Renovating a full-chrome, 1982 Katakura Silk
04-21-11, 03:10 PM
#201
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Every now and then a post will come along that is absolute joy to read,this was one of then best, Thank You !
04-21-11, 05:03 PM
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[QUOTE=Scooper;12361798]I'm one of those guys that think shiny metal and red are made for each other. 
]
I,m the same except it,s "orange" for me !
]I,m the same except it,s "orange" for me !
04-21-11, 10:58 PM
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Have a good trip, can't wait to hear how she ends up!
04-21-11, 11:07 PM
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WOW! The bike is really looking gorgeous!
I have really enjoyed following this thread and seeing the progression.
The swap meet looks like C&V heaven!
I have really enjoyed following this thread and seeing the progression.
The swap meet looks like C&V heaven!
05-20-11, 07:21 PM
#205
十人十色
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I've been back in Tokyo for a bit over a week now and have been busy...
To the posters who have commented while I've been away, thank you for your kind comments. While back in the UK I did a bit of work on my Leo Star, WaxOyling the frame and fitting a smaller chainwheel for the hills in Devon, where I keep the bike. https://www.flickr.com/photos/2298367...7604620676201/
Back to the Silk - while in the UK I found some red tape of a darker shade than usually available, made by a now-defunct (I think) company called Advance:
[IMG]
IMG_6166 by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]
It smelt rather moldy.
Before taping the bars I applied some foam tape to the points I use when riding in order to provide some shock-absorbing:
[IMG]
IMG_6164 by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]
The taping was tricky due to the tape being shorter than it could have been and I had to re-do it several times in order to get to the end of the bar. I don't like sticky tape on bars so I started from the middle and worked my way to the end with the bar-cons plugging the loose ends into the ends of the bars:
[IMG]
IMG_6169 by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]
And voila!
[IMG]
IMG_6172 by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]
As you can see, I have replaced the adjustable Ambrosio stem with the black Nitto triathlon one I posted photos of before. I'm sure some will love it and others will say a silver stem would look better. I think they are both right
I'm still undecided about whether or not to fit the black Bluemels mudguards. I think they would make the machine look more balanced by breaking up the expanse of chrome but as the frame was rusty in places, and although I've coated those places with WaxOyl to prevent the rust returning, I will probably try to avoid riding the Silk in the rain, so do I need mudguards? We'll see.
Oh, and I've replaced the Campag brake levers with SunTour Superbe levers. Now I just need to get some hoods...
To the posters who have commented while I've been away, thank you for your kind comments. While back in the UK I did a bit of work on my Leo Star, WaxOyling the frame and fitting a smaller chainwheel for the hills in Devon, where I keep the bike. https://www.flickr.com/photos/2298367...7604620676201/
Back to the Silk - while in the UK I found some red tape of a darker shade than usually available, made by a now-defunct (I think) company called Advance:
[IMG]
IMG_6166 by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]
It smelt rather moldy.
Before taping the bars I applied some foam tape to the points I use when riding in order to provide some shock-absorbing:
[IMG]
IMG_6164 by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]
The taping was tricky due to the tape being shorter than it could have been and I had to re-do it several times in order to get to the end of the bar. I don't like sticky tape on bars so I started from the middle and worked my way to the end with the bar-cons plugging the loose ends into the ends of the bars:
[IMG]
IMG_6169 by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]
And voila!
[IMG]
IMG_6172 by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]
As you can see, I have replaced the adjustable Ambrosio stem with the black Nitto triathlon one I posted photos of before. I'm sure some will love it and others will say a silver stem would look better. I think they are both right
I'm still undecided about whether or not to fit the black Bluemels mudguards. I think they would make the machine look more balanced by breaking up the expanse of chrome but as the frame was rusty in places, and although I've coated those places with WaxOyl to prevent the rust returning, I will probably try to avoid riding the Silk in the rain, so do I need mudguards? We'll see.
Oh, and I've replaced the Campag brake levers with SunTour Superbe levers. Now I just need to get some hoods...
Last edited by Dawes-man; 05-20-11 at 07:25 PM.
05-20-11, 07:24 PM
#206
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05-20-11, 07:40 PM
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Wonderful, simply wonderful. I love the SR seat post! 
Scott
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05-20-11, 07:44 PM
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Very, very nice.
05-20-11, 08:23 PM
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Hi Dawes-man - Really wonderful outcome on the Silk! I love the tape, the black accents, all of it 
I was pretty impressed with your Leo Star as well.
BTW the countryside is SO beautiful in England. I toured England in '89 and will never forget it.
I was pretty impressed with your Leo Star as well.
BTW the countryside is SO beautiful in England. I toured England in '89 and will never forget it.
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05-22-11, 07:41 PM
#212
十人十色
Thread Starter
Thank you everyone!
Glad you like the Leo Star, Auchencrow. It's the bike I use when I visit home.
All that's left to do is fit the black Bluemels and see how they look. Might take a while. Oh, and in the next few weeks I'm going to ride the Silk over to show Mr Sugiyama to show him. I'll post a photo of him with the bike when I do.
It's been a a lot of fun working on this project. A big part of the fun has been the encouragement of everyone who has posted messages of support. Thank you all very much!
Glad you like the Leo Star, Auchencrow. It's the bike I use when I visit home.
All that's left to do is fit the black Bluemels and see how they look. Might take a while. Oh, and in the next few weeks I'm going to ride the Silk over to show Mr Sugiyama to show him. I'll post a photo of him with the bike when I do.
It's been a a lot of fun working on this project. A big part of the fun has been the encouragement of everyone who has posted messages of support. Thank you all very much!
05-23-11, 07:21 AM
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I'm going to vote a resounding NO on the Bluemels. That bike looks perfect as it is...if there was a single cloud in the sky it would remain indoors. No need to guild a lilly. Just my .02.
edited to add that I just can't look at this bike enough...it's just breath-taking. Time for your next project? There must be so many interesting bikes there...Thanks for giving us a window.
edited to add that I just can't look at this bike enough...it's just breath-taking. Time for your next project? There must be so many interesting bikes there...Thanks for giving us a window.
Last edited by Fast Cloud; 05-23-11 at 07:27 AM.
05-23-11, 11:04 AM
#214
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Hotness!
05-23-11, 10:13 PM
#215
十人十色
Thread Starter
I'm going to vote a resounding NO on the Bluemels. That bike looks perfect as it is...if there was a single cloud in the sky it would remain indoors. No need to guild a lilly. Just my .02.
edited to add that I just can't look at this bike enough...it's just breath-taking. Time for your next project? There must be so many interesting bikes there...Thanks for giving us a window.
edited to add that I just can't look at this bike enough...it's just breath-taking. Time for your next project? There must be so many interesting bikes there...Thanks for giving us a window.
Yes, there are a lot of interesting bikes here but, thankfully, all too small for me.
The Silk was very much an un-looked-for-project. The irony of not having a single Japanese machine in my collection, despite living and having been converted to bicycle-worship in Japan, had long floated around in the back of my mind but I'd long abandoned any hope of finding one my size. And, had Auchencrow found any other make of Japanese bike than a Katakura Silk it would have remained so. For reasons already explained, a Silk in my size was impossible to ignore.
Even before the Silk came along, and brought to 9 the number of machines in my collection, I'd been finding it harder and harder to justify having so many bikes. The Silk has just added to the 'problem'. That said, I do still hanker after a 1950s 'road & path' machine. A pal in the UK has recently acquired a pair of 25" 1954 Claud Butlers from the original owner, one a road and the other a path, both in excellent, original condition. He only wants one but hasn't made up his mind which one yet. If he offers me the path I might find it hard to resist.
This is my collection, in order of acquisition and what I feel about them:
1979 Dawes Atlantis - the bike that converted me to bicycles and now my rain bike with mudguards and Fichtel & Sachs Torpedo Duomatic hub. It rains a lot here and so this machine sees the most use. I'll never sell it although I can see myself swapping the frame if I ever come across one the same year and colours in very good original condition.
1982 Trek 730 - Bought as a frame and built up with a Campagnolo Super Record/Nuovo Record groupset from a 1978 Trek racer. Beautifully made and a delight to ride but I just never ride it. It will be sold when I get round to it.
1975 Peugeot PX60 - My touring bike, bought as a frame set and built up, will not be sold. It's comfortable, works really well (particularly since I replaced the Rally RD with a Duopar) and is gorgeous to look at.
1950 Hetchins Magnum Opus - Bought as a frame set and built up with period components, fits me really well and I will never sell it.
1950 Thanet Silverlight - bought as a complete machine and which is now a project to return it to its original spec, something the seller completely neglected to do when he restored it. I need to change the wheels from 27" to 26" and the brakes from side-pull to Resilion cantilever. When it's finished, I'll probably sell it as it does pretty much the same as the MO.
1959 Leo Star - I bought this in the UK to ride there. Every time I go back to Devon in the UK I do some more work on it to make it more suitable for riding the hills around there. I got it really cheap as it was pick-up only about 2 miles from where my nephew lives. I'll keep that one.
1979 Dawes Atlantis - The seller claimed it was bigger than it was. My Tokyo Atlantis is a bit small for me at 58cm so I thought I'd replace the frame but it turned out to be exactly the same size. I had it painted to see how well they would match the paint (not bad) and now have it in Tokyo and will sell it when I get round to it.
2009 Chesini Pista - Lovely, fixed gear, made to measure by Chesini in Italy, in cromo velato. However, with it I've realised the Italians tend to favour small frames and it's a 59cm - my preferred size is 61cm. I'm thinking of going back and asking them to make me a bigger one and selling this one after transferring all the components. I go to Verona, home of Chesini, every September so it'll be easy enough to arrange.
1954 Hetchins Nulli Secundus - Straight stays, lovely machine, set up as a fixed gear but a little small for me at 23.5". My other, perfectly fitting, Hetchins is 24.5". I bought it as a complete machine but the paint had gone and many of the parts worn out so I had it repainted and rebuilt it with period components. If I buy the Claud Butler I will definitely sell it and will likely sell it if I don't.
1982 Katakura Silk - you know all about that and I can't see myself ever selling it.
If it all works out as above I will still have 5 or 6 machines in Tokyo. I was talking to a Japanese friend with a collection of 12 English lightweights from the 1930s to 60s the other evening. He said he thought that with 5 machines you should be able to cover all uses. I think I agree.
Otherwise, with so many machines there is always something to do. That in itself could be called a Project.
Your resounding 'NO' has resounded all the way to Tokyo. Knowing me, I shall probably not get around to fitting them... unless I get bored one day
And I'm glad you like the look. Thanks!
05-23-11, 11:05 PM
#216
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I like the balance of the black stem and saddle against all that chrome. With the red, black and gold all playing off the chrome, it's lovely. I can only imagine how much better it looks in person!
05-24-11, 07:05 AM
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Whew...Those are some great looking bikes. The Magnum Opus, the Silk and the PX60 in particular run to my tastes. I like a few gears at my age, but they're all magnificent. Normally, I might have to agree with your girlfriend and suggest you take up Kendo or something but since you'll be selling the Trek surely there'll be room for at least one more. 
05-24-11, 07:24 AM
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Possibly my all-time favorite thread. The bike: gorgeous, stunning, fabulous, breath-taking, etc., etc. The story that comes with it: priceless. Thanks for sharing, Dawes-man!
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05-24-11, 08:33 AM
#219
十人十色
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05-24-11, 08:36 AM
#220
十人十色
Thread Starter
Whew...Those are some great looking bikes. The Magnum Opus, the Silk and the PX60 in particular run to my tastes. I like a few gears at my age, but they're all magnificent. Normally, I might have to agree with your girlfriend and suggest you take up Kendo or something but since you'll be selling the Trek surely there'll be room for at least one more.
But Kendo?
It would take up less room, not to mention money, though... And as for the bruises, I think I prefer fixed gear
05-24-11, 08:38 AM
#221
十人十色
Thread Starter
05-30-11, 10:39 AM
#222
Junior Member
Is there a C&V Hall of Fame for threads? If so, I nominate this one. (Terrific story, great pictures, a bit of debate, lively contributions from a bunch of nice folks, and a happy ending.)
05-31-11, 06:31 PM
#223
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The final result is stunning. Love your other bikes, too! As a one-bike guy of (of unremarkable vintage), I'm jealous how your cup runneth over. Lucky will the buyer be who winds up with your 'extra' bikes. Thanks for sharing the story in so much detail.
05-31-11, 08:47 PM
#224
十人十色
Thread Starter
You very nicely summed up how I feel about this forum and a lot of the threads.
05-31-11, 08:51 PM
#225
十人十色
Thread Starter
Thank you very much. Gosh, I sometimes wish I could have remained a 'one-bike guy'. If you ever get another, it'll be the start of the slippery slope. I wonder if there is anyone in this forum who, having bought a 2nd bike, managed to remain a 2-bike guy...? There's a whole new thread there...