For Sale: Vintage Fully Restored TALL Japanese Fixed Gear Track Bike (PHOTOS)

Wasn't sure whether this belonged in Marketplace or BikePorn... (copied from my CraigsList ad)

 

I'm selling a mid-80's, like new, freshly restored, lugged Japanese bicycle, carefully and professionally rebuilt as a brakeless fixed gear track bike. This bike is absolutely one-of-a-kind, hand crafted, with every single part carefully curated to build the perfect cycling experience. With proper care and maintenance (of course) it will last it's owner a lifetime.

Restoration of this bike began with a brand new powdercoat finish in white. Much stronger than the paint found on most new bicycles, powdercoat stands up to the elements with ease and protects your investment from dings and scratches during normal use (bike racks, sign posts, etc.) much more than paint and clearcoat alone. All vintage alloy components on this bike are all new or NOS (new old stock) components, buffed and polished to a high luster entirely by hand.

The original loose bearing bottom bracket was replaced with a new sealed cartridge bearing unit, ensuring years of reliable performance. The 1" threaded headset was hand polished and repacked with fresh grease and paired with a rare Nitto quill stem, also hand polished to a high luster and holding the beautiful Nitto B123 handlebars. The drivetrain is composed of a 170mm Shimano 600 crankset turning a 52 tooth Shimano chainring fixed with new singlespeed track bolts. A new 1/8" KMC polished silver chain connects to a 20 tooth Surly track cog and lockring on the rear wheel.

The seatpost is new and allows for a lot of height adjustment at 300mm. Brand new two sided MKS Sylvan track pedals are installed and a classic Selle saddle tagged with an salvaged "TRAVELER" badge from an older bicycle has been reupholstered in genuine brown leather to match the other brown details of this bike.

Adding to it's one-of-a-kind nature, this bike is fitted with a very special custom built wheelset. Featuring 42mm deep dish Eighth-Inch Julian rims tied to IRO track flip-flop hubs with sealed cartridge bearings laced radially with 16 spokes in the front, and a 24 spoke two-cross pattern in the rear which gives it a radial look as well, but in a triple pairing. The Julian double-wall rims have machined sidewalls to accommodate brakes (if that's what you'd like to do). These were professionally handbuilt by my my close friend, who I've commisioned to build three or four wheelsets in this very strong and very attractive pattern. The wheelset is finished off with a set of brand new, two tone, Fyxation Session 700c x28 brown tires with white sidewalls that are great for everyday commuting and allow the bicycle to maintain a cleaner look.

This bicycle has a 62cm frame with a standover height of 35." It would best fit someone in the range of 5-11" to 6'-5" tall. The frame is in excellent structural shape, essentially new with the fresh snow white coat of powder. You won't find another bike like this anywhere.

If you were to prefer riding a single speed, I can order and install one or two brakes and switch out the cog to a freewheel at cost. If you would like to take a test ride on the white knight, please be in touch. This build is 100% custom, and its components add up to very nearly my asking price. These restorations take a lot of time, detail, and the expertise of many hands, so please don't make any lowball offers.

I have it up on CL for $1100 but I'll take $1000 from a Chainlinker.

Thanks for looking.

Bikeith White-Brown 1


Bikeith White-Brown 2


Bikeith White-Brown 3


Bikeith White-Brown 6


Bikeith White-Brown 7


Bikeith White-Brown 10


Bikeith White-Brown 11


Bikeith White-Brown 14


Bikeith White-Brown 15


Bikeith White-Brown 18


Bikeith White-Brown 19


Bikeith White-Brown 21

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on September 29, 2012 at 5:10am

Looks like you're missing a couple spokes there...

Permalink Reply by John on September 29, 2012 at 5:58am

Kevin, is it dangerous to not use all of the holes in the rim and hub, so long as the spokes are laced symmetrically? 

whats the difference between low spoke count wheels and wheels that dont use all da holez?

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 29, 2012 at 5:46pm

1. That is not a track bike, that is a road bike conversion most likely on an old Schwinn frame based on the lugs and head badge holes.

2. It is not possible to have a 'new' vintage part.

3. Whoever cut the derailleur hanger and cable stops/guides off of that bike should be kicked in the nuts; neutering a bike nice enough to have forged drop outs is obnoxious.

4. For all the other work done it would have been nice if the 'Traveler' badge was installed straight.

5. Since that is not a track bike setting it up brakeless is just plain stupid.

6. You may find that wheel lacing attractive but it sure as hell is not strong.

7. If you want to do fancy pattern low spoke count wheels spend the cash and get rims drilled for the pattern you are using; Velocity will drill anything you like anyway you like.

8. A 62cm frame does not fit people who are 5'11".  I am 6'2" and do not ride a bike that large.

Just sayin.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 29, 2012 at 5:49pm

There is nothing wrong with not using spoke holes in either the rim or hub; it is actually common practice when building wheels for certain bikes that use small rims and nice hubs that are not available in low spoke counts.

However I would question building 16 spoke radial laced wheel for street riding...  

John said:

Kevin, is it dangerous to not use all of the holes in the rim and hub, so long as the spokes are laced symmetrically? 

whats the difference between low spoke count wheels and wheels that dont use all da holez?

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on September 29, 2012 at 7:52pm

That may be true Dug, but lacing traditional hubs in a radial pattern, especially a low spoke count pattern, is going to lead to a broken flange.

Permalink Reply by Robert Beck on September 30, 2012 at 12:57am

WOW!!! ...$1000 you gotta be kidding.....You are really a dumbass.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 30, 2012 at 6:17am

I don't disagree; radial lacing in general voids most hub and rim warranties and the low spoke count only makes it worse.

Kelvin Mulcky said:

That may be true Dug, but lacing traditional hubs in a radial pattern, especially a low spoke count pattern, is going to lead to a broken flange.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on October 2, 2012 at 10:25am

Trolls? If you misrepresent a bike you are trying to sell you have to expect a few people to call you out on it. You even used the word "restore". The bike is beautiful in its own way, but it is hardly anything resembling a restoration.

Peter Muller said:

Wow, there are some trolls on here these days! Clearly you guys know EVERYTHING about bicycle building... good thing I have your critique and expert advice otherwise I'd really be in trouble!

Permalink Reply by Robert Beck on October 2, 2012 at 10:25am

You gotz to be crazy!!! Charging 1000 for a bike that is not a track bike, that's one of kind, you should charge $2000.00.....you know what i'll bet if you put the spokes that are missing from the front wheel you can fetch $3000.00 for it!

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on October 2, 2012 at 10:35am

Acrtually when you consider the fact that I am a mechanic at a bike shop and pay pretty close attention to the used bike market I really do count as an expert...

It's not that it is not a nice looking bike, you have done some things wheel wise I would not do to a bike of my own but that's your choice, the issue is that you are misrepresenting what you are selling, and to a lesser extent yourself, on several levels.

That frame is not probably not even Chromemoly tubing; it isn't even high enough on (probably) Schwinn's product line to have had braze on shifter bosses.  For not much more than a grand you can build a NEW bike built on a track style frame built from Tange tubing with a at least one brake.

Sure the wheels won't be as big time high fashion as those but they will last longer and not look out of place when the fad passes.


Peter Muller said:

Wow, there are some trolls on here these days! Clearly you guys know EVERYTHING about bicycle building... good thing I have your critique and expert advice otherwise I'd really be in trouble!

Permalink Reply by John on October 2, 2012 at 11:34am

1. It's lame to ask for a G for a powdercoated conversion, unless the bartape is made from hundred dollar bills.

2. It's especially lame to do it on a website frequented by lots of bike enthusiasts who understand the market and who are generally capable of estimating a bike's value, as DUG mentioned.

3. If you want to rip someone off, do it on CL like all the other hacks. It's even sillier to offer the "chainlink discount" in said situation. 

4. I would argue the fixie fad has already largely passed, but that's just my opinion. I feel that in 2007, this bike would have sold without all this hassle 'cause the ignoramus rich wanted "the fixie look."

Permalink Reply by ilter on October 2, 2012 at 12:54pm

Here is my list of thoughts, just because I have got some time to waste..

- the bike looks good.

- may not apply to this instance but I think an old 10, 12 speed bike, with parts in reasonably good condition, deserves a preservation/restoration rather than conversion into fixed gear.

- I won`t be surprised if this bike is/was a Schwinn, as I have one that has very similar-looking lugs, dropouts, fork. Consequently, I won`t be surprised if this bike has non-butted 'HighTensile' tubing, which does not necessarily mean the bike will feel slow,sluggish, etc. for a particular rider.

- I am about 5' 11" & my Schwinn is a 25" (63cm?) frame, fits me pretty well. However, I doubt I can ride this bike the way it is currently setup.

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