Like a knucklehead I didn’t take any photos. I was offered a bike yesterday that had a detail I’ve never encountered on a frame. The brazed on cable guides were mounted on the underside of the top tube. No headbage, or other identifying engravings or decals on the frame. It didn’t look like anything particularly special, but had an ‘80’s Japanese builder feel to it.
Has anyone encountered a frameset like this before?

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Garlatti did cycles with this feature in the 1960's and 1970's.

If it appears 1980's Japanese its certainly not a Garlatti!


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There were 3 cable guides on the underside of the top tube, all sized to accept full cable and housing. Never seen something like that before. No chrome or fact lugs on the frame, and a hodgepodge of a Japanese parts build - nothing too distinguished

I seen it from various builders over the years. It's something that was periodically resurrected but never never became mainstream in popularity.

My recently acquired Nöll has those features. Cable guides on the underside of the top tube:



No badge holes:



Not Japanese, but German. Builder is Achim Nöll.

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One impracticality anent the arrangement is that the rearmost guide is usually perfectly positioned to poke one in the shoulder during portages.


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Peugeot did it too, late somewhere in the '89-'92 range, too lazy to look it up. But there's one for sale in rough shape for $200 USD BIN right now on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/293316730604