T-Mar

I've seen a couple of these in the past. The samples I've seen were outfitted with the Rapidfire version of Shimano Deore XT, which placed them no earlier than 1990. It's interesting to note how the rear derailleur cable is routed along the top tube and down the seat stay, yet the front derailleur cable still routes on the down tube. Shimano brought out their top pull front derailleurs for the 1992 model year, so it should be pre-1992. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to collect any serial numbers, so I don't know who may have manufactured them.

It's also worth noting that the fork decal on all the samples I've seen, including yours, use the standard Tange CrMo fork decal, indicating that at least the fork is not Prestige. Given that, there's a good chance that the stays are also a standard CrMo and that only the main tubes are Prestige.

himespau 

Not sure about not as good, but I've definitely heard it's different.

Mr. 66

Thanks for the info. I did see that the fork was standard, however I do think the stays are Prestige. There was some uneven sag or bend to the seatstays. I addressed the issue the best I could with three point pressuring. The amount of torque to slightly align was incredible. One side about 3/8" the other about 1/4". I was able to get them even but i couldn't get the taper of the stays in symmetry of them selves. So in looking down the seatstays they still have like a millimeter sag.

I've done the same process on some a Tange 2 and 531 frames, and on the Kashmir it was a lot more pressure than it took on the others.

T-Mar

Even though they're thinner walled, the heat treated steels do take significantly more effort to cold set. Then again, so do the larger diameter and thicker walled MTB stays. It's hard to say which it might be.

Stormy Archer

forgive me for resurrecting this thread but I have a contribution, curb find. 1990s (?) Giant with Tange Prestige superlight
The frame weighs 4.7lbs and the fork 1.4 something weird (sloppy finishing?) in the bottom bracket shell.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YGy4assobRCqx1tC7

bamboobike4

No idea, but a (Soma) Saga of Prestige seemed a lot heavier than a Stanyan of Prestige.

BradH

Wow. Nice save.

smd4

The first really quality bike I ever saw. My mid-1980s grail bike, before I even knew what a grail bike was.

Stormy Archer

wow, what did I do to piss off google

seypat

As it is currently.

smd4

Beautiful. The two-tone paint job back in the day was very high-quality. Centurion always took pride in their finishes.

Korina

@tendency, did you ever find what you were looking for?

tendency

Love the DX-6000 - a bike I used to lust after in my youth. Would love to find one now in my size (63cm) but it's a fairly rare bike.

tendency

No I have not. Did get a good list of 80s prestige bikes - now if I can only find one in a 63cm!

T-Mar

I suggest you re-post the photos.

tajimirich

this is my new Shogun Ninja frankenbike. It is a 1989 Shogun Ninja with Tange Prestige pipes. Fully lugged, double butted I believe.

Important to get it from 1989, earlier years had worse pipes, later years came from South Korea and weren't even in the same ballpark, I'm told.

It's a dream. Hugely recommended.

Stormy Archer

maybe 3rd times the charm? I'm creating a shared album and it just completely disappears, and copy and pasting the images here seems to disappear after a while too.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LpuG2RwyiY9avn7AA

T-Mar

Oh, this is interesting! The moment I saw the stay end finishing my thoughts went to Panasonic. Then I saw the Made In Japan sticker. Giant is a Taiwanese company and I'm not aware of them having contracted out manufacture.

The crankset and headset are both Shimano 105 SC which, if OEM, puts it into the 1990s. However, it has down tube cable stops for brifters (it's unlikely that they're for bar end shifters) which, if OEM, would push things forward to at least 1993.

The logo style is also that introduced in 1990 but I don't recall them pairing it with their globe symbol. It's also strange seeing them have the logo on both the down and top tube. Typically, the top tube position was reserved for the model name/number.

During this era, my recollection is that Giant typically used 105SC and above on their alternate material frames, either aluminum or carbon fibre. Lower level road frames typical used Giant branded CrMo.

Nothing is adding up for me, based on my experience with Giant bicycles in the North American market. It would be interesting to have the serial number. It may reveal the year and source.

Stormy Archer

I'm stoked to have something interesting. It came with full 105, yes, brifters. i was a little surprised the crankset isn't octalink. If you want to DM me I'll give you the serial but I might actually make this my daily rider.

avhed

What is the model of this Giant?

Stormy Archer

no idea!!

kunsunoke 

Brand new from Osaka, with paint scheme/colors of choice. Here -

https://alexscycle.com/collections/p...-set-460-630mm

T-Mar

It may not be a Giant. Read my previous post, #69.

avhed

Zunow Hummingbird

Concorde- Model name unknown as I do not see any name on the top tube. I do see the five world champion colors ( in a different order) on the down tube, I wonder if that is a hint for the model name?

This is a post of VS3's bike posted on another thread.


Post #13 is hard to see. The above is still a too small pic of the '92 Diamondback Prevail TG. Also produced in 1991.

1994. Also produced in '93

TartandTangy's Bianchi Equinox. Produced in 90/91 only?

The most expensive: Colnago Prestige Decor

avhed

The Allez is from '86 built by Miyata: Is it the only year because I see the '85 and '87 is not Tange.


Ja KrazyMB's from Velospace: 1993 Novaro Team

Davidson Impulse