I have posted this before, unsuccessfully. The old thread had pictures spread all over, so I thought I would repost one more time, with all the pictures together.

The frame is all chrome. In the pictures it looks like it's in rough shape, but it is actually in great shape. I just need to get some chrome polish and it would be blinding.

The frame: Weighs 22 lbs. according to my bathroom scale.


BB and SN:

The SN format does not fit any that I've found in different databases.


Rims:


Hubs, Shimano "F D":


Forged Dropouts, Suntour GS:


Downtube Shifters, Suntour:

Front Derailleur, Suntour Cyclone:


Number codes on FD, "4532 Japan WK"


Rear Derailleur, Suntour Cyclone:


Number codes on RD, "XC"


Cranks, Sugino Mighty Tour 170 "A-5"


Pedals, SR SP-100



Brakes, Dia Compe Gran Compe:


Headset, Tange. Also, notice the lugging:

Does it have holes drilled for a headbadge?

No, the head tube is hole-less.

Ah, it's probably Japanese...
I can't tell you anymore than that, but I can warn you on those Dia Compe brakes - they have what is probably the flimsiest quick release in the history of brakes and are easily broken. Be careful!

Lots of date codes to help you pin down the age. Gotta be Japanese, but beyond that I'm no help.

I'm guessing a Tange Champion 5 frame, chromed under the paint and stripped. Identical frame to a Shogun I had, but chrome.

I'm pretty sure it has been stripped of its original paint. There were a lot of close matches the last time I posted, but the one thing that was always different was the cable post on the chain stay.

If you can see, notice that it is a small post on TOP of the chain stay.... On all the frames that were very similar, the cable post was on the bottom.

Well gee-whiz! Every component on it is Japanese - and very high quality - so it's gotta be from.....Romania!


<I'll go hide now...>

Haha, I was thinking Canada

I've one like this, and it is centurion lemans 1970's.

How is the derailleur cable routed at the bb. I see it goes over the bottom bracket, but is the piece that curves it brazed or clamped on.

There is a chrome cable guide brazed on to the frame.

Do you think you could post a picture? I searched Centurion Lemans, and wasn't able to find a match.

Sorry should have asked this with my first question, but its more important since its brazed on, but does it have a brand name on it?

The serial number could be J0106202 or JU106202, making it respectively either a 1980 or late 1981 manufacture. I suspect the latter based on the May 81 code for the cranks and the March 81 code on the rear derailleur. It also falls in line with the frame features (i.e. non-recessed brake mounts, single set of bottle bosses, clamp-on shifters, cables routed over the bottom bracket, no pump peg, etc.). Given this evidence, the probability is very high that it was manufacturerd in late 1981 and is a 1982 model.

Interestingly, J happens to be Miyata's year indicator for 1981, however there is one too many characters for a Miyata serial number from that period. It also does not fit anything in my Centurion or Nishiki serial number databases for the period. As for Fuji , it does not match their format either, however Fuji was using a facility that employed a J-prefix. Given that Fuji was enforcing their serial number format, it's possible that this was the native format for the facility used on brands other than Fuji.

Centurion and Miyata were also still using riveted headbadges at this time, as I believe was Fuji. Nishiki was the only major Asian brand I recall that had gone to decals at this time.

T-Mar, your knowledge astounds me. Thanks for taking the time to share all that and look up dates from the components!

Chrispe, I'll go take a look to see if there is a brand on the cable router now.

There is no evidence of a brand name on the cable guides.