Looking for info on a mid /early 80's panasonic Sport 1000....I have the opportunity to pick one up for nearly nothing, looks to be in real nice condition. Where did this fall in the Panasonic model line? Bottom? Middle? Top? Any help would be appreciated!

Entry level model, at or near the bottom of the line. Panasonic model levels increased with increases in the model number. Entry level is corroborated by the stem shifters, center-pull brakes, spoke protector, 27" rims and stamped dropouts. On the plus side, it does have a cotterless, triple crankset and appears to have quick release on the front wheel. Probaly a hi-tensile tubeset or maybe CrMo plain gauge for the main tubes. It would appear to be an early 1980s model or possibly very late 1970s. Knowing the derailleurs would help to confirm the age.

I jsut wondered if it was even worth picking up (free), or if it was just absolute junk?

Hey, I have one! I think mine is an 1985 model, given by the 1984 shifters, and a prominately placed "5" in the serial number (it's like "5Dxxxxx"). If you pick it up, lemme know what it has, I'm curious if mine was worked over at somepoint--I think it was, as it has an SIS freewheel but no index shifters (it does have stem shifters). Anyhow, mine has a decal on it stating "Tange double butted chro-moly" etc, along with lugs on the main tube; and I think it weighs about 25lb total, and it seems to go ok (but is about completely worn out IMO).

[If you have a pic showing in your thread, sorry, I'm at work and it's being filtered out.]

Oh: what kind of price are we talking about?

Yes there is a pic, and I knwo its Chro-Mo frame. Price to me is free, I'm providing a service to him, and he offered it up as a trade. :-) I cut vinyl decals on the side, and he wanted some for his car, he said he'd trade me the bike rather than pay me.

Ah. I had to pay $5 for mine, and it's in poor condition (alot of paint missing). That said, as my first road bike, it's been scads better than trying to ride my mountain bike down pavement. So I'm biased, at least until I get something else.

Right now, I have to figure out what to do with mine. I need to either fix it up, or find something else affordable (so LBS bikes seem out of the picture, unless if I hit that lottery that I never play).

On edit: "junk" versus "great" probably is relative: it's relative to your prior bike experience. It probably was a low end bike in its day, and it's probably not anything great today (not a collectible nor some great racer/tourer/you-name-it).

I also had an opportunity to pick up one for nothing -- as long as I had a cable cutter. It was initially in pretty good shape but left to rot chained to a light pole near my (DC) Metro station bike rack. I told the station manager and called the central office and got a bit of runaround. After a while, someone tagged all the abandoned/wrecked bikes with a notice that they would be removed after May 22, but nothing else happened. Two months later, the Panasonic was finally removed to make way for a construction project. It would have been a good subway runner for someone low on cash. The manager of the Metro line showed up one day to greet the riders, and I told him the story of how tempted I had been to liberate the bike from its slow death. He said "I would't have told anyone if you did."

So I am confused (although I am sure there will be plenty who will help straighten me out ). The OP and the poster here Another Panasonic 1000 got them low cost. So why are there so many
Craig's List ads asking 2 bills plus

https://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/bik/634893005.html
https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/bik/623793134.html

https://providence.craigslist.org/bik/623899677.html

I think those CL listers are overly optimistic in their asking prices for a 1000 Sport. I would think that lubed, tuned and with new rubber they would be $100-200 bikes, depending on the market.

I bet it would sell fast at $200 on the philadelphia craigs list. There is a panasonic 500 for sale around my way so 1000 isnt the very bottum.

Theres a Panasonic DX3000 on ebay right now.

https://cgi.ebay.com/PANASONIC-DX-300...QQcmdZViewItem

I scored a Sport 1000 at Goodwill for $20 a while back, but it was too tall for both me and my wife, so I swapped the alloy rims and six-speed cogs onto my Fuji and donated the Pana to the LFBC. It left with a very tall guy the next week. For free, it's a pretty good bike.

Hi there,

I'm a newbie. I finally bought my first road bike, a used Panasonic Sport 1000 off craigslist for 100 bucks. The handlebars seem a little too narrow for me (I'm guessing maybe 38cm). So I'm thinking to upgrade to a 40cm handlebar. Does anyone know what type of handlebars would fit the panasonic sport 1000? I'm guessing the size has to match up with the stem?

I've got a Panasonic Sport, and you are correct: the stock handlebars are 38cm.

A couple weeks ago I updated mine to these: https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=407239 I went with 44 cm because I'm broad shouldered, but they offer the same handlebars in other sizes.

Your stem is 25.4 diameter. That's the critical measurement. Most handlebars should fit as long as they use that stem diameter.

Thank you for your reply Tundra_Man. Your handlebar looks awesome :-). What type of wrap did you use for this? I'm trying to get my handlebar really comfortable so that I can commute with the bike.

I saw this on Amazon for $42.95 https://www.avenirusa.com/parts-and-a...bars-40cm.html

I get free 2 day shipping because I'm a Prime member. Do you think this would work with the panasonic sport 1000?

No, because the center diameter measurement is 31.8. You need something with 25.4 where the stem clamps on.

edit: Also, if you get any slightly-better-than-cheapest-available bar wrap then you should be good. Look for words like "gel", "padded", or "double thickness". Like so. Or get some gloves.

I just used standard handlebar wrap. I think the brand was Profile Design. Nothing special, just what looked decent and wasn't expensive.

Ah gotcha, thank you.

In terms of wraps, I was looking at the Planet Bike Comfort Gel wrap,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

My LBS sells an Origin 8 bar tape for 20 bucks. Do you know how that compares to the planet bike gel wrap?

Thank you for your help

Bar tape is cheap and easy to replace. I wouldn't get too hung up on it. If you buy some and don't like it after a while, just try a different brand.

Thanks for the tips Tundra_Man :-)

the bike does fit you yes? I mean aside from the bars feeling small/narrow

Yes the bike fits (I think). I'm 5'5" and the frame is 49/50cm I believe. It feels fine riding it for the most part. I just find the bar to be slightly uncomfortable. Maybe after I re-wrap it with thicker wraps that might make a difference.

That's right in the acceptable range. But bar tape is bar tape is bar tape. It's not gonna vary all that much between them. That said I'm actually using that Origin 8 stuff right now and it's comfy enough.

Cool I'll try it out. Thanks :-)