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Can anyone identify my pub bike frame?

by Buddster
Tue, May 09, 2017 08:50
21

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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21 comments

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trinityboy | 7 years ago
2 likes

I had to register to comment, always been a lurker up to now, but it's the first time I've had something to add that might have been useful.

Mine was second-hand and had originally been used for triathlons. I've lowered the gearing and had the wheels partly rebuilt as they were just rather bad, and it's a decent bike. My first STIs and I'm still very impressed with them, even if they are Sora and probably a bit agricultural (and I've not adjusted them properly).

Watch if you go for wider tyres, I've put 25mm Durano Plus on (great upgrade, very confidence inspiring and more comfortable) but there's not a lot of room under the fork crown. I'd try to borrow a wider tyre to see if it fits safely before you splash out on buying one.

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Buddster replied to trinityboy | 7 years ago
1 like

trinityboy wrote:

I had to register to comment, always been a lurker up to now, but it's the first time I've had something to add that might have been useful. Mine was second-hand and had originally been used for triathlons. I've lowered the gearing and had the wheels partly rebuilt as they were just rather bad, and it's a decent bike. My first STIs and I'm still very impressed with them, even if they are Sora and probably a bit agricultural (and I've not adjusted them properly). Watch if you go for wider tyres, I've put 25mm Durano Plus on (great upgrade, very confidence inspiring and more comfortable) but there's not a lot of room under the fork crown. I'd try to borrow a wider tyre to see if it fits safely before you splash out on buying one.

 

thanks, the wheels are not original, Eastons and solid. I had 10spd Tiagra shifters knocking around so used them. 

Tried a 28mm tyre (borrowed) today and you're right, not enough clearance. 

 

Avatar
Buddster | 7 years ago
4 likes

I had to buy cables and bar tape only. I swapped the old front wheel out and replaced the saddle and rear brake but had some bits and bobs off my other bikes. Total spend £43 and I'm well chuffed. Bearings and all other moving parts are in good nick even the bearings were all well greased. Gonna stick some 28mm tyres on it and call it my gravel bike! 

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Dnnnnnn replied to Buddster | 7 years ago
1 like

Buddster wrote:

I had to buy cables and bar tape only. I swapped the old front wheel out and replaced the saddle and rear brake but had some bits and bobs off my other bikes. Total spend £43 and I'm well chuffed. Bearings and all other moving parts are in good nick even the bearings were all well greased. Gonna stick some 28mm tyres on it and call it my gravel bike! 

You've already spent more on replacement parts than the cost of the the entire bike.... are you crazy??!!

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Buddster replied to Dnnnnnn | 7 years ago
1 like

Duncann wrote:

Buddster wrote:

I had to buy cables and bar tape only. I swapped the old front wheel out and replaced the saddle and rear brake but had some bits and bobs off my other bikes. Total spend £43 and I'm well chuffed. Bearings and all other moving parts are in good nick even the bearings were all well greased. Gonna stick some 28mm tyres on it and call it my gravel bike! 

You've already spent more on replacement parts than the cost of the the entire bike.... are you crazy??!!

Its a complete working bike for less than £50. 10spd, alloy, unattractive so less likely to get stolen and rides perfectly. Flat pedals so I can nip out on it without cleats. That's not crazy... it's brilliant! 

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SingleSpeed | 7 years ago
2 likes

Damn trinity boy got there before me.

I bought a very similar Saracen when I needed a road bike to commute on a few years and got bitten by the road bike bug again. Mine was a mixture of 105 and Ultegra, it did it's job well and I did my first Triathlon on that old thing too!

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Buddster | 7 years ago
3 likes

Thank you everyone for their input. Trinityboy is spot on, done a bit more browsing at imagaes and it is the same as the Saracen Morzine. Thanks again. I feel justified about the £20 I paid for it  now! 

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. . | 7 years ago
0 likes

Have you tried Googling the frame number?

Sites like this might help

http://www.bicycleregistry.co.za/index.php/need-to-know/bike-serial-numbers

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trinityboy | 7 years ago
5 likes

Think this picture might help, many features are the same.

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trinityboy | 7 years ago
2 likes

It looks very similar to my Saracen Morzine, which is mostly yellow with some black graphics. I can't speak for any of the fittings in the frame, or the wheels, as they are possibly not stock items. I think mine is from 2006.

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Vejnemojnen | 7 years ago
1 like

i think it's some generic chinese alloy frame. neuzer-csepel and other garbage decal manufacturers used this frameset as well

 

edit: neuzer and csepel are two hungarian brands making decals for the cheapest chinese frames available to order and dress them with parts acap

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matthewn5 | 7 years ago
0 likes

I think there were some Viking bikes around about 10 years ago like that. Cheap as.

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BehindTheBikesheds | 7 years ago
1 like

looks like a SAB

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dottigirl | 7 years ago
0 likes

Nolobi/No Logo had a similar all-yellow colour scheme, but they're singlespeed and the design is isn't comparable:

http://road.cc/content/review/133194-nolobi-singlespeed

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Buddster | 7 years ago
1 like

It's not too bad but the wheels on it are pretty light so difficult to tell. I'd guess at around 9-10kg all in. It rides well and seems reasonably compliant given I have 23mm tyres on it. 

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dottigirl | 7 years ago
0 likes

I had a similar-looking one a few years back. Turned out to be some cheapy US brand only sold in mega supermarkers in the early 90s. Can't remember the name though - possibly beginning with 'V' - Vertigo or similar? Does it also weigh a ton?

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surly_by_name | 7 years ago
3 likes

Yep, its an ugly.

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Buddster | 7 years ago
0 likes

And another...

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Buddster | 7 years ago
0 likes

More pics to follow. 

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Buddster | 7 years ago
0 likes

Teardrop tubing for main triangle with some interesting detail on the seat tube. 

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dottigirl replied to Buddster | 7 years ago
0 likes

Buddster wrote:

Teardrop tubing for main triangle with some interesting detail on the seat tube. 

I find this part interesting. I don't know much about frame building, but is this an aero thing? I don't go around staring at that many bikes, but I can only recall seeing it on tri bikes. 

Is the yellow paint good quality, and do you think it's the original paint job? Are there any signs that logos have been removed, e.g. on the head tube?

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