I just completed my 58cm Lotus Classique Craigslist find. Some new and vintage upgrades. All the usual, headset bearings cleaned re-packed, bottom bracket serviced with new loose ball bearings (clean & adjust). Upgraded from the original Sugino RT double to a Sugino LP triple crank set (46, 36, 26). New Sram pc870 chain, Shimano 14-28 Hyperglide, and all new cables. I also changed the SR stem to a slightly taller one to bring the bars a little closer.
I replaced the ailing Suntour Symmetric (got tired of trying to fix it or find a decent replacement) with a NOS Suntour VX shifter. The original Suntour ARX components were changed over to Cyclone GT II. The handlebars were upgraded from the original 42cm to 46cm from a mid 90's Trek. I also added Tektro R200a aero levers. The original Dia-Compe 500 brakes were disassembled, cleaned and adjusted. The original paint has it's flaws but is generally in very nice shape so I left it as is.
Of course... new tubes and tires 28c.



The original Ukai wheels were in decent shape. The sealed bearing Suntour hubs are as smooth as can be. These are keepers!

New MKS Touring Pedals. Sugino LP 170mm cranks.


Tektro Aero Brake Levers.
OK... enough bandwidth! here is a link to all the Pics:
https://s76.photobucket.com/albums/j7...build/?start=0

Yours is set up really similar to mine, including the Tektro levers. Nice job with the triple! Although yours is the same color, same chrome, same wheels, looks like it must be a slightly different year due to the shift levers.

Edit: Well, I read it closer, you started with the same shifters, so yours is very likely the same year after all.

Well done!

I love my Classique!

Gratuitous picture posting on my part, here's a twin in 21 inch frame size:

Lotus Classiques are one of my perennial favorites. If I ever see a decent one in my size...

That yellow tape makes a nice contrast to the frame color. Oh... I just found a nice set of Symmetrics on Ebay. For the future. Right now, I don't feel like re-cabling the derailleurs. I just feel like riding it!

beautiful bikes, but I hate those blackwall tires

Yeah, those are really classy looking bikes. Nice one!

I found some gum walls in my stack of take offs, they go on next week. I'll take another picture then.

nice job. it's just missing some power grips.

I like the blackwalls.

Very nice. I've always thought Lotus bikes were very classy. But what is the origin? Another American company importing from Japanese factories like Univega?

To each his own!... I never cared for them. They remind me of cheap whitewals that never stay clean. Maybe a thin stripe like red would do.

Just another marketing company, like Univega. They made nothing, bought the bikes from a Japanese supplier, and sold them in the US. In the case of the Classique, it was hand brazed in Japan by Tsunoda.

On the tire discussion, I have two sets of take off gum walls right now. One has a red stripe, that would look pretty good. But I have been thinking about using them on my Prologue. Not sure what tires would look best on that bike (it is red and white).

Bill it is your bike, don't let us into bullying you into changing the tires. I just think the black sidewall make the tires look chunky and cheap, and that is most any black tire on any bike. the thing that should be black on a bike is the tread of the tire and the riders shorts!

but same the tires with the red line for the prolouge

You make me want to finish my half finished Lotus Classique project which stalled out over a year ago. The really funny thing is you have the same tires on yours that I put on mine. +1 on leave the tires. Yeah, they are not that expensive, but they are some of my favorites for comfort (I have several pairs). Clearly, you do nice work!

Just to balance things out, I'm in the black tire or black with color camp. Gum walls, no matter how new, always look old, discolored, and cruddy.

Love to see some pics of your Lotus in progress! Especially if it's a different color. As far as tires... those inexpensive Michelin's have served me well in the past. Understated! IRC also makes some well made inexpensive bike tires.

oldroad,
nice build, a definite improvement

and i see your burgundy classique,

and i raise you a bronze!



its a little dirty now, it been getting almost daily use since the weather broke
mine was a craigslist find, and was suppose to be a flip but after i saw it and took it for a ride i fell in love

it was covered in dust and the chain was hanging off
the previous owner said " yea maybe you can fix it, a guy at work said no one would want it and i should just put it to the trash"

Fix it ? there's nothing wrong with it!!... THE TRASH?

well i to swaped out the bars, stem and levers. the suede saddle came off of a schwinn 564 and go's great with fizik microtex tape
the drive train will be upgraded as parts become available, I'm thinkin superbe!!!

I LOVE MY CLASSIQUE

Nice! I never noticed the geometry until now. How is the ride? (asking any of the Classique owners)

I love my Lotus Calssique!

Glad to see there's a bit of a fan club.

Here's mine Before:



and after:



link for more info:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cobraby...7614512256440/

Fantastic build. And another +1 for the blackwalled tyres. They look great. Gumwalls look cruddy to me, unless they´re on Cancellara´s Specialized cruising through northern France!
Enjoy riding it this spring!

Well, not sure if I can revive this thread but really great job! I have the same bike in blue (my frame paint is not as well preserved, but otherwise in excellent condition). I am considering the same changes to the handlebars, stem, brake levers and, possibly, a new triple crank. Was it hard to find a longer stem? How much more length did it provide? Were there any fit issues with that triple crank?

Longer stem? Well, if you look at the pics above, you will see that mine has a longer stem that I installed. Stems are available everywhere, I have a pile of them, and just picked one that was the right size for me, and near the top of the stack. Stems come in about any length you want. Of course, length means horizontal length, not the height of the stem. It provides whatever additional length you want, just buy the size (length that you want). Measure what you have first.

Thanks! I meant to say taller stem like the one that was installed by the OP. I'm looking to safely increase the height of the stem. My frame appears to be the same size as the OP's. Great bikes!

Buy a Nitto Technomic

Me, too. I love those things--especially in that red color.