Calling all Falcon Experts
 

I am trying to identify which version of Falcon San Remo I have. I purchased this bike last fall and have $42 total invested in it. Before I gave it a respray it had the remnants of a Reynolds 531 decal, and the Ernie Clements San Remo decal on the chain stays. It takes a 26.6 seatpost. It has a 'claw' rear derailleur hanger with no manufacturer id on the rear dropouts. The fork dropouts are Campy. The guy I purchased it from said he got it as a frameset so none of the components are original. There was no chrome on the bike prior to the respray. Any idea which model of San Remo it is? Thanks!

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...450768401a.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...df3d1e176f.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fdc54b7b45.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...da00540cfd.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...87009bf616.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a04f281f8c.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3da2886f22.jpg

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appears it may have begun life as something such as a model 92

frame is likely to be three-tube 531 plain gauge

dropouts appear to be Cyclo

depending on specific model year chainset may have been cottered steel or Sugino Maxy

original brakes would have been Weinmann centrepull

original stem/bar set GB

pedals may have been Lyotard model 15S

here is a catalogue page showing a model 92 of 1973; posted as example only -


https://velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_v...serialNumber=2

very nice job with the refinish BTW ;)

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Given the variability in manufacturing during the bike boom, it can be difficult to nail down Falcons precisely. Recently I was in touch with the Falcon "Marque Enthusiast" for the Vintage Cycle Club in the UK with siimilar questions about my Falcon. His advice: "To check if it is a model 76 San Remo measure the seat pin. If it is 27.2 it will be a San Remo and if it is 26.6 then it will be a model 78 Olympic or a model 80 San Remo frame." Hope that's helpful.

Sorry but I can't be much help with identifying the model but you did very nice work on the paint job. Falcons are nice machines and they reek of vintage appeal in my opinion. Several have come my way over the years and this one is, pretty much, fitted with the full original component group...
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9db635f260.jpg


A friend gave me one of those Falcons but not in nearly as good of condition. None the less, I really liked the bike and turned it into this...
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5db1a55859.jpg

I used this trike kit to build the bike and do not recommend doing so. Because it has only one wheel drive, the bike was, to say the least, difficult to ride. Darn near dumped it in the first few feet of the first ride...
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7acb89ed5c.jpg


I also picked up a Falcon a couple of months ago for $68.75 CND (that's all I had on me at the time) and stripped it for the components fitted to the bike. The non-drive side chain stay had a small dent in it so I discarded the frame but saved the head badge along with the salvaged components..
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cfb0900853.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9322a3a183.jpg

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Nice job restoring your beauty. Lovely paint.

I have never identified a model for my late 80’s Falcon. Acquired as a frameset, the 531c tubes were what I needed to know. Sprinty devil. Red. I love it.

This bike is by far the least valuable and the lowest end of my fleet of bikes. I only had it out once after I restored it due to the freezing weather and snow. I was surprised by how well it rode. It will get a lot of use this winter up on the trainer. It weighs in at 23.5 lbs.

Sharing is caring, so they say. Here it is as received.

This bike has characteristics that make it hard to pin down the model. It's a lot like a San Remo 76 and at the same time it has attributes of a San Remo Mk. II 90, but doesn't totally match either. [shrug] Original owner was certain it was sold as a Model 76. In any event it's a sharp bike.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3f838f0e6.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d400d0d5c2.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ef86ceee67.jpg
I've only ridden it a bit so I can't speak beyond impressions. It seems to occupy a middle ground between my stiff, short wheelbased Mercian Pro and my long, cushy International. It feels light, has quick steering and it likes to track straight while needing less finesse than the Mercian and less input than the International or my Raleigh Pro.

My falcon has identical seatstays, stamped dropouts as well except mine has a derailleur hanger. It was also straight guage Reynolds. An extremely fun to ride bike!

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here are the 1973 catalogue pages for the models 78 & 80 mentioned above -

​​​​​​https://velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_v...serialNumber=2
​​​​​​https://velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_v...serialNumber=2

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...I have one similar frame, that I restored here, not to original, but what I thought was pleasant. It was kind of a mes when I got it, so I never did figure out what it was originally. But they made that wrap over stay, three tubes straight gauge Reynolds frame in many iterations over the years. AFAIK, from looking at a lot of them, they differed only in livery and component package. I, too, think it punches above its weight class in terms of ride. But I didn't build it up to go fast.
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https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7e5f063791.jpg

The rounded wraparound is one of the things that throws experts off the trail with mine. Campy dropouts, round section track-style fork with eyelets all around. Apparently there's no decoder ring for Falcon serial numbers and no company records past the later 80's. I love a good mystery...

I saw your bike when I was trying to figure out what model mine is. Yours looks the closest of any I have seen to what I have. Mine too was pretty rough when I got it but it didn't have any dings and no penetrating rust. The price was right so I rebuilt it with parts I had on hand (of which I have many).

Your Falcon does not even need a model name, it stands apart so beautifully!

That's very kind. The PO dressed it well!

I prefer my Falcon over an ‘84 Pinarello Super Record, Holdsworth Special and some others I own. I think having a complete 531 tubeset is the difference. Rides almost as nicely as an SLX Merckx CorsaExtra. Many of my bikes are parts bin builds, so impossible to determine Falcon’s relative value. But it is certainly a lesser value marquee.

Within my group of bikes - it is the Sleeper.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3c4e648f7.jpeg
531c frameset, Campa ders/shifters, Nervar crank, Modolo brakes & levers, Campa hubs with GP4 rims wearing Veloflex 25s.

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I think I've got it. The next time an enthusiast expresses puzzlement over the model designation for your raptor you can simply tell them "It's a Coventry Eagle of the latter days."


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I am not an expert on Falcons (or anything) but I do own one I acquired at swap meet about ten years ago. A blank canvas for sure.

My son mentioned on our ride last Friday that he his going to sell his Specialized Crux in the spring and his next bike will be steel. We are going to have a go at the Falcon.

Told him there was a guy (wildwood) on here that has several nice bikes and spoke highly of his Falcon.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ca21b4854.jpeg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...675de2e9e.jpeg

Details on this frame.
56 cm x 56 cm ctc
42 cm chain stay

Frame weight is 4.1 lbs.
Fork weight is 1.9 lbs, recessed.
No Headbadge holes
Both seat stays have decal that says “Handbuilt in England”

Seat tube is 28.6 od
Top tube is 25.4 od
Down Tube is 28.6 od

BB is English thread, stamped BCM
3 top tube guides, 2 sets bottle bosses, no eyelets, down tube shifter bosses, pump peg
Brake bridge is recessed.
27.0 seat post confirmed by test fitting.

Looking forward to the build!

I have mine on hand to strip, attend to a bit of rust here and there, and build back up with a few personalizations - some of which are yet to be discovered! I’m having meniscus surgery this week so it’ll motivate me during recovery.

I’m currently restoring my Falcon Black Diamond, one I rode to school as a teenager. I dropped the frame off to be resprayed this week. I have scans of a few Falcon catalogues on my website (https://falconrestorebike.wordpress.com ) so they may help you to identify the model.

Falcon In A Tree
 

I couldn't resist.... :o


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...059d9531c3.jpg

Back in the 70's the only Falcon bikes we saw were bottom end gas pipe bike boom fad models. They were really poor quality and bad French bikes look good.

That coloured my view of Falcon bikes for years. Then I started seeing photos of the top end all Campy models which changed my opinion.

verktyg :50:

The 26.6mm seat post on the OP's bicycle confirms the that it uses a Reynold 531 plain gauge main triongle. That makes it one of the lower San Remo models, possibly the previously mentioined Model 80.

Those graphics were introduced in late 1987, when Falcon attempted a short lived return to the American (and Canadian) market. I vividly remember it for three reasons. First, they mounted what I thought was a very clever "The Empire Strikes Back" advertising campaign. Second, the canted head tube decals, in their original, larger version, often gave the illusion that the forks were bent. Third, a rider I coached that had the Sterling model with a 531C frame and Shimano Santé. There was also a Competitor model with Reynolds 501 and Shimano New 105. The new models only seemed to be available for a couple of years, with the marque again disappearing from the American market circa 1990.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cbd2ce2fd.jpeg

1989 Falcon 531c frameset (acquired from a local BFer - IF memory serves), with a Tange Falcon headset. As (boringly) usual = parts bin combo build-up. Campa ders, Modolo brakes/levers, long Cinelli stem/narrow bar, and a lightweight post. Campa hubs, Mavic GP4 wearing 25mm rear/23 frt. (edit: ooops, repeat myself)

oh and on th road of Life - colourfully!

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...924d671c2.jpeg
Sprinty devil! And = Soooo nice, because of a perfect 59cm fit.

@T-Mar mentioned headbadge. So, I trotted out to the dark garage and got a fuzzy one, which I may update when the rainy weather grants bigger gaps for riding.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...21f391110.jpeg