BesidesDaniel

So I've just joined the forums to support my addiction...
I sold my car in March 07 after I went broke going on the road to play music for a month. (Last feb was a really fun month!) My thought once home was that I could just sell my car, catch up on bills & bike EVERYWHERE! Work, School, Church.. So that’s what I did. I got a red schwinn SS off of craigslist & put it to work. Atlanta is not very biker friendly but I managed to not have a gas guzzling car for 8 months. I live about a mile from a Marta train station so it’s kinda a hybrid way of commuting. But once November set in I was quick to make other plans- Brrrr!

Spring is almost here & so I bought another bike to fix up/convert. (still have the Schwinn) I’ve been looking all over for info on this Araya. There is none. I know it was a Japanese rim manufacturer started by a Mr. Araya in 1904. There is little to no info on when they started making complete bikes or when they quit & why… Does anyone have one of these mystery bikes? If so, do you know anything about them? What they are made of, how do you read the serial #, is it worth the money I paid, Do you like yours???

Anyways, here is what I’ve gathered so far…

I know it has a Ideale seat, made in france, & nice barcons worth around what I paid for the bike.

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From another thread.......
Hello BesidesDaniel, no I don't think you got ripped...the barcons are worth money all on their own. My vote would be for cleaning up and riding . Check out the Classic & Vintage forum where the rest of the gang will tell you the same thing.

- East Hill
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Very nice looking C&V bike. I love the old leather saddles. I miss the Brooks Pro I had on my Raleigh International. Welcome aboard BF. I'd love to see that Araya restored, very nice bkie you have and the price seems good. As East Hill said the Barcons alone could recoup your investment. I had them on a 78 Raleigh tourer.

Bill / qcpmsame Senior Member

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https://velo.way-nifty.com/velo/2006/...er_from_a.html
a letter to from Araya
Q.2>
What is the relationship between Raleigh Japan and Araya? There is a link to the Araya site on raleigh.jp. Does araya build the lugged frames for Raleigh? In Japan or Taiwan?
Raleigh, it is worldwide bike brand. And selling bike by considering spec or design according to every country situation. You can find several Raleigh websites as follows. They are only example. More other country's Raleigh should be available.
UK: https://www.raleighbikes.com/
Ireland: https://www.raleigh.ie/
Germany: https://www.raleigh-bikes.de/
Holland: https://www.raleigh.nl/
USA: https://www.raleighusa.com/
Canada: https://www.raleigh-canada.ca/
South Africa: https://www.raleigh.co.za/
Taiwan: https://www.raleigh.com.tw/
China: https://www.raleigh.cn
Japan：https://www.raleigh.jp
Araya, maybe you can understand, we are Bicycle Rim manufacture.
(Now, our mainly business is steel/stainless/or other metal tubing and forming by our roll-forming technology)
Thanks for every customers assistance, we were celebrating the hundred anniversary of the founding of our company in 2004.
Our founded item was bicycle rims. First of all we were started rims by wood with lacquer ware that is special product at Yamanaka, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan where is our founded place.
The second Mr. Araya tried to make steel rim in very early in 20th century.
Then he visited various Europe countries by transit Siberian railroad.
Finally, he visited and found advanced rim manufacturing at Raleigh factory.
After that he brought back technology then tried and started to produce steel rims in 1914.
As above, we, Araya and Raleigh have almost 100 years relation ship.
Current our released Araya and Raleigh bikes are made in Taiwan.
We can say same thing that some of American/Euro branded bikes are also made in Taiwan or China.
Of course made in UK is better image for Raleigh and so on made in Japan for Araya brand, however, something difficult for some reasons as like very few bicycle manufacture in USA, Euro or Japan.
Especially Taiwan, they have been grown up quickly in 80's for exporting to Northern America and Europe.
And also Taiwan government backed up to them.
That's why they have more modern facilities than Japan or Euro.
I have been visited factory to check and discuss at every strategic points.
It is difficult to finish completely perfect, anyway, I hope there is not big difference for quality under deep quality check/control.
RAN and CLS is not alloy frame.
Lugged frame is rare in Taiwan, however, we have relation ship with specialized lugged frame maker in Taiwan.
They have long experience to make frame to Denmark/Holland.
Danish bike is still insisted lugged frame.
Thanks again your attention for us. And feel sorry as like un-helpful above message form me.

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Anyways,
That is a lot to start a thread with but I hope to get some responses!

Here are the pics!

bigwoo

I've seen them and I thought that they were on par with Azuki or some Fuji road bikes...Looks like somebody gave it some sweet love by adding bar-end shifters and the Ideale

Congrats on that BEAUTIFUL saddle! It looks to be in very good condition and alone is worth $80--100! Great find! Put a little bit of Brooks Proofhide on that bad boy to preserve it if it feels dry!

ps
Is your Schwinn SuperSport a 70's fillet brazed model or one from the '80's?? The reason I ask is because they were wonderful bikes.....Either way, you've got a great commuter now!

xiamsammyx

I have the exact same frame and I love it, Found mine in a trash heap though and all the components were unsalvageable so i turned mine into a fixed gear, Mine is a bright yellow color though and a bit more beat up than yours. I have had a hard time finding out much about them either other than the frames were done in a very short run before they gave up and went back to rims almost exclusively. I'd say you got what you paid for though.

T-Mar

Most of the Araya models we see are early 1980's but this appears to be older on the basis of the chromed stays and components. My guess is mid-1970s. It would be interesting to know the serial number and dates codes of the major components.

BesidesDaniel

Thanks T mar....
got any pics sammy?
(of the bike i mean)

xiamsammyx

this was post converting, obviously.

T-Mar

Actually, while the frames are similar, they are not identical. The yellow model does not have the chromed rear stays of the silver frame. The frames may or may not be made of the same material. The seat post diameters would tell us for sure. The yellow bicycle appears to be a typical entry level model, while the silver one appears lower, mid-range.

xiamsammyx

the serial number on mine is A404951
its also possible the chromed stays is a difference in years and not makes. although i've never found anyone that can give me a solid answer about them.

BesidesDaniel

I've decided to customize this bike, convert it to single speed & alla that.
can't wait to put up picks when I'm done.
I'm selling the barcons & seat if anyone wants them.
-danny

xiamsammyx

its your bike so do with it as you like but i wouldn't convert that guy, all the components seem to be in pretty good condition and seeing as its a fairly rare bike keeping it all original would be more appealing to would be collectors, if you do convert it be sure to keep everything you've got on there, I know the bar end shifters were obviously not original but even still...
The only reason i converted mine is because every component on it except for the frame/fork/stem/bars was worthless and destroyed.
If you caught converting fever do it to a less unique piece or one thats not in such good shape.

$0.02

stringbreaker

xiamsammyx: +10000 on the keeping it as is. Get a piecer and convert it not a nice rig like that

T-Mar

Yes, it's possible, though different models is more likely. Assuming same model but different years, the chrome stays typically would be on the earlier model, so it would be really nice to get the other serial number. What I can say is that the serial number format does not match that of the early 1980s Araya models. This supports my statement that these are earlier models and Araya either changed their serial number format or contracted the frame manufacture.

BesidesDaniel

I'm thinkin I might just keep it all original. I've started to convert it & I'm seeing that it is going to take a lot of work... Maybe I'll keep all the parts & convert it for a while just to learn more about alla this... I do believe I will sell the seat though... thanks for all the info guys!