This guy gave me what appears to be a pretty beat up 10 speed. Has the name Sutton Racer on it and a made in Japan sticker. Has Shimano Dura-ace Brakes and Shimano Lark SS derailer. I know little about bicycles and am looking to learn more and acquire a roadworthy bicycle that does not break my budget. This bike would need a complete overhaul. Would it be worth spending any money on it? Are the components worth anything? Is this scrap metal? I googled Sutton and came up with nothing pertaining to the bike.
Thank you in advance for your input.
wdr

We need pictures really

FYI Dura-Ace is top of the line Shimano

I believe that Sutton was a sub-brand of Royce Union bicycles from the 70's or 80's. RU was based out of Long Island. It was a basic Japanese bike -low end , sold for under $200.

I also have a Sutton, and I'm a bit confused about it. It has Dura-Ace brakes as well, and Dura Ace hubs. The deraileurs & drive train were upgraded so I don't know what it had originally. The lugs are very ornate, the overall build quality seems very good, and the entire frame is chromed -- every inch -- and then painted red over that. The paint is peeling quite a bit because it can't stick to the chrome! Kind of weird. Nevertheless it's an excellent touring bike that I thoroughly adore.
The only other Sutton I've ever heard of was a different color but had the same peeling-paint-over-chrome look. I haven't been able to find out squat about the origins of this bike, and I'd appreciate any tips. Certainly if this was ever a $200 bike it was a screaming deal.

You're reviving a 3 year old thread, but your bike sounds very interesting. Post photos of it and all is forgiven

Paint over chrome is not typically seen on low end bikes, and it wouldn't be worth upgrading one with Dura-ace components, it sounds like a nice find. Did I mention needing photos?

Sutton. As in Willie?

Here you go:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/myklemy...7627011241068/

Please pardon all the headgear. It's my touring/cargo bike, so it's got racks & a trailer hitch. It's much prettier without.

BTW, i'm not sure if the hubs & brakes are original equipment or not. I spotted the frame in the back of a local bike shop & asked them to fix it up for city use. Noel, the mechanic, did an awesome job. I think I paid $300 plus another used bike.

That is one gorgeous frame, nice find!

wow...chrome

I don't have anything useful to add for ID'ing it, but it looks like a cool frame, great character and patina!

The heart-shaped bits on the down tube and seat tube are stops for the cable guide and front derailleur. I assume the current front unit is a replacement, it should be able to rest on the brazed on stop.

Is it possible to id the maker of the lugs? Or are they not that unique?

I am no expert, but I think the lugs are very unique. Can't find any that look just like them. Nice bike!

That's a crazy small chainring.

THAT could not possibly be anything from Royce Union, no way!

Beautiful!!

I have an old Sutton racer in my garage. Sounds exactly like the kind of bike you are describing. I took it to a dealer to ask him if he could rehabilitate it and he said it was too far gone. Not sure if he is telling me the truth.

Maybe if you post some photos someone will give you a second opinion.

You found the right forum. I've enjoyed reading your post in 50+ but found myself wanting to see your Sutton. I like rehabilitating (better word than restoring) bikes and suspect the dealer finds selling new bikes easier.

Please do, we all enjoy seeing new (old) stuff.

From the dealer's point of view, there is going to be a lot of expense relative the the value of the finished product.
Typical bike shops won't have much "value appreciation" of the "vintage cool" factor since they are marketed upon constantly by the marketers, and are responsible for sending a safe (by today's standards) bike out the door.

BTW, I've seem a good number of entry-level bikes that came with the first-gen, centerpull D-A brakeset which was little more than re-badged Tourney of the day.

The pictured orange Sutton with the D-A side-pulls does not appear to carry any original parts.

I posted pics of my Sutton on a separate thread in this forum.

I looked at those ... it looks like a lot of sun exposure but not much rust. (California?) "Restoring" it would require an expensive new paint job. You're probably not going to sell it for vintage value. But if your frame is chrome under the paint, like mine is, then it's a pretty nice frame.

Just occurred to me: is there a bicycle shop sticker anywhere on it?

Pic assist.

I took this one for a ride dry rot & all on a dirt road 2 miles, hard road another & back...
I forgot how much I like my old bike!
This one I picked up at auction but had one like it back in the 70's...
Was recently riding a girls 24" and was out of breath couldn't get that thing moving for the life of me. Took my 80's back from the hubby once and realized it road so much better then today's bikes...
Sold the girls bike, ready to "go for our walk" and saw this still with the air in the tires I'd pumped to "test". So... let him have my 80's & we went. I wooped him! LOL~
Now wonder if I'll run across another old JC higgins I used to have...
I think I might want to keep this one...

very pretty! i'm wondering if your front fork is bent from a crash tho. a good shop can straighten that, assuming it's steel. or maybe it's just the photo.

your bike has all the stickers on it, so i'm wondering if there's any more info about Sutton on it. Is there a Japan sticker? Is there any kind of a date? Anything about the tubing? Also, your paint is a bit scratched -- nowhere near as bad as on mine -- and i'm curious if you see chrome shining through from underneath. i'd love to see any sort of close-up photos you can give of the stickers and decals.

thanks for posting!
-mykle-