Not sure what brand of 1970's 10 speed I have
 

I have a 10 speed bike from the 70's era, 1977-ish that has been professionally repainted but I cannot determine what brand it is. There are a few details that I can give that might give some clues. First, the serial number is S2110C461, which is on the underside of the bike frame. It also has the end shifters, which are SunTour, as are the brakes. The handlebar shaft says Arai, and there are plaques that say SunTour going down the frame as well as a holder for a tire pump. The derailers seem to be Shimano. The original color was a beautiful medium red. That's about as much as I can tell you. If someone has any ideas I would really appreciate your input. Thanks!

A picture is worth a thousand words... Two or more clear ones would help out immensely. :)

Without pictures it could be anything/almost. Roger

I'll guess Miyata.

Ah, I didn't ride today. it was snowing. all freakin' day.

I'll guess Raleigh.

Hello thea, I won't join the chorus asking for photos, but welcome to Bike Forums!

East Hill

We can start by narrowing down the era and the country of origin. For that, we need to know:
1) number of cogs on the freewheel;
2) sidepull or centerpull brakes;
3) width of bottom bracket shell (70mm usually indicates Italian; 68mm can be anything else);
4) chainring tooth counts (ca. 1970 Japanese bikes frequently used half-step ratios, such as 54-48);
5) any decals or labels indicating frame tubing pedigree;
6) cottered steel cranks would indicate production before the late 1970s;
7) the serial number could help, but I have never seen one quite like it. Someone else, perhaps?

Are you sure you're really East Hill, or have you hijacked her account? :o

I figured two people asking already would be overkill.

Perhaps I should start threatening non-photo posters with my dermestid beetles :p ?

East Hill

H*ll, I'm looking forward to the day I've got a new bike to talk about, you ask for pics, and I say "no". Not for any good reason, just to say "no".:rolleyes:

:roflmao:

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k3...IMG_1824_2.jpg

I've got a backup.

East Hill

Thank you for welcoming me, and for all your reply's! I never expected so many! I will get back to answering some of the questions, but at this moment, I am trying to figure out how to post a couple of pictures since you cannot post attachments.

East Hill,

Syke DOES have a new bike, that he's not posted any photo's of yet. :D

Thea vc,
If you have a photobucket account it's dead easy, load them there, re-size to the net forum size (640X480) Then copy and past the "image code" Here.

Well, lets see if this works. Here's four pics of the 70's bike. I'm pretty sure it was 1977, cuz I got it for my 16th birthday, and it was brand new.

http://denver.craigslist.org/for/503428456.html

So, you want us to help write your CL ad, is that right? :eek:

Didn't I just see that ad in the "Numbskull" thread?

No, sorry if that was misleading. I was just finding a quick way to post my pictures, I'm not really selling the bike.

http://http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...c/RIMG0617.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...c/RIMG0616.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...c/RIMG0615.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...c/RIMG0613.jpg

Ok, there, I signed up for PhotoBucket as Redneckwes suggested, and will remove the Craig's List post. I hope this helps. One of the things that I think is unique about the frame that I forgot to mention, is that the top and front crossbars are not round like most. I think it's a possibility that there were some decal stickers on those two flattened parts. John E, I am not so mechanically inclined, but I will try to get your answers to you later today. It sounds like you could possibly narrow it down if I can figure it out.

Well thats a new one on me,

Are the hubs Shimano or Normandy?

The drops are crimped on, which is an indication that it was a basic machine, but it's still interesting.

I'm going to guess, Austria, or Japan probably the latter.

Oil that chain.

I'm not familiar with fluted tubes on the frame...perhaps that will give someone a clue.

well, first, my favorite rant...do put the stem lower into the frame. It has no structural strength when it is raised above its limit mark (or about 2.5 inches submerged in the frame). I had a very pretty junior woman on her way to nationals, at the district qualifier, on a 2 minute break off the front, in 1989. She was smokin' down a hill and hit a pothole and landed on her face. It was quite a while before she was pretty again. (She did qualify, though...she made us take her back out to the course after we left the hospital, and the district rep came out to certify that she finished. There were three in her age category...)

Anyway, I was convinced that stems are very breakable in this configuration.

You are right, it is a mid '70's vintage, and is interesting because of the shaped down tube and top tube. This is something that is not common until the middle 80's, and then on high end Italian bikes. The twin pump pegs are also something more commonly seen on European bikes.

Does it have a serial number? T-Mar is the undisputed serial number translation expert, and might be able to identify the manufacturer just from the format of the serial number.

http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in.../t-107158.html

Here's an archived BF thread on fluted tubing that may offer ideas. Possibly Colnago?

Don't think it's a Colnago, not with stamped, crimped on dropouts. The lack of Esge plate brake and chainstay bridges leaves me thinking Asia. The pump pegs are confusing though.

Who is T-Mar?