TempleOwl

Hello,

I recently picked up several bikes at a large garage sale in my community. I think that I did a good job with the bikes but was curious what I now actually own. I have a Blue Shogun 300, a his and hers Ross Professional Gran Tour, and a Schwinn that has the name rubbed off. Any help would be great. All bikes can be seen at https://www.flickr.com/photos/27873853@N03/ . In addition I would like to say that all of the bikes were 5 dollars a piece, so i know I made a deal, I was just curious for more information on these bikes and was having a hard time.

The first, and the one I am most excited about, is a Blue Shogun 300. The Bike is very pretty, and very clean. It has a sticker saying it is all Cro-Molly, and I think that the bike on whole is very good. That being said it has Shimano components that are throwing me off. It's Deraillures say Shimano RS on them. I did research and was able to find this https://www.velobase.com/ViewSingleCo...m=108&AbsPos=4 but I was unable to find anymore information about the pieces. In addition to this the bike is a 10 speed, with amuminum wheels.

The next bikes are his/hers Ross professional Gran Tour. They each have a 1020 steel lugged frame. Other than this the bikes differ greatly. The women's bike has Suntour VX components (Again I am not sure of the quality) and shimano side pull brakes. The Men's has Shimano Titlist Components and what appears to be a very high end aluminum handle bar piece. I am from Allentown, and know a fair bit about Ross bikes, but was unable to find much information about the bikes at all online.

Last is a women's schwinn of some sort. All I can make out of it is "World". This bike also has some nice features. Yet again the components are throwing me off as they they simply say "Shimano" on them, with no other identifying marks.

All of the bikes need a little cleaning tires/tubes and will be good to go. I do not plan on selling any as of now (family/friends have quickly claimed) but I was wondering which bike was the best, and what the heck any of these components are, and if they were any good. Also any years or guesses when the bikes are from would be awsome. Lastly if anyone has any idea what any are worth so I can find out what i got for my 20 dollar investment, that would be great too.

awc380

These threads don't tend to work for some reason...

roccobike

Which is the best bike for you? Easy question, the one that fits the best.
OK, you want to know which is the best quality bike? That's easy too, the Shogun. I'll take Champion chromoly tubing over 1020 almost all the time. There's a little number (1 to 5) on the Champion label. It's important. Let us know what that number is.
After the Shogun, take your pick. The Schwinn model is a "World". A basic, ladies entry level. It sounds like the men's Ross has an alloy bar. I'm thinking that model also had decent components. I would go through the effort to trade bars with the Shogun if it has a chrome bar. Other than that one swap, I would sell or give your relatives the other bikes. Keep the Shogun.
Edit: A couple other comments. Alloy wheels are good. I think the Schwinn has alloy rims too. Shimano RS is an entry level derailer, nothing special (although I did get all excited the when I first got into C&V bikes and found an old Murray with one at yard sale).

TempleOwl

Thanks for getting back to me. Here is the deal. The number on the champion sticker is the only part of the bike that is a tad scratched. Unfortunately this brings a problem. To the best of my eyes and my buddies we think it's a number five. I will post it up as soon as I get a chance.

"The handlebars on the tall Ross are Sakae Randnner" and are in awsome shape, so I'll probably be trying to put those over on the Shogun.

My next question would be to ask if there is any way to determine what the number is aside from the sticker (by model, year, or any other means). Also, do you have any guess as to the year of the bike, because it's throwing me off.

thanks

Edit: the Sticker really does resemble a 5 (if that's good or bad I have no idea) It also reads as follows

Chroem molyboen Seamless P.G Tube
Tange Industry

Again, no idea what it means if someone can help me out that would be awsome. If not I might try and call the store (it's still in business) from where the bike is from and see what the deal is.

datlas 

Enjoy them all, and as above the "best" one is one that fits you....but my sentimental favorite is the Shogun....my first "real" road bike was a 1984 Shogun (either a 300 or a 400, I cant say for sure), long since gone.

Doug
1986 Alpine

roccobike

TempleOwl, Champion #5 was non-butted chromoly tubing and is usually found on good quality, entry level bikes. Still I'd take that type tubing over the other, hi-tensile steel bikes you found. Try riding the Ross, then immediatley switch to the Shogun and ask yourself which frame feels more responsive, more flexible, and smoother when you're riding.

fearfeasog

i just bought a shogun 300 for 20 bucks. looks just like yours save for the paint. 53-54cm frame. i think it'll make a nice bike, though yours looks a good deal nicer to start.

2cam16

Bringing it back from the dead:
Any update on your Shogun, TempleOwl?

cb400bill

TempleOwl hasn't signed in since September 2008.

2cam16

Darn. Thanks for the info.

agmetal

I'm not TempleOwl, but here's what I did with a near-identical Shogun 300:






(and since taking those pictures, I've upgraded the rear derailleur from 105 to Ultegra to match the rest of the bike, and put an early '60s Brooks B17 Competition on it and moved the Origin8/Gyes saddle to another bike)

Wildwood 

So @agmetal - Is the tubing Tange #5? (Champion)

agmetal

Wildwood 

Long cage RD, big saddle bag, lock, light, practical wheels, wider tires. Ready for the road.


Don't we love good riders!

agmetal

The funny thing about that, is that this is my horribly-impractical, go-fast bike!

Wildwood 

Everything is relative

agmetal

Yep

2cam16

Nice job, @agmetal! Looks exactly like my frame. What wheel and tire combo are you running?
Thanks.

agmetal

Wheels that I built...Sun CR18 rims laced to unbranded Formula hubs, and Panaracer Pasela PT tires in 700x35

2cam16

Cool. Thanks!