Recognize this fork logo?
#1
Thread Starter
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 22,903
Likes: 10,327
From: Kalamazoo
Recognize this fork logo?
What brand bike do you think it is?
__________________
Carbon: Fuji SL2.1 Di2.......Aluminum: Cannondale Synapse 105........Steel: Vintage Specialized Sirrus
...
Carbon: Fuji SL2.1 Di2.......Aluminum: Cannondale Synapse 105........Steel: Vintage Specialized Sirrus
...
#2
Zeus.
Doesn't mean it's a Zeus frame/fork, could be anyone, because Zeus sold that crown to lots of framebuilders, even amateur/hobbyists.
It's a high-quality investment-cast crown, unlikely to find on a cheap bike.
Mark B
Doesn't mean it's a Zeus frame/fork, could be anyone, because Zeus sold that crown to lots of framebuilders, even amateur/hobbyists.
It's a high-quality investment-cast crown, unlikely to find on a cheap bike.
Mark B
#3
Thread Starter
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 22,903
Likes: 10,327
From: Kalamazoo
#4
Old fart



Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 26,318
Likes: 5,231
From: Appleton WI
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
#5
Edumacator




Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 9,608
Likes: 5,101
From: Goose Creek, SC
Bikes: More than the people who ride them...oy.
Rounded stay ends before the drops. Is it a Razesa? They often worked closely with Zeus?
__________________
1987 Crest C'dale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin EL, 1990 Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Isoard, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 C'dale M500, 1984 Mercian Pro, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi ?, 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super, 1971 Raleigh Internat'l, 1998 Corratec U+D, 1991 Peugeot Slimestone, 1987 Bianchi Volpe, 1995 Trek 750
1987 Crest C'dale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin EL, 1990 Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Isoard, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 C'dale M500, 1984 Mercian Pro, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi ?, 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super, 1971 Raleigh Internat'l, 1998 Corratec U+D, 1991 Peugeot Slimestone, 1987 Bianchi Volpe, 1995 Trek 750
#6
Thread Starter
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 22,903
Likes: 10,327
From: Kalamazoo
These are the seller's pics. He does not know what brand it is. Although he doesn't state why, he thinks that it may be French.
__________________
Carbon: Fuji SL2.1 Di2.......Aluminum: Cannondale Synapse 105........Steel: Vintage Specialized Sirrus
...
Carbon: Fuji SL2.1 Di2.......Aluminum: Cannondale Synapse 105........Steel: Vintage Specialized Sirrus
...
#7
Yes, Vitus DOs. and the logo on the Zeus fork crown is one of the "later'" versions, (or is it "earlier?) which might help date the crown (for somebody with the energy to look things up. I thought the same crown with "Zeus 2000" cast into the rim was earlier than this version with logos on top.
Last edited by unworthy1; 02-10-22 at 10:31 PM.
#8
Old fart



Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 26,318
Likes: 5,231
From: Appleton WI
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Yes, Vitus DOs. and the logo on the Zeus fork crown is one of the "later'" versions, (or is it "earlier?) which might help date the crown (for somebody with the energy to look things up. I thought the same crown with "Zeus 2000" cast into the rim was earlier than this version with logos on top.
#9
Thread Starter
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 22,903
Likes: 10,327
From: Kalamazoo
Seller has sent me a couple other pics.


He says he can find no serial number. He thinks it says O N on the seat stay caps.


He says he can find no serial number. He thinks it says O N on the seat stay caps.
__________________
Carbon: Fuji SL2.1 Di2.......Aluminum: Cannondale Synapse 105........Steel: Vintage Specialized Sirrus
...
Carbon: Fuji SL2.1 Di2.......Aluminum: Cannondale Synapse 105........Steel: Vintage Specialized Sirrus
...
#10
-----
chainset appears it may be Sugino Mighty while bottom bracket assembly is something else
the flats on the fixed cup are suggestive of metric or CH threading
the knurling pattern on the lockring is a match for what Peyrard (NERVAR) & T.A. employed to indicate Italian thread, although it certainly may have been used by others
note how modest is the engagement between the spindle and the NDS arm; perhaps a poor match...
-----
chainset appears it may be Sugino Mighty while bottom bracket assembly is something else
the flats on the fixed cup are suggestive of metric or CH threading
the knurling pattern on the lockring is a match for what Peyrard (NERVAR) & T.A. employed to indicate Italian thread, although it certainly may have been used by others
note how modest is the engagement between the spindle and the NDS arm; perhaps a poor match...
-----
Last edited by juvela; 02-21-22 at 02:55 PM. Reason: addition
#12
Thread Starter
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 22,903
Likes: 10,327
From: Kalamazoo
Something tells me that this is an interesting frame, but something else tells me to stop looking into it.
__________________
Carbon: Fuji SL2.1 Di2.......Aluminum: Cannondale Synapse 105........Steel: Vintage Specialized Sirrus
...
Carbon: Fuji SL2.1 Di2.......Aluminum: Cannondale Synapse 105........Steel: Vintage Specialized Sirrus
...
#13
#14
verktyg
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,034
Likes: 1,271
From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Current favorites: 1988 Peugeot Birraritz, 1984 Gitane Super Corsa, 1980s DeRosa, 1981 Bianchi Campione Del Mondo, 1992 Paramount OS, 1988 Colnago Technos, 1985 RalieghUSA SBDU Team Pro
Bike has a kludge of components and what looks like a custom (amateur) built frame - fork rake, fork and stay pointed ends, BB cable guide and so on do not appear to be production model features.. It's not like any Zeus that I've seen...
An old saying: Paint can hide a multitude of sins.... That's the WORST powder coat job I've ever seen!!! It can be hiding a lot of construction flaws???
That said, never tell someone that they have an UGLY dog....
verktyg
An old saying: Paint can hide a multitude of sins.... That's the WORST powder coat job I've ever seen!!! It can be hiding a lot of construction flaws???
That said, never tell someone that they have an UGLY dog....

verktyg
__________________
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
#15
The "strap" cable guides was something I have mainly seen on Olmos and Pinarellos, neither of which I think this bike is, but...could point toward Italy and not Spain.
If I could get him to I would ask/cajole/demand the owner scrape some paint off the staycaps and see what's under that thick muck!
If I could get him to I would ask/cajole/demand the owner scrape some paint off the staycaps and see what's under that thick muck!
#17
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 540
Likes: 761
From: Los Angeles, CA
Bikes: None in ridable condition
Too bad about the gloppy finish; hopefully it wasn't repainted due to damage/repair. If the finish is this bad, I'd hate to see the repair.
I think this is a relativelyunmolested undrewed early 80s Mercier. They had some models that were built with Zeus bits (crowns and dropouts) around this time. They aren't very common (at least online) so I assume they weren't built for a long time.
The most common of these looked like the mystery frame here -- built with Super Vitus 971 tubing, Vitus dropouts and stock Zeus crowns (new style). They also originally sported the Shimano 600 drivetrain.
Most commonly the model name that's associated with these is "Lugano" although, more often than not, there is no mention of a model name when these show up in online listings or forums. I'm not a Mercier expert, so I don't know if Lugano was ever sold in the US - I assume this was a European market model. One BF member described the Lugano as "entry-level in their competition line at the time."
The serial numbers would have been on the head tube decal, so it's not surprising the owner can't locate one (not that it would be visible under all that powder).
Here are some comparisons -
Seat stay caps with the Mercier (M + crown) panto:

Fork crown/head lugs:

Dropouts, stay end treatment and the cable guide:

Underside of the bottom bracket shell:
I think this is a relatively
The most common of these looked like the mystery frame here -- built with Super Vitus 971 tubing, Vitus dropouts and stock Zeus crowns (new style). They also originally sported the Shimano 600 drivetrain.
Most commonly the model name that's associated with these is "Lugano" although, more often than not, there is no mention of a model name when these show up in online listings or forums. I'm not a Mercier expert, so I don't know if Lugano was ever sold in the US - I assume this was a European market model. One BF member described the Lugano as "entry-level in their competition line at the time."
The serial numbers would have been on the head tube decal, so it's not surprising the owner can't locate one (not that it would be visible under all that powder).
Here are some comparisons -
Seat stay caps with the Mercier (M + crown) panto:

Fork crown/head lugs:

Dropouts, stay end treatment and the cable guide:

Underside of the bottom bracket shell:













