kyselad

I'm looking into a used Panasonic, and I'm hoping someone can help sort out a little confusion over the frame material. The guy selling it says it's a custom frame from the 80's. I'm pretty sure that means it was custom *painted* from the "Panasonic Individualized Custom System" and not actually a custom frame. It's equipped with Shimano 600. I was expecting this to be a steel frame, but they guy says the downtube is marked "aluminum."

I don't have any reason to doubt this guy's integrity, but I thought all the frames would have been steel during the "PICS" era. Before I drive an hour just to check out the bike, I just wanted to see if I'm missing something here, like maybe Panasonic was indeed pumping out aluminum frames at that time or the "aluminum" label somehow refers to something other than the frame.

Thanks in advance for any input.

T-Mar

Circa 1989, Panasonic did offer two aluminum models, the AL-9000 which was 105 equipped and the AL-7000 which was Sport LX equipped. Both were bonded aluminum frames.

In 1988 the PICS frames were all steel. However, in 1989 the PICS line was expanded to include a titanium frame, so it's possible that it may also have included an aluminum frame.

gm1230126

Andy Muzi at Yellow Jersey in Madison could answer this for sure but why not just try a magnet???? They don't lie.