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Post by airco on Jun 15, 2016 10:31:46 GMT
Hi, I've just bought an old Viscount bike and i would like to identify the model and the year. Do you think that you could help me ? Thanks guys Some pics
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,391
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Post by Jem on Jun 15, 2016 10:53:01 GMT
Airco, welome to the forum - that is a very nice high quality Viscount Aerospace Pro. Dating is best done from the Shimano components which have letter/number stamps which are sometimes hard to find but will be on there. Check down the bottom of this web site (ignore that it says Trek at the top, it does have date stamps for Shimano components ) www.vintage-trek.com/component_dates.htmIt could be anywhere between about '75-'78 I would guess. And looks to be all original except maybe saddle? So, dating should be easy with the Shimano parts. Very nice indeed and welcome to the club! What is the story behind your purchase? By the way - You perhaps need to read up on the fork, and make a decision based on all the facts, before I bring up the words D*&th F*rk and put you off.
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Post by triitout on Jun 15, 2016 14:37:17 GMT
I've got the same bike and yes, it's an Aerospace Pro. The silver/blue versions came with tubular wheels. There was a silver/black clincher version of the Pro too. Your crankset if original would be the "porthole" design so that appears to be a replacement on your bike. My opinion on the fork for what it's worth is that if you don't know the history on how heavy the usage it has had and youy planb to use it regularly, go with a replacement fork for safety and peace of mind! Good luck!
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 559
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Post by robt on Jun 15, 2016 20:15:21 GMT
Welcome to the wonderful world of Viscount bicycles! That's a good find, and looks almost completely original except for the saddle and pedals. My Aerospace Grand Sport came with the same chainset as you have (see below), so yours may well be an original fitment. I think it looks very elegant. They probably ran out of Porthole chain sets on the day they made yours, so they put the other one on - not unknown among the Viscount assemblers, apparently. Untitled by RMT@261, on Flickr The crankset is a copy of the TA Cyclotourist crankset, with the 5-hole boss (about 50mm BDC) at the base of the crank, then six-arm chainrings just to confuse you when reassembling them. Apart from the characteristic looks, the advantage of the Porthole chainring is that you can convert it to a triple using the smaller (80mm) BCD of the inner circle of chainring bolts: IMG_4470 by RMT@261, on Flickr If you do look for a replacement fork, check the diameter of the fork crown race seat at the base of the steerer tube. Some readily-available 1" steerer CroMo replacement forks have a 27.0mm 'JIS' fork crown seat, which means your original headset's crown race (possibly 26.4mm 'ISO') might not fit unless you have access to a machine shop to either turn the steerer tube seat down or open out the crown race. Good quality headsets with 27.0mm ISO crown races can be hard to track down. (Dare I suggest a Carbon Fibre replacement fork? The purists among us would be aghast!) P.S. Take good care of those perished-looking white/cream rubber covers on your brake lever hoods - they are objects of desire around here!
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,391
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Post by Jem on Jun 15, 2016 20:39:36 GMT
I have seen that combo of Titlist/Crane and that chainring before on a few, so pretty sure they would all be original when it came out of the factory. You'll note the Lambert brake levers - that will be left over component from the previous branding, and again will be original. I was trying to work out where in the world you are by looking at the pics....I'm deducing Northern Hemisphere, but that's as far as I got. Also- here is the Viscount/Lambert Flickr group, feel free to join and add your new bike pics www.flickr.com/groups/1119963@N21/
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Post by airco on Jun 15, 2016 21:05:59 GMT
Thank you guys for your answers ! Firstly sorry for my English (I'm Belgian and i speak French ). I've bought this bike for 80€ (+- 63 £) and i would like to restore it. Thanks to your help i think that i can say that all pieces are original except the saddle. I've dismantle the bike and almost all pieces are ok except the brake cables. I will all clean and polish up ! I'm hesitating about the new painting... I would like change the original colors, keep the blue which is very nice and flashy but change the grey into an off white. Do you think that it will stay respectful of the authentic bike ? I'm a rooky in this domain so if you have some piece of advice, i am all ears ! P.S. : I did some research about the famous Death fork and I think that is the second version of the fork so not the most safe but not the most dangerous... Just acceptable i hope
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 559
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Post by robt on Jun 15, 2016 22:05:20 GMT
When you've got the basics sorted out, see if you can get someone to buy you a Royal Blue Brooks B17 saddle for your birthday. It might cost as much as your Viscount did, but it will go very nicely with the paint scheme you have suggested. New colours like this, perhaps? 00202_5XCZxcJpTzg_600x450 by RMT@261, on Flickr (More pictures of this Viscount at Los Angeles Craigslist, where it's currently advertised for sale at $275.) Don't worry about your English, we're all very relaxed about such things here. You're doing fine so far.
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Post by sprockit on Jun 15, 2016 22:39:28 GMT
Thank you guys for your answers ! Firstly sorry for my English (I'm Belgian and i speak French ). Your English puts my French to shame, so don't be sorry about it!
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Post by Stella on Jun 24, 2016 11:38:22 GMT
The clue's in the to tube sticker. Sorry, was stronger than me. And, congratulations on a very fine bike. You'll love it. :-)
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Post by busaste on Aug 24, 2016 18:13:23 GMT
Thank you guys for your answers ! Firstly sorry for my English (I'm Belgian and i speak French ). I've bought this bike for 80€ (+- 63 £) and i would like to restore it. Thanks to your help i think that i can say that all pieces are original except the saddle. I've dismantle the bike and almost all pieces are ok except the brake cables. I will all clean and polish up ! I'm hesitating about the new painting... I would like change the original colors, keep the blue which is very nice and flashy but change the grey into an off white. Do you think that it will stay respectful of the authentic bike ? I'm a rooky in this domain so if you have some piece of advice, i am all ears ! P.S. : I did some research about the famous Death fork and I think that is the second version of the fork so not the most safe but not the most dangerous... Just acceptable i hope Hi How is the resto going? Steve
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Post by airco on Oct 27, 2016 12:25:02 GMT
Hi guys ! I've finished the resto of my Aerospace Pro It was a great experience and i have really loved all the researchs and the work to find some pieces of information... I will continue to restore some old beautiful bikes ! Here are some pics of my new wonderful Viscount Aerospace Pro : HereThank you so much for the help that i have found on this forum ! Airco PS : I will make a real photo shooting when the weather here will better and i will post it on the forum
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Post by bicyclebits on Oct 27, 2016 23:34:35 GMT
airco-
Looks good! One small suggestion - the crank arm should have the outside chain ring mounted in front not behind as you have it currently. It is better supported that way. Check the 2 photos in robt's post to see what I mean.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,391
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Post by Jem on Oct 28, 2016 12:56:22 GMT
Very good work! That saddle looks great in my opinion - a good retro look.
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Post by sprockit on Oct 28, 2016 19:07:07 GMT
I agree with bicyclebits that the chainring will have better support when on the outside of what these days is the 'spider', and it will also give a cleaner (smoother) look when seen from the drive side of the bike, as in the pictures of Rob's.
The bike has cleaned up very well and looks good, and I like the red top with saddle and handlebar tape.
Red, white and blue are the colours for Britain and France - are they also the colours for your part of Belguim?
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Post by airco on Oct 28, 2016 19:21:48 GMT
Thanks guys ! I will move the crank arm as soon as possible And sprockit i don't see what red you are speaking about ?
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Post by sprockit on Oct 28, 2016 20:17:00 GMT
Aha, airco, don't worry about where the red is!
I don't see colours properly as my eyes are not very good at seeing green, and that affects how I see other colours. In English we call it being 'colour blind', we do see colours, but we don't always know what colour something is, and we often get colours mixed up!
Take no notice of what I said about the saddle and bar tape.
I do say the bike looks good!
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Post by airco on Oct 28, 2016 20:25:10 GMT
sprockit Ahaha ok i understand ! In french we say that you are "daltonien", thank you for your comment
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Post by triitout on Oct 28, 2016 22:01:50 GMT
Fine work airco! Sure doesn't look like an old bike anymore. Many happy miles of riding! Cheers, Michael
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