1980s Japanese bike with Tange Prestige tubing?
#1
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1980s Japanese bike with Tange Prestige tubing?
I've been tasked with finding a 1980s vintage Japanese steel road bike that is constructed from Tange Prestige. Anyone have some brands/models that come to mind? I know Panasonic and I believe Nishiki had Tange Prestige models. Other than that I'm drawing a blank. Ideas?
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#3
Disraeli Gears
Oddly, Nishiki's "Prestige" model (a pretty nice bike) did not have a Tange Prestige tubeset -- at least not the 1986 model that I had first-hand experience of. I think that was Tange Infinity, which if I remember correctly was seamed double butted.
#4
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I'll check out Centurion and Lotus -thanks.
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Likely not what you're looking for but the Bianchi equinox was made of prestige tubing. It is a really neat cross bike.
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New NOS 59.5cm Tange #2 double butted CroMoly road bicycle lugged frame & fork
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12471106678...m=124711066780
This is a non-named frame that a now closed bike shop in the north suburbs of Chicago (RRB) had built for the shop for sale between 1995 and 2000. I bought one and in the middle of building it. Very nice frame, can't say anything about the ride as its not finished yet.
He has different sizes ad colors.
Also not an 80's frame.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12471106678...m=124711066780
This is a non-named frame that a now closed bike shop in the north suburbs of Chicago (RRB) had built for the shop for sale between 1995 and 2000. I bought one and in the middle of building it. Very nice frame, can't say anything about the ride as its not finished yet.
He has different sizes ad colors.
Also not an 80's frame.
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Off top of my head:
Centurion Prestige
Bianchi Alfana
Panasonic DX6000
Shogun Ninja
Univega Superstrada (late model)
Performance Focus (Taiwan made)
Medici (US made)
Centurion Prestige
Bianchi Alfana
Panasonic DX6000
Shogun Ninja
Univega Superstrada (late model)
Performance Focus (Taiwan made)
Medici (US made)
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May not fit your definition of Japanese but some of the Panasonic built Schwinns are Prestige. Also some of the early 90's PDG Series bikes.

1987 Prologue


Prologue TT


Schwinn says these were Prestige.

Early 90's PDG Paramount

1987 Prologue


Prologue TT


Schwinn says these were Prestige.

Early 90's PDG Paramount
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Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
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Tange #1 and Tange #2 are not Prestige, guys. OP is looking for Prestige only.
Vintage Land Shark and Davidson road bikes (both custom builders) are made with Prestige tubing. I have had the pleasure of experience with both, and they are most definitely worth it.
Vintage Land Shark and Davidson road bikes (both custom builders) are made with Prestige tubing. I have had the pleasure of experience with both, and they are most definitely worth it.
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I know you’re looking for vintage, but aren’t current steel frame offerings from Soma made with Prestige?
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Doh!!! Senior moment.
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If you're not hung up on the '80s criteria, a few more from the 90's:
'93 and '94 Fuji Roubaix
early 90's Nishiki NFS Prestige (one on Ebay now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/nishiki-nfs...-/254291443423)
Bianchi Virata
Early 90's Jamis Eclipse
'93 and '94 Fuji Roubaix
early 90's Nishiki NFS Prestige (one on Ebay now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/nishiki-nfs...-/254291443423)
Bianchi Virata
Early 90's Jamis Eclipse
#16
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I’ve read that current Soma Tange Prestige is not as good as the vintage Prestige. Maybe someone can clarify this.
#18
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Interesting to see examples of Tange Prestige TIG welded. Seems that TIG welded steel frames didn't become prominent until early 90's. I have a Concorde with TIG'd Tange Prestige OS tubes.
For OP the Panasonic made frames are some of the best examples of Tange Prestige, including the ones they made for Schwinn as the Paramount OS.
For OP the Panasonic made frames are some of the best examples of Tange Prestige, including the ones they made for Schwinn as the Paramount OS.
#19
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Thread Starter
If you're not hung up on the '80s criteria, a few more from the 90's:
'93 and '94 Fuji Roubaix
early 90's Nishiki NFS Prestige (one on Ebay now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/nishiki-nfs...-/254291443423)
Bianchi Virata
Early 90's Jamis Eclipse
'93 and '94 Fuji Roubaix
early 90's Nishiki NFS Prestige (one on Ebay now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/nishiki-nfs...-/254291443423)
Bianchi Virata
Early 90's Jamis Eclipse
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Short version: the classic 80's Prestige was 7/4/7 butted, whereas the current "Prestige"
EDIT: Later in that thread it says SOMA uses heat treated tubing, which would seem to mean the 7/4/7 Prestige JPN rather than the plain Prestige. So it's closer to the vintage Prestige, but still with larger diameter on most models than a vintage race frame (28.6 top tube and 31.8 down tube vs 25.4 and 28.6 in 80's).
Last edited by AeroGut; 05-18-21 at 06:20 AM.
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#21
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Panasonic DX-5000 was Tange Prestige in some years. Lugged and a nice rider.



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I bought my wife a Novara Team frame & fork. Sticker says Tange Prestige. It is lugged. I'm not sure who made it for REI but it seems to be very nice.
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Have to be Japanese?
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/bik...317540160.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/bik...317540160.html
Vintage Medici pro strada 58 - $700 (san rafael)
image 1 of 10
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Discussed in this thread: Tange Prestige Quality
Short version: the classic 80's Prestige was 7/4/7 butted, whereas the current "Prestige"that SOMA uses is 8/5/8. There is also a current "Prestige JPN" higher grade that is 7/4/7 like the vintage version, but additionally heat treated. SOMA also uses oversized tubes on many models, which further makes them heavier and stiffer than a classic Prestige frame.
EDIT: Later in that thread it says SOMA uses heat treated tubing, which would seem to mean the 7/4/7 Prestige JPN rather than the plain Prestige. So it's closer to the vintage Prestige, but still with larger diameter on most models than a vintage race frame (28.6 top tube and 31.8 down tube vs 25.4 and 28.6 in 80's).
Short version: the classic 80's Prestige was 7/4/7 butted, whereas the current "Prestige"
EDIT: Later in that thread it says SOMA uses heat treated tubing, which would seem to mean the 7/4/7 Prestige JPN rather than the plain Prestige. So it's closer to the vintage Prestige, but still with larger diameter on most models than a vintage race frame (28.6 top tube and 31.8 down tube vs 25.4 and 28.6 in 80's).
The bottom line is that Soma Prestige is the same quality of tubing but the designers chose a different set of options (possibly even somewhat customized) that were not the lightest. Lightest is not always best. Sometimes you want a little more durability or stiffness. Tange's myriad of Prestige options gave designers the flexibility to design for a particular end result.
Last edited by T-Mar; 05-18-21 at 12:04 PM.
#25
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