Thanks cobrabyte. I have been researching and it looks like Nitto is the way to go.

Lotus Classique Upgraded
 

I didn't think that I would revive this thread but I have made some changes (upgrades) that make this the ideal bike for me. This is basically the jewel in my 2 bike fleet, and believe me, this bike will never see rain or or rough trails. I've got a re-built Trek 613 for those duties. For those of you that are Hell bent on keeping bikes in stock condition, this might be slightly offensive. To be clear.... about 3 years ago I almost convinced myself that I should buy a Waterford frame (or similar) and build it up to suite me.Thanks to this site, I decided that I could find a nice vintage frame and do the same. I'm not saying that a Tange Champion #1 frame is comparable to a modern steel Waterford, but for my purposes it comes close.
Since my original posting I have made several changes. Last mid Summer I replaced the original Ukai wheel set with a set of Sun MK13II's from Harris Cyclery and installed a pair of Michelin City tires with the reflective side wall.
A side bar on these wheels! I sort of jumped the *** on giving this wheel set glowing praise without living with them for a while. I wish I could upgrade my review of these wheels on the Harris site. After the the end of last summer I had 2 spokes break and was having difficulty keeping them true. I had the broken spokes replaced and the LBS claimed the tension was good. Early this Summer, I broke another spoke in the middle of a 42 mile charity ride. Always on the rear drive side. The spoke tension was not correct and I had to have the entire rear wheel re-laced. Thanks to Bens Cycles in Milwaukee, they re-spoked and properly tensioned the wheel with Wheelsmith spokes. They seem pretty bullet proof at this point. I think these Sun rims make great wheels if they are laced and tensioned properly.
I removed the Sugino cranks, stripped the anodizing, and polished them with some Blue Magic. They really turned out nice . Thanks for the tips on this site from posters like "khatfull". I also installed a new Sugino 36T middle ring and a new Sugino 24T Granny. The Suntour VX's. friction shifters were removed I installed the originally equipped Suntour Symmetric's. The original Dia-Compe 500 brakes were upgraded to Shimano BR-450 dual pivot brakes. Much better stopping power and easier to adjust.
I removed the Suntour Cyclone MKII GT for a like new series one black and silver Cyclone GT. Shifts like a dream and I think it looks better on this bike. I also upgraded the Shimano 14-28 Hyperglide to an IRD Defiant 14-32 freewheel. I was a little apprehensive about ordering one of these things in light of all the reliabilty issues, but so far so good! This is a series 4 production model. I also purchased (on Ebay) some NOS Suntour QR skewers.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7637/...85922536_b.jpgLotus B by dalefm5, on Flickr

Nicely done! Gen 1 Cyclone is my favorite component group.

Very nice!
 

You have inspired me OR! I have the same bike in blue and so far I have upgraded the stem and bars (nitto techmonic & 46mm noodle), brake levers, cables, housing, pedals and saddle. I am adding 28mm tires soon. I love the ride on this bike and I am further inspired to upgrade the brakes and drivetrain at some point. Is the Cyclone GT hard to find? I will post pictures before too long. Thanks!

I will look forward to your progress pics. I got lucky and found mine on Ebay for under $60. I just saw one go for $140 on Ebay. Way too much so I would hold out for a reasonable price. Other good options are the second generation Cyclones or the very under rated Vx GT. Are you planning to convert to a triple crank?

Thanks OR! I will keep an eye out for a reasonably priced upgrade on the derailleurs. The more I ride the Classique, the more convinced I become that it is more than worthy of select upgrades. I don't really need to do more presently (it's riding great!), but I plan to over time. If you don't mind, I have a couple of questions:
1) It seems you are satisfied with the Sun wheelset now, but it might not be your first recommendation. Can you recommend any other good options?
2) Great job on the crank. It is way too nice to replace. How did you strip the anodizing?
3) I may go to a triple crank. I assume Sugino is the way to go. Does it limit my derailleur options?
4) Why did you make the change to the Defiant 14-32 freewheel?
Thanks again for any advice!

1) The Sun MK13II is a very good rim set when laced properly. I have had good luck with wheels built with Velocity Razor and Fusion rims.
2) I stripped the anodizing with Easy Off "heavy duty" oven cleaner. Use caution because it has sodium hydroxide. Here is a typical article: http://www.bikeguide.org/forums/showthread.php?t=177334.
Polish with Blue Magic or your preference.
3) I love the old used Sugino Triple cranks. Fairly easy to find on Ebay. LP, VP or the AT. They should not limit your derailleur options. If you stick with the stock double crank, you should be able to use the short cage versions. If you convert to a triple, you will need the longer cage version of RD's along with a longer asymmetric BB spindle.
4) I wanted to gain some additional climbing ability by going with the IRD 14-32 along with the 24T granny. Just turned 60!

This is such a nice upgrade to this bike. I'm not a big fan of the looks of those brake levers, but the modern brakeset is very sensible on a real-world bike. I prefer the WTB Pure V saddles, but that's my arse. That puppy looks like it's ready to ride for years to come.

Thanks again OR! Very helpful! My Classique was a craigslist find. I am familiar with Lotus bikes as the orginal owner of a 1983 Lotus Unique (another great bike which may be my next project). The Classique is a step up and really a special bike. My next upgrade will be the brakeset (the old Dia-Compe's are an adventure!) and then I will move on to the drivetrain and wheelset as needed and as parts become available. Will post pics soon.

I love this thread and you guys are doing a great job with your bikes.

The second generation Classique models are very popular, and if it means anything, the Classique page on the website is one of the most visited. If I can make any suggestion it would be that you not modify the frame or paint and retain any parts that you upgrade on your bikes. Interest in Lotus bicycles, even from other countries, shows that people are looking for original condition examples. I've already facilitated two overseas purchases of original Lotus bicycles (not for personal profit) one went to Japan and one went to Sweden.

While Lotus did not have a factory here in the US, Sidney and Ernst Star were an important force in designing the bicycles. Sidney even took trips to Japan. Your bikes were designed and imported by a father and son company who truly cared about their product. Sidney often conducted business from his home and even conducted employee interviews there.

The warehouse in the early 1980's was located in Ronkonkoma, New York. The warehouse was in the basement of a building shared by a sausage factory and a bakery :p. Bicycles were unloaded from containers and slid in their boxes, on their sides, down a slide and removed from the warehouse by a conveyor belt. Bikes would come in containers with approximately 330 per container. Spring time was very busy, as containers were coming in daily to be unloaded and reloaded. Some accounts were large enough to drop ship containers directly to them. At this time the business was run by Sid and Ernst out of Sid's home. Sid’s wife also worked for the company as did a bookkeeper.

That information isn't even on the website yet, you guys got it first! :)

Thanks Snydermann! Good advice and I don't plan on discarding any of the original parts. The upgrades are really all about improving safety and riding comfort. That is an interesting story about Lotus bikes and great job on your website. I bought my first Lotus (a Unique) in July, 1983 on Long Island. I remember that it cost $239 all-in and I had some envious friends. I was in college at the time and had a pretty good summer job so I splurged! I also remember being in awe of some of the other Lotus models in the shop. I put a lot of miles on that bike and still have it so, if you like, I'll post some photos to your website. I may even have the orignal owner's manual but that will take some digging. I also remember having the catalog and spending a lot of time studying it (pre-internet days!). I don't think I have it anymore though. Thanks again for the information.

Nice job Lotus83. I like the way that bike looks in blue! Nice colors on the bar wrap.
Thanks to Snydermann for a wonderful site!

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback!

Lotus83, we always appreciate ANY photos or information contributed to the site. At this point we've consumed and published most of the information we have currently available and we're praying for the next catalog or tidbit of information to surface. If you have a 1983 catalog I will give you choice of any of my internal organs for it, two catalogs and a vintage LOTUS water bottle gets you my first born child. We do have a 1983 specification sheet thanks to a contribution from a reader, but no actual catalog.

Thanks OR! Snydermann, I think you're safe for now because I don't think I'll find the catalog. I'm pretty set on organs and kids for the time being anyway! I will dig for the owner's manual though and I'm pretty sure I have an original water bottle.

Should I upgrade mine or sell it? I've loved my Lotus Classique since I bought it back in the early 80's and kept it in good condition, but it's harder and harder to climb hills with the old gearing and the brakes don't work as well as when I had young hands. Is it worthwhile to upgrade the bike with modern components and does anyone out there have an idea of the cost if I have a bike shop do the work?
Attached is a photo of my bike.
http://www.bikeforums.net/asset.php?...9&d=1316990620

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the cages are interchangeable between the V-series and 1st gen. Cyclone. So you could find a short cage Cyclone and swap in the gt cage from a V-gt. Those options are much easier to find. Although, as mentioned, there's nothing functionally wrong with a V- or Vx-gt.

I have a soft spot for Lotus bikes... I've owned a few, and I still have four of them.

I used to own a blue Classique, and I rode the wheels off that thing in the early '90s. Sold it in '97 when I thought I was done with it. Argh...

I had a sunburst orange Odyssey that I bought and sold shortly thereafter. I hindsight, that was another one that I should have kept, it would be sweet on 650B.

I have a blue Legend that I bought NOS and have ridden over the years in several configurations. It's now a 650B machine.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=220213

And there's a green Columbus SL frame Competition here that is configured with Shimano 1056, and it feels for all the world like a '92 RB-1 with better frame tubing.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=220214

And finally, I have (2) Classiques that have been converted to 650B. These are really sweet bikes. A bronze one is setup with a triple drivetrain.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=220215


And a maroon bike has a compact double drivetrain. http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=220216

I still remember the pink Supreme a buddy rode in the mid 80's - that was a beautiful bike!

These Lotus bikes were under the radar for many years, but folks are wise about them now. The Tsunoda built frames are very good quality.

In my opinion it would be a shame to modify that bicycle with modern parts. It looks to me to be a 1986 model Classique, the third-generation Classique bikes seem a bit scarce and harder to find than the earlier versions. Yours looks like a nice example. Please click on the link in my signature and contact me through the Lotus website, I'd like to talk to you about the bike.

Wow Tinkerbike, that is an impressive collection! It also sounds like you let some beautiful bikes out of your grip in the past as well.

I'd love to have a first-generation Pink Supreme! I've never even seen one in person. I've seen quite a few blue and violet models but the pink is elusive.

You're absolutely right about the Lotus models being under-appreciated and off the radar for far to long. I watch other bikes of mediocre and/or dubious quality get fawned over on this and other bicycle enthusiast sites every day. Models of other manufacturers I've already seen in the hundreds, if not more, considered "rare". There are many Lotus bicyces of much higher quality and much more rare than anything in a similar class made by the bigger manufacturers. There are some Lotus models so scarce I can't even find photos and some bikes I've seen perhaps one or two examples.

I just bought a super clean 1983 ice blue 58cm classiqueand i love ithttp://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=362059

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=362103

My usual crappy thumbnail, and one I've posted before at that. But here's my 84/5 Classique that I bought as a frame and fork from Thrifty Bill and built up with mostly original-spec parts, with upgraded crankeset and derailleurs.

Thread bump!

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/311/1...cd44da60_b.jpg

Just wanted to join the club...