Show me your Zeus - bikes and components!
12-02-19, 12:19 PM
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Nicky sems to have offered shift lever covers in more colour choices than any other maker.
Early type somewhat resembles a cough drop and late type exhibits a waffle pattern.
Transition from early to late type was ~1973-74.
Worker at plant doing an assembly -
---
A mildly optimistic seller -
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Zeu...8AAOSwcL5XMA5G
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Nicky sems to have offered shift lever covers in more colour choices than any other maker.
Early type somewhat resembles a cough drop and late type exhibits a waffle pattern.
Transition from early to late type was ~1973-74.
Worker at plant doing an assembly -
---
A mildly optimistic seller -
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Zeu...8AAOSwcL5XMA5G
-----
12-03-19, 11:13 AM
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Since @rhm has been summoned - I wonder what he might offer in a Zeus branded saddle recover?
If you mean a real leather saddle, such as a Soffatti professional, then yes, I can do that. I've never seen a Zeus-branded one, though. For what it's worth, there's an overpriced Soffatti Professional on ebay now:
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12-03-19, 11:34 AM
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Sorry to be so vague.
Leather recovered, tensioned frame is what I meant.
Really I only meant the logos/names you might be able to do.
Thanks for reply.
edit: If Santa puts a Benjamin in the bike fund, I might be calling - but the saddle won't have much for skirts, so the Brooks badge will stay. 2 Benjamins in the fund and maybe an 'rhm Soffatte' might be just the ticket.
Leather recovered, tensioned frame is what I meant.
Really I only meant the logos/names you might be able to do.
Thanks for reply.
edit: If Santa puts a Benjamin in the bike fund, I might be calling - but the saddle won't have much for skirts, so the Brooks badge will stay. 2 Benjamins in the fund and maybe an 'rhm Soffatte' might be just the ticket.
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Last edited by Wildwood; 12-03-19 at 11:43 AM.
12-03-19, 01:17 PM
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As recalled, the Zeus titanium fittings are not pure titanium but rather a titanium-steel alloy termed by the maker "TITANOX." The stated reason for the alloy was to get round the alleged brittleness of pure titanium.
Perhaps other readers will have more information on this...
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12-03-19, 02:27 PM
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I find the proportions of the Zeus cranks to be quite aesthetically pleasing, maybe even more than the Campy 144. And the gearing options for the 119 bcd rings are quite useful. Too bad rings are scarce.
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12-03-19, 03:19 PM
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I agree. Most of these Zeus components are very handsome. The curves are great.
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12-04-19, 06:29 AM
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I'm afraid I'm too late to start the ball rolling, I can only pass it on to the next player.
Shown before in the 2019 "yellow bikes for September" thread:
ZEUS "2000 Titanium" 1977
Fortunately I got the sales receipt from the former = first owner, so I know my bike was sold in August 1977 by Germany's than biggest road bike retailer, Bruegelmann, who probably sold most of the Zeus bikes in our country. You nearly always find the "Bruegelmann" stickers on german Zeus'. Still, Zeus are quite rare in Germany.
Maybe the "Titanium" was a model specifically built for the german market. But I am not sure about that.
The original owner also kept the factory's specification tag and the corresponding advertising flyer (see pics).
Even the smallest components, like the top tube cable clips or the pedals's dust caps, are Zeus-labelled.
More information on Zeus:
Zeus derailleurs
12-04-19, 06:48 PM
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qd-s Your bike is a beauty. And according to the factory tag it is a Model 78. It's also very close to this poster of a Model 79. Zeus used the Zxx nomenclature for "naming" its bikes for many years.
Zeus Z79 by BJ Stevens, on Flickr
This poster, dated 1977 lists many Zxx models.
Zeus by BJ Stevens, on Flickr
Cheers.
Brad
Zeus Z79 by BJ Stevens, on FlickrThis poster, dated 1977 lists many Zxx models.
Zeus by BJ Stevens, on FlickrCheers.
Brad
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12-06-19, 08:33 AM
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Thanks very much for sharing this find Don!
You have certainly done a beautiful job with it.
Have not before seen this crown on a Zeus frame.
It was widely employed by Italian manufacturers in the 1950's and 1960's.
Two of the many which made extensive use of it were Olmo and Frejus.
Do not know the maker. Have suspected either BOCAMA or Agrati. Do fork ends match dropouts?
Have a Zeus cycle here I suspect to be the Professional model from about 1973. It has the same lugs, seat stay treatment and ends as your frame but is built with a full sloping crown.
What make are the hammered mudguards you fitted?-----
Thanks very much for sharing this find Don!
You have certainly done a beautiful job with it.
Have not before seen this crown on a Zeus frame.
It was widely employed by Italian manufacturers in the 1950's and 1960's.
Two of the many which made extensive use of it were Olmo and Frejus.
Do not know the maker. Have suspected either BOCAMA or Agrati. Do fork ends match dropouts?
Have a Zeus cycle here I suspect to be the Professional model from about 1973. It has the same lugs, seat stay treatment and ends as your frame but is built with a full sloping crown.
What make are the hammered mudguards you fitted?-----
similar fork on other Zeus, most frequently on Pista frames, but some Road. Most pics don't show good detail of fork crown. Here are 2 I just saw that may be same type fork? Hammered fenders are Honjo, I moved them over to my 84 Expedition Touring, since my son complained they would rattle eventually. So far, none of my fendered bikes rattle. Ha!
12-06-19, 08:54 AM
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12-06-19, 09:11 AM
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When I had the repairs done & overhauled mine, the decal set I found had no headbadge. Only just found a head tube decal a few years ago & added it onto son's bike. I'll try to take some current pics.
12-06-19, 09:26 AM
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Question re assembly pic above: Did they really mount & cable the shifters/derailleurs prior to decals? Or did Zeus sell bikes with a decal delete option? Don
12-10-19, 04:55 PM
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I noticed many bikes had non-Zeus rubber lever covers. Jordi at Reciclone in Spain makes good quality repros. https://www.reciclone.com/shop/en/fr...iversales.html
Mine arrived from Barcelona. Bit lighter than I imagined. Will match a lighter saddle. Shown with choc brown cable from PorkChop BMX.
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12-10-19, 05:02 PM
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Here’s a closer shot of the lighter set pictured above.
And in natural light.
May have to ‘open’ the cable holes to accommodate the large silver brake adjusters.
And in natural light.
May have to ‘open’ the cable holes to accommodate the large silver brake adjusters.
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12-10-19, 05:10 PM
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Warm water soak to make them compliant over the shifters. No longer compliant/soft at room temp. Feel thick.
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12-10-19, 05:39 PM
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Checkin' in with the reds. Need some cleaning eh? I wish hoods stayed together as well as these did. Granted, not many folks ride their shift levers ...
12-10-19, 06:14 PM
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I have a couple of Zeus components going on one of my builds right now. I like them. 
aceves
aceves
Last edited by aceves; 12-10-19 at 06:45 PM.
12-03-20, 05:38 PM
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yes indeed
appears it would be part of the pista Criterium level ensemble of fittings
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Last edited by juvela; 12-03-20 at 06:21 PM. Reason: imagini
12-03-20, 07:03 PM
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Two Zeus bikes have come my way, over the years, but the pictures are lost. I do, however, have a very nice set of Zeus track pedals. If I had any idea regarding value, I would offer them up for sale, but for now they are frozen at the lake cottage...
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12-03-20, 07:53 PM
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Zeus Pista Track Pedal Pair, Light Use, 9/16, 1970s/80s
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Zeus-Pista-Track-Pedal-Pair-Light-Use-9-16-1970s-80s/164422517454?hash=item26485882ce:g:4mcAAOSwCXBeJ1n5
12-04-20, 07:16 AM
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Zeus Pista Track Pedal Pair, Light Use, 9/16, 1970s/80s
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Zeus-Pista-...cAAOSwCXBeJ1n5
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Zeus-Pista-...cAAOSwCXBeJ1n5
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