Sekai road bikes?
 

I've tried wringing info out of the C&V forum on them since I now have a 2500 GT and all I've been able to find on the net are a few vague specs, a dealers brochure for my year, and some general background info on the company itself. The mythical 5000 GT seems to be a lot easier to dig up info on (but I can't seem to find more then 1 or 2 people in existance who even own them.) Anyone have a Sekai? And do you ride it?

In 1980, I rode across the USA on a Sekai - either a 2000 or a 2400. It made it, but not by much, as it really was not intended to be a loaded tourer. Ther rear wheel in particular became an ongoing issue - not surprising since it bore the bulk fo the weight. But it was stable and it got me there. My recollection was that it was a good value - well made and well spec'd for the cost.

I loaned it to my brother a couple years later, and it spent a rainy winter outside. It is in a landfill somewhere now.

Wish I could tell you more about them, but that's about it -- other than mine was a pretty nice gold color. It was nice and shiny on the sun.

like Giant and Merida at present, Sekai was [part of] a company
that made frames made with the customer's brand names painted on
according to the contract specs..

I had a Sekai 2000 or 2400 (don't remember which) back in the late '70s. It was my first decent (non entry-level) bike. I thought it was great, but ended up selling it and going for something racier (Gitane Tour de France). Here's an old pic of me with the Sekai in front of my team van (;)) at a race in Madison, WI:

http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/p...ss/madison.jpg

Shear, I know it was a while back but if you can remember any other issues you had with it touring I'd be ever so grateful (I'm thinking my 2500 is going to be my main bike and I'd like to address any kinks ahead of time.

Craig that is freaking cool!

I think my bike may have once been a nice gold, but is now somewhere between silver/gold.

Anyone else have/had a Sekai?

The only bad thing I remember from the bike, and it may have been more a sign of the times rather than a problem specific to the bike, was the lack of braze-ons for bottle cages and cable guides. Everything was held in place with thin chrome straps, and they had a habit of collecting drops of persperation and encouraging rust formation at and around their edges.

Not what you are after, but I have a Sekai 1000 (?) from about 1990 that I still ride. Rear basket and aero bars, it's a doggone fast grocery-getter.

Thanks Craig but sadly I already knew that and I don't think there's a way to fix it shy of same major work and welding... and Beez that's great! From 1990? That'd be towards the very very end of the company, 1000 would be a fairly low model but sounds like all their bikes were well made.