Calling all Specialized experts
 

Ok, I have deduced, via the date stamps on the Shimano components, that I am completely tearing apart a 1987 Specialized.

This was my first road bike, bought around 2002 or so I think. It had stickers on it when I got it, which I peeled off in anticipation of painting it, which I then thought better of it. I'm confident it's an Allez, but not sure of which model exactly. It has a full 105 component set with downtube shifters.

Fast forward to now, and I've let the poor thing sit outside for a while. I just stripped it and removed the beaten, red, original paint and repainted it red. The rattle can job turned out ok, but I need to touch up a few spots.

I'm going to move the shifters to the bar ends and make this a grocery getter.

Edit: I forgot to mention, all of the Shimano components had date stamps of late '86 (Nov, Dec, etc.) which is why I'm sure it's an 87 model.

Anyhow, I'd be very interested if anyone knew where to get info on this vintage of Specialized. I'd like to know more about it. Specifically, someone mentioned in my thread asking about wheels that Specialized made a funky sort of 6 speed cassette/freewheel that may be hard to replace. Besides, knowing more about the bike overall would be handy.

Would the numbers on the bottom bracket be able to tell us anything?

If it's a six, not seven speed cassette. 6 speeds were reg. freewheel types on those bikes. In '87 and mostly only in '87 the design of the cassette was different . It was screw on but compatible with eight speed. I'm already over-explaining it. If putting new wheels on it, later types make more sense for a number of reasons which I prefer to not expound upon. So unless you need to replace the gears or wheel don't worry about. Such scenarios can and ought only be addressed as they arrise, as it pertains.. ($$ etc.)

You've done the best that can be done ascertaing the year and model. The # is redundant, frankly not neccessary. Very few Allez models were extraordinary save a version introduced in the early '80s which is different than yours and I very much doubt that you have a rare one. I suppose that youir bike was made by Giant. Your remembering or saving the stickers pertaining to country of origen, tubes etc. may give YOU a sense of the bike. They were made of chromoly tubing. To me it's just an '87.

A nice bike to buy back then . 105s shift REALLY well, good frame design and the brakes work well. If the wheels are good and they were back then it doesn't pay to change 'em. Specialized didn't fool around.
I personally don't find BarCons all that much handier than DTs, that's OK too, many like them and the modest expense may make it worth it. I don't know how more knowledge would be handy, the bike has standard, sensible, interchangeale components.

In '87 the Allez SE was equipped with Suntour Sprint components, and the Team Allez was equipped with Dura-Ace components. The Sirrus was equipped with 105 components. In addition the '87 Allez SE did not come in red, but the Sirrus did. I believe the Allez SE and Sirrus frames were very similar though.

Ahhh, see. That's why I had to ask. That makes a lot more sense.

Are there any good sources for old bike catalogs? Any historians out there scanning all this information in?

You ARE correct. I didn't take exception with the OP, I'd prepared a paragraph regarding what you clearly laid-out but didn't feel it was worth it. That bikes mixed-up.

Sirrus was a slightly different frame. I don't think it matters this much, with the paint went the identity. It can be used as the OP intends it to ge used, a hack.

This is it, exactly. Well, the frame anyway. Same blue inserts on the S's in the lugs.

In case anyone is curious, I'm painting it a similar red and I'm going to fill in the S's with silver as well as outline the lugs with silver as well. I'll be sure to post up some pics once it comes together. I'm excited about it. I've been wanting to really give this bike a good rebuild for a while. It was my first road bike. I used to do a 32 mile loop every other day on it when I was in college and didn't have to work all the time.

Consequently, the rear index shifting always worked great for me, but the front friction shift had me throwing the chain too often for my tastes. Is there an index setting for that shifter that was turned off? I'd love to set it up if it's there.

Front shifting is never indexed. Your front derailleur probably needs to be adjusted. Here's a good guide:

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=75

Specialized MTB's have their year of mfg stamped on the BB. We call it a serial number. Why don't you get it for me and maybe I can help.