I ride a Panasonic AL-7000 right now which is a sweet bike. I love it. Unfortunately it is one of the last panasonic models to be made in Japan and I know it won't last forever. Are there any current Japanese made bikes? Otherwise I am going to have to start trolling craigslist and stockpiling old panasonics in my basement.

There's the whole track/fixed gear/NJS thing. Check out the many, many, threads and fanboys in the SS/FG forum.

I am not limited to certain countries for my frames, but if you like Japanese, also search for some of the vintage Schwinn lightweights which were built in Japan, I believe some of them were built by Panasonic.

Most of the production Rivendells are made in Japan... but they'll cost you!

I know I`m going OT here, but it seems strange and a little depressing to think of "the good `ol days" when it was still easy to find genuine Made In Japan. What`s worse is that now it`s almost getting to the point of searching out a genuine Made In Tiwan product rather than the not-so-bling Made In Mainland products. Yeah, I know it isn`t to that point yet but it gets closer every day.

All about production/Labour costs.
In the future I'm sure we'll see threads like "where can I get Taiwanese/Chinese classics?"

There are a few Japanese production frames, but I think they're mostly Keirin and Rivendells.

Thanks for the advice. I am not wedded necessarily to Japanese frames but I love the way this Panasonic is but together. There is no welding on the entire frame. Every tube fits into another tube and there are great joint pieces holding the thing together. I guess what I want to know is how to get a tough aluminum framed road bike when this one finally bites the dust.

Velo-Orange is having some production frames made by Toyo, the same Japanese bike builder that makes Rivendell's production frames.

Toyo also makes its own bikes.

There's also a Japanese manufacturer called Scarab that makes pretty nice-looking single-speeds.

Those are lugs. You could say you have a lugged steel frame. It is brazed, using either silver or brass. If you relly love that type of thing, the classic and vintage forum is the place to go, see the sticky posts at the top for more than you ever wanted to know on the subject.

Its a lugged aluminum frame. I roadie fanatic friend of mine says that aluminum frames are very unforgiving and that they telegraph each bump but I really like mine.

Ah- lugged aluminum. Yeah, I think you`d probably be outa luck trying to replace that one. If it`s mostly the look you`re after, you`ll still be able to get lugged steel as long as you`re willing to pay for it. It`s expensive, but not so bad that it wouldn`t be feasible if you just had to scratch that itch. Welded aluminum is still available too- just doesn`t look as cool.

I've always wondered about those frames. Is it like this one?

https://www.bikecult.com/works/archive/pana7000.html

And is it actually aluminum? Does a magnet stick to it?

Your buddy is talking about modern, stiff, aluminum racing frames with oversized tubes, which tend to have harsh rides. There were some lugged (bonded) aluminum frames in the 80's and early 90's that were rather flexy, but gave a relatively smooth ride, and usually came apart at the lower head tube lug after a year or two. Bridgestone produced one for a few years, and a Vitus 979 was the coolest frame around in the 80's.

The Panasonic's lugs look too small for bonding - do the tubes fit inside the lugs, or is it more of a seam, indicating the lug is inside the tube?

I'll sell you my '84 Centurion, authentic made in Japan for a measly $400.

Yellow Jersey in Madison, Wis. can get you a new Panasonic frame.

https://www.yellowjersey.org/panak.html

The Paramount PDG Series bikes are Japanese lugged steel. If you plan on refurbing a frame with new components, the only difference between the PDG Series-3, Series-5, and Series-7 was the component group (RX-100, 105sc, and Ultegra) The Series-9 was a carbon fiber frame still built in the USA by Kestrel.
So if you can find a cheap PDG Series-3 in good condition, you can build it up like a Series-7.

I love my Japanamount Series-5.

@ same time That is the exact same model but I have all original components. I am pretty sure from the research I've done that it real aluminum. It seems like the tube go all the way in but I couldn't be sure.

Voodoo is Japanese, they are avaliable in the US again.

Their Avalou is similar to your Panasonic (and I think the Marasa is interesting).


Avalou


Marsa

{edit}
Nope, sorry the HQ is in Japan, the frames are made in Taiwan.

Not only is one of their team riders fast enough to win, but she's a real cutie, too:
https://www.toyoframe.com/images/07-0...onship/005.jpg

sorry... /end tangent

Wow, looks like their website is all in French or something- I can`t read it! The girl sure is a cutie though. If they send her along as a coach, I`ll buy one.

White wrap on a cross bike? I bet that stays clean looking...

She is a cutie, though.

Thanks for all the information. Those new imported panasonics look nice maybe a little rich for my blood though. I should probably just be happy that I got my hands on this bike.

There are plenty of Japanese-made bikes still in production. All the keirin workshops, and a few touring/randonneur-specific shops (Zephyr, Pegasus), and others that are not NJS/keirin but still make all sorts of great bikes (Zunow, etc).

The major ones are Panasonic and Bridgestone/Anchor. Lots of models, lots of materials, relatively cheap pricing, tons of custom paint options (glow in the dark B-stones!)......and not for sale in the US!

Good excuse for a trip to Japan!

Panasonic: https://www.panabyc.co.jp/products/sports/index.html
the Panasonic Order System bikes are custom order, but the 2008 model year site isn't up yet: https://www.panabyc.co.jp/products/pos/index.html

Bridgestone's high end models go by the Anchor brand-name:
https://www.anchor-bikes.com/bikes/bike.html

I hope its ok to check here but i just lost out on a very nice DX 4000 for a 100 bucks because the guy sold it before i could get there.I also missed out on one from ebay.Let me know maybe someone got one thats not their size?? I sure cant afford the brand new ones from Yellow Jersey i think its called in Madison WIss.