TOEI on eBay
03-29-09 | 07:20 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,045
Likes: 15
From: Lancaster County, PA
Bikes: '39 Hobbs, '58 Marastoni, '73 Italian custom, '75 Wizard, '76 Wilier, '78 Tom Kellogg, '79 Colnago Super, '79 Sachs, '81 Masi Prestige, '82 Cuevas, '83 Picchio Special, '84 Murray-Serotta, '85 Trek 170, '89 Bianchi, '90 Bill Holland, '94 Grandis
TOEI on eBay
Can't recall the last one of these I saw for sale on eBay - I think most folks who own them keep them:
https://tinyurl.com/dmoyx2
Definitely check out the Flickr set, too - really exquisite workmanship and overall design sense. French style and class with Japanese attention to detail and finish. Man I'd love to own one of these in 58cm.
https://tinyurl.com/dmoyx2
Definitely check out the Flickr set, too - really exquisite workmanship and overall design sense. French style and class with Japanese attention to detail and finish. Man I'd love to own one of these in 58cm.
03-29-09 | 07:46 PM
#2
Great State of Varmint
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,476
Likes: 18
From: Dante's Third Ring
Absolutely <almost> beautiful. Until we get to the Brook's black-leather handlebar tape. Finished with the ever-present gob of electrical-tape. I'd unwrap 'em and do it over - top down. Like I've done with my bike and several others.
<now begins the tirade on why it's destined to fail and this and that...>
<now begins the tirade on why it's destined to fail and this and that...>
03-29-09 | 07:49 PM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 18,757
Likes: 11,483
That's gorgeous. When I was in Berkeley in January, I drooled at a Toei frameset in the window of Jitensha Studios. It was a red wine color, and the finish and details were remarkable. I didn't even ask about the price (though it was my size!).
Neal
Neal
03-29-09 | 07:52 PM
#5
Toei is the first name that came to my mind when I saw the holy grail thread. I've never been interested in race bikes.
03-29-09 | 07:58 PM
#6
Full Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 243
Likes: 20
From: Madison, WI
Bikes: 1975 Coppi Campionissimo, 1980 Raleigh Grand Sport, 1983 Trek 520, 1983 Ciocc, 1995 Trek 520
Wow...thanks for the link. That's one of the prettiest bikes I've seen. I can't find a single fault, but then again, I'm not as picky as some others.
03-29-09 | 08:09 PM
#7
Makeshift
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 618
Likes: 0
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Bikes: 2002 Bianchi Vigorelli, 2002 S-works CX, 1973 Raleigh Super Course conversion, 1979 Raleigh Competition, 1973 Raleigh Professional Track, 1980 Austro Daimler Inter-10
Wow. Maybe my new holy grail.
Is that a chainstay protector on the chainstay--my Koga Miyata frame has one too.
Is that a chainstay protector on the chainstay--my Koga Miyata frame has one too.
03-30-09 | 04:30 AM
#9
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,045
Likes: 15
From: Lancaster County, PA
Bikes: '39 Hobbs, '58 Marastoni, '73 Italian custom, '75 Wizard, '76 Wilier, '78 Tom Kellogg, '79 Colnago Super, '79 Sachs, '81 Masi Prestige, '82 Cuevas, '83 Picchio Special, '84 Murray-Serotta, '85 Trek 170, '89 Bianchi, '90 Bill Holland, '94 Grandis
If you price that bike from a top-quality framebuilder, I'll think you'll come out spending quite a bit more than that. Of course, that would be for a new bike with custom sizing. But for someone for whom this is a good fit, considering the condition, it might be a good buy. TOEI bikes are not outrageously expensive new, considering the quality, but there's the wait and the cultural/language barrier (many if not most US buyers go through Jitensha Studio). The fully equipped randonneur bikes with racks and all the braze-ons and nice little details I inquired about at NAHBS were in the $6000-7000 range (and more), and in at least some cases the builders did not have nearly the level of experience TOEI has. There are some folks who prefer a one-man shop for their KOF dream bike, but I don't happen to be one of them.
03-30-09 | 09:12 AM
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,506
Likes: 1
From: Santa Barbara
Bikes: SE Quadrangle, '82 Venus NJS, '03 Bianchi Pista, '86 P'sonic Mt Cat, Fat City Yo Eddy '91 + '93, B'cuda A2E, '86 Trek Elance 400, '88 Centurion D.Scott Expert, '88 Fisher Mt Tam (and no longer with me: SE OM Flyer, Umezawa/B-stone/Samson NJS)
that was quick 
03-30-09 | 09:46 AM
#12
BEHOLD! THE MANTICORE!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 2
From: 54914
03-30-09 | 11:45 AM
#16
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 550
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento CA
Bikes: Raleigh Grand Prix, Cervelo P3alu
