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Post by kickstandman on Nov 20, 2015 1:44:10 GMT
I'm going to kick this thread off in case anyone is interested. Usually, you can type in info on a bike and then, see what say, bike forums says. Star Bikes are not that well known but I thought this was a great bike and early in my cycling career shall we say, a bike mechanic showed me a bump in the downtube, a bump right before it meets with the fork and he said he wouldn't ride it so, it was a sweet bike but I did decide to salvage it for that reason, sounded like it had been in a wreck. Any comment on that is welcome. Sometimes I think I should have kept riding it despite that because it served me well. It had a Crane Rear Mech/Derailleur and a Titlist front, Silstar crank, Falck tubing (unknown to some but apparently a good tubing, double butted in cases and used on some Legnanos), a brown leather Maeda or Miyata saddle (I thought a Japanese branded leather saddle was pretty cool and I still have that saddle, wish I'd salvaged the drop out adjusting screws) I'm sort of looking at one, it is a great bike but not sure if I want to do $250 though it is more or less, worth it and somewhat rare. I guess one could say something Like, I have $200 cash if you want to sell it and of course, I'd look at it first too. But I'll probably let it slide, having multiple bikes like most of us, you only have so much time. Pedestrian paint job really and that probably made it a bit less costly back in the day, I saw the sky blue color and at first, from a distance, thought of Bianchi. Star is such a widely used term that to search for bike and "Star" brings up, honestly, thousands of hits, it's hardly a specific search but someone over there in Japan during their golden era made it and I'd take it, this could actually be made by the same makers of some other Japanese bikes that were better known. I tend to think the excellent Star bikes were a sort of "inhouse" brand (a sporting goods store), contracted out but I don't think it was a well-known brand like Miyata, Fuji and Nishiki for example. I thought it was really excellent. If the link doesn't get garbled: minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/bik/5323482644.html
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Post by cusqueno on Nov 20, 2015 13:06:13 GMT
Nice bike. Looks like a cross between a 70s Viscount Aerospace, with its Crane RD, Titlist FD and centre pull brakes, and an 80s Aerospace Viscount, with its lugged frame and SunTour GS chromed drop outs. Only my opinion, but I don't like Silstar cranks and feel they let the bike down, especially with that chain guard. But easy enough to change, should someone want to.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,375
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Post by Jem on Nov 20, 2015 16:08:09 GMT
I like it a lot , but realistically wouldn't be paying that - I'd haggle, and do some talking and be happy if it were 2 figures (in £GBP'S)
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,375
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Post by Jem on Nov 21, 2015 9:25:04 GMT
I might take a gamble on this, but the seller isn't forthcoming on the model name or any better pics of the frame etc yet. Anyone willing to id this? (seller info does say he thinks it was made for Canadian market?) A very interesting shed this guy has...(a brewery?)
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Post by kickstandman on Nov 21, 2015 15:39:42 GMT
I might take a gamble on this, but the seller isn't forthcoming on the model name or any better pics of the frame etc yet. Anyone willing to id this? (seller info does say he thinks it was made for Canadian market?) A very interesting shed this guy has...(a brewery?) When I go to photobucket, the word "Nishiki" appears, the seat tube bands indeed appear to be in the Nishiki style. It certainly is an interesting bicycle that it has mudguards, fenders. So often, I use as a reference bikeforums.net so perhaps they know something. I would hope one poster we have here who has knowledge might chime in. calgary.canadianlisted.com/bicycles/nishiki-vintage-road-bike-23-frame-tall-size-185-calgary_3192135.html (per Canada) Canada had Sekai bikes but I wasn't aware that Sekai actually started in Seattle. www.classicrendezvous.com/Japan/Sekai_main.htmA Sekai with bands of what looks like Championship stripes so a different sort of bike and back then, all the same, a lot of folks adorned bikes with these.
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Post by kickstandman on Nov 21, 2015 16:04:20 GMT
I'll add in again, those fenders appear to be an original part of the bicycle which is a bit curious.
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Jem
Viscount
?
Posts: 3,375
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Post by Jem on Nov 21, 2015 16:14:15 GMT
I'll add in again, those fenders appear to be an original part of the bicycle which is a bit curious. Maybe a 'tourer' of sorts?
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Post by triitout on Nov 22, 2015 0:15:10 GMT
4743626345_30398a74af_b This is the Japanese Centurion's 1986-7 Ironman Expert Dave Scott Expert "triathlon" bike, one of the first attempts at a tri specific setup. This paint job was reflective of the tri scene in the 80's. The color scheme is known as the "Miami Vice" edition as per the popular mid 80's TV show. Loud neon colors, speedos, and the domination of Ironman by "THE MAN", Dave Scott ruled the day. This was more of a slightly aggressive road bike with a short top tube and slightly steeper seat tubes, similar in geometry to another very early popular tri bike, Vitus 979. Yes Pete, you do have a little racer in you! A far cry from the aerobar, steep geometry bikes to come. I missed out on this one when I bought my Vitus in 1989 and temporarily mothballed my Viscount Grand Touring having been bitten by the triathlon bug. It's a bike that to this day inspires either disgust or adulation depending on your take. There is still a very active fan base for these and other less garish colors with many active thread on www.bikeforums.net. The "Expert" version was Shimano 105 and the "Master" being Shimano 600. Framesets were the very lightweight Tange 1, comparable to Reynolds 531. I'm very close to acquiring one and going retro next season on the right course. If it was good enough for an IM course record for Dave, so it's good enough for me.
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Post by 54roadie on Nov 22, 2015 1:00:58 GMT
Nice post, Michael! I always had a lot of respect for Centurion; their stuff was very well made, straight, and the paint jobs were quite well done, even if you didn't go for the teal/pink Miami Vice or that lavender/yellow above. Lots of brands were teal in those years. Yuck. Those low friction brakes came complete with a set of really tiny ball bearings in each caliper, which were guaranteed to escape and roll away any time you tried to loosen and clean things. I'm pretty sure that the fishing reel guys found themselves overstocked on bearings and Mr. Shimano told the bike guys to absorb to overage. It's interesting to note that Centurion was pushing 32 spoke wheels as more aerodynamic back then. Rim design and materials had progressed to the point where most racers were already on 32s. "going retro"? Michael? As if your Viscounts are not sufficiently retro? Frank
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Post by kickstandman on Nov 22, 2015 15:53:49 GMT
An acquaintance of mine rides a Centurion, I'd see him on the trails and he is very fast, he goes all out, clipping into the pedals and it was a vintage bike though perhaps post-1985 in that mode, he is very serious when he is on his bicycle, he indeed, plays ice hockey as well though he of course, is not a young buck. His Centurion looks something like this random issue I found, these sorts of paint jobs, they be blue or red, this was their style. I'll just post this as well, a Japanese bike ad I have in my saved pages.
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Post by kickstandman on Dec 15, 2015 19:24:56 GMT
I have scoped out a Fuji Regis. It looks reasonable with Fuji's Valite tubing, nicely lugged. I also have seen a Nishiki International, back in the day, Raleigh's international was one of their top models. It's a horror, just for me, when someone makes some really nice classic into a fixed/single speed, maybe single is a little better but a Nishiki International with components is a nice looking bicycle. Next: Fuji Regis, looks like a slightly above original entry level bike but not bad, this random web figure shows they did take away some main components. Whatever Valite is, it's probably some sort of hi-ten which isn't to say bad, a proprietary tubing, around the same time, Motobecane had Motolite. I already have one "gas pipe" warrior among my 5 bikes, to me, this would seem to be a bit of a duplicate though I'm sure it's a fine bike and could be worth it.
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Post by kickstandman on Dec 15, 2015 19:49:09 GMT
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Post by 54roadie on Dec 16, 2015 7:57:17 GMT
NICE ONE! Thanks for sharing.
Frank
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Post by triitout on Dec 31, 2015 23:44:35 GMT
DSCN1009 Well I did it. Another steel bike to add to the stable. Loving the 7 speed index down tube shifting. Took it for it's first ride to end the new year just before dark. It's funny to say but it rides as nice as my Viscounts! If I upgraded the components to mid-late 80's like the Centurion with cassette 7 speed index shifting and light weight wheels, I think they'd really be about the same ride. It speaks volumes about how good the aerospace frames really are since this was considered a high level tri/road bike in the mid to late 80's and still has a large, loyal and active following on www.bikeforums.net. They even have their own guru just like Busaste and there are a few fellow Viscount owners crossing over with Centurion I.M's too. I think because of it's California cool looks and history of racing by Dave Scott (Hawaii Ironman bike course record in 1986) it was a natural retro bike for me to own. This really was a banner year for me. Two great Viscounts, the Gran Sports and the red/white GP and now a "Miami Vice" Centurion. Hope everyone finds what they're looking for in 2016! Happy New Year to all!!
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Post by kickstandman on Apr 13, 2016 1:54:16 GMT
I know those Centurions are elite and show up on the CLs. Near me, this pawn shop once a year might get something other than typical fare, a nice Specialized Road bike was there, Mountain Bikes and then, an assortment of others, Cruisers; what I saw was selling at a deep discount because it had its share of rust, maybe too much, which I will have to promptly go after (spray) ... but a Fuji Del Rey, the black "star silver" colour per specs. It appears it is an '84 or so that they stopped chrome-tipping the forks, seems light; perfect size for me, about 56 cm. I can't wait to really test it out, it needs lubrication definitely in places. Made from Val-Lite (quad butted too, their proprietary tubing). If for some reason, there is something wrong with the frame, then, I got wheels and tires that I surmised to be in good shape. As I've said before, I'm not really in the bike market with my limited selection but should happenstance present an opportunity , I might go for it. As said, there seems to be a fair amount of rust; so, I will study this; mostly on the top tube and chain stays. That said, it might actually fix up pretty nice; I don't think the rust is excessive. I'm a bit pumped; for a long time, I wanted to get some sort of Fuji, in the US, they are fairly popular. Try the San Francisco Craig's List for Fuji and you get hits like you do for Trek on the Craig's list here. Now, that I look, I do see Fujis on Gumtree. Vintage: www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/58cm-fuji-sports-12-lightweight-race-racer-racing-road-bike-bicycle-/1164212690 and I'd believe this would be a bit high as well. It is there in Kennington, the link did not come through.
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Post by kickstandman on Apr 13, 2016 2:23:19 GMT
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Apr 13, 2016 15:33:23 GMT
I am enjoying this thread! I well remember Star, Sekai, Nishiki and Centurion. The first Centurion's were made in Japan and later versions were from Taiwan. I think the Ironman was made in Taiwan, and highly rated. Good going Triitout, that is a great looking bike!. As for Nishiki, it started as the American Eagle brand; I had one of those. A nice American Eagle is for sale in Los Angeles losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/bik/5521783624.htmlThe migration of manufacturing is interesting. Europe gave way to Japan, Japan to Taiwan, and now China. As manufacturing migrates to a less expensive environment, the more expensive environment is left to only compete with high end models; this competition leads to some really great bikes. In the 1970s, Mexico made some very nice bikes at affordable prices; they did not survive but I am watching for a comeback. I even have a couple of Mexican bike projects gathering dust in my shop. Jim
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Post by dracco on May 6, 2016 17:39:04 GMT
When I lived in Toronto (a long time ago now) I bought a Sekine: a Japanese bike that I think was manufactured under licence in Manitoba. I don't really remember much about it now except that it was a 10-speed, was green and was my first experience of a "left-hand drive" bicycle (i.e. the brakes were cabled to the "wrong" levers, as I discovered to my near-terminal shock, the first time I rode it).
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Post by kickstandman on May 7, 2016 5:05:34 GMT
When I lived in Toronto (a long time ago now) I bought a Sekine: a Japanese bike that I think was manufactured under licence in Manitoba. I don't really remember much about it now except that it was a 10-speed, was green and was my first experience of a "left-hand drive" bicycle (i.e. the brakes were cabled to the "wrong" levers, as I discovered to my near-terminal shock, the first time I rode it). So many bikes, so little time. I'm sure they are good bikes. A green Sekine without the chrome on the back stays currently on sale on the San Francisco Craig's List. sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/5564578057.html
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Post by kickstandman on May 7, 2016 5:12:17 GMT
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,375
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Post by Jem on May 12, 2016 20:18:30 GMT
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Post by scottw on Feb 21, 2017 8:07:26 GMT
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,375
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Post by Jem on Feb 21, 2017 9:36:51 GMT
I think the make is Tsunoda? Model is Eclipse?
Yes, I am pretty sure Japanese - I don't think that one looks to be anything too high end though...I would offer a tenner
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,375
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Post by Jem on Mar 12, 2017 10:21:16 GMT
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,375
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Post by Jem on Mar 12, 2017 19:42:19 GMT
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Post by kickstandman on Mar 15, 2017 17:37:30 GMT
providence.craigslist.org/bik/6039154854.htmlShogun bike for $300, I saw another price in that neighbourhood; I'm sure they are fine bikes.. but I wonder if that is a bit steep. This one is definitely a small size. One of those models is suppose to be a good touring bike.
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