Lotus Unique c.1988
 

I let this one slip through my fingers today. It was in my neighborhood, $100 asking so probably had some flip potential. But it was too big for me, and the possibility of making $100 didn't seem adequate compensation for the potential domestic strife.

So I thought I'd post the seller's pics just for reference purposes. He said that he'd bought it in 1987 or 88. There is some reference on C&V to the Unique having a Tange #1 or #2 frame, but there's no such sticker on this one and in general it doesn't look that high end, more of a 'sport tourer.' It has vertical dropouts!

Hi Alan,

Yeah, I was posted to run down there last night. But, like you, I'm at maximum marital harmony/bike capacity at the moment. Time to sell some, I guess.

Thanks for posting the photos! I was watching it before he added them. It's a good thing it wasn't a 58. I'd have been tempted to push my luck.

I was out of town when I saw the listing, but they guy returned my call and I snapped it up when I got back. It is not a lightweight by any means (heavier than both of the Loti I've owned), but it looks to be all original and is in very nice condition, except for the lack of decals (I hate it when they do that!). It does have the Lotus badge, and the fork crown is engraved with the Lotus flower in addition to the logo seat stay caps.

This one seems to fit better than my 53cm Lotus Excelle. I will have to measure, but looks to be a 56. Looks like the guy barely rode it - ever. I will have to cruise over to disraeli gears and check out the info on Suntour BL. I made a note of the serial number; I will post it later when I'm back home.

Deal! Suntour Blue Line are pretty decent too. What is the frame made out of? Definitely older than 1988 unless those components are not original. Looks more like 1984 +/-.

There are no tubing stickers remaining, and it's not very light, so I'm assuming gaspipe. I got the feeling it's older too, with older style logo. I have an Excelle that T-Mar estimated to be an 88, and it has the newer logo scheme with floral motif. This one has matching Ukai 27x1 rims with eyelets and Sanshin hubs (I think).

The real surprise was a very long Cinelli stem; a nice surprise given the ubiquitous SR stems you always see.

Nice score, Don!

To provide some earlier data points, the 1982 Bicycling Buyer's Guide lists the Unique as middle of their line-up (Grand Prix, Excelle, Unique, Eclair, and Clasique, from lowest to highest).

It had Ukai 27" rims, Tange champion main triangle with hi ten forks and stays, Shimano AQ 11 low flange hubs qr hubs, Shimano 600 EX derailleurs and shifters, SR Custom cranks, KKT pedals, Kashimax saddle (!), SR bars and stem, and Dia Compe 500 brakes. The 21" model weighed 26 lbs. (surprisingly heavy).

In any event, that's a beautiful bike, and will make you (or someone else) very happy. Love that color (as well as the yellow Benotto tape). I'd buy it any day of the week (except for the days when I think that my wife might suffocate in my sleep for bringing home another bike).

Enjoy!

Funny, I'm new here for the most part and understood Lotus to be a very off beat brand, yet, very recently there seems to have been a lot of posts, questions, and finds related to Lotus bikes. Coincidence?

Thanks Bob! That's interesting, because my Excelle is substantially lighter.

Is it that she'll suffocate in your sleep, or that she'll suffocate YOU in your sleep? LOL

There is very little conclusive information about Lotus online, other than a couple of catalogs scanned online. Lots of threads here with anecdotes about Lotus bikes and their owners' experiences, but mostly speculation and good memories. There was a thread on my bikesite that ran for several years; at one point the daughter of the Starr family that owned Lotus chimed in with some good info. Then there's the oft-repeated myth that a cargo ship carrying a shipment of Lotus bikes sank in the ocean, and that the company never recovered from the loss; that one was recently disproven by a C&V enthusiast on this forum. Apparently Lotus topped a Consumer Reports comparison back in ~85, and this helped popularize the brand in the mid-late 80s.

T-Mar has put together a list of Lotus models and a hierarchy of the Lotus lineup (I will send the serial number soon), helping shed some light on this brand. But no, there is not much conclusive info beyond that. Mainly it's just us Japanese bike fiends fanning the legend and drooling over old pictures.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...drive_side.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ygo/Lotus4.jpg

Suffocate me, to be sure!

As the days get longer, let's plan an after-work ride soon.

Sounds good. Let me know if you want to meet up for one of the CM rides or have another route idea.

I had a unique frame. It was made from Mangaloy 2001. The lug work was really nice. Sadly it was too big.

Glad you got it, Don! Once I saw how big it was I should have passed on the info--and I recall your fondness for the brand, but it seems we're all watching CL anyway.

Thanks! I was amazed that no one reading Chicago CL got to it first. The guy said he got lots of calls about it.

For those keeping score, the serial number is SH04673.

Nice bike. I posted recently about a Lotus Supreme I'm waiting on. I read some posts reagrding the Starr family, who I think were behind the Lotus brand. If I recall, there is still an Ernest Starr that teaches at Hofstra in NY. I am in NY, and a Hofstra alum. I am going to try to contact him, and see if he has any information to lend regarding Lotus. I'll keep you guys posted, as well as post pics of my Supreme if it ever gets here (damned Fed Ex).
Ron

I have the exact same bike, though I think it is 52 cm. (30" standover). I've put 100 miles on it in the few weeks I've had it and love the way it rides. I just have to get used to the metallic lavender color. Just doesn't make me feel too manly!

Another "new" Lotus Unique owner here - garage sale find: 58cm, ser. # EN00925, lavender w/black headtube, chrome fork and stay ends. 126mm dropout spacing.

Pedals, crank, chainwheels: Shimano 600. Derailers: Suntour Cyclone 7000 rear, Suntour Sprint front. Freewheel: Suntour Winner Pro 13x18 "corncob". Brakes: Royal Gran Compe 500 w/Superbe Pro aero levers. Vertical dropouts, indexed shifting.

Saddle: Selle Italia Turbo (blue); Wheels: Mavic MA-40 700c w/Shimano 105 hubs. (don't know if these are original or not)

Pictures (click to embiggen):
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c.../th_lotusa.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c.../th_lotusb.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c.../th_lotusc.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c.../th_lotusd.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c.../th_lotus1.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...th_lotus11.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...th_lotus10.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c.../th_lotus4.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c.../th_lotus3.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c.../th_lotus8.jpg

nice looking Lotuses (Lotis? Loti?) anyway intersting that the parts make it look like an '84 but it has Vert drops. were all Lotus bikes like this?

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1267417210

I suggested to my buddy in passing that he pick up url=http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Lotus-Unique-T-A-Triple-Crank-Touring-Bike-55cm-/330447548800?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item4cf0357180]this[/url] lotus Unique on ebay....3 days later I get an email that says "I Got IT!"

Hasn't showed up yet and its got some mismatched parts but should be a good rider.

My 88-ish Excelle has short horizontal drops, even though it came with indexed shifting. Oddly, the 84-ish Unique has vertical drops and friction shifting. (photo of bike as found)

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...drive_side.jpg