Speaking of Viscounts, I just rode my Aerospace Pro on the first leg of a three-day charity ride; 65 miles in the pelting rain. Wrights saddle is pretty wet, despite the VO cover.
AND my knees hurt! Just doesn't happen with my Biopace equipped bikes.
Top

Sorry about those knees, Top, and best of luck with the rest of the ride. Over-the-counter pain meds are your friend!

Neal

How cool to see the Viscounts still attracting interest.
Keep up the death fork syndrome folks. It keeps prices down
The Death Fork Ride is the ultimate expression of this thought process.
Only wish there was sufficient interest here (UK) to do the same.

just posted one FS in the CL finds thread...$140 for a 24" frame in San Jose, CA
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/bik/1229928239.html

First day is both the most challenging terrain and the longest distance covered.Once you accept the fact you're soaked and will chill if you stop it's just a matter of suck up and drive on.
As for pain killers, I have some perscription anti-inflammatories that will do the job!
All in all, the bike rode well, but wet brakes made some of the descents interesting
Top

This is my mid 70's Lambert Sport bike that I rode for over 20 years. This pic was taken on it's last day when I was told by the bike shop that the crank spindle was broken and the bike could not be repaired. I trashed the frameset that evening. (7-15-03)
One of the first things I did when I first got the bike was to replace the flimsy chainwheel. I had the LBS install a SR crank set and a Shimano Tourney derailleuir set. I rode on the death fork for about 10 years and finally replaced it with some recommended chrome steel fork. I also upgraded the wheels to Matrix Titans. This was a great handling bike (although not elite) but very competent. I miss it! I recently rebuilt a Trek 614 so I stayed with retro steel.

Like the scales!! What is the name of the LBS? Do they have a website?

Steve
England

Alright.

Anyone have any suggestions for a replacement fork? I've looked around and can't really find one other than the Tange Jo-Ten painted black.

So educate me.
This is the bike with the "death fork" but seems just about all of them that I see are still sporting the death fork. Do you just put it on for the photos? Then replace it to ride?

I'm getting the drift that it is an overblown warning, some may have broken, but not many, and you want to keep it that way so folks won't want to buy this neat looking bike.

Village Cyclery in Schoolcraft Michigan. Here is their website.

https://www.villagecyclery.com/

maybe i should start a band called death fork. or mega deth fork. if you died in a death for related accident would it be reported as a death by fork?

one day i'll own a viscount, and i'll be able to post pictures instead of puns.. but until that day.

Forkin' bad pun.

-Kurt

would $80 be a fair price to buy a 10 speed lambert with a death fork?

Condition is everything. Got any pics?

FWIW, I paid more than double that for mine.
Top

i cant really tell on the condition, the pic isnt exactly high-res

New forum member; here is mine; a c.1975 Viscount Aerospace G.P. It's full story, and component listing, is on the Internet Bike Database; link is found in my signature.



In it's second life with me (third life overall); I have put over 250 miles on it.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

So does anyone know why they went out of business?

I was in high school working at a LBS in about '74 and our shop got a Lambert sample in (but decided not to sell them) and thought it was really cool, except the rear Lambert derailleur looked like a stamped steel can opener.

Viscount/Lambert info is quite scant, but you can bet that the Death Fork recall played into Yamaha's decision to pull the plug.

Here is a link to Sheldon Brown's Viscount/Lambert page.

https://sheldonbrown.com/lambert.html

I have a question for you all.

My understanding is that Viscount is pronounced long I, silent S VIGH count. At least that is how we pronounced it when I worked at a shop that sold them back in the late 70's.

So how is Lambert pronounced? LAMB-bert? or lamb-BEAR?

The Lambert stamped steel rr derailleur. It took the crown from the Valentino as the worst modern era rear derailleur. (OK, the deluxe dnb was really the worst of the worst)

It is interesting (and puzzling) why Lambert would develop and manufacturer this *** when there were decent Suntours available.

I was clearing out some old junk and sold this on eBay about 8 years ago for around $30 or so

let's roll!

^Do you know about the infamous 'death fork' ? That sure looks like one to me....

What do these bikes ride like? I've always been curious.

I've ridden mine for a number of one hour-ish rides and find the bike to be quite compliant yet very stable. My bike is pretty much OEM with a new Hi-Ten chrome fork and a replacement saddle.

Granted, here in S/W Michigan I haven't taken it down up any mountain climbs or tricky decents. But I find that I can accelerate easily, take turns with confidence, and just comfortably glide along without thinking about it.

And, just because, here is a pic from my most recent ride.