Unidentified and Powdercoated Univega
02-02-13, 05:14 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Northampton, MA
Posts: 418
Bikes: 198? Sport Racing Frame of unknown origins, 1992 Marin Bear Valley, 1970 Raleigh Sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Unidentified and Powdercoated Univega
Hi guys--
I picked up a painted frame at my LBS last week, and it seems that no one is sure what it is. I love it, regardless of what it turns out to be, but the curiosity is killing me. Here is what I know: it's a 52cm, with approx. 54cm top tube. It doesn't have recessed settings for the brakes. The front fork is not original, but it does have UNIVEGA stamped on the tops. I'm not sure if the entire frame is a Univega, or just the forks. The serial number seems to line up with everything I have read, it is BS17781. Can anyone shed some light, or know where I can get more information? Sorry about the photo, it's not really my thing. Thanks!
I picked up a painted frame at my LBS last week, and it seems that no one is sure what it is. I love it, regardless of what it turns out to be, but the curiosity is killing me. Here is what I know: it's a 52cm, with approx. 54cm top tube. It doesn't have recessed settings for the brakes. The front fork is not original, but it does have UNIVEGA stamped on the tops. I'm not sure if the entire frame is a Univega, or just the forks. The serial number seems to line up with everything I have read, it is BS17781. Can anyone shed some light, or know where I can get more information? Sorry about the photo, it's not really my thing. Thanks!
02-02-13, 05:23 PM
#2
Thrifty Bill
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,524
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
Other than telling you the year, the serial number is useless.
The other piece of useful information would be the seat post size. That will just tell you how high up the product line it is, it won't ID model either.
It could be anything, and realize Univega never made a single bike.
The other piece of useful information would be the seat post size. That will just tell you how high up the product line it is, it won't ID model either.
It could be anything, and realize Univega never made a single bike.
02-02-13, 05:50 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Northampton, MA
Posts: 418
Bikes: 198? Sport Racing Frame of unknown origins, 1992 Marin Bear Valley, 1970 Raleigh Sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Other than telling you the year, the serial number is useless.
The other piece of useful information would be the seat post size. That will just tell you how high up the product line it is, it won't ID model either.
It could be anything, and realize Univega never made a single bike.
The other piece of useful information would be the seat post size. That will just tell you how high up the product line it is, it won't ID model either.
It could be anything, and realize Univega never made a single bike.
02-02-13, 09:14 PM
#4
Thrifty Bill
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,524
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
I've owned a lot of Univegas, and except for a couple of special models, once someone strips off the paint and decals, along with the original components, I can't. I get a lot of my clues from the parts on a bike (if they are original).
Again, Univega never made a bike, they are one of dozens or more brands from that era that had others build bikes for them. And like many of those other marketing brands, they used multiple manufacturers. At best, you might be able to track down who manufacturered it, but that does not tell you the model.
And although I am a huge fan of Japanese bikes from the 1970s and 1980s, a lot of them from various brands are very similar, particularly once the original paint is gone (some of the differentiation was in paint combos.)
Again, Univega never made a bike, they are one of dozens or more brands from that era that had others build bikes for them. And like many of those other marketing brands, they used multiple manufacturers. At best, you might be able to track down who manufacturered it, but that does not tell you the model.
And although I am a huge fan of Japanese bikes from the 1970s and 1980s, a lot of them from various brands are very similar, particularly once the original paint is gone (some of the differentiation was in paint combos.)
Last edited by wrk101; 02-02-13 at 09:19 PM.
02-02-13, 09:18 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Northampton, MA
Posts: 418
Bikes: 198? Sport Racing Frame of unknown origins, 1992 Marin Bear Valley, 1970 Raleigh Sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've owned a lot of Univegas, and except for a couple of special models, once someone strips off the paint and decals, along with the original components, I can't. I get a lot of my clues from the parts on a bike (if they are original).
Again, Univega never made a bike, they are one of dozens or more brands from that era that had others build bikes for them. And like many of those other marketing brands, they used multiple manufacturers.
And although I am a huge fan of Japanese bikes from the 1970s and 1980s, a lot of them from various brands are very similar, particularly once the original paint is gone (some of the differentiation was in paint combos.)
Again, Univega never made a bike, they are one of dozens or more brands from that era that had others build bikes for them. And like many of those other marketing brands, they used multiple manufacturers.
And although I am a huge fan of Japanese bikes from the 1970s and 1980s, a lot of them from various brands are very similar, particularly once the original paint is gone (some of the differentiation was in paint combos.)
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
grayEZrider
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
9
07-23-19 04:34 PM
beels99
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
1
11-19-15 01:59 PM
BOSSaRaptor
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
14
12-02-12 04:20 PM
