Sekai - times two
 

When it rains it pours, or at least gives you enough for a drink. My day job hours were cut so I'm stepping into a more active bike tuner/overhauler.

I wound up with two Sekai road bikes this week and thought I'd post some details and pics of them since there isn't a lot of info about this bike brand on the site here, thought this might help others down the road. Pics will come later, posting this from the phone which isn't great for editing or for posting pics.

The first bike is a 12 speed, I forget what it has for components, 27" wheels. Looks like someone converted it over to sweptback cruiser handlebars because the brake levers have the telltail turkeywing extension of the pivot bolt. Shifter arms are up on the stem. It also has a wire basketset on back which will come off and go onto my wife's bike. I think the model of this Sekai is either a 120 or a 210. I will get a fishscale weight of it once I get the basket off.

The second Sekai is a Sprint model, 27" wheels, 10 speed, SunTour group, I think it has DiaCompe brakes, drop bars with no turkeywings for the brake levers. The front derailer said "Sprit" as near as I could make out so far, not Spirit and not Sprint, just Sprit (?). Steel rims, bolt-on rear, quick release on front, stamped dropouts. Tubing has a sticker that says High Tensile and also Tange. Doesn't feel too heavy either. It has a Yellow Jersey bike shop sticker on the seat tube. Paint has seen better days with a fair amount of chipping and flaking but no significant rust to speak of.

That's all I can think of for now, I'll post more when I get time (plus my thumbs are getting tired typing on this mini keypad).

Oh, and I'd better add, this isn't intended to be a sneaky for sale post, I'm honestly just sharing info on the brand since there doesn't seem to be much about Sekai on the site here. Feel free to add your own Sekai info if you have any.

I have a friend at school who bought a Sekai 2700(?) off CL last year, and loves it. We have a Sekai Cape Cod Tandem-very good machine, but the frame's a bit small. We may sell it this year. Definitely an under-appreciated brand.

My bud has a black CrMo Sekai, mid 80's I think, full 600.

I like it fine.

Sounds a lot like Sakae, could be easily confused.

Well whack me in the toe with a pedal wrench, I goofed on what I've got. Apparently a gremlin snuck into the yard and converted one Sekai into a Sanwa, yep that's what happened, a gremlin converted one of them, I couldn't have made a mistake, well apparently I did. So the title should read: Sekai + Sanwa does not = Sekai times two. Oops. And the funny thing is I didn't really take notice until after I took the pics and was editing them down in size and noticed the two head badges. Oh well .... :o

So to start with here are the pics of the "Sanwa" (I think, maybe, ... )

It measured out to about 51.5 ctc on the seat tube and 57 ctc on the top tube with a standover height of about 31". SunTour components.

(be back shortly with pics of the Sekai, unless the gremlin made another visit....)

These pics are of the bikes as-found and unwashed.

The Sekai measures out to 57 ctc on the seat tube and 57 ctc on the top tube and has a standover clearance of about 32.5". SunTour components as well that probably added to my confusion. I kind of like the little brake releases up on the hangers. And that handlebar tape is growing on me. I took this bike for a short spin around the block, probably risking my health with the tire condition, but this bike could be a nice commuter and daily rider as it felt and rode nice.

The rest of the pics

And a "Spirt"? What's a "Spirt"**********
I think Spirit lost an i or else Sprint lost an n.

And the paint on this one has seen better days, can I just call it "patina"**********

No, the name of the derailleur is "Spirt". Weird, but true.

Very nice ... I like Sekai's, ever since I rescued a nice one for free.

When you searched the site, you might have seen my "Dumpster bike's revenge" thread that includes a little bit of Sekai history and links to brochures and reviews.

Enjoy your two new old bikes.

Here is mine - still my best fast road bike.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u...IMG_3366-1.jpg

Thanks for the link and the info. I'm starting to think the Sekai might bump a Raleigh out of the basement (especially since this fits me better than the Raleigh), plus the link to Seattle where I grew up adds a few bonus points. I think your's is quite a few grades above mine however. What does your's weigh currently?

Original build, 19.75 lbs. Did you weigh yours?

A buddy of mine has three Sekai's and loves them - he just recently bought a 2700 and I was impressed with the finish and lightweight nature of the bike.

I might be interested in the first one you posted pics of.

Those two tone Sanwa's are pretty cool looking.

Under all that "patina" the components on your Sekai look like good stuff in good shape, should clean up nicely.

Those bars - Sakae Custom, Road Champion - my '84 LeTour has the exact same ones.

I've always liked the Suntour GT RD design with the open cage that lets you take the chain out. I put a Cyclone GT on my Sekai.

Looks like steel rims tho.