Help please: OMNI frames? ever heard of 'em?
 

I'm sorry if this post is redundant, but I'm looking for some help. I"m a newbie and found a bike for sale WITHOUT the wheelset for 500 ducks . The guy says its quality Japanese steel, but I've never heard of Omni

here is his description:

It is an Omni built with 973 superlight bouble butted tubing, lugged
frame painted medium metallic blue with an extremely nice chrome fork,
it will take brakes and fairly large tires, rear facing track ends.
Sugino track cranks and bottom bracket, Tange track headset, SR cold
forged stem and track bars, SR track post and Kashima saddle, MKS track
pedals.

Any advice/thoughts?
thanks

Looks to be a russian frame.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...=Omni+bicycles

and

http://www.omnibike.ru/eng/bikes.xgi

Should be decent reading.

i don't think those are the same. if it's an older bike, you probably won't find too much info. having said that, it's got a fairly nice parts spec. i'd get it, but i'd try to talk him down by about a $100 or so...

They might not be. I can't get to classic rendevous, that's a good place to get info.

was just at cr last night, and their japanese section doesn't mention omni. if it's a newer frame, it probably wasn't made for export, which brings you back to square one...

dammit. 68 views and NO ONE has heard of this bike?!
wtf?!
well, I plan to go check it out and ride it in a few days. One concern I have is that it may not be as "quality" as the seller suggests. what can I look for to try to determine if it's quality steel or a piece of poo?

I'd start with the seattube stickers since I've never heard of "973 superlight" tubing...sounds like he's making up some Reynolds-like numbers/name to me. Also, one doesn't normally associate "superlight" tubing with lugged construction. Who knows, though, it may be fine.

You would think that with all the knowledge of everyone here, someone would have heard of Omni frames. Just as dabern states, check the sticker, if it's there. Could be the guy is just trying to drown out his no name frame with nice parts. When you go to see the bike, check the stickers and anything else that may clue you into the frame. And do try to get the price knocked down a bit. And even ask about the frame origins, how he got a hold of it, etc. Basically calle him out on it. If you don't like his answers, move on.

That could be quite telling - either it's super freakin' rare (worth something) or its a bike from nowhere (worth nothing).

Sorry, not quite helpful. YOu might want to post in the Classics and Vintage forum though.

Hey, I realize this is a very old thread. But I just purchased an Omni track bike like the one described here. Would be interested if the original poster bought that one, and if he ever found out anything about it.

Last post by the OP was on 2/10/2006, so I doubt that you will get a reply. If you make 4 more posts, you can post a photo of it so maybe someone else might be able to comment.

This is quite the ancient thread and you own the bike already so in the end it doesn't matter. You own the bike, enjoy it, ride the heck out of it and if you don't then find something you do enjoy and maybe spend a couple of extra smackaroons and improve the ride.