sambiker33

Hi there, picked up this road bike which I know nothing about but pretty sure it is mid 70's. A friend had it and said her ex built it up many years ago. Thanks in advance for any details you can give me. Really looking to find out the frame brand.

howsteepisit

Looks to be an entry level late 70's Japanese import. Need photos of frame detail to guess at frame maker, better pic of the head badge might help tool

oddjob2

Daylight sure beats flash photography

randyjawa 

If the documentation on the frame (decals, head badge etc) is illegible, then chances are you will never know what you have, unless someone here has intimate knowledge of that exact bicycle.

Mid seventies is a very good guess, regarding vintage and that, at least is fairly easy to confirm, if you take the time to apply some of the information in How Old Is My Bicycle? Brand or make and model will be far more difficult to determine.

The bicycle is an entry level Japanese import, marketed to meet the incredible increase in demand for bicycles, that happened in the early seventies. Those days, 1971 to 1973 have, many times and by many people, been referred to as the Bike Boom days. Anyway...

The bicycle will prove to be a fun recreational or commuter ride. Good luck with the bicycle and, for better information, it would be wise, on your part, to include better pictures.

wrk101

I put it a step up from entry level for that era. Entry level from the mid 1970s tended to have steel rims, steel handlebars, Suntour 7 derailleurs and cottered crank. As for brand and model, there were hundreds of brands back then, many that never made a single bike. ID'ing the exact brand is a lot of work, and adds zero to the value.

sambiker33

Thanks for all the info guys ! I can't read any of the badges on the bike and I am assuming I wouldn't know the name anyway. I will probably just tear it down and sell off the parts. I am more of a MTB guy so this has been informative.

Thanks Again !
SAM.

wrk101

Not a very good candidate for a part out. Parts are not desirable enough. They are worth more when sold attached to a bike, in ready to ride condition. You need to be a couple of steps up from here before part outs start making financial sense.

Your other choice would be to sell it as is (no work for you) as a project at a relatively low price ($50, maybe $75). Assuming you bought right, that can be the best approach. Realize to sell it as a ready to ride bike, you will have several hours of time (four to six hours) and $40 to $50 in parts and consumables. For this additional expense and effort, you might get $125, $150 max for it.

cb400bill

Moved from Appraisals to Classic & Vintage.

RaleighSport

I was sent here by someone who knows a lot more than I do on these matters. They suspect it is a Sekai 1500 (which is why they sent me I'm sure.) Your worn off head badge does look close.. but not exact (to me anyhow) to the Sekai head badge from the 1975 era. I am also suspect because I can't recall ever seeing lugs like that on a Sekai head tube. However if you'd like to send me your serial I may be able to verify/eliminate it's lineage as a Sekai for you.


Here are a few samples from the sekai 1500 series.
Here are the specs:
Sekai 1500 Mixte (made in Japan) Serial: Y0L7327
-Tange High Carbon Standard Gauge tubing
-Sugino Cranks (doubled) stamped with "Sugino forged Japan 165" on each arm, the left arm also stamped with 'J-9' and the right arm stamped with 'J-11'
-Front derailer: Suntour 7 (stamped 4532)
-Rear derailer: Suntour 7 GT (can't read the stamped markings, will try again after cleaning)
-Shifters: Suntour stem friction
-Cassette: 5 speed
-Brakes: Dia-Compe Center Pull stamped with 'Drop Forged' on each brake and the following numbers: '0177' and '610' on the front brake arms and '5583', '610' and '0280' on the rear brake.
-Handlebars: SR (Sakae) 'North Road' mustache-like bars
-Stem: SR (Sakae)

1500 Tange High Carbon Standard Gauge tubing, Sugino Cranks, Front derailer: Suntour 7, Rear derailer: Suntour 7 GT,Shifters: Suntour stem friction, Brakes: Dia-Compe Center Pull, Handlebars: SR (Sakae) 'North Road' mustache-like bars, Stem: SR (Sakae)





Edit: Just remembered another possible identifier especially if it's all stock, see if the bars say Sakae or Sekai, if it says Sekai.. you've got one. Also, 1975 Sekai Catalog. https://www.ece.ubc.ca/~gillies/sekai..._catalogue.jpg

sambiker33

stamped as 11891 - bars hace SR on them. I was told from the owner that is was built...not bought as such ? It has a label on it from Madison. Try to send more pics later.

sambiker33

I found the original bike store whom sold the frame and here is what we have...

Sekai model 2000 Special.Designed by Glen Tamura, frame by SKV Osaka

Thanks Everyone !!

RaleighSport

Glad to see this was solved and it moves the database forward win for us both

Homebrew01

^^ This. If you don't want it, just sell it. High end bikes can be worth more parted out. But low end bikes like this are worth more as a complete bike. Just do enough to make it safe and rideable, which it might already be based on the fairly clean looking pictures.