I've posted my Cooper here several times in the past, but I've made some changes so here are some more photos:

I have changed up my Ron Cooper bike a bit as well and am thoroughly enjoying riding it.
I need to take some better pics.

In answer to your first question, you build it up, ride the hell out of it and appreciate what a great frame Mr. Cooper made. Not being snarkey, just tellin' it like it is.

With a $500 budget, you should be able to find a decent bike on CL or eBay and swap the parts over. Just make sure what you get has Engligh threads (any decent English bike will do, as will almost - note I said "almost" - all American and Japanese bikes). Italian bikes will likely have a different bottom bracket threading, but most everything else should work. French anbd Swiss bikes - just don't. None of their threads will match. I don't know about Dutch or Belgian bikes.

Since you should be able to sell the frame and fork of the steed you buy (depending on the frame, it could be from $100 to $1,000 or more), your actual purchase budget can over your $500 target and make it up on the sale of the frame. Doing it this way also means you do not have to worry at all about frame size of the donor bike you buy. I'd suggest reading heavily in the C&V "What's it Worth" forum here on BF. Also look at the "sold" bikes on eBay. These will give you about as good a background in what you should be paying for whatever donor bikes you indentify.

Your Ron Cooper is definitely worth the effort. He was one of the absolute top-drawer frame builders. You have a gem in the making there.

Johnnyboy1,

My Ron Cooper is stamped '902' on the BB. The PO is also the original owner. He met with Mr. Cooper in the San Francisco bay area and had the frame built for him - he says in 1980. However, the NR derailleur is dated 1982. So I'm not so sure. I wonder how you date your frame to the early 1980's?

Not that it matters. The frame is so beautifully crafted it is a joy just to examine. Even better is the ride, wonderfully compliant, intuitively responsive, and rock solid in all ways. What a fortunate acquistion you have made! I know budget is always a consideration. I hope you are able to furnish it with the quality wheels and components it deserves. Please post pics of your build.

My post dated 6/7/10 (american style) talks about dating FYI. Others around that same time do too. Mine is #842 and definitely built in Spring 1982 (see photos posted on page 1 of this thread). I was living not far from his shop and had mine made. If in fact he averaged around 200-250 frames per year or so that would put yours in the 1982 category. If it has braze-on top tube cable guides then this would be even more conclusive.

Thank-you Gazzer for that. I should have done my due diligence more carefully before posing my question. There's a pic of the bike on the previous page of this thread. It does have three brazed cable guides on the tt. Dating the frame to 1982 makes total sense given the date stamped on the rd.

My Ron Cooper build is now completed

Pete

That's a beauty. Is that braze-on for holding a race number on the underside of the top tube?

Yes, well spotted. I'm no racer but it's a nice touch anyway.

Pete

In june, I have seen this beautiful COOPER at the AVV (Anjou Velo Vintage) in Saumur France ...a perfect beauty !

23-Sep-14: 1975, 56CM, British Racing Green (Re-Painted by J.P. Wiegel 2001), Campy NR. Currently on consignment at Cutting Edge, Berlin, Conn.

How did I miss this one?

Gorgeous.

Deserves its own thread so we can see many more pics.

For those on Facebook, Martin Cooper maintains a Ron Cooper Owners Club group. There are more pics of many Coopers there, including mine.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/5780985847/

Pete

For those on Facebook, Martin Cooper maintains a Ron Cooper Owners Club group. There are more pics of many Coopers there, including mine.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/5780985847/

Pete

Thanks, Pete. I just joined and posted mine up over there. Paul

It took me a year to finally (almost) finish this project. It has taken me so long to do this that I want to post a photo, to prove to myself that it really is going to happen. I have interim pics someplace, but not on this phone.
Regards, Ëric

What a beauty! I really like that green color.
Were did you get it painted?

I look forwarded to pics of it built up.

Thanks for the encouragement. I am the painter. The color is as close as I could find in a rattle can. I am very pleased, though I think it might have more blue than the original. I repainted it red in '76 after repairing it. (Went flying over the bars at the back of a big crash.) So I have not seen the proper color in 38 years...
I had to strip the forks AGAIN. Just coming back to it now. I have gone vintage bike crazy... Bought an early gios in rough shape, and a funny bike frame in perfect shape, that have kept me away from the Cooper (and my unresolved issues that it represents). But I'm back on track as of today. Priming forks (again) today.

...I think it's been a frame, being painted and waiting for some suitable parts for about three or four years now.

Sorry it has taken 5 years to reply! :-) Yes I suspect that is the shop but not 100% positive.

I up load a picture tomorrow, but I own a Bates BAR (Best All Rounder) made by Ron Cooper in 1999. The frame is 1 of 100 he made under agreement with the Bates family to continue to produce the BAR frames to company specifications, including souring the Reynolds 531 proprietary tubing and the unique front fork. Ron passed in 2012.

I understand Bates decals are available. You can find out more on Classsic lightweights UK website as to how to find them. Jeff

Upgrades to the wheels, drive, and shifters...

Very sad to hear this. My Ron Cooper is one of my favorite vintage frames, and rides like a dream. I will be posting an update in a couple of days.

Updated my Ron Cooper with a rear wheel change to match the front one. Both wheels are now Campy Nuovo Record low flange 36 hole hubs laced 3X with DT Swiss 15 gage SS spokes to Ambrosio Montreal Medaille D'Or tubular rims. The tires are Veloflex tubular with a 25mm Roubaix in the rear and a 23mm Carbon in the front. The rear wheel was spaced for 126mm dropouts and I had to cut the rear axle, respace and recenter to fit in the Cooper's 120mm spacing. The bike now weighs 20.6 pounds, minus the Zefal frame pump. The ride with this wheel and tire setup is fantastic.

Ron cooper Bates