just picked this up last night. i had never seen a paramount like this before with the different decals and such, but after some investigating, i heard that these were fairly scarce and not made for a very long time. in fact, i think that paramount only used these decals for two years or so. anyway, its a little big(whats new) but rides great. what i dont like about it is the xc pro rear derailleur and the bar tape. i need to get a superbe pro 7 speed rear to match the rest of the parts. dont know why they put that ugly black one on there. i also dont really like the saddle, i will be looking to trade for a turbo or rolls. anyway, im dying to take it for a real ride but that darn rain!!!

I don't know anything about the bike, but that's a crazy tire combination.

Nice find. Pastor Bob has a similar vintage Paramount, I believe an 83. I'm sure he will be along shortly to give you the details. In the meantime, check it out on Kurt's Paramount Registry.

Very nice find! It's an early eighties Waterford 'Elite' Paramount.

Joe, with his affinity for turning up a weekly score, must be living in the hotbed of 'nice finds'!

PM sent about the saddle.

that would be totally cool if it was an elite model. i just assumed it was a regular waterford paramount with unusual decals.. the thing im looking for is a blue turbo saddle to maybe trade for that brooks thats on there now. i saw one on the same (almost) paramount thats on san fran. cr right now and i think it is really great looking on that bike. thanks everyone again.

I don't think this would be considered an "Elite" model, but the standard production from '83 / '84. Check the serial for the date code:

https://waterfordbikes.com/now/home.p...aramountdating

Edit: Very cool bike, BTW!

Congrats,

Bob

thanks bob. love the bike and the ride of it as well. i think th elite had gold decals on it. this one does have a chrome chain stay which the one on san fran. cr does not so someone must have special ordered that i guess.

Awesome find...please post the serial number when you have a chance...here's a really bad photo of my '82 Paramount Elite...near as I can figure, Waterford switched to the "rainbow" Paramount graphics sometime in '83...are these considered Elites as well?

Congratulations!

Oops. My bad; it looks like the Elite Paramounts had gold decals.

It looks as if the previous owner put compact gearing on it, requiring the longer cage XC RD.

Hardly an issue, really - she's beautiful! Sent you a PM about the Turbo.

-Kurt

P.S.: Send me the serial, size, and data on it when you get a chance, Joe - I'll put it in the Registry.

Agreed. XC Pro didn't come around until a few years later, so it couldn't have been original. It's nice stuff, though, so if you change the gearing and go Superbe I'm sure you could find some vintage mountain biker on here who might be interested.

As I was told about my '83 when I bought it from mrmw, who purchased it from the original owner, these only came as framesets. It was up to the owner and the LBS to build it with whatever components they wanted. Mine was originally a Campagnolo-Suntour hybrid. Campy hubs, BB, shifters, headset, cranks and pedals. Suntour FD & RD.

Have you located the serial number? Yogurt has a blue one like yours and it does not have one. My serial number is stamped in the left rear drop out, aka, Chicago cage style, "F8392." I'm curious to see what yours might have.

thanks so much for the information. the serial number, i think, is on the bb which is cinelli. it says F8471 so not quite sure what that is? also put some pics of the saddle

F8471=June, 1984. It was the 71st Paramount frame built by Waterford that month.

We knew that sometime between December, 1983 (M8340) and September, 1984 (J8496), the serial number was moved from the left rear dropout to the bottom of the BB shell. You've just helped us narrow it down to between December, 1983 and June, 1984. Thanks for that!

how much $? and what part of the country do you live?

Did you see the one in the "Are you looking for one of these?" and then felt something was missing in your life?

Are you trying to buy the bike from Joe?

-Kurt

exactly! i really loved the look of that blue saddle on the blue bike with the blue tires and bar tape. talk about color coordination!

here's your blue turbo, but it ain't cheap!
https://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-BLUE-SUEDE-T...ht_5651wt_1165

By November '84 Waterford switched to the new decals. Have you seen this frameset on ebay?

https://cgi.ebay.com/1984-Schwinn-Par...item2304f179fc

So 4 days ago you see a highly unusual Paramount on SF Craigslist, for lots of $$. Shortly thereafter you show us ANOTHER one of these rare babies that you just bought !!

What's your secret, Joe? Constantly reloading Craigslist 24/7?

I need to come and stay with you for a few days so we can find my Holy Grails.

very interesting. i didnt like the looks at all of those paramounts that came out after nov 84. dont know why they just looked "cheap" to me. probably exactly the same bike as mine. i wouldnt have been interested in it if it looked like those. just a personal thing i guess. hope i didnt offend anyone. didnt mean to.

anytime jan. it was the strangest thing! dont know what the odds are of that happening. saw a bike i loved-never saw one before-next day(practically) saw an identical one for half the price with better components(except the saddle). if this keeps happening i will never be able to save any money. this month alone ive bought a della santa in tahoe, a paramount tandem in cupertino, and the paramount in davis. luckily my ex wife wont know. i think thats the reason im not married.ps. yes, im afraid im spending too much time on cr. this has to stop. seems like, besides teaching high school music, im either riding, working on my bikes or searching cr. thats my life!!! help!!!

Riding bikes. Working on bikes. Hunting for bikes. Besides having a low stress job, with summers off.

You don't need any help with your life. Sounds ideal to me.