guards and anything else that could be pulled off. It took people some time to realize that fenders work really well.

I disassembled the Suntour Pro-Compe 5 speed freewheel today. Dry as a bone & a little rusty. Given that my chainrings are 52-40, I figured I needed more than 28t rear, so I reinstalled the newly refreshed original 14-32 tooth freewheel AND the awesome silver metal Suntour spoke protector.

I even started a different thread on '70's bike stuff. When I think of 1970's "Ten Speeds" I see metal pie plates. I did​ remove the headset spacer for a front reflector, as well the pedal reflectors. No "turkey levers" on the brakes.
[MENTION=152773]noglider[/MENTION] - I had the ratchets in with the teeth going the wrong direction, so I fixed that.

I have the VO front fender on, but it's late and I'm tired so the rear will have to wait until tomorrow.

Very nice work. Should be a fine bike but let us know what you think of the pie plate. I had the same RD and "awesome silver metal Suntour spoke protector" on my 1980 Nishiki Int'l. Frankly that spoke protector rang like a Dobro resonator each time the RD shifted the chain. I think even the spokes picked up on the racket. I was not going to listen to all that. The resonator went back into the parts box. That bike now runs quite, competent and precise. Just the way I like em.

You don't need the plate anyway, given how well you, obviously, set up , tune and maintain your bikes.

[MENTION=360474]Prowler[/MENTION] - I'll let you know. It's been on the stand since I brought it home! Basically just rode up &down the street. I had a big Suntour spoke protector on a different bike that was quiet, and I have a beautiful clear plattic Suntour spoke protector if the metal one doesn't work out.

I really had to think about the small items on this bike and what, to me, said "1970's" AND still matched my aesthetic sensibilities. I originally had a 6 speed (14-28) Suntour with plastic protector, but decided in the end to refresh the original 5-speed and put the aluminum protector on (these aren't the original wheels - haven't gotten to those yet).

The pedals had a total of 4 Cateye bolt on reflectors which I removed. I also removed the chain guard, but then that left 5 empty holes on the large chainring, which looked "unfinished" so reinstalled it.

I'm so excited that I'm coming into the final stretch. I went with a Brooks Special B17 in deep (aka used) Honey vs the standard B17 in black. Bar tape is black plastic with tan hoods, but I'm going to wrap Fizik microtek black over the original just to have some cushion. I know many would have gone with a black saddle, but what you can't see is the gold lug lining as well as the gold around the word "Univega". The deep honey matches the Dia Compe gum colored hoods and visually "warms" the bike.

For short trips I have a black Carradice seat roll bag, and for any "epic" ventures I have the olive green Carradice Barley seat bag.

I'm going to the hardware store today to get some longer bolts, stopping at a bike shop for the bar tape, then finishing this baby up. I proofhided the saddle last night since its been sitting in a box & felt dry.

Hmm, it ought to be possible to damp down rattling sounds from a spoke protector. Silicon gasket? Little leather shims? I'd like to know what works. I ride without spoke protectors, but to be honest, they are useful. I'm just careful and pay close attention when I shift into my bike sprockets. If it starts sounding and feeling like I'm touching spokes, I back the hell off on my pedaling and shifting.

PHoto update: decided to remove old bar tape, clean up & inspect bar then wrap with Fizik. Found a sticker on the handlebar. See what it says. Hmmm. Wonder what it means? Date code on bar is June, 1977. Finished fenders (VO hammered) and finished one side of handlebar. It's cold in the garage so I'll finish other side tomorrow.

Did a 2.5 mile dark, windy, rainy shakeout ride and it's smooth and light. I can actually use the downtube shifters without having to reach way down. Pretty nice. Only 5 cogs so not a lot of choices.
SR Randonner Alloy Bars by velocivixen, on Flickr
Sakae Randonner Alloy Handlebars by velocivixen, on Flickr

Sticker under the original bar tape? by velocivixen, on Flickr

Rainy Ride at Night by velocivixen, on Flickr
1978 Univega Gran Rally by velocivixen, on Flickr
Kyokuto Top Race Pedal by velocivixen, on Flickr

+1. I remember Tange replacement forks back then with that exact crown.

Looks nice with the fenders!. That bike cries out for a handlebar bag, lights, and an all-day ride!

Check that the stem is inserted enough. Unless it is a particularly tall (long quill section) stem, I'd be a bit nervous having it raised so much.

The sticker says Atlas Van Lines which is a shipping/moving company. The sticker looks like inventory control. Maybe the sticker was put on when the bike was moved by said company?

[MENTION=63590]jyl[/MENTION] is probably right. The bike's owner moved house.

Yeah, I've heard of Atlas Van lines, but if an owner had a bike, I'd think there'd already be bar tape on it, so why did van lines, unwrap bars to put on a sticker? Oh well. I left it on.

I double checked the stem and there is 2.5" below the insertion mark in the steer tube. I have it in a bit further than that.

I've got both handlebars wrapped. Photos soon.

Update:
SunTour Spoke Protector by velocivixen, on Flickr
Fizik 2mm Bar Tape by velocivixen, on Flickr
The Bike Peddler, Santa Rosa by velocivixen, on Flickr
Velox Handlebar Plug by velocivixen, on Flickr

There's a bike shop called The Bike Peddler in Santa Rosa now, but the owner looks like he's in his 30's. Wonder if it's the same shop though. Seems like it would be. Doubt a young owner would know about a '70's Univega sold there. I might give them a call just to say "Hey".

I feel bad about my bikes every time I see how clean yours are . . .

Weather is taking a turn for the worse, it seems. Non-stop cold rain through Christmas. When will the maiden journey be?

[MENTION=63590]jyl[/MENTION] - my maiden journey was last night after 6 pm, 1.2 miles to a local coffee shop. Then return home. Was having to ride on a sidewalk because the park is very flooded. Normally cut through the park and get there in 1 mile or so. I wouldn't call it a voyage, because since it was raining & dark and I was going slowly part of the way I didn't get much to determine anything.

I can say that it's light, very quiet and seems fast, even though I wasn't intending to go fast.

I'm freezing most of the time despite wearing just about wool everything. So not excited about going out, getting wet and cold. There will be dry times tomorrow so plan to get out maybe mid-day.

Military brat here. Sticker is definitely from a move. That lot number is unique; in theory Atlas knows when the bike was moved. If it was under the bar tape, there was no tape on at the time of the move. When the owner rewrapped, they didn't bother to remove the sticker.