Identity Crisis!!

[Minority]

Can anyone identify the frame on this bike I found. It has been repainted, once was red, and all the decals are gone.

I think the give-away may be the cable routing under the bottom bracket.

I think this one may have pushed the Condor even further down the project queue

[McPete]

That cassette is a strange one!

I can see that the brakes are Dia Compe Standards for one thing, and they actually have the rubber hoods on the levers, making riding on the hoods at least a bit more comfortable (Without those, or gloves it hurts).

I can't really say much about the frame other than it looks a lot like other 80s steel frames, there are many similarities between this and my Apollo, but there are differences too, most striking of which are those forks, as they aren't lugged... but the frame is.

I think you'll struggle to figure it out, it looks like a case of Grandpa's Axe, it's had two new heads and a new handle.

Good luck with it anyhow.

[Minority]

Yes, I too wondered about the forks.

The front wheel has been replaced (rear is 27 x 1 front is 700c) and I wondered if the original wheel and fork were damaged at some time with both being replaced.

I put the DiaCompe on the front as it had a long enough reach to accomodate the 700c wheel in that fork which seems to be better suited to a 27" wheel. I guess that might negate my preveous theory.

There are some other component mismatches, the Durace rear changer is operated by Suntour shifters on the braze-ons for instance.

[tallywhacker]

the cable routing looks the same as my 80s Hillman which was made for them in Japan. Does the seat cluster look like this

[MountGower]

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[Minority]

The seat post arrangement isn't quite as nicely detailed as the Hillman Tallywhacker, but its interesting that the cable routing under the BB is the same.

It would be nice if it was an Infinity tubed Nishiki and it feels a reasonable weight. If I strip it down to paint I'll way the bare frame and see if that is actually fact rather than wishful thinking.

As my riding is purely recreational it wont make that much difference anyway!

[triode12]

It looks like an late 70s, early 80s Japanese frame.

Where is the serial number located? Is it on the right side of the seat tube just above the BB?

[mikesbytes]

That cassette is a strange one!

5 speed screw on by the looks of it. Common on bikes of that age.

[McPete]

I was more referring to the fact all the cogs look about the same size... What's the go with that?

[mikesbytes]

I was more referring to the fact all the cogs look about the same size... What's the go with that?

14, 15, 16, 17, 19 at a guess

[MountGower]

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[Minority]

Yes it is a screw on freewheel but it is 6 speed not 5, haven't counted the teeth but I don't think I want to try any big hills with it!

I cant find a stamped serial number anywhere so no clues there either.