Jimbo1983

I'm trying to figure out whether the Shimano 600 parts I have are worth keeping and trying to make a complete set, or if I should just sell them. I have a crankset, two brake levers, and a brake caliper. They came off an old SR frame that someone had 'sweet-fixied' and they don't know where the derailleurs are.
Is any Shimano 600 as good as any other? There are some sets on e-bay, and then some single parts like shifters that seem sort of pricey. I would like to build the frame into an around-town/longer rides bike but not spend any ridiculous money on it.
Also the frame is spray-painted, annoying....

frantik

that is 600 Arabesque.. a lot of people think it's one of shimanos more attractive gruppos

you need a lot of parts to complete the group but they are worth using unless you insist on having a complete group

khatfull

It all depends on your approach...if:

1) You don't need NOS condition parts.
2) Are willing to be patient and watch eBay for deals.
3) Are willing to be patient and watch eBay for deals.

(yeah, I have a patience issue...)

...then it's well worth keeping and I agree with frantik....it's a beautiful group.

I'd keep it....besides, this is how we work here...buy a few parts build a bike around them

mkeller234

Yeah, most people seem to like how it looks. At one point I traded for a 600 arabesque RD and was disappointed by it's looks in person. I thought the plastic bits were cheap looking and I felt it looked bulky. Most of the early Shimano 600 left me feeling disappointed in the looks category. Of course, that is my opinion and I am probably the minority on this one. I am sure it functions just fine.

Jimbo1983

You mean worth using anyway? The cranks are rather pretty The BB is fine, so I just have to find derailleurs and shifters. I have a nice enough 6 speed rear wheel to use and a front one that needs a new skewer. If I'm going to be buying derailluers anyway then maybe I should look for arabesque then.
Do you think this set would be a good buy, and then just look for some DT shifters separately? The frame has the little steel boss on it for the clamp-type shifters.
https://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Shimano-...item19c58fd692

Jimbo1983

Hah I'm the most impatient person when it comes to a project. I jsut don't know what is a good price to pay and what would be outrageous.

due ruote 

I won't claim to be up to speed on 600 prices, but that Ebay set doesn't seem outrageous (although the shipping is sort of high - it will probably all go in a $5 priority box). Maybe you could poke around and spend many hours and a year later find it for 20, but what's the point? Did you look to see if there's anything in the C&V marketplace subforum? The only other thing I'd suggest would be checking at a co-op if there's one near you, but Arabesque might be sparse.

Jimbo1983

Cool, I'll have a good look in the marketplace. I wish we had a co-op in town but oh well!

Thanks

thook

The Arabesque gets rather expensive. I got a derailleur/shifter set, but have no crank or calipers or brake levers to match. Overall, I wasn't all that impressed without how it looks in person. I mean it is nice, but honestly it looks a bit like their lower end stuff with some ornate engraving and some aluminum bits instead of steel........like the pulley cage. I was all excited about building the set, at first, until I got it in my hands....haha! Now, I do have an SR crank that'll match pretty good......good enough for me......without spending the $80 or more just for the crankset. I also have an Arabesque short cage I'm not going to use and just sell it. I got a long cage version to replace it with.

I've not had a chance to actually use any of, yet. Still need cables and pads and whatnot to actually get the bike going. And, I'm tossing the idea around of repainting. So, I don't know how well everything functions. But, I have read it functions pretty darn good.

thook

BTW, if you're set on getting a full group, that ebay listing is the best deal I've seen. I wish I'd waited a little while longer for something like that.

canopus 

I find it funny, all this searching for the old Shimano stuff. Back then you could barely find it and when we did, we swapped it out for something better, like Suntour. None of the bikes we sold had Shimano groups on them. And very few repairs came in with Shimano on them. Most were Suntour/SR/Sugino or English stuff. I remember having a Shimano 600 Crankset in the display case, we got tired of working around it so the owner took it out after two years, I don't remember what happened to it. We even shunned them in the BMX department to. The only thing we consistently got in with Shimano stuff was Department store 3 speeds, they would have the Shimano 3 speed hubs on them.

gabewill

I think it's only worth gathering a complete group if you won't ride or have the bike without it. While it's cool to have matching components, it doesn't make riding the bike more fun. Don't spend lots of money: just get stuff that works!

Jimbo1983

Yeah, I don't have anything else I could use anyway, well, except an old suntour FD. But no DT shifters, Rear Derailleur etc. So if I'm buying those things anyway, I might as well get 600 if I can at a decent price. I probably won't worry about the rear brake caliper, dia compe will work fine.
I think I'll get that set, just have to sort out a paypal account as I've never used e-bay before!

khatfull

I know of a shifter set and and an RD at least at one of my local co-ops, I'll check the price next time I'm there, probably this afternoon

frantik

yeah they have a unique look but i'm not a big fan of arabesque that much either.. i like the later offerings from the 6200 line better personally

Wildwood

+1 - this is my approach.

I have a partial Arabesque group (missing headset,cranks and hubs) planned for a future build. The bikes original chainrings will work just fine so the matching parts would only further my ego or enhance (maybe) the future resale value.
YMMV

edit - Restorations, esp. high quality restorations, always win my admiration and praise for inspiring our vintage hobby.

Oregon Southpaw

Don't forget about the headset, the coolest looking part of Arabesque IMO.

Also Canopus' post is blowing my mind.

divineAndbright

Ive got a set of calipers, braze on type downtube shifters, FD, crank (plan on keeping the crankset), and headset if youre interested and have any trade items I might like just PM me

23skidoo

jimbo you can email me at rdiegel@gmail.com. I can probably equip you with a set of 600 derailleurs for the price of postage; they won't win any beauty contests but they'll get you down the road.

Jimbo1983

Thanks very much for the offer! The guy on e-bay reduced the shipping so I already bought that set.
I think I have a dia-compe brake caliper for the back, and can just keep an eye out for reasonably priced front shifters. Need to tell myself to slow down a bit, I get carried away with these things and want to finish them yesterday! This project can go slow...my wife has suggested I get rid of the other 'free' bikes (crusty beach cruiser and crusty beach cruiser tandem) in the garage before doing anything else.
I love hunting for parts to make things with and have recently discovered the joys of working on bikes. The two go together well

miko

I'm actually looking for a set of shimano 600 rear derailleurs for my univega sporttour if any of you guys you ever want to separate

randyjawa 

This is what you will need to complete the group. And it is worth completing...


And this is what the components will do for your bike...

divineAndbright

randyjawa; Nice, thats a golden arrow FD though, and the headset is missing!

frantik

i think golden arrow looks cooler than arabesque, but they both have that "old timey" look

miko

I love these components they definitely have the right vintage look precision crafted