Specialized Allez SE
#1
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Joined: May 2014
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From: Cleveland, Ohio
Specialized Allez SE
The transaction for the sale of my bike was not realized. It looks like the bike was crashed and the fork is a little bent. I didn't realize that, the bike is riding fine, but the BF member who should ship the bike realize that before. He has much more experience than me. Thanks.
I called the seller. He said he bought the bike at an estate sale, he doesn't know anything about the history of the bike and I believe him. He didn't look like a guy bike who is investing 1200$ in a new one or however the bike cost new.
Anyway the question is: "What should I do with the bike?"
- parting and make my money back
- looking to replace the fork and the left brake lever
- selling like this and how much should I ask
Any opinion is welcome, any new idea is welcome.
And another question: are the Suntour parts Superbe or Superbe Pro.
Thanks
And some pictures:






I called the seller. He said he bought the bike at an estate sale, he doesn't know anything about the history of the bike and I believe him. He didn't look like a guy bike who is investing 1200$ in a new one or however the bike cost new.
Anyway the question is: "What should I do with the bike?"
- parting and make my money back
- looking to replace the fork and the left brake lever
- selling like this and how much should I ask
Any opinion is welcome, any new idea is welcome.
And another question: are the Suntour parts Superbe or Superbe Pro.
Thanks
And some pictures:






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1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1974 Raleigh Professional, Bridgestone XO-2
1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1974 Raleigh Professional, Bridgestone XO-2
#4
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Joined: May 2014
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From: Cleveland, Ohio
What about this fork?
Vintage Specialized 1" Threaded Steel Road Bike Bicycle Fork Double Butted Crown
Vintage Specialized 1" Threaded Steel Road Bike Bicycle Fork Double Butted Crown
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1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1974 Raleigh Professional, Bridgestone XO-2
1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1974 Raleigh Professional, Bridgestone XO-2
#5
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Joined: Apr 2015
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What about this fork?
Vintage Specialized 1" Threaded Steel Road Bike Bicycle Fork Double Butted Crown
Vintage Specialized 1" Threaded Steel Road Bike Bicycle Fork Double Butted Crown
Good luck. That's a nice looking bike.
#7
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Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Port Angeles, WA
Bikes: A green one, "Ragleigh," or something.
What about this fork?
Vintage Specialized 1" Threaded Steel Road Bike Bicycle Fork Double Butted Crown
Vintage Specialized 1" Threaded Steel Road Bike Bicycle Fork Double Butted Crown
Boulder: Tange ''medium'' Chrome Cinelli Style fork for 700c short reach brake racke bike NOS gorgeous chrome!
Boulder: Tange ''Large'' Chrome Cinelli Style fork for 700c short reach brake racke bike NOS gorgeous chrome!
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
#8
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Joined: May 2014
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From: Cleveland, Ohio
Maybe. The steer tube looks like it could be too short. Boulder Bicycle has some nice Cinelli-esque NOS chrome forks in various steer tube lengths for sale, $99, and chrome goes with anthything, so you don't have to worry about having two different reds on the same bike.
Boulder: Tange ''medium'' Chrome Cinelli Style fork for 700c short reach brake racke bike NOS gorgeous chrome!
Boulder: Tange ''Large'' Chrome Cinelli Style fork for 700c short reach brake racke bike NOS gorgeous chrome!
Boulder: Tange ''medium'' Chrome Cinelli Style fork for 700c short reach brake racke bike NOS gorgeous chrome!
Boulder: Tange ''Large'' Chrome Cinelli Style fork for 700c short reach brake racke bike NOS gorgeous chrome!
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1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1974 Raleigh Professional, Bridgestone XO-2
1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1974 Raleigh Professional, Bridgestone XO-2
#10
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Bikes: too many sparkly Italians, some sweet Americans and a couple interesting Japanese
Superbe Pro is clearly marked, yours is not Superbe Pro.
The last frame/fork work I had done was two years a go, unridable Reynolds bent 753r frame and bent fork tubing which is difficult (not impossible as commonly repeated on the web) was $80 to straighten the frame and cold set to 130mm and also straighten the fork. Both were done on imported Italian alignment tables from Marchetti. Total cost $80. Find a good frame builder and do that frame a favor, it will be a sweet ride for someone if not you.
The last frame/fork work I had done was two years a go, unridable Reynolds bent 753r frame and bent fork tubing which is difficult (not impossible as commonly repeated on the web) was $80 to straighten the frame and cold set to 130mm and also straighten the fork. Both were done on imported Italian alignment tables from Marchetti. Total cost $80. Find a good frame builder and do that frame a favor, it will be a sweet ride for someone if not you.
#11
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Joined: May 2014
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From: Cleveland, Ohio
Superbe Pro is clearly marked, yours is not Superbe Pro.
The last frame/fork work I had done was two years a go, unridable Reynolds bent 753r frame and bent fork tubing which is difficult (not impossible as commonly repeated on the web) was $80 to straighten the frame and cold set to 130mm and also straighten the fork. Both were done on imported Italian alignment tables from Marchetti. Total cost $80. Find a good frame builder and do that frame a favor, it will be a sweet ride for someone if not you.
The last frame/fork work I had done was two years a go, unridable Reynolds bent 753r frame and bent fork tubing which is difficult (not impossible as commonly repeated on the web) was $80 to straighten the frame and cold set to 130mm and also straighten the fork. Both were done on imported Italian alignment tables from Marchetti. Total cost $80. Find a good frame builder and do that frame a favor, it will be a sweet ride for someone if not you.
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1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1974 Raleigh Professional, Bridgestone XO-2
1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1974 Raleigh Professional, Bridgestone XO-2
#12
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From: Evanston, IL
Bikes: many
Check out this list:
Custom Frame Builders List by State/Country - The Paceline Forum
Franklin Frames is in Ohio (not sure how close to Cleveland) and has an excellent reputation. (If worse comes to worst, you could mail it. My Medici's fork is sitting in a USPS Priority Mail tube waiting for me to send it out to be rechromed.) I recognize Groovy, but not the others.
Custom Frame Builders List by State/Country - The Paceline Forum
Franklin Frames is in Ohio (not sure how close to Cleveland) and has an excellent reputation. (If worse comes to worst, you could mail it. My Medici's fork is sitting in a USPS Priority Mail tube waiting for me to send it out to be rechromed.) I recognize Groovy, but not the others.
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My bikes
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#13
Bianchi Goddess



Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
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Unless you need the money I would put a new chrome fork in it and ride it. The Soma straight blade fork would look good on it
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#14
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If the fork is the only damage, I'd plan to replace it. That fork on eBay is still a great possibility. It's a very common repair to lengthen a steel steerer. Any accomplished frame repair guy does that. But you should be able to find a nice Tange fork of that era that will work well. Match the paint and you're off and running.
#16
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Joined: May 2014
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From: Cleveland, Ohio
Check out this list:
Custom Frame Builders List by State/Country - The Paceline Forum
Franklin Frames is in Ohio (not sure how close to Cleveland) and has an excellent reputation. (If worse comes to worst, you could mail it. My Medici's fork is sitting in a USPS Priority Mail tube waiting for me to send it out to be rechromed.) I recognize Groovy, but not the others.
Custom Frame Builders List by State/Country - The Paceline Forum
Franklin Frames is in Ohio (not sure how close to Cleveland) and has an excellent reputation. (If worse comes to worst, you could mail it. My Medici's fork is sitting in a USPS Priority Mail tube waiting for me to send it out to be rechromed.) I recognize Groovy, but not the others.
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1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1974 Raleigh Professional, Bridgestone XO-2
1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1974 Raleigh Professional, Bridgestone XO-2
#17
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From: Point Reyes Station, California
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If the fork is the only damage, I'd plan to replace it. That fork on eBay is still a great possibility. It's a very common repair to lengthen a steel steerer. Any accomplished frame repair guy does that. But you should be able to find a nice Tange fork of that era that will work well. Match the paint and you're off and running.
Brent
#18
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A number of framebuilders will not replace a steerer tube. The heat required to get the relatively massive steerer tube and fork crown up to working temperature three times (once to install the original steerer, once to remove the original steerer, and once to install the new steerer) has been known to weaken the area resulting in rather dramatic failure.
Brent
Brent
#19
tantum vehi


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That eBay Specialized fork would be perfect if it were the correct length (and wasn't so chipped up).
I would also suggest scouring local bike co-ops if you have any around. LBS's would be a good idea too, especially ones that have been around for a while.
You could well make money on it by parting out, but that is a classic bike that needs saving, it's well worth it. Those Specialized sealed bearing hubs are sweet, easy to replace the bearings if needed (probably not). Superbe was no longer top of the line, but very close - and it shines up real purdy! The crankset (if Specialized) is worth good money, even if it has old-school Campy BCD. Drool...
I would also suggest scouring local bike co-ops if you have any around. LBS's would be a good idea too, especially ones that have been around for a while.
You could well make money on it by parting out, but that is a classic bike that needs saving, it's well worth it. Those Specialized sealed bearing hubs are sweet, easy to replace the bearings if needed (probably not). Superbe was no longer top of the line, but very close - and it shines up real purdy! The crankset (if Specialized) is worth good money, even if it has old-school Campy BCD. Drool...
#20
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From: Cleveland, Ohio
I just came back from the local Bike Co-Op. Nothing there. I knew that they have for sale only low cheap parts at big money.
That eBay fork was exactly what I need, but too short.
At least my wife doesn't bother me anymore to sell it. I will keep the bike as is, no parting. Maybe i will find the original fork.
The crank set is Specialized.
What's the risk if I ride it like it is now?
That eBay fork was exactly what I need, but too short.
At least my wife doesn't bother me anymore to sell it. I will keep the bike as is, no parting. Maybe i will find the original fork.
The crank set is Specialized.
What's the risk if I ride it like it is now?
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#22
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