Metacortex

1977-'78 Schwinn Volare - Japanese Paramount:

sloar 

I think for my next bike, I want to try the Specialized Allez SE. Red, of course.

non-fixie 

Hey, that looks familiar. Nice build.

non-fixie 

My personal favorite, the Koga-Miyata Gent's Luxe-S:

exmechanic89

I couldnt pick one personally, there were a lot of great race/sport bikes in that era. Every one that's been posted in this thread has short chainstays and quick looking geometry overall. Wish I had one of each.

Lakerat

I don't know how it compares with all listed since I've not ridden any of them, but I'll throw into the mix a possibly made by Panasonic Performance Superbe. Tange #1 tubeset, later had full Suntour Superbe group including hubs and seat post. Araya anodized rims, butted stainless spokes, top SR stem and bars, Selle Italia Turbo saddle.


I bought my Performance Superbe in 1985 and have ridden it continually since. Mostly original with the rear wheel rebuilt with a Mavic Open Pro, a Shimano cartridge BB, and a Cannondale Competition seat post. The more I ride it the more I love it.


Weighs about 22.5 lbs with Speedplay Zero chrome moly pedals and two alloy bottle cages.

Pogliaghi

I had been looking for a quality Japanese frame for a while and finally found this Echelon locally. Frame is built with Ishiwata 019 tubing. Cherubim was started by Hitoshi Konno, younger brother Yoshi worked there for a while and went on to 3Rensho. I hope to get the frame repainted and decaled very soon.

guygadois 

rccardr 

Schwinn Tempo. Columbus Tenax, Shimano 1050 series 105, Maillard hubs, Rigida rims.

Light, good looking, fast, bulletproof, and an easy all-day rider.

Boom!

Chrome Molly

Team Miyata is a fine machine and very firm while still rideable. Hard to do better, but I'd love to find a Panasonic 6000 to compare.

noglider 

That blue Miyata looks like a rocket. I've held one in my hands but never ridden it.

I have no idea how the Fuji Professional of the late 70s and early 80s rides, but to look at it is to die.

rekmeyata

I'm not real sure but the whole bike was parted out to Suntour, Shimano, Sakae, Tange, Ishiwata (Bianchi used two different tubesets), but those Bianchi's were the company's mid to low level bikes, their top of line, and the higher mid level bikes were still made in Italy using Columbus and Campy. However the weird part is that only the Japanese made Bianchis were only sold in America, they were not sold in Europe, and nor was the high end Italian made Bianchi's were sold in America. Now some of those Italian made ones did make it here but they were not intentionally marketed here. There was some discussion back in the day that Giant made the Bianchi bikes out of Japan, Giant has since moved their manufacturing to Taiwan.

Bianchi is no longer family owned and was sold 20 years ago to Cycleurope which is the European version of Dorel, so when someone says Bianchi is the oldest bike manufacturer in the world, well that's not correct.

artclone

The Volare/Peloton/Circuit are all Japanese efforts at Paramounts - - same geometry and eventually same tubing too. Great bikes and I go fast on my Peloton, but haven't raced.

I love the Koga Gent's Racer, but haven't actually ridden one. I consider them as Japanese as the Schwinns.

oddjob2

No need to buy anything recommended in above posts. Already have:
RB-1
1987 Miami Vice Ironman Master
1986 Red & White Ironman
Team Miyata
Miyata Pista
Miyata 912
1987 Schwinn Tempo
1987 Schwinn Super Sport
Univega Modo Vincere
Sekai 4000 frameset

Well, maybe, just maybe, a Zunow.

rjhammett

I assume the question is for the best C&V Japanese racing bike other than a Centurion Ironman.

uncle uncle

Threads like this one just add fuel to my desire to ride every bicycle model ever made.

RobbieTunes

Subjective, but I'll toss in a couple-three names:

1993 Miyata Team Carbon. A gem, and a step ahead of the steel Miyata's.
The Lotus models de KonAaronSnake. The Panasonic Team USA and Team Europe's were top shelf.
The Ironman lineup. Hard to argue with their triathlon successes, the Centurion team's successes as well.
Bridgestone's Radac, which was lighter than the RB-1, and the RB-1.

RobbieTunes

It's like asking what are you addicted to outside of heroin?

RobbieTunes

The 6000 is probably lighter and more precise, a bit less stiff. I'd compare it to your D'Arienzo, with a half-step tighter geo. I rode the one built by Amani576, and it wasn't whippy, it was a whippet.

Fahrenheit531 

I can't truly answer the question, as I've only owned about a half-dozen C&V racers. However, the best I've ridden is my '81 Univega Super Strada:


(Tange 2 and Dura Ace)

A close second was my '84 Tempo, also Tange 2 but with Shimano Z-series.
Full disclosure: I haven't yet experienced the unrivaled glory of the Centurion Ironman. But I will. Oh yes. I will.

rekmeyata

I wish I could do that too, but that will never happen.

mrv 

https://goo.gl/photos/6zrxBrjFYBtzZshu8
I don't know if an early '90s Schwinn Paramount Series 2 PDG (Japanese TANGE steel) is one of the best every made, but I'm never getting rid of mine.
Might, maybe, see if I can get it back to original parts if my 8-spd STI gives up the ghost. Don't know if I could afford 7-spd DT shifters either!

m_sasso

You know what I think!

top506

Let's look in the barn:







And an old, late friend. Not the best, but it'll be dearly missed:



Top

realsteel

The Cherubim Piuma is not vintage but it's steel with a classic geometry: Cherubim Piuma review - BikeRadar USA



I wouldn't mind having one with a modern, vintage-style groupset. Have to save up a bit, the frameset alone is £2000.