bikemanbob

When I bought my Schwinn Tempo, it had a beautiful black Brooks saddle. As nice as it was, it just didn't look right so I removed it. In the saddle bin it went. At different times, I tried it on other bikes, but it just didn't look right. Also, I had a equally perplexing problem in what to do with my 82 Panasonic DX 2000. I had traveled from Metro Detroit to Fort Wayne, IN to get this bike. Although the picture quality was bad, I could see the chrome. At first opportunity, I made the trip and returned home without my wife knowing. I had a chrome bike! However, for four months, I did nothing with this bike. In my head, I tried to envision different color schemes, but nothing looked right. Well, this week it hit me--put the Brooks on the Panasonic. I don't know why I didn't see it sooner, but the combination is great! Finally, a home for the Brooks and color scheme for the Panasonic. The final result turned out better than I envisioned. In gratitude, I sent updated photos to the previous owner to share my excitement. She was happy to see her old bike, and the new direction it took.

Roger M

A chrome Panasonic..wow. Looks real good.

The Brooks looks much better than the old saddle. One thing I would have done differently, the brake levers. I like the non aero levers with gum hoods(on that particular bike), but that's my own preference.

Nice work

noglider 

Is that a DX-2000?

bikemanbob

It is.

ColonelJLloyd 

Looks good, man.

lostarchitect 

Sweet bike, the brooks looks great on it.

Puget Pounder

I need to get myself a chrome bike.

Italuminium

Very nice. Always amazing how much more serious a bike looks without those stupid reflectors.

jbkirby

Beautiful!!!!!!

seedsbelize 

Your wife still doesn't know? Beautiful bike. One day a chrome will come my way.

bikemanbob

I think she suspects something, but I don't think she knows (my friends have big mouths). Although I had to drive 2 1/2 hours each way, I'm thankful I made the trip.

Thanks everyone for your encouraging words!

shadoman

Just Gorgeous, bmb, exactly as it is.

randyjawa 

That is a lovely bicycle and, for what it is worth, I am a fan of all chrome frame sets. I have built up a few all chromers, with the most recent being this late sixties or early seventies Torpado Luxe...


The saddle selected is one of the many I have come upon fitted to older Italian bicycles. Nice looking and pretty comfortable, even though this one is pretty broken in...

balindamood

I love chrome bikes.

lostarchitect 

Must be nice to have enough space to hide a bike from the significant other! I bought a work stand the other day. Set it up, put a bike in it. And said nothing. When my girlfriend came home, she saw it. Also said nothing. Then I noticed the shopping bags she'd also brought home. Guess we both figured it was even.

rekmeyata

Two outstanding chrome bikes, thanks for sharing those pics, their stunning.

I hide a bike every once in awhile, but she eventually figures it out, or thinks one of the bikes gave birth. She knows I have a hobby allowance so whatever I buy she doesn't care a whole lot. She only starts to really care if I go beyond the allowance for a particular hobby then she gets excited, and depending on the household budget it may not fly, if it does fly I end up paying the additional back monthly from the hobby allowance then my allowance may suffer for months! Ain't life grand? If you don't have an unlimited income you have to play within the rules.

DirtyHarry714

I really like the saddle on that chrome! I've never owned a panosonic but i sure would like too! I have a chromed out Bottecchia I'm building up as my cruiser, this really reminded me of it but your chrome is in alot better shape then mine.

bikemanbob

Thanks Randy for pictures of a great bike! If I never find another chrome bike, I will be content. I'm happy to have one.

As to my wife, I keep changing my keepers so often that she can't keep up. Thankfully, the sale of one keeper funds the next. The hobby allows me to upgrade my inventory and supplement my income. The key is to give her money often so that she can spend as needed.

Once again, thanks for your words of encouragement!

pastorbobnlnh 

I need to still find me a chrome bike! Your chromey is sweeeeet!

What do you think of the Brooks B5N? I picked up a NOS B5N, still in the original plastic wrap, several years ago. I had no idea which bike it would be best for, mostly because it had to be the hardest, thickest (as in the leather) Brooks I had ever had in my hands. Frankly it was intimidating. It had no give when pressed.

Finally, when I built my '71 Paramount in May (but didn't ride until July) the B5N found a home. Fortunately, it rides perfectly! My longest ride so far this summer has been on it, and with no complaints.

bikemanbob

Thanks Pastor Bob!

Like yourself, I thought the saddle felt hard, but it seems to ride very smooth. I will be happy with it.

bob

robtown

Is the Panasonic standing a little taller now? The Brooks and Panasonic were made for each other - very sharp looking.
Chrome bike - I just got mine and they are nice. My wife wasn't too enthusiastic about mine, but since I paid with bike flipping funds she did not complain. She did comment on the "nice blue bike" she saw yesterday. Oh, that, I said, it's just a Colnago.

Rangerover

lol have my wife convinced classic bikes are less expensive than classic cars which would be my druther lol so she doesnt say to much unless i spend enough to draw her undivided attention lol,

Rangerover

sweeeeet panasonic man ,i have one like it in the garage ,like seeing pics of others it gives me ideas, very beautiful bike likes the chrome and those are sweet riding bikes

bikemanbob

When people see my collection, they question the need for so many bike (I have nine keepers presently). I tell them that some people collect cars while I collect bikes.

My Panasonic is less about the ride and more about the show. I have other bikes that I prefer to ride; but when I want to make a statement, I bring out the chrome.

rekmeyata

I have a small collection of classic cars, but I bought them over the last 35 years so the damage was spread out over time, but their all worth more (but one) then I paid for them even in the down market we're currently in. Bicycles to me are weird, because even though all the bikes I have that are vintage are worth more then I paid for them I think a lot of the vintage bike prices have gone insane, and some I would never consider vintage and were junk when I was kid have gone up way to much, example Schwinn Varisty, Suburban, and Collegiate's were junk when I was kid and now routinely sell for over $100...I don't think their worth anything but their junk value!!! But the baby boomers are trying to buy their childhood memories again so the prices are going up. And then you have the Italian vintage bikes which I feel are too high as well, great bikes, perhaps, but they didn't have the best shifting by any means, but up they go getting stratospheric prices. Think too that the computer has helped drive a lot of prices. Even a lot vintage cars are getting stratospheric prices that I think are absurd, that's why I haven't bought a true classic car in quite a few years. My last two cars I purchased was a 79 Chevy Camaro Z28 which is the car that current worth is about 2k less then I paid for it about 5 years ago, and it's not quite a classic yet but getting there; and the other which is not a classic but I got it cheap is a 72 Chrysler Newport 4 door with a 440 I got last summer, that thing gets it on for a large car, and it's actually my everyday driver! But I'm probably done buying classic cars due to the prices unless they collapse then I may one or two more or I get a killer deal I can't refuse. The only soft spot I have is for a later model Triumph TR6 but I will probably wait till after I retire for that.

The classics I currently own are a 58 plymouth fury 2dr 350 golden commando; 63 studebaker avante supercharged; and a 67 ford galaxy 500 2dr conv. Those are stored in a climate controlled pole barn at a friends place who has 18 classic cars in that barn!