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Post by triitout on Sept 22, 2015 22:50:13 GMT
Just picked up a very nice Aerospace Gran Sports. This one comes from Golden, Colorado, home of Coor's beer! I pursued a vague Craig's list ad that had not one detail or photo so this was a very nice surprise and a fair price once I heard from the seller. A young fellow, this was his sole means of transportation for about a year, but alas, a car came along and he listed it. I have a feeling the original owner really was a Viscount aficionado as it appears to have new decals, some very nice upgrades and was well taken care of. I'm hoping the seller can find his contact info to get the bike's whole story. It's got a long cage Suntour Cyclone RD, Suntour Pro-Compe 14-32 freewheel, a Suntour Superbe headset, Suntour 600 down tube shifters, Weinman 605 brakes and an SR LaPrade seat post. My first bike with a wide range gearing and in my 23" size! The tech sheet shows the bike equipped with a 14-28 freewheel and titlist rd so I'm a happy camper. Standard, easily serviced bb and sloping cro-moly half chrome fork still look new. Interestingly, this is the color and gearing I was going convert my red and white gp but never did so I got my cake and get to eat it too! It's always exciting to follow the tracking number as it moves across the country and pick up the box as if it's Christmas in Sept. I'll be tinkering with it before it gets on the road but here's a first look till I take "final" pics. I basically just threw on the wheels, seat post and stem so it looks like a bike. It reminds me of Bendo's Sport and doesn't Sooper8 also have one??  DSC
 DSCN0993 by Michael Pitzer, on Flickr N0992 by Michael Pitzer, on Flickr  DSCN0994 by Michael Pitzer, on Flickr |
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Sept 23, 2015 5:26:35 GMT
The red looks great; nice looking bike! You are going to enjoy this one.
Jim
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Post by velocipete on Sept 23, 2015 6:00:55 GMT
Very nice.As you say,it's been well looked after.I think this is the first Viscount I've seen
with a 4130 sticker!
Cheers,
Pete.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,389 
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Post by Jem on Sept 23, 2015 15:22:13 GMT
Wow, looking good!
For info, I have a battered Aerospace Sport in red, but you know what... Gran Sports is a new one to me! Not sure what , if any, the difference would be except some components - could it 'just' be a Sport with a new name for US market?
This really is a question for Bustaste.
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Sept 23, 2015 16:14:56 GMT
I found an ad for a 1975 Gran Sports budgetbicyclectr.com/1975-viscount-gran-sports-road-bicycle.html
Could this be the one Triitout bought?
I am attaching a Bicycling Magazine article on Viscount's US line up for 1976; it does not have a Grand Sport. It does mention that the Aerospace frames they tested are the same, regardless of model.
Cheers Jim
  
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Sept 23, 2015 16:17:00 GMT
I suppose some might like the first page?
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Post by lewisg on Sept 23, 2015 19:29:17 GMT
Nice bike! It's definitely not that closely linked to a 'Sport' singular as they're lugged rather than Aerospace fillet brazed.
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Post by triitout on Sept 23, 2015 21:04:57 GMT
Time to clear up the confusion. Here's the dealer price list and pecking order of the line as of Oct, 1976. How dealers survived and that markup is crazy! Also posted are the 1976 brochures showing the differences between Gran(d) Sport and Sport models. Unbelievably, if you read closely in the same brochure, they've got my bike labeled as both "Grand" and "Gran" and "Sport" and "Sports"! Just threw on my Brooks saddle that really wasn't getting a chance to be broken in the the Mojave GP since it's a basement queen with so many other Viscounts to ride. It's a nice luxury to keep it mint but the Gran Sport should get some good miles on her by the fall.  Application 3 by Michael Pitzer, on Flickr  Application 4 by Michael Pitzer, on Flickr  Application 5 by Michael Pitzer, on Flickr  Application 6 by Michael Pitzer, on Flickr  Application 7 by Michael Pitzer, on Flickr  Application 8 by Michael Pitzer, on Flickr  Application 2 by Michael Pitzer, on Flickr |
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Post by busaste on Sept 23, 2015 21:17:30 GMT
Hi
I know a bit about the Gran Sport!
The Aerospace Gran Sport was released in 1976 or 77. It replaced the Aerospace GP in Viscount's range, sitting between the Aerospace Pro and the Aerospace Sport. The last ones were still available in 1979 but I suspect that they were actually unsold stock.
The spec. of the Aerospace Gran Sport did - as usual for Viscount - vary over its short model life. What IS interesting though about the Gran Sport is that the majority of the cycle parts fitted were not those made by Lambert/Viscount; a big departure for Viscount's Aerospace range and something that became the norm by 1978. Opinions differ on the reason(s) for this. Former senior employees have told me that whilst it was true that the stock of Lambert/Viscount parts was running low by 1978 the real reason for the change was that stuff made by Shimano, Sakae, Sugino, etc. was simply of a higher quality. The early 70's 10 speed racer boom had peaked and the lucrative USA market was in steep decline. Whilst much reingineering had been done to the old Lambert/Viscount parts for the 1974 launch, there were still quality issues (bar stems, seat posts and some hubs) that in a savagely competitive market simply had to be addressed. High quality but relatively cheap Japanese sourced parts were the obvious answer. This was a brave move though because in the 1970s there was a good degree of resistance to Japanese parts in the UK. Possibly still in existence in the darkest recesses of old blighty to this day? Don't laugh, I've personally witnessed it...
Bikes like the Gran Sport were perfect examples of the initially slow then rapid shift to fitting better quality parts. The hubs on my blue 1978 'Potter's Bar' Aerospace Sport are a perfect example of just how good Shimano stuff was even then. Talk about smoooooooooth. Throw in high quality casting, machining, spoke hole drilling, etc. and you have some of the best hubs ever made (and then sold on a stupidly under priced bike - just £90 in 1978 - perhaps not the best business model ever?).
Any way, back to the Gran Sport most of which were sold in the USA (plus a few in the UK and Australia). The spec. (usually) was as follows (where Viscount's perennial parts supply problems allowed of course):
Wonderful Bilston made 'Aerospace' lugless frame, distinctive sloping featureless steel fork crown seamlessly brazed into a CRMO steel half chromed fork, powder coated cobalt blue or ruby red, gloss clear coat
The good old Circlips held Viscount BB but with a spindle that had a JIS taper (and pretty well machined too. For a change) and threads tapped - but not always - for high tensile METRIC crank bolts.
Sugino 'Maxy' 42/52 5 arm alloy chainset (nice red plastic
KKT chromed rat trap pedals
Suntour VX front/rear derailleur (Shimano 'Titlist' and '600' also known fitments)
14-28 5 speed Shimano freewheel
Shimano bar cons
Shimano large flange QR 36 hole hubs
27 x 1.25" alloy rims of varying makes e.g. Milremo, Weinmann, Birmalux, unbranded
Torrington 14g spokes
IRC gum walled tyres (not of the best quality but huge life expectancy)
Sakae Royal alloy bar stem, bars and non Campy style plain Jane seat post
Weinmann 'Vainqueur' CP brakes, levers, brown rubber hoods, QR levers (some fitted with Shimano 'suicide' levers - odd internet developed term of endearment that because mine always worked really well. Still, what the heck!)
Cheap and nasty plastic coated saddle
Viscount chromed steel headset and brake cable clips
White gear and brake cable shrouds
It's only my opinion - what a lovely bike!!
Hope all this helps.
Regards
Steve
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Post by busaste on Sept 23, 2015 21:24:19 GMT
Just seen triitout's post just after posting mine. Great post thanks.
Great to see the brochure and couldn't help but smile at the fictional nature of some of the bike spec. presented for the Gran Sport.
The dude stood next to the 'Sport - cool shirt or what?!
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Post by triitout on Sept 23, 2015 22:27:12 GMT
Steve, great to "see you again"..... great info and history. Classic bad 70's mustache on that brochure dude. Been there, done that look too  Has there ever been a model with such name confusion. I looked a little closer and it reminded me of those XX, XY, YY chromosome tables from high school. Grand Sport, Gran Sport, Gran Sports, Grand Sports....take your pick. Here's a condundrum, that I've never figured out. I've read and been told that the thread less BB shells on the Pro and GP models could only be rethreaded Italian but both my Gran Sports and Gran Touring threaded bb's have standard English thread Japanese bb's. All Aerospace frames are the same right? How is that possible? Did they in fact use different tubing for the BB shell??? Steve!!!!!! Help!!!! |
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robt
Viscount
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Post by robt on Sept 24, 2015 16:31:34 GMT
There are some pictures of the Grand Sport I now have (formerly Sooper 8's) here: flic.kr/s/aHskgpFdZaAll as original, so far as I can tell. Wheels are Viscount high flange hubs laced to Mavic rims with butted spokes. Any suggestions as to its year of birth would be most welcome. I'd hate to miss its 40th birthday! |
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Post by jaydub on Sept 24, 2015 21:53:48 GMT
awesome find!!!!
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Post by triitout on Sept 25, 2015 2:47:48 GMT
Thank you all...Pete, Jem, Lewis, Jay, Jim, Rbt, Steve for the kind words. There's good karma coming from late night trolling on Craig's List after all  . Some go for stray puppies and kittens, but I prefer stray Viscounts! |
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,389
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Post by Jem on Sept 27, 2015 15:32:58 GMT
Many thanks for the comprehensive info Bustaste!
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Post by busaste on Sept 27, 2015 22:33:06 GMT
Did they in fact use different tubing for the BB shell??? Steve!!!!!! Help!!!! Yes they did! I've seen USA 'Gran Touring' and 'Gran Sports' with factory fitted threaded English BB shells in their Aerospace frames. I suspect that as Viscount began their move towards the use of more mainstream parts, these two models were useful test mules for new part experimentation! It wasn't just the BB shells though as these two bikes came with a fair few Shimano, Suntour, SR, Sugino, Weinmann parts even though the Bilston factory had mountains of Lambert parts to 're-engineer' and use. It's worth bearing in mind that early Lambert frames (Viscount Aerospace frames were built on the same jigs and with the same tubing as Lambert frames) had threaded English BB shells. Viscount eh? They loved to mix things around! |
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Post by parabolous on Oct 13, 2015 3:30:12 GMT
Wow great find!
I recently found a cobalt blue Gran Sports! Sadly, it's missing wheels, a seat post and a saddle.
It's equipped with Shimano bar end shifters, Titlist FD/RD, Sugino Maxy cranks, SR stem, and the alloy fork that almost resembles the Death Fork but, sadly, isn't.
Yours looks great!
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Post by triitout on Oct 14, 2015 2:19:33 GMT
Wow great find! I recently found a cobalt blue Gran Sports! Sadly, it's missing wheels, a seat post and a saddle. It's equipped with Shimano bar end shifters, Titlist FD/RD, Sugino Maxy cranks, SR stem, and the alloy fork that almost resembles the Death Fork but, sadly, isn't. Yours looks great! Wheels are the best upgrade you can make. These came with shimano non sealed hubs so you can do fine with the upgrade. All your Shimano parts, the crank, fork and stem are in all probability, the real original deal so you too did great! I think if you look at this forum for what it is, along with Busaste's original thread on CTC, as the best central depository of info and IMAGES of these bikes as they still exist after nearly 40 years, it behoves us to post our pics. They're not making any new ones! Here's my Gran Sports after its first ride and probably looking as clean as it will ever be. DSCN0999 DSCN1002  DSCN1003  DSCN1004  DSCN0999  DSCN0995 |
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bendo
Viscount
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Post by bendo on Oct 14, 2015 2:50:14 GMT
VERY. FUCKING. JEALOUS. AND. YES. CAPS-LOCK. AND. SWEARING. AND. FULL STOPS. TOTALLY. NECESSARY. b
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Post by triitout on Oct 14, 2015 3:45:44 GMT
Coming from you, I. TAKE. THAT. AS. A. COMPLIMENT.  |
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Post by cusqueno on Oct 14, 2015 11:28:22 GMT
Those photos are crying out to go on the Steel is Real FB page!
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Post by 54roadie on Oct 16, 2015 2:18:03 GMT
Oh, YES. Great job Michael. Steel is Real is calling you. They seem a bit rabid; you know, incoherent, easily agitated, foaming at the mouth...
Questions - what specific saddle is that? Last I saw it had some foamy Bontrager thing on it. Did the bike come with those brake pads and are they Mathauser finned? (nice bonus) Original rims it looks like?
That was an excellent score, and you've done a remarkable job. Congratulations.
Frank
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Post by triitout on Oct 16, 2015 2:49:26 GMT
Frank,....will fill in details later. 6 outs away from Mets vs Cubs! Back to the game. Thanks!
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Post by triitout on Oct 16, 2015 4:24:51 GMT
It's over! Mets vs Cubs is on for Saturday. A nice friendly competition: 54roadie's Cubs vs triitout's Mets. For those on the other side of the pond we are competing for a trip to baseball's World Series. The poor Cubs have gone what 90+ years??? and the Mets have gone from dreadful to Amazing again. One thing for those who don't understand baseball but do understand Viscount history is to know we are talking about a group of underestimated underdogs that get no respect so there is a real tie-in of baseball and Viscount. Am I over-reaching??? My 61 year old self spent the evening rubbing lucky dirt from 1969 picked up my 15 year old self who ran into the Shea Stadium outfield to celebrate the Mets first ever pennant. It came through tonight! Sorry Jim if you're a Dodger fan. Kinda like my 61 year old self riding the Viscount my 22 year old self bought in '76. Back to the Gran Sports even though I'm a bit hyped from the game. I had very little to do with this bike. Good paint, decals and drive chain. No issues. The saddle is a Brooks Swift that I picked up last year from Chain Reaction Cycles in England on a good closeout price. It was on the Mojave GP and not being used so that one got its OEM saddle back on. Pete has spoken well of that model since it's a narrower, more racy saddle than the B17. It's my first new leather saddle but my arse hasn't complained yet. The wheels are original mel-remo rims (hook bead thankfully) on shimano non sealed bearing hubs. A little cone adjustment on the front and both spin very smooth. The Panaracer Pasella's get pumped up all the way and don't blow off. The brakes are Weinman 605's and I have no clue if the shoes are specific to them but me thinks so. I put on Dimension 44cm bars 'cause I like 'em wide. My LBS had a bitchin time getting them through the BG stem. I gave up. Newbaums cloth bar tape, a Jansen bag and a silver peg pump to give it the look. First ride was a short but sweet 8 miler. Looking forward to fitting it in to the rotation. All these nice Viscounts kinda feels like the Mets pitching staff or being a kid in a candy store. Lovin it!! I did get very lucky finding and pursuing this bike from CL. The owner had it about a year for basic transportation and really didn't know what he had. Never could get any info on the original owner but's another low mileage bike that was nicely modified to down tube shifters, Suntour cyclone and 14-32 freewheel. Sometimes the bear eats you and sometimes you eat the bear |
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Post by parabolous on Oct 17, 2015 3:28:21 GMT
Is that a Sunlite frame pump? I've been looking for a pump for my pump pegs, the same style as yours. My cobalt blue Gran Sports came with an umbrella pump clamp, too.
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Post by triitout on Oct 17, 2015 3:55:34 GMT
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Post by parabolous on Oct 17, 2015 4:03:56 GMT
Good to know! I got my frame fit pegs from Velo Bitz in the UK. Their eBay page, anyway. They have some cool stuff like lug lining pens and some of those wire cable guides which I can't ever come across!
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Post by parabolous on Oct 17, 2015 15:13:19 GMT
Steel is Real is calling you. They seem a bit rabid; you know, incoherent, easily agitated, foaming at the mouth... The Steel is Real group are a pretty hostile crowd! Dare I say, roadies!?! |
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Post by 54roadie on Oct 18, 2015 4:50:49 GMT
They do seem to get that way at times. Depends who is online at any given time, I'd guess. I've seen folks encouraged to restore some medium value frames in fair-at-best condition, then see someone get ridiculed for taking pics with the left side facing the camera. Sheesh, some people.
Frank
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Post by kickstandman on Nov 3, 2015 6:16:18 GMT
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. Some go for stray puppies and kittens, but I prefer stray Viscounts!
