jimmuller 

I never knew enough about the Raleigh models to understand, so I have to ask: Why so many Super Course's in this list?

gomango

+1

We usually have a Colnago, Ciocc, Pinarello, De Rosa, etc thread running if not daily, then certainly weekly.

I also notice quite a few threads about the Dutch bikes as well.

I hardly feel slighted, yet it is an interesting observation Gary.

KonAaron Snake 

To answer two questions at once...Super Cources were inexpensive relative to the Internationals and Professionals...there were more of them and they're extremely versatile.

While many/most of us drool over the Italians, fewer of us have them because there are relatively few to have and they usually command large dollars. More of us have multiples of things like Raleighs because they're less expensive and easier to get. If the question was what bikes are the most sought after, Italians would dominate the list.

beech333

I was thinking about this a little last night. Considering that so many of us seek out the best, whether by just buying them first or slowly upgrading our keeper fleet, I wonder how many Paramounts are out there in the C&V collection, if the Paramount could be considered one model. Don't several members have 2-3?

Of course, I am not endorsing the Paramount as the 'best' C&V bike. It is just highly sought after for some reason.

auchencrow

Despite "only" having a straight gauge '531 frame, the ride and handling characteristics of a SC can fairly be described as "magical". Most of its owners would attest that it can hold its own against ANY sport-touring C&V bike - no matter how exotic or expensive.

It is nice too that there are enough of them around at reasonably affordable prices so that most who aspire to own one, can.

SC's are very adaptable too. People equip them as commuters, touring bikes, grocery getters, etc. They were popular with the fixie crowd too, presumably because of their fancy lugwork.

I think though, to really understand and appreciate them, you really have to own one.

rhm

Ack, I guess I should have put a smiley on that line, huh?

How's about we start a thread "show us your unique bike that no one else has," with the stipulation that it can't be unique because of modifications, but rather that it's just a rare model that no one else has. For example, my Norman Rapide is not only the only one I've ever seen, I've never even heard of another one. My Counterpoint Opus II is a pretty rare item as well... serial number 21 as I recall. Counterpoint Presto, also the only one I've ever seen, though I have heard of a couple others. And so on.....

lotek 

I'll see your Norman and raise you a Jan de Reus (there are 3 that I know of in the US).
how about Remy? I've only seen one (mine), although they were a big producer in the
Netherlands.
Heck, those two make my Zieleman look downright common and there were only 235 imported
to the U.S. according to Ko Zieleman.

for most popular or more realistically the most imported I'd have to say Peugeot U08. it seems
there's a Peugeot thread about every other day if not more frequently.
after that Centurion, and Schwinns. oh and for the record I have never owned and as far as
I recall only ridden a Varsity once.

Marty

repechage

14 Italian, 4 American, 6 French, 2 English (1 Raleigh International) I guess I will have to look again, my wife has counted and while she counts frames as bikes, she came up with 29.

repechage

Super Courses were good enough not to hand over to the teenager unless he was interested, often not ridden enough, so they survived, and later not good enough to keep (garage sale material) I think most of the SC's on the forum were second hand purchases, they were attractive bikes in their day, I might have bought one had they had more typical threading in the BB (very early 70's) as I really wanted cotterless cranks. I did not at the time like the look of the Gran Sport. So I kept saving for a bike that Eugene Sloane pointed toward, full 531 DB, Campagnolo hubs and drive train, cotterless cranks, Nervex Lugs, forged ends, quality leather saddle. Being on the West Coast, most of the brands he directly suggested were not around.

gr23932

What about Colnago Supers and any of the Eddy Merckx models? I might just be saying that since I own many and know many who own some also. (Sounds pretty trippy.lol) Seems every time I go out I see someone riding a Colnago or Merckx. Maybe it's just me??

beech333

That might be due to whatever area you are from. I have yet to see either, not counting the web.

Edit: I'll take that back. I think that I saw a Colnago in Slushlover2's collection, but he is 100+ miles away from me.

gr23932

+1...

But I do think there are many on this forum alone who owns or has own one of either brand.

flammenwurfer

The only bike I own that I think would being among the most popular is my Raleigh Sports. I think the Sports is very well represented and loved on this forum.

My other bikes a pretty uncommon. A Takara 732, and a Raleigh Technium 480.

RobbieTunes

I think the Raleighs, the Peugeots, and the Schwinns were around a long time, and would have to be pretty recognizable even to people on the margins. They had many incarnations, a big lineup, and continued staying power.

However, I have to side with roccobike, though I'm not all that objective, obviously.
I offer these supports, for the Dave Scott Centurion Ironman:

1-Well known. Recognized. The logo. The name. The quality for the price. I have yet to be on a local group ride, or a larger regional group ride, with an Ironman, and not have someone say, "hey, I used to have one of those," or "man, I haven't seen one of those in a while, but I remember back in the day...." It simply happens all the time.

2-Availability. It must be regional here, and probably because of what LBS's in the area carried, but they're available. Around here, common enough that I've had probably 15 come through, presently have 4 in the garage. roccobike has 4, lsdmt 2, and I know of at least 4 others who have them, a few more who had them at one time. They show up here several times a year.

3-Able to keep pace. Upgraded, they'll run all day with modern bikes. This is true of other C&V models, too, but it's one reason I back the Ironman for a popular C&V ride. If I was assigned to find and build a steel bike into a modern ripper, that's what I'd go after. Very easy to find and upgrade, and many of the OEM parts can be kept as is.

4-Numbers. Check the Centurion database thread. Tons of C&V members have them. From A.Winthrop (a couple) to T-Mar (still looking for the one he wants), there seems to be an abundance of believers. dahossman's hand-painted models to thenomad's powder-coated ace, and the tons of colors that came OEM.

5-Notoriety. The "Miami Vice" model. Need I elaborate on notoriety?

6-Owner Enthusiasm. Well, there's moi, for example.

7-History. Name two grueling endurance events won 7 times by the same person. Now, take the one that was won on an off-the-rack bike, several times. The Ironman. For a bike with a producton run from '85 to '89, it seems to have a lot of staying power.

There are others, I'm sure. This one is just my personal choice.
That being said, did anyone have any doubt I'd post as such?

rjn3100

I grew up in Chicago, and it seemed (to me) most of the people that didn't own Schwinn owned Moto's.
When I started looking for my first "real" bike I was steered to Moto by a couple of people, but I just had a bad feeling about "that weird foriegn" threading on the screws.

roccobike

I'd have a hard time arguing with your choice beech333. I'm still voting with Robbie and the Ironman, but I have to admit, when someone says Paramount, they don't have to explain where that bike belongs in the scheme of things.
I would have to agree with the Raleigh Supercourse as well.
These bikes, along with the Ironman are all available at reasonable prices, perform as expected or better and immediately obtain admiration from fellow cyclists.
There are so many good brands and models out there, this is a very hard choice.
I'm glad I'm not judging this.

RobbieTunes

Well said. There is "popular," and most can agree on a range of models that seem to fit in there.

As far as most popular.....even I can't go there. I can vote and support, but not state definitively.

noglider 

These brands that were invented by the importer are tricky. I'm not badmouthing them, but clearly, their distribution throughout the US and Canada were uneven. Nishiki was popular on the west coast. Centurion, I don't know where, but I haven't seen many, and I've been paying careful attention to bikes since 1975. I even sold them briefly in New York City, and they were well made and a great value, but that's not really at issue. We sold a lot of Nishikis in the Boston area, though that didn't make it a huge name there. They were imported by West Coast Cycles, which is in California. I don't know who imported and designed Centurions. I know Lotus were designed and imported by Alpha Cycle here in the New York City area. I don't know how wide or patchy the distribution of those bikes was. I just read that Ben Lawee designed and imported Univega, and he was also the US importer of Motobécane! Nice taste, Ben (RIP)!

I agree with konaaronsnake about Italian bikes. In the 80's, they were regarded by many Americans as the very best racing bikes in the world. Probably the most popular Italian racing bike then was Colnago, but there sure were a lot of other names. The quality of most of them was about the same when you got a model equipped with Nuovo Record or Super Record stuff.

So yes, I would include Colnago and maybe Merckx. I don't know about the models of those lines, but I'd guess they didn't have many models.

And since I'm having so much fun with my Super Course lately, I'm glad to see the explanations of how they've become so popular. I agree that it was a confluence of qualities and accidents that bring them to such regard.