Dawes Bike Identification Grame 531.

[non-fixie]

Thanks for the pics, both of you.

I like the look of that bike. It's the type of geometry - between racer and tourer - that works very well for me. Kind of a best of both worlds thing.

All of which reminds me that I have a badly repainted Dawes (Mirage or Double Blue, not sure which of the two it is) frame in my size somewhere that needs a repaint. You may just have handed me my spring project.

 

[ZG862]

I'd guess Jaguar too, but not before I'd returned that handlebar stem to a safe height...

 

[allenh]

I've got exactly the same bike in the same colours with the same bits in the garage and did some searching to try and find out the model name once but never actually got it pinned down.

Best I could trace it to was possibly a Renown from the early 80's (1981 to 1984). I know its definitely not a Jaguar, Echelon or Lightning and my guess is no more than that really but the frame is definitely 531 so I can only assume it wasn't around as a model in this configuration for very long but one thing I found distinctive was the black GB stem and black Weinmann brakes that I can't say I've seen on any other Dawes

 

[one-eyed_jim]

Best I could trace it to was possibly a Renown from the early 80's (1981 to 1984). I know its definitely not a Jaguar, Echelon or Lightning and my guess is no more than that really but the frame is definitely 531 so I can only assume it wasn't around as a model in this configuration for very long

The Renown seems to have a 531 fork, so unless this one has lost its fork blade transfers, it can't be a Renown. Am I missing something?

What makes you rule out the Jaguar and Echelon?

 

[allenh]

The Renown seems to have a 531 fork, so unless this one has lost its fork blade transfers, it can't be a Renown. Am I missing something?

What makes you rule out the Jaguar and Echelon?

There might well be a model were missing and my instinct is its earlier than that 82 catalogue. The Jaguar is farther down the food chain than this bike as I think is the Echelon, the fork crown is wrong for the Jaguar and all of the kit is wrong for both the Jaguar and Echelon.

I have a Jaguar frame here and the its also different in other areas but the stand out thing is the fork crown. I also had an Echelon for a little while so i'll have to see if I have some pictures to compare the frames but as above all the kit is quite different.

That only leaves the Renown unless as I say there's a model we are missing, or at least something around the Renown area of the range anyway.

Edit

I've just found this add on Gumtree for one that someones selling as a Renown so my guess is that they are an earlier than 82 Renown.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/dawes-vintage-classic-road-bike-reynolds-531-bike-/1422697989

 

[one-eyed_jim]

There might well be a model were missing and my instinct is its earlier than that 82 catalogue. The Jaguar is farther down the food chain than this bike as I think is the Echelon, the fork crown is wrong for the Jaguar and all of the kit is wrong for both the Jaguar and Echelon.

If this is a 531 main-tubes frame with cheaper fork and stays, it corresponds with the Jaguar and Echelon in the range, no? I tend to think it's one of those models from a different year. Parts and colours, and even lugs and crowns can change from one year to another. Just look at the wide range of bikes that bore the Galaxy name over the years.

Edit

I've just found this add on Gumtree for one that someones selling as a Renown so my guess is that they are an earlier than 82 Renown.

That's actually the same bike we're discussing. The very same bike. Note the dealer sticker on the downtube!

I'm sure another one - with intact decals - will turn up sooner or later.

 

[allenh]

If this is a 531 main-tubes frame with cheaper fork and stays, it corresponds with the Jaguar and Echelon in the range, no? I tend to think it's one of those models from a different year. Parts and colours, and even lugs and crowns can change from one year to another. Just look at the wide range of bikes that bore the Galaxy name over the years.

Yes that does happen and no, the Jaguar definitely no, its a generally cheaper bike in every guise I've seen, the Echelon possibly but looking at the components used and the frame itself I still say this bike is still farther up the tree than either of them.

That's actually the same bike we're discussing. The very same bike. Note the dealer sticker on the downtube!

I'm sure another one - with intact decals - will turn up sooner or later.

Ha Ha, so back down to two of them then and if anyone wants to give me that sort of money for mine they're welcome to it. I do have a vague memory of finding it in a catalogue somewhere just can't remember where.

 

[allenh]

Its bugging me now because I'm sure I did have this worked out a while ago so I've had another quick look about at what info I can find and:

Renown and Atlantis both 531 forks so agreed not either of those, the Atlantis did come in two tone blue but not green as far as I can see

Mirage seems to be in the same vein as the Renown/Atlantis and disappeared before these bikes so not that.

Echelon possibly and these are the closest as far as frame and forks go but every guise of Echelon I've seen has a cheaper crankset and a couple of other bits that are cheaper, also they were all white, light blue or later two tone gold and brown.

Jaguar generally cheaper components apart from the VX mechs and the cheaper fork crown that Falcon also used which seemed to denote the lower end of the 531 framed bikes so I'm convinced its not a Jaguar, also it did come in two tone red but not green as far as I can see

Lighting, right on colour but that's about it.

So I've revised my thinking a bit and the closest does seem to be the Echelon but the quality of the crank and the black stem and brakes along with a couple of other bits still makes me think no and this is a short run model that I just can't find a catalogue for.

Give me a while to forget about it and I'll find the catalogue for it and then forget where this thread is.

 

[ZG862]

That's not a bad mark up if the new owner(Ashsamad?) can get it. Buy for £100, sell for £225, following some identification here.
Not even a wipe of the oily mechs or lowering the stem to a safe height.

I wonder if the next owner will come here for ID and then list it somewhere for £450?

 

[allenh]

That's not a bad mark up if the new owner(Ashsamad?) can get it. Buy for £100, sell for £225, following some identification here.
Not even a wipe of the oily mechs or lowering the stem to a safe height.

I wonder if the next owner will come here for ID and then list it somewhere for £450?

And then I'll put mine up for sale for £445