found a 531r frame, what is it?

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01-09-15 | 08:55 AM

#26

OldsCOOL

Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 13,358

Likes: 665

From: northern michigan

Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712

Quote:

Originally Posted by irwin7638

+1, It will probably make a nice ride, probably no collector's value. I'd have it stripped, powdercoated with a lugged fork and build it into something.

Marc

My thoughts exactly. Not enough info on manufacture, you could weigh the frame against charts listed online to see if that is 531r. If it is, you have a great ride. If it isnt, you have a great ride and one you can have pride in the build.

01-09-15 | 08:56 AM

#27

OldsCOOL

Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 13,358

Likes: 665

From: northern michigan

Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prowler

Who would repaint a car or a panel truck to look like a generic no-name model. Maybe apply some red herring stickers or pin striping? Who might eventually dump such a car?

Might we remember Jimmy Hoffa in this moment?

01-09-15 | 09:14 AM

#28

mechanicmatt

Hoards Thumbshifters

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 1,211

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From: Signal Mountain, TN

Bikes: '23 Black Mtn MC, '87 Bruce Gordon Chinook, '08 Jamis Aurora, '86 Trek 560, '97 Mongoose Rockadile, & '91 Trek 750

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaucho777

LOL. I helped produce some Service Merchandise catalogs about 15 years ago. That's a pretty good guess! I suggested Gitane before seeing the pics, but it looks like a mid-range (posing as higher) dept. store bike. For dating purposes, I had those same brakes on a '84 Peugeot PGN10. But the unicrown fork seems later(?). Anyway, mid-range contract/rebranded bike from the mid-80s with a Reynolds decal added later seems right to me. Pretty soon someone is this forum is bound to come along and know exactly what it is and have owned the very same model, but that person isn't me. The bike is worth getting back on the road, but the rust is troublesome and I wouldn't waste a lot of money or energy on it.

I agree.

To me that Reynolds sticker looks very suspect, and the rear stays coming off the seatpost lug look too clunky to be a more refined brand. I could definitely be wrong, but that is my gut. The other option is this may be a road bike "brand" from a defunct sporting goods store. It's too well made for just a Walmart/Kmart/etc of the era but it, to me, doesn't look bike shop quality. Not saying its a bad frame at all just trying to help identify. It would be a fun one to do the paint yourself on.