70s-80s steel frame, head tube badge says zebra deluxe, has a zebra rearing on its hind legs, colors on badge are red, white, blue (???). Components are shimano 333 downtime shifters, dia compe brake levers, shimano thunderbird front dérailleur, shimano eagle rear dérailleur, shimano 333 5spd freewheel, not sure what brand cottered double crankset. Please help me identify make/model and possibly year. Thanks in advance.

without pix this is really hard, but I guess Zebrakenko...and given the components described it might be a low-end model and early-mid 70s (possibly bike-boom era).

Sounds like its a Zebra Delux

I post a pic when I get home. May be a hour or two

Was Zebra a bike manufacturer? Or was that a model from some other manufacturer? Trying to trace the origins of this bike. Debating on wether ita worth restoring and upgrading to vintage 600 parts or leaving as is with a new set of tires and use it as a beater/grocery getter

quick search says that most Zebrakenkos did not have a badge like you describe, they might have had a stylized "horse/zebra head" in the ST or HT decal, but if it has a badge that usually has a lion's head.
I guess that's where the zebra ended up!

The shimano 333/eagle/thunderbird parts are lowend? As in below 105 in modern standards? Like sora/deore? Or below that?

Kinda in the Tourney - 2300 range.

Below that. Very low on the food chain.

Ah ok. Not versed in vintage knowledge. Would a steel framed unknown bike equipped as mine be worth a full resto? May be vintage 600 group and a paint job. I don't think a Frankenstein swap to modern tech would be worth the hassles although I heard it can be done.

Zebrakenko was a Japanese brand marketed in the USA starting circa 1976. They shortened their name to Zebra, circa 1986. However, this does not appear to be one of them. The component mix is decidely boom era and the early Zebrakenko headbadges sport a lion's head and 'Goldensports Zebrakenko'.

What is considered boom era? Sorry playing catch up in terminology.

In general, no. Bicycles equipped as you describe are generally entry level models with high tensile steel frames. Add in the fact that it's an obscure, non-prestige brand and a restoration becomes even less logical.

1969-1974.

Ok. Thanks guys. Luckily it shifts, brakes, rides smoothly. Guess I'll throw on a set of tires and it will become the loaner, store runner, beater bike. May be I'll convert it to a fixed gear or single speed to shed some complication and weight. I'll keep a eye out for another vintage.

I'm sure the members would still like to see some pictures and personally, I'd appreciate the serial number. It may provide some clues to the actual age and who manufactured it.

I agree, don't invest much money in it unless you are sentimentally attached in some way. Otherwise, it's a beater.

Zebrakenko implausibly had a lion's head on their head badge:

But then there's something like this Zebra(kenko) from a European owner on RetroBike...if your bike looked this good, it would be a keeper!






Owner says it has Tange tubing (possibly Champion #2)...those headlugs remind me of something from Losa (but, naw, couldn't be)
Edit: on 2nd look it appears the owner is/was none other than one of our own Benelux members: Elev12K in NL...small world.

heres the pics ofthe badg and a side shot of the bike. sorry lighting is bad and its rainy outside. hope this helps

pretty much a gaspiper...but that's a cute headbadge!

lol. thanks i think. it was a $40 craigslist spur of the moment buy. itll b good to run to the store. least if it get stolen its not too bad.

Serial # is CS28129

I wonder if "Zebrakenko" might mean something like "Zebra Predator" in Japanese?

Kenko means health (healthy) in Japanese. Lol I no idea how it relates to Zebras.

Anyone know of a bike manufacturer who's serial #s started with CS?