Help Identifying Beautiful Vintage Japanese Bike
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Help Identifying Beautiful Vintage Japanese Bike
Hello! I'm a new user and looking for help identifying a vintage Japanese road bike and whether it is worth holding onto and refurbishing.
It has decals and stickers that say "Rollsracer" and "Supreme." It is a steel lugged frame with chrome tipped forks. It has a complete Suntour Groupset with dia-compe brake levers. My guess is it is a 1970s era road bike though that is just a guess.
The front wheel was quite out of true (may have been from an accident or hit by a car parallel parking) and I was able to true it as best I could (and it somehow got more true after a test ride) but may have to invest in a new front wheel just to be safe. The frame itself looks to be in great condition with superficial rust.
Any and all help is much appreciated! I have done a bit of research already but haven't been able to find any information on the bike manufacturer or anything. I would love to learn a bit of the history of the bike and whether it is a quality frame (no sticker denoting type or quality of steel) or if I should donate it.
Thanks!
-Daniel
It has decals and stickers that say "Rollsracer" and "Supreme." It is a steel lugged frame with chrome tipped forks. It has a complete Suntour Groupset with dia-compe brake levers. My guess is it is a 1970s era road bike though that is just a guess.
The front wheel was quite out of true (may have been from an accident or hit by a car parallel parking) and I was able to true it as best I could (and it somehow got more true after a test ride) but may have to invest in a new front wheel just to be safe. The frame itself looks to be in great condition with superficial rust.
Any and all help is much appreciated! I have done a bit of research already but haven't been able to find any information on the bike manufacturer or anything. I would love to learn a bit of the history of the bike and whether it is a quality frame (no sticker denoting type or quality of steel) or if I should donate it.
Thanks!
-Daniel
#2
Senior Member
Never heard of a Rollsracer Supreme. Chrome fork points to 70s. What size wheels? How many gears? Does it have a forged dropout or stamped with a claw adapter? Is there a sticker on the bike regarding the steel its made of? Pictures would probably get you the best results.
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Hello! I'm a new user and looking for help identifying a vintage Japanese road bike and whether it is worth holding onto and refurbishing.
It has decals and stickers that say "Rollsracer" and "Supreme." It is a steel lugged frame with chrome tipped forks. It has a complete Suntour Groupset with dia-compe brake levers. My guess is it is a 1970s era road bike though that is just a guess.
The front wheel was quite out of true (may have been from an accident or hit by a car parallel parking) and I was able to true it as best I could (and it somehow got more true after a test ride) but may have to invest in a new front wheel just to be safe. The frame itself looks to be in great condition with superficial rust.
Any and all help is much appreciated! I have done a bit of research already but haven't been able to find any information on the bike manufacturer or anything. I would love to learn a bit of the history of the bike and whether it is a quality frame (no sticker denoting type or quality of steel) or if I should donate it.
Thanks!
-Daniel
It has decals and stickers that say "Rollsracer" and "Supreme." It is a steel lugged frame with chrome tipped forks. It has a complete Suntour Groupset with dia-compe brake levers. My guess is it is a 1970s era road bike though that is just a guess.
The front wheel was quite out of true (may have been from an accident or hit by a car parallel parking) and I was able to true it as best I could (and it somehow got more true after a test ride) but may have to invest in a new front wheel just to be safe. The frame itself looks to be in great condition with superficial rust.
Any and all help is much appreciated! I have done a bit of research already but haven't been able to find any information on the bike manufacturer or anything. I would love to learn a bit of the history of the bike and whether it is a quality frame (no sticker denoting type or quality of steel) or if I should donate it.
Thanks!
-Daniel
You're in the right place, we have many of the best C+V minds on the planet here, these folks are fantastic at this.
As noted we will need pics, good ones and lots of them, especially the drive side, you can post them and they will go to your gallery until you have 5 posts X 2 days to post them here.
Go around, comment on threads that interest you and or continue to respond here and you will get there in no time.
We're glad to help but we need pics and info to do that.
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#4
Senior Member
Welcome to BikeForums. This appears to be a pretty low end bike. Ride it if you like it but there is no upside to refurbishing.
Picture album.
Picture album.
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#5
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Thread Starter
Never heard of a Rollsracer Supreme. Chrome fork points to 70s. What size wheels? How many gears? Does it have a forged dropout or stamped with a claw adapter? Is there a sticker on the bike regarding the steel its made of? Pictures would probably get you the best results.
Last edited by DanielC94; 08-10-20 at 08:02 AM. Reason: Forged to Stamped Correction
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What is your definition of "refurbishing"?
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Actually, the dropouts are stamped. This bike pre-dates the wide use of cassettes by several years; it's almost certainly a freewheel. Worth a tune-up as mentioned above, since it doesn't appear to have been left out to the elements.
Steel wheels, steel three-arm crank, stem shifters, "turkey" levers, add up to this being a bike-boom bike.
Steel wheels, steel three-arm crank, stem shifters, "turkey" levers, add up to this being a bike-boom bike.
Last edited by madpogue; 08-10-20 at 08:32 AM.
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#8
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I'd donate. Likely hi-ten steel. Cool color, but I'd spend my overhaul time, effort, and money elsewhere.
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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
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I agree that this is not high or even mid-end bike. Bikes like this make good town bikes or all around bike. Bikes that you can lock up somewhere and probably won't get stolen and if they do, you won't have lost a too much.
I have a low end Schwinn World that should be I picked up to sell. I put upright bars on and have been riding this bike a whole lot and enjoy it.
Your bike is in nice shape. I have never heard of Rolls Racer. It is probably a private label. I like that it has double eyelets so you can put on a rack and fenders in the rear. I prefer good aluminum rims. To me, that is more important than the frame, however, your bike looks like it has steel rims. My Schwinn World also has steel rims. They are fine for now. They are chrome plated and look shiny, so some people that don't know better like them. You could always keep an eye out for some better wheels.
So, low end - yes. Name brand - No. Usable - Yes.
I have a low end Schwinn World that should be I picked up to sell. I put upright bars on and have been riding this bike a whole lot and enjoy it.
Your bike is in nice shape. I have never heard of Rolls Racer. It is probably a private label. I like that it has double eyelets so you can put on a rack and fenders in the rear. I prefer good aluminum rims. To me, that is more important than the frame, however, your bike looks like it has steel rims. My Schwinn World also has steel rims. They are fine for now. They are chrome plated and look shiny, so some people that don't know better like them. You could always keep an eye out for some better wheels.
So, low end - yes. Name brand - No. Usable - Yes.
Last edited by Velo Mule; 08-10-20 at 09:06 AM.
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#10
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It looks like a solid bike and would be great as a commuter. Yes, it's worth "refurbishing" but I would not upgrade any of the components. Keep in mind that any bike this old should have all of the bearing points cleaned and re-packed with new grease.
What is your definition of "refurbishing"?
What is your definition of "refurbishing"?
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I like the lugwork of the frame and the chromed fork crown. The bike overall is in the same class as a Raleigh Grand Prix or Peugeot UO8, entry level sport/commuter bike.
As previously stated, the tubing is hi-tension and the dropouts are stamped steel, nothing wrong with either of those attributes. Since the front wheel is not running true and you have already tweaked the spokes, (not a good idea unless tensioned properly) then a replacement should have an aluminum rim for better braking. The stem looks way too high, make sure there is enough of it inside the headtube for safety reasons.
As previously stated, the tubing is hi-tension and the dropouts are stamped steel, nothing wrong with either of those attributes. Since the front wheel is not running true and you have already tweaked the spokes, (not a good idea unless tensioned properly) then a replacement should have an aluminum rim for better braking. The stem looks way too high, make sure there is enough of it inside the headtube for safety reasons.
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#12
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Thread Starter
Thank you everyone for the insight and for helping me learn more about the bike and for giving me new ways to better identify the bike's quality!
I've ultimately decided to donate the bike to a co-worker who recently got their beater/commuter bike stolen. Despite it riding fairly well and how enticed I was to breath a little bit of new life into it, I'm gonna hold out in hopes for a better vintage find (better brand, frame, and components) that I can justify keeping.
Thanks again everyone!
I've ultimately decided to donate the bike to a co-worker who recently got their beater/commuter bike stolen. Despite it riding fairly well and how enticed I was to breath a little bit of new life into it, I'm gonna hold out in hopes for a better vintage find (better brand, frame, and components) that I can justify keeping.
Thanks again everyone!
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