I'd be very wary of the height that AVA stem is at right now. AVA stems are already known to be failure prone for their cheap casting - you don't want to stress it in a way that is already asking too much of a quality stem.

It appears to be one of AVA's better stems though, so it should hold up fine if inserted into the fork a few more inches.

P.S.: The sprung top pivot on the Simplex Prestige RD is also out of whack. Someone here on the fourm should be able to hook you up with a good Prestige RD on the cheap - if all else fails, I believe my LBS has 'em (the silver letter models, not the crappy red-labels) NOS for $20.

Take care,

-Kurt

Nice!! I like!!,,,,BD

The stem reads PIVO on the side; is this a model of AVA stem or a different manufacturer all together?

I'll most definitely have to keep that in mind. I'd like to do a restoration on the bike so I should probably start looking for parts for the bike. Thanks for your advice!

Pivo? Close, quality, copy of AVA's stems during the era. Nothing to worry about with a PIVO stem, but I'd still bring it down in the frame.

What else needs to be addressed on it, curiously?

-Kurt

I'd like to find a place to strip the frame and re-shoot the green paint and re-chrome the fork/seat and chain stays. I guess from there, it goes without saying that a new set of decals would be nice. All the equipment is there, I'd just like to bring it all back to it's former glory. Time hasn't been horrible to it, but it does show its years (however many those may be).

I also want to build a set of wheels for it using some high flange hubs. It had the original tubulars on it but they kind of freak me out (I hear sew-ups are a pain to patch/replace) and the guy who sold it to me switched the wheels to a decent set of rims that take clinchers.

I plan on getting a honey Brooks saddle and a similar colored roll of cork tape. Just minor things.

Mine came with Campy Tipo hubs as a factory option. I did not want to use the tubular wheel set, so I saved it and built another with Tipo hubs and some thrift store Mavic rims (2 for $10!).

Nice ride, Koala! It looks like the paint has held up really well over the years.

I finally got to take mine for a spin around the parking lot this morning - a damn smooth ride considering what a mess this parking lot is. I can't wait to take it on a nice long ride.