Hopefully without getting into a large debate. Can someone explain the heirchy of TANGE, I have a frame cromo that says tange 5. What is the best Tange or is there only one type. Thanks merry xmas.

This all depends on the era, as tubesets were constantly being introduced and discontinued Generally, for vintage bicycles the top Tange tubest is #1, with lower tubesets having progressively increasing numbers. Tange #5 was a plain gauge, chromium molybdenum tubeset. Depending on the age, it could be an upper, entry level frame or lower, mid-range frame. The stays and forks may or may not be #5. It was quite common to use hi-tensile steel stays and forks to lower the frame cost. I've even seen frames which only used #5 for the seat tube!

Around 1983 Tange brought out the Prestige tubest which was lighter/stronger than #1. Around this time they also debuted several butted, manganese based tubesets and seamed versions of their CrMo tubesets, which further confuse the exact hierarchy.

I have a Raleigh Super Grand Prix that has a sticker which states "Tange 5 Cr-Mo Seamless Tubing P.G. Main Tubes" on the seat tube down by the BB. My hope was that the whole bike was Tange 5. But after reading your post, I am not so sure. Is it possible to tell somehow if it is Tange 5 or hi-tensile steel? There is another sticker that says "Made In Canada"......does that help?

Based on the sticker, only the three main tubes are Tange #5. The stays are undoubtedly a lesser material, either Mangaloy or hi-tensile steel. Unless there is a separate Tange 5 sticker on the fork, then it too would be a lesser material. Mangaloy, though it was not as strong as CrMo, had its own sticker. The complete absence of a fork sticker usually indicates hi-tensile, unless the frame sticker indicates the forks are included. Tubing stickers are one place where it pays to read and understand the fine print.

Tmar Thanks for the lesson. What does the (P.G.seat tube) on that sticker stand for?Happy New Year