Ity was built during weeks 45-46 of 1985, so it should be a 1986 model. Thxs for posting.

My bike is a Shogun 500 tourer. I will try to upload photo. I still need decals to complete the build, but cannot source any in the UK.

Need help with headset size: is this JIS or ISO?

https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1491435679


I just snagged it off eBay. 1987 Shogun 1000. Paid too much, but it's going to be something (I find) really special, aesthetically.

Don't know about the headset but am sure you'll get your money's worth just in looking at. Eye candy.

Given the era and country of origin, it is most likely JIS. However, the OEM headset was available in both versions. Wait until it arrives and measure it with your calipers. If you don't already own a set, you should.

I sold mine last summer. I kind of wish I hadn't.

This thread popped back up at the perfect. My daughter is old enough to move to full size bike. The wife told me to get another mixte so they can toodle around the neighborhood together. A Shogun Custom Sport mixte appeared on the local CL,(Richmond Va) so I snagged it. Tange 900 with Tangaloy fork. The serial # is Y7C1444. Turquoise green/blue with a grey headtube/fork. Original dealer sticker on frame is from The Bicycle Trail in Bordentown Twsp.

Thanks! eBay seller says no rust, only minor scratches from use. The photos tend to make me think this thing hasn't ever been built up, but we'll see.

I figured JIS, but I'm hoping for ISO. I do need calipers.

I think I saw a thread with yours on it.

FYI, it was manufactured by Yamaguchi during weeks 5-6 of 1987. Hopefully, your daughter will enjoy it. Thxs for posting.

I have a Shogun Alpine GT with Shimano barcons (rear index 6spd) so I'm thinking about 1987 vintage. S/N is M81 24230. Does anyone know if it was likely a Japanese built frame or Taiwan? There are no stickers on it regarding the origin.

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what year my Shogun Cr-Mo 400 mixte was manufactured? The serial number is S3K6596.

(When I try to post a photo, it tells me, "You are not allowed to post URLs until you have at least 10 posts." So apologies, no photos.)

Welcome to the forums. Your frame was built during weeks 21-22 of 1983 and therefore should be a 1983 model.

The serial number format could be reverse engineered several ways. Offhand, I don't recognize it, if the space after M81 is correct. Please provide photographs.

1987 or 1988 Shogun Samurai. 25"/63.5cm. Originally with full Shimano 1050-era 105, a Tange Levin headset, and BB. I have converted the 105 to 6400-era 600 for better matching (the original rims were a dark bronze which didn't play well with the teal color). Obviously the FSA Krono 54T big ring is not standard, neither is its companion 39T behind it--they just look cool and help complete the aesthetic composition. Bought the bike from the original owner. Eager steering at any speed, but stable enough at high speeds and descents. Great sprinter and out-of-the-saddle climber. Looks fantastic to boot, IMO!

Serial Number: SF709243 with an additional S8P, both on the BB.

I've tried to ascertain production month via the other stated serial numbers listed in this thread, but have come away bewildered.

Measurements:

Frame size: 63.5cm/25" (CTT)
TT length: 57.8cm or very very close
BB drop: 69mm
Seatpost diameter: 26.6mm
Front Center: 608mm
Rear Center (as shown): 413mm
Wheelbase (as shown):1010mm
HT°/ST° (as measured): 74.0°/74.5° (!)
Fork Offset (calculated via CAD): 46mm
Geometric Trail (with 23mm tires, calculated via CAD): 50mm

This particular colour scheme has turned upon other Samurai that have been determined to be 1987 models. However, it is also possible that there were no changes between 1987 & 1988, which would make the model year a moot point.

I will defer to you or anyone else who knows more about Shoguns as my internet search capabilities are limited or simply produce insufficient results. I saw both a 7 and 8 in either number set (early in the order), so that got me to educatedly guess those years, but narrow down no further.

Was Shogun on a downward trend regarding sales volume as it progressed through the '80s? Could that be one of the reasons there is so little info on these (hence my detailing of frame geometry and large photos for future C&V enthusiasts/riders)? There aren't a lot of triple triangle Shoguns around (though I'd love to have an idea!), to say nothing of traditional offerings around the same period. It seems they were a bit more common in the '70s and early '80s. They must have tapered off decently, but this is a wild guess on my part.

Somehow, though, in our fity-ish person company, there are two triple triangle Shoguns. An '85/'86 pink/warm grey metallic 1000 with Shimano 600, and mine. When my coworker bought hers, it had the wackiest tall and adjustable stem and bar combo, which I helped her in remedying via some spare parts I had.

I picked up this Shogun 1000 yesterday from a young woman in Saint John, New Brunswick (Canada). She's originally from Providence RI, so the North-East ubiquity of Shoguns makes sense.

Serial Number #M3K92109
Frame Size: 53cm
Seatpost diameter: 26.5mm (Marked F 83, Japan)
Headset: Tange Levin 66S? or 665?
Stem, 100mm, Cinelli, bars Sakae Custom Road Champion
Shimano 600, brakes, levers, crankset, RD (What identifies 600 components as "Arabesque"?)
Freewheel: an ugly Shimano replacement!
Pedals: Some crappy box store replacements (gotta go)

If what I've learned reading this multi-year thread, that puts this Shogun 1000 as a 1983 (November?) or possibly an 1984 model.

Bashley, your components are Shimano New 600EX, which would make this a 1984 model manufactured in 1983. The previous generation Shimano 600EX is commonly referred to as Arabesque due to the floral influenced embossing of some of the components (see pic).

Thanks T-Mar for the clarification on 600EX vis a vis 600 Arabesque. Although my photo of the RD reveals a plain design, unlike your photo, the underside of the shift levers (which I didn't photograph) do have some curly, baroque style flourishes. Is this moot or perhaps I've got a mongrel combo? I'll take some more photos.

Bashley, your bicycle appears to have the matching New 600EX shift levers. (It definitely has the New 600EX crankset and brakeset. The pedals are replacement ATB pedals, though it possibly may not have been spec'd with New 600EX pedals as part of a cost concession, as it does not have the New 600EX headset. I can't tell if the hubs are New 600EX). The 600EX Arabesque levers have extensive embossing on the top (see pic) and do not have the upturn/whale tale at the end of the lever, which I see on yours. The New 600EX shift levers have embossed ridges running along the outside edge of the underside of the lever, to aid in gripping the lever.

T-Mar, thanks for posting the photo, and indeed, that's exactly what the shifters look like on my Shogun 1000! I find it a little strange that for little bit of extra effort, Shimano could not have inscribed the full "600EX" instead of just "600". Maybe because "Arabesque" was too long, too many letters to fit on those versions?

The ATB pedals will be replaced with something more apropos.

Arabesque is only a nickname used within the cycling community to facilitate identification of the group. While Shimano did use the term arabesque to describe the ornamental design, it was never part of the offical group designation. The same applies to"GoldenArrow",which is the nickname for 1st generation Shimano 105.

While I don't know the actual reason for not stamping components with "600EX" or "New 600EX", I believe it was a case of not wanting to confuse the consumer with too much information. "600" was sufficient to indicate the relative level of the group within the Shimano hierarchy and new generations of a group were typically self evident via styling changes and/or new features.

Ah, ha, I see, insider jargon/code with "Arabesque" and "Golden Arrow". Now the fog is lifting. Thanks T-Mar.

Shogun 500 Touring frame. DB Tange 900, Magnalloy fork 63cm/25" . Serial # S555773. 1985? Bought only the frame/fork, photos to follow when I finish the build.

The serial number and tubeset are both consistent with 1985 but I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a 1986 model manufactured in late 1985.