Identifying this "Shimano Racing Components" bike

[dave_cyclist]

Hi all, I have this "Shimano Racing Components" bike and I would appreciate some help in further identifying it as I haven't been able to find any information about it online. Maybe it was a one off track type bike by Shimano? Here is the information I have been able to get off the components:

Shimano 6 speed cassette freewheel: Shimano SIS MH: August 1988 VIA MF-Z012 Japan

Suntour Cyclone cranks: LP, CC: March 1986

Shimano RX100 front derailleur: 1992, TF: June 1995

Suntour Accushift 4050 rear derailleur: EC: March 1988

Brakes: Dia Comp

Levers: Dia Comp Aero

Gears front 52/42

Gears rear 13-23

Frame: Tangealoy which puts it around the Repco Eurosport Tri-A spec

Weight: 10.8 kg

Pictures attached.

Thanks very much in advance Dave

https://flic.kr/p/2pix7sm

https://flic.kr/p/2piqWiy

https://flic.kr/p/2pixL82

https://flic.kr/p/2pivsmk

https://flic.kr/p/2pixLcR

https://flic.kr/p/2pixLck

https://flic.kr/p/2piwx15

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https://flic.kr/p/2pivstu

https://flic.kr/p/2piwx1L

https://flic.kr/p/2pixLhk

[familyguy]

It's likely a generic Shimano sticker pack applied to what looks like a reasonably nice frame. Looks nicely built. Longish chain stays, the bottle bosses under the downtube and double rear eyelets indicate it was probably aimed at touring. No serial number on BB shell or seat tube?

It's a good size, for once. Either it's a really long seat tube (65c/c?), or it's way off square (64x58 or something?)

[dave_cyclist]

Hello, no serial number that can be seen unfortunately, thanks for the information though

[elantra]

Hello, no serial number that can be seen unfortunately, thanks for the information though

The Italian-made mid-1980’s Europa frames usually did not have any serial number on the frame.
But as far as I know the Europa Italian frames do usually have the frame size in cm stamped under the bottom bracket.
As yours appears to be a fairly large frame then look for a “61” stamped under bottom bracket.

However if it made from Tangalloy tubing then it’s very unlikely to be an Italian frame.
That is unless the Tangalloy sticker is just an add-on, like all those Shimano stickers.

Anyway it looks like a nice frame.
Most of the running gear on it, especially the Suntour and RX100 bits do work extremely well with a little TLC.

The gear ratios however are not very hill-friendly !

[dave_cyclist]

Hello, thanks again, as you can see I had a look on the bottom of the bb and unfortunately no frame number, only scratches which I thought were the number at first. Maybe it's in a slightly different postion? And I got the Tangealloy designation from the fact that the headset nut has Tange on it, maybe only the nut is Tange? Again as you may be able to see the Text from left to right on the nut says: Japan, Pat. P (which I'm guessing is patent pending), Tange. And with the gear ratios I find that this original cluster works better for me up the hills than other more mountain bike lower geared clusters I have and have tried on it. I find the slower more constant pedalling suits me better than the spinning higher and getting more out of breath lower ratios and I get to the top of Mt Cootha and Mt Gravatt much more refreshed than on the other gear ratioed clusters And it also helps that I go slightly further for each pedal stroke being slightly higher gear ratioed So would the final verdict be a Japanese or Italian frame in your opinion? Thanks Dave

https://flic.kr/p/2piJeSr

https://flic.kr/p/2piJeRQ

https://flic.kr/p/2piLxVL

https://flic.kr/p/2piJeRE

https://flic.kr/p/2piLxVF

[elantra]

I don’t really know.
Actually in one of your pictures there appears to be water bottle mounting points UNDER the frame tubing (downtube).
This suggests that it is a Touring frame.
Touring bicycles with 3 mounting points for water bottles were the bees knees in the 1980’s.

If it is one of these it’s more than likely Japanese built or local (Australian) custom build.
Probably the latter - because the Japanese and Taiwanese love to put serial numbers on their bike frames !

And I get what you are saying about the gearing.
I am not a fan of “spinning” the legs - also known as high cadence. But I concede that it can be very effective for some people.

Back in the late 1980’s I used to do Coottha on a Repco Vertex with 42 tooth inner chainring and 6-speed 13-24 cogs on the back.

For climbs like Coottha if you are young and fit then 42 x 24 is going to be very effective.

[dave_cyclist]

Thanks again Elantra for the interesting information! So when you say "bee's knees" would it indeed be equivalent to the Repco Eurosport Tri-A or your Repco Vertex? And by the way my Repco Superlite (which you may have seen posted by me previously, it;s the white and green bike) had original gearing which I still have of 52/40 and 14-24 so close to that 42/24, just slightly lower. But this Shimano goes like a floating guided missile vs the Superlite which feels like a jet ski/speed boat powering through the waves by comparison. I put that down to the Shimano being 1. taller so my legs extend more, 2. lighter and 3. it has the old fashioned toe clips on the pedals as you may have seen. Thanks Dave

[familyguy]

https://flic.kr/p/2piJeRQ

https://flic.kr/p/2pixL82

These two photos show an interesting detail. The downtube appears to be flared out once it emerges from the bottom bracket, around the bottle boss area. Assuming it's not massively kinked and it is a flare in the tube, this would be a detail that might give some indication as to origin. Can't say I've come across that before.

[dave_cyclist]

Hi familyguy yes either an early attempt at aero or a manufacturing technique? Maybe it is indeed an Australian custom build as Elantra was saying

[dave_cyclist]

And that same flare is at the other end as you may see from the other photos so I think it's designed that way

[familyguy]

And that same flare is at the other end as you may see from the other photos so I think it's designed that way

So it is, looking closer at some of the photos. Intriguing.

Does it sound/feel like they've got a bigger tube sleeved over a more standard tube for that length? Have you taken the bottle cage bolts out and had a look to see long the threads inside run for? Might give another clue as to whether it's a single tube been shaped or a sleeve added for endurance/strength.

Certainly increasingly looking like a custom build. It's clearly for a tall person, so perhaps the builder went fully custom and beefed it up for a lot of weight.

[dave_cyclist]

Hi familyguy, no it doesn't feel any different than a standard diameter tube, when I did remove bolts for inspecting them and fitting bottle cages etc it didn't notice they were any different in length to the ones on the Superlite so it may be a single custom shaped tube. And so do you reckon the guy got assorted high end parts and the Shimano stickers and put them all on to make it like a Tour de France bike? Thanks Dave

[familyguy]

The sticker packs were widely available through shops, maybe they repainted it and just whacked them on cause a plain bike wouldn't sell. It's reliable and nice without being sporty or expensive, just a neat bike that you should ride a lot.

[rkelsen]

Maybe it was a one off track type bike by Shimano?

Nope. As others have said, it's a generic sticker set. And definitely not a track frame.

With that said, it does have some interesting features. It does look like a custom build. The long chain stays and 3rd bottle mount would suggest that it was built for touring. Longer stays would prevent heel strike with panniers.

There's only 2 cable holders on the top tube. Mass-produced bikes almost always had 3, although I did have a Raleigh that had 2. Colnago used to do 2, but that's definitely not what this frame is.

The flared downtube is weird. Never seen that before!

You seem to be riding it with the seat quite low. Is it too big for you? Can you stand over the frame without going soprano?

[dave_cyclist]

Thanks for the extra information, I can just get on it, it allows the greatest leg extension of all my bikes as previously stated

[rkelsen]

If the seat as pictured is at the right height for your leg length, then that frame too big for you.

[DernyDriver]

If the seat as pictured is at the right height for your leg length, then that frame too big for you.

Agree.
Need to be about 6'10" or 6'11" to ride that bike

[dave_cyclist]

Here are some more photos of both the Shimano and Superlite, please enjoy! IMG_20240101_211054 by Dave R, on Flickr

IMG_20240106_141308 by Dave R, on Flickr

IMG_20240106_142918 by Dave R, on Flickr

IMG_20240101_211654 by Dave R, on Flickr