I recently found a really old looking Royce Union bicycle, and I'm wondering if it's worth anything. It says "Made in Japan anno 1904" and includes a serial #: 6R89321. I called a bike shop and the guy wasn't very helpful, he just told me to google it. That didn't help much..which is why I'm on these forums. The best way to contact me would be via EMAIL: rodriguez.cyn@gmail.com

I appreciate any bit of advice with this. Thanks a bunch!!

Royce Union produced cheap bicycles that generally make Huffy look sophisticated. I don't think there is much value there, beyond that of the parts.

I had a R.U. Stingray knockoff when I was a kid. It had long chrome forks that took no time at all to bend outward. I used to straighten them by riding into a wall at a slow speed.

Pictures of what you are talking about would help us all. As stated , RU was a very low price bike sold in both bike shops and department stores. They were just a cut above department store quality, as seen from independent bike shop view. Just a bike, nothing special at all.

If the Royce Union name has any historical significance, it's because it was the first brand of Japanese bike imported into the U.S. - well before Fuji, Nishiki, etc. In fact, well before the 60's/70's bike boom. As previously mentioned, they were built down to a price point, and almost all were small frames, as it hadn't occurred to that Japanese that American riders were a bit taller. I remember them primarily as cheap copies of Raleigh 3-speed "English racers".

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

^
Mods, can we put a rule up on the forum that if anyone wishes information on their machine, they must participate in the thread they created?

Would likely also cut down on Craigslisters trying to gauge the value of their stuff after having already posted it on C-list.

-Kurt

For the most part that brand is kinda junkish. Apart from the cool headbadge not too much to look at. Do you own a boat?

One memorable Xmas my dad bought 3 R-U 10 speeds at the local Gemco. He put them together himself. Getting them to work properly was outside his realm of expertise. After my sisters abandonded them I made one sorta working bike out of the three. Rode it a lot. It required constant fiddling to keep it working. The sharp edge on the cottered crank kept my ankle bone shaved down nicely. I appreciated the Royce-Union. I wouldn't pay much more than $20.00 for one.

Like someone said above, one step above a Huffy of the same vintage.

And beware of any post that starts out "whats it worth?"

In the early '70's, maybe, Consumer Reports did a test of about 10 models of entry-level '10-speeds'. The Royce-Union was, if I recall correctly, in a category by itself. "Not Acceptable".

Here is an later-model R/U - a re-badged Panasonic DX-2000, identical in every respect except for R/U headbadge and lettering. Not a bad machine with UG rear hub, aluminum wheelset, etc. Could have been improved with a better crankset, but overall not bad:



Same frameset as Kevinsubaru's in post #34 here: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=413609&page=2

-Kurt

Don't worry, I emailed Rodriguez a link to this thread.

I had, or should I say my wife had a Royce Union. It was a 3-speed, step-through frame. Nothing special, but it was very reliable. It was a really nice brown color with chrome fenders.

This thread is old, but I love telling people about my POS Royce Union.

My first commuter was a 1999 RU mountain bike that I rode while I figured out what kind of bike I was suited to. I ended up "locking out" the front suspension by putting PVC pipes in the suspension tubes. I completely removed the rear suspension and kludged a steel pipe in its place. A set of slicks and a set of tektro brakes helped me go faster and stop better, respectively. I lasted about 8 months on that monstrosity. All of my modifications told me that I would be much more at home on a road bike

It was worth exactly what I paid for it. Nothing. Like all WalMart bikes actually.

GAAAH!

I just realized that this thread was from '06...and that I am responsible for bumping it

Don't know how though, unless I screwed up the thread order on my system.

-Kurt

P.S.: If nothing else, the fact that the OP never responded after two years makes him eligible for the very first, formal "What Tiz It Worth" d!*khead award.

Kinda glad you did resurrect it. While I delight in being curmudgeonly, my forthrightness does sometimes place me standing alone, so it's nice to know I'm not the only one who gets irritated at the "what's-it-worth" boors.
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