WNG

For that era, Based on what I know now, it would be road bikes not MTBs. MTB tech was still in its infancy.

I would select the best performing component group, Shimano Dura-Ace 74xx. It left everything else for dead, period. Next would be my sentimental favorite, best friction group: Suntour Superbe Pro: gorgeous precision. Although I love Campy C-Record's beauty, it just didn't measure up in any performance point and had annoying technical issues.

It would go on a Columbus SL tubed frameset, preferably Italian production, Ciocc, Colnago, Basso, Billato, Tomassini etc; next Merckx production, then Canadian Marinoni. Finally, one of the Schwinn Columbus SL production framesets as third.

I really like how SL rides. And IMO, SLX would take away that magical feel SL possesses for my non-racing pursuits.

Alternatively, Tange Prestige tubed frameset is my second choice. Rivals Reynolds 753 in strength and lightness. I don't know what production offering used it in 1988 as it was rather new.

Michael Angelo 

Pinarello Montello, campy record......

AZORCH

In '88, I probably would've gone for a Paramount if I'd had the scratch, although I was enamored with Centurion at the time.

Broid

Eddy Merckx Professional

KonAaron Snake 

If you don't mind the crappy plastic brake levers which were maybe the worst, most uncomfortable ever made (at least for me). Not a huge fan of the shift levers either. This of course ignores aesthetics - it's a pretty ugly group. Also prefer campy hubs.

Really, it's just the indexing that's better - with plenty of negatives.

Snydermann

1987 Lotus Prestige Dura-Ace. Top-of-the-line for 1987 along with the Super Record equipped Lotus Cinelli Supreme.

So far, the rarest of the rare Lotus bikes. I know of none that exist, haven't found any non-factory photos, or even talked with anyone who owned one. Even though the Lotus Cinelli Supreme is scarce, I've found three of them so far.

Some people get all torqued up about supposedly "rare" bikes, of which I've seen dozens or even hundreds. Lotus has many truly rare bikes that so far I only know of a handful that exist, even fewer in original condition.

WNG

Aaron,
In that case, maybe I should change my choices and defer to your omnipotence in cycling orchestration. Would you like to taste my food as well?

You crack me up sometimes.

dddd

Any low-priced, but well-made, contract-built Italian. I forget how much that would have cost though.

Or, perhaps a San Rensho, or one of several soon-to-be rare models that were by this time being closed out, at or below dealer cost, because they lacked indexing. Coulda made a killing!

Actually, I did make a few bucks re-selling a couple of non-SIS Treks, which sold for 1/2 price mid-winter.

KonAaron Snake 

Dude - just opinions...that's what we do...give OPINIONS. I think DA 7400 gets a little too much love some times, and I think what you wrote was extreme. Saying it left everything else for dead, and that c-record didn't measure up at ANY performance point, was pretty aggressive. I just don't agree...I think there are a few ways it was a better group.

Most here know a lot more than me.

There was no offense intended.

RobbieTunes

Same here. In 1987, my bud and I walked into LBS to buy each of us an Ironman. He went the $698 and added Look pedals, made a down pmt for a layaway, and they had to order it in yellow and white. I had a credit card, but was wary of using it, as my '76 VW Microbus had issues. I ended up with a Trek 510 for $400.

Back to this thread, knowing what I know now, I'd have used that credit card.
1- '87 Paramount SLX w/DA,
2- '87 Merckx Super Corsa w/Syncro,
3-'88 Centurion Ironman Master w/tri-color.

Oh, and his '87 Ironman is in my garage, awaiting rehab.

gaucho777 

I was already racing at age 13 when I was hit by a van on a training ride in early 1987. I didn't get a lot of insurance money but I got enough to replace the trashed Vitus frame with just about any frame I wanted. There was a really nice red De Rosa (don't remember the model) next to a carbon TVT Look and a Look Bernard Hinault 753. (I think you know where I'm going with this. ) The carbon TVT Look was the first version with the carbon fork Hinault had complained about. It was also the most expensive, IIRC. The De Rosa was very tempting, though I didn't know squat about lug profiling or the mystique of Ugo. But this was around early '87, and I was a kid fanboy of Lemond/Hinault/Hampsten and the rest of the La Vie Claire team. So, I know from experience I would have chosen the Look Bernard Hinault 753.



Never regretted the decision. In fact, I'm going to go ride my Look right now. I can always get a De Rosa!

Feldman

Yeah, this was some prime time for Trek. 1984 was about the best year for the 770/760 as they still used dropouts with a good axle to derailleur bolt distance and didn't have their badly done internal rear derailleur cable routing. The maroon 720's were a good light touring and rando-type bike, too.

cb400bill

I see what you did there.

cb400bill

What happened to the 510?

Ex Pres 

In 1986 the bike shops here carried Trek, Raleigh, Schwinn & maybe some names that were out of my budget range. It came down to one of the 531 Treks, probably a 760 (IIRC ~ $800), vs the Red/White Centurion Ironman that was much closer to my budget ~$500 + tax, so I ended up with the Ironman. If I had had more funds, I'm sure I would have found a way to spend it.

iab

1988. Trek sent their factory defects to a salvage yard in Fort Atkinson. I picked up several 7000 and 8000 mountain frames. I believe I paid about $1.50/pound for them. Built several of them up. And while probably technically not "safe", I never had one fail on me. Loved the splash paint jobs. So 80s.

Never bought any of the steel frames. Those would have been about $0.12/pound, irrc.

Kactus

It would have to be a red De Rosa and Campy C-Record with Deltas.

WNG

And I'll be one to say the same. And you probably do know more than me too. But this thread wasn't one to debate the merits/faults of offerings from that era.
Just our personal choices. I started off by stating the following:
Based on what I know now,
I would select the best performing component group.
Back in 86-88, it was C-Record I lusted after. And if it was a beauty contest, Miss C-Record, Miss Chorus, Miss Superbe Pro would be the top 3. Miss Dura-Ace would be 4th or 5th. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It's subjective.

My statement is also my opinion. I based it on my experience, feedback from others, and historical account. I stand by my opinion because the criteria I hold important is what I used to gauge the groups. I explained my choice with a why. Maybe you took that why as a personal criticism to your choices. It wasn't. I could comment on numerous posts with my opinions differing with others' choices here. But that's not the point of this thread.
You selected to respond with subjective importance to looks, and feel to criticize my choices as ugly and crap. I don't recall anyone else doing so in this thread to any other post. You only had to state you don't agree or ask how come I came to this opinion. But you seem to freely express your negative firestarting commentary, and then it's all fine since it's only an opinion.

Offensiveness is determined on the receiving end, not the giving end. Intended or not.

To end on a more light-hearted anecdote....
A childhood friend had a date with a pretty Korean girl when he was in NYU. They looked like they were hitting it off, until he made a comment that he was surprised in a pleasant way that she didn't smell Korean. He said she looked confused and asked for an explanation. He told her that the Koreans he's been around all had a strong odor of kimchi. Whether from their breath or body. But she didn't didn't have any smell. Needless to say, the date went off a cliff after that. And she didn't speak to him again. When I was told this, I slapped myself onto the forehead and was shocked by this. How could he have said this!! We kept arguing over his attitude. He kept at it that he meant nothing offensive by it, but was trying to pay her a compliment and she took it the wrong way. To this day, 30 years later, he can't admit to himself he did anything wrong. His success with the ladies haven't improved over the years either. :-P

jimmuller 

Wow. It's a good thing they didn't start talking about bike parts. Your friend seems to have missed a lesson or two during his development years. (I confess when I was an undergraduate years and years ago I probably demonstrated that I'd missed a few lessons along the way too.)

WNG

Ha, we all did, and hope to learn from such mistakes. This was long ago for me too. And to mitigate things, he did attend an all-boys prep school before entering college. His only exposure to girls were the school dances held by his high school.

leaping_gnome

Tange Prestige was hot stuff then. My first choice for a road bike would have been the Allez with Campy SR. But I'm with Snydermann, I like Lotus for quality and value in the Prestige-based bikes. So here's my choice:


Because I like that Sugino 75 group.
Jim

The Golden Boy 

Heck, all you have to say is "you smell nice."

The Golden Boy 

As far as what bike I'd like... I would hope to find 1985 Trek 720.

WNG

Simple!
You must have been very successful with the ladies.

The Golden Boy