Originally Posted by Ex Pres (Post 16684098)

Possibly it was, but all of the '78's I've seen have the contrasting HT & ST panels. If there's another one out there without, pics please.

Originally Posted by Ex Pres (Post 16684098)

Possibly it was, but all of the '78's I've seen have the contrasting HT & ST panels. If there's another one out there without, pics please.

Originally Posted by pcb (Post 16684182)

The red/yellow was by far the most common '70s color scheme. There was also a single-color champagne/gold, and a dark blue w/black panels scheme that was originally done for a local British team, then became a standard option. The red front/black stays became common in the US in the '80s. I don't recall ever seeing a Silver Mink SBDU original finish, but dealers/distributors may have been able to order non-standard colors.

Originally Posted by pcb (Post 16684182)

I don't recall ever seeing a Silver Mink SBDU original finish, but dealers/distributors may have been able to order non-standard colors.

Originally Posted by Ed. (Post 16683413)

It's clearly one of Gerald's frames, and it obviously was built up. There's a ding on the down tube, and I saved it from the scrap heap. No tubing sticker - I don't recollect if I checked the seat tube dia, I don't know what it weighs, it's just been sitting in my junk box for 30 plus years as I've never gottenaroundtodoingsomething with it.

There's a few here who know more about SBDU and its products than I. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by rhm (Post 16683694)

From what I understand they started in 1974 and made ca 1000 frames per year, numbered sequentially; so this would be quite early, like 1975 or so. No fork?

Originally Posted by JohnDThompson (Post 16685562)

Reynolds 753 was available in the mid 70s, but only in metric diameters. If it's English diameter, it's likely 531 or 531 "Special Lightweight."

Originally Posted by KonAaron Snake (Post 16686300)

How common were the fast back stays? I haven't seen these on many other SBDUs.

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps5bfcbdf3.jpg

Originally Posted by JohnDThompson (Post 16685562)

Reynolds 753 was available in the mid 70s, but only in metric diameters. If it's English diameter, it's likely 531 or 531 "Special Lightweight."

Originally Posted by Ed. (Post 16688682)

I don't have a metric micrometer

Red bike seat tube OD: 1.094
Blue bike seat tube OD: 1.126

Originally Posted by CV-6 (Post 16683814)

I believe below is what is generally acknowledged as the closest approximation of production. Based on that, the OP's frame would likely fall in 1977-1978.

YEAR Frame No
1976 500
1977 1200
1978 1900
1979 2800
1980 3500
1981 4100
1982 4900
1983 5500
1984 6300
1985 6900
1986 7700
Closed 8300

That is a top of the line frame AKA Team Pro. Got the fork? They could be any color the customer wished but for a lot of reasons the Team Pro colors prevailed for many. My own SB1016 is below:

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/...bdecdc2a_b.jpgSB 1016res 01 by CV6Enterprises, on Flickr

Originally Posted by rjhammett (Post 16684239)

My daughter's '84 (SB6703) Reynolds 753 RTP.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=375555

Originally Posted by satbuilder (Post 16684105)

I don't know if it's something with Phtobucket or the way this site is set up but I seem to have a great deal of difficulty posting larger photos here. I don't seem to have problems on other sites. Here goes:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=375550

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=375551

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=375552

History: I picked up 2 SBDU 753 frames in 1999. One was a 1978/79. The other was this one, a 1984 or thereabouts. The '79 frame I sold off in 2002 or 2003. The newer frame was built up once and used as a showpiece in a bike shop in Boulder CO. The frame arrived and I didn't realize it at the time but the driveline side dropout was damaged in shipping. Cold setting resulted in a fracture at the dropout adjuster screw. So it needs to go off for repair. Other than that it's almost a perfect frame.

Originally Posted by 753proguy (Post 16705027)

That would be 753R, not 753. Big difference, imho. The creation of 753R (and T) occurred in 1983. Imperial-diameter stuff (so it will take a 27.2 or a 27.4 mm post), and not as crazy-thinwalled as 753, which takes a 26.8 or 27.0 post. Still great tubing....

Originally Posted by 753proguy (Post 16705009)

Just to add to your (correct) info., you will see numbers higher than 8300 (up to close to 10,000) but they were not made at Ilkeston after about 8300, rather back at Nottingham (or Worksop?) by very skilled builders, so still quite nice frames, just not 'real' Ilkeston Team Pros....

Originally Posted by satbuilder (Post 16720340)

Apologies to Lynn and others. I have SBDU 8306. It does have the SBDU Ilkeston sticker on it but is 753R, so I don't know where it was built. Maybe someday I'll get the answer.