Hi-Ten appreciation ?
01-30-14, 10:41 PM
#51
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01-31-14, 02:26 PM
#52
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I doubt that this refers to a 2000 series nickel steel (AISI grade) for a few reasons.
The format is wrong (no hyphen in AISi grades), there is no AISI 2030, and the decal is a Ti-Reynolds decal, and they've always used their own proprietary numbers such as 531.
It might refer to a steel with .20-.30 percent carbon, or it might be something else entirely. Only their hairdresser knows for sure.
All we know is that Ti-Renolds want to say it's somehow special.
The format is wrong (no hyphen in AISi grades), there is no AISI 2030, and the decal is a Ti-Reynolds decal, and they've always used their own proprietary numbers such as 531.
It might refer to a steel with .20-.30 percent carbon, or it might be something else entirely. Only their hairdresser knows for sure.
All we know is that Ti-Renolds want to say it's somehow special.
01-31-14, 02:33 PM
#53
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Yes, but not necessarily the way you mean. When this bicycle was produced, Reynolds, and Raleigh were both owned by a large rollup called Tube Investments. TI owned a number of brands and mills, so they could have supplied from the Reynolds plant, or from any number of others, and simply cross branded.
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01-31-14, 04:59 PM
#54
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Gitane Hosteller, early '70's. Retro-graded a bit with vintage parts. Tubular cyclo cross tires. Tires really make this bike glide.
01-31-14, 05:10 PM
#55
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It could well be that the "dogs" like Murray Phoenix, for all of their basic goodness, were built of steel that was comparatively "low" tensile.
But they wouldn't want to put that label on their bikes, lol.
But when the straight-guage tubing was going to be electric welded, and thus have it's plain wall thickness right at the edge of a weld, perhaps there would be no point in the tubing having ever been drawn to a "higher" tensile strength, as all cold-worked mechanical properties would be lost to the welding heat.
One good joke is how Huffy took plain steel, alloyed it with perhaps .0001% titanium, and called it "titanium alloy", then built and sold the same old $89 bike with the "titanium" marketing plastered all over it. More likely, they simply credited the trace amounts of titanium found in all steel to label it "titanium alloy".
BTW, I had a good, heavy Sekai 500 that proclaimed double-butted hi-tensile tubing on the sticker. Probably Tange tubing, 1020 or similar.
I say it was a good bike because in the end I was able to trade it for a nice motorcycle. It had nice, shiny chromed rims on hi-flange hubs and featured a most layed-back frame geometry.
But they wouldn't want to put that label on their bikes, lol.
But when the straight-guage tubing was going to be electric welded, and thus have it's plain wall thickness right at the edge of a weld, perhaps there would be no point in the tubing having ever been drawn to a "higher" tensile strength, as all cold-worked mechanical properties would be lost to the welding heat.
One good joke is how Huffy took plain steel, alloyed it with perhaps .0001% titanium, and called it "titanium alloy", then built and sold the same old $89 bike with the "titanium" marketing plastered all over it. More likely, they simply credited the trace amounts of titanium found in all steel to label it "titanium alloy".
BTW, I had a good, heavy Sekai 500 that proclaimed double-butted hi-tensile tubing on the sticker. Probably Tange tubing, 1020 or similar.
I say it was a good bike because in the end I was able to trade it for a nice motorcycle. It had nice, shiny chromed rims on hi-flange hubs and featured a most layed-back frame geometry.
My beloved 2700 Grand Tour Deluxe
01-31-14, 05:42 PM
#56
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I don't own any Hi-Ten steel because I'm a bike snob. They can be and usually are very nice riding bikes, but for me bikes are more than just something you ride. I take pride in knowing that a bike is made by someone with attention to the small details and best materials available.
I have nothing against riding them though. Hi-ten bikes ride as nicely as the best steel frames, but I'll never love them.
I have nothing against riding them though. Hi-ten bikes ride as nicely as the best steel frames, but I'll never love them.
Last edited by link0; 01-31-14 at 07:25 PM.
01-31-14, 09:28 PM
#58
Rhapsodic Laviathan
my trek 800 sport st claims to he hi-ten steel. it also outwieghs my ither steel bikes, except the '37 schwinn henderson.
02-01-14, 10:59 AM
#59
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My only Hi-ten bike has the unusual distinction of being double butted, at least so it claimed on the decal:
I tend to believe it is double butted, as the frame weight is reasonable, at 5.6 lb, less fork.
At any rate, it is a decent bike, a near identical replacement for my first above entry level 10 speed, which I let go of when I outgrew the frame. In fact, the replacement bike is only different from my original one in having a 57cm frame (which fits me perfectly), and a generous amount of patina. Due to the patina, I'm currently giving the bike a full restoration.
I tend to believe it is double butted, as the frame weight is reasonable, at 5.6 lb, less fork.
At any rate, it is a decent bike, a near identical replacement for my first above entry level 10 speed, which I let go of when I outgrew the frame. In fact, the replacement bike is only different from my original one in having a 57cm frame (which fits me perfectly), and a generous amount of patina. Due to the patina, I'm currently giving the bike a full restoration.
02-01-14, 11:16 AM
#60
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This one is very comfortable - currently residing with my 70 yo father so he can have a bike on a winter trainer.
My Nishiki Marina 12 that doubles as my winter indoor trainer ride
My Nishiki Marina 12 that doubles as my winter indoor trainer ride
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1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
02-01-14, 06:06 PM
#61
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We are currently cleaning up a Centurion Super Lemans at the bike coop. It has Tange double butted high tensile steel with early Suntour Superbe derailleurs.
02-02-14, 07:25 AM
#62
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The yellow mixte is sweet, but what is this little cutie? Is this a pixie or junior size, too? Wheels are 540 (24")? Any idea who makes it?
Too cute!
Too cute!
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1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
02-02-14, 07:49 AM
#63
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Here are a couple of high ten offerings that made their makers famous during the boom years. My Peugeot UE8 and Raleigh Grand Prix's. The white one is my steed of choice for riding back and forth the the auto-repair shop, where all of my vehicles seem to want to spend most of their time. 
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02-02-14, 08:18 AM
#65
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The thing I appreciate most about this one is that it got me into the mechanical side of bikes, now one of my favorite hobbies. I bought this bike a couple years ago as a total heap for $20.00 and was determined to get it fixed up so that my $20 spent would not be in vain. I knew nothing about working on bikes but with the help of many internet resources I learned to take a bicycle apart, polish it up and put it back together. I learned to repack bearings, true wheels and other things. Apparently I hadn't learned about handlebar tape yet, a couple other things I should have done looking back was replace the old cable housings (I did replace the cables) and replace the brake pads, oh well live and learn! After spending all my free time for a week or two working on this one I was completely hooked and immediately put this one up for sale and sought out another project. Since then I've learned a lot and still enjoy learning something new with every project.
Last edited by turky lurkey; 02-02-14 at 08:23 AM.
02-02-14, 09:22 AM
#66
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That is interesting. I've always assumed that the Empire bikes (the ones imported to Canada in the mid-70s; I know of no others) were simply branded versions of a major Japanese manufacturer's product. But so far I've been unable to identify the source manufacturer.
02-02-14, 09:40 AM
#67
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After a serious bout of nostalgia for my '71 Raleigh Grand Prix and '81 Fuji Supreme last Fall I happened across this NOS '82 Fuji Monterey on eBay. I have seen claims that the lower end "VALite" Fujis were mostly HiTen plus "VALite" tubing doesn't seem to get much respect anyway so I figure if it fits in anywhere it would be here. The seller must have a pile of NOS Fujis from the early 80's and half of them must be blue 25" Montereys because he's still putting them on there. There have been at least 3 since I bought this one, 2 of them blue.
It will be a 2 X 8 with STI when finished, NOS Sugino Aero 5 crankset (higher level Fuji 80's OEM), Shimano 105 derailleurs, 700c wheels and a Brooks B17. Since I mostly ride on top of the bars instead of the drops I'm installing interrupter levers instead of the "safety" levers it came with originally. I could have gone with a better crankset but since it is such a visible item I wanted something period correct that wouldn't look too out of place on an "entry level" frame. I had one of these on a Schwinn World and I always thought it was a clean looking crankset. The Schwinn was bought as a stripped frame from a police auction and built with the take offs from my Fuji Supreme. It was a sweet riding bike but a little too small for me, never found another one as clean as that one in my size.
It will be a 2 X 8 with STI when finished, NOS Sugino Aero 5 crankset (higher level Fuji 80's OEM), Shimano 105 derailleurs, 700c wheels and a Brooks B17. Since I mostly ride on top of the bars instead of the drops I'm installing interrupter levers instead of the "safety" levers it came with originally. I could have gone with a better crankset but since it is such a visible item I wanted something period correct that wouldn't look too out of place on an "entry level" frame. I had one of these on a Schwinn World and I always thought it was a clean looking crankset. The Schwinn was bought as a stripped frame from a police auction and built with the take offs from my Fuji Supreme. It was a sweet riding bike but a little too small for me, never found another one as clean as that one in my size.
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02-02-14, 01:25 PM
#69
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02-02-14, 01:29 PM
#70
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I just wrote an ode to the the forgotten stovepipers in my recent thread about my ROSS commuter bike.
To spare the redundancy, I wont repeat it here, but much love for the 1024's of the world
I will repeat the website I posted about, because I think people will appreciate it:
https://oldtenspeedgallery.com/
I love their philosophy on this stuff!
To spare the redundancy, I wont repeat it here, but much love for the 1024's of the world
I will repeat the website I posted about, because I think people will appreciate it:
https://oldtenspeedgallery.com/
I love their philosophy on this stuff!
02-02-14, 04:39 PM
#71
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I just wrote an ode to the the forgotten stovepipers... ...I will repeat the website I posted about, because I think people will appreciate it:https://oldtenspeedgallery.com/
...I will repeat the website I posted about, because I think people will appreciate it:https://oldtenspeedgallery.com/ And Steve's green Raleigh, above, to die for!
07-24-14, 10:17 PM
#72
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This is a great thread. I've got a Nishiki Sport, 1979 frame, with the label "Femco 1207". For a while, I've been debating whether it's worth repainting the frame and putting upgraded components on it. A little bit or research into the 1207 indicates that it's probably the highest grade of hi-tensile steel, and is resulfurized, and rephosphorized. Sure, it's not chromoly (which is my personal bias, as I've mainly ridden chromoly frames, my current being a Surly Karate Monkey), but it's also not the absolute BUTT end of the steel universe.
Not to mention, when she was configured in track bike/fixed mode, she rode well. Now I'm reconfiguring her for road bike/criterium comp mode. I think she's worth the modernized componentry. And the paint job.
Not to mention, when she was configured in track bike/fixed mode, she rode well. Now I'm reconfiguring her for road bike/criterium comp mode. I think she's worth the modernized componentry. And the paint job.
07-24-14, 10:42 PM
#73
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Here's my hi-ten bike. It's heavy, cruises at 10MPH and is NOT a hill climber. But it rides like an old Cadillac.
10-06-15, 11:16 AM
#75
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@michael k I like your setup. The peugeot is beautiful, especially with bluemels fenders. As for the Sports, do I spy cream Delta Cruiser tires and alloy rims? that's gotta be a nice ride (assuming it has been finished). Also, I couldn't help but notice - what year is yours? It looks like it has a post-'65 rear fender with two pairs of braces. Downtube decals look like pre-61 and '65-69. Btw I think mattress saddles like the one you have are underrated - I had one just like it on my '58 Sports for the longest time. I have started running a Brooks B72 on it recently but will switch back to the vinyl mattress saddle for the winter. Not a performance piece but certainly comfortable, a good match for the bike