His bikes

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

I like the graphics how many bikes do you have?

 

[non-fixie]

I like the graphics how many bikes do you have?

I don't know, as I stopped counting them long ago, but I think I'll be able to keep this thread going for a bit longer.

I did just notice there are now 13 in this thread, so I'll need to post another one quickly to fend off the cloud of doom now hovering over me ...

 

[non-fixie]

And since it is the festive season, another rare bike seems to be fitting.

This is an Akibo. At least that is what the decals say. I haven't been able to find out much about it, even with the help of revered bicycle industry specialists such as T-Mar. Apparently Akibo was/is a trading firm, and had bikes built elsewhere.

It was advertised in the local classifieds as a frame four years ago. I couldn't find anything on what looked in the seller's pics like "Akiro", and the remaining parts that I could see on it were well worth the asking price, so I got curious, made a decent offer and picked up what turned out to be a complete bicycle but for the wheels:

Popped in a pair of wheels and it looked like this. Pretty good, IMHO, and too bad it isn't an inch or two taller.



Nicely made, out of Tange 2, sometime in the mid-nineteen eighties:

Campag ends, which is rather unusual for a Japanese production frame:

The low serial number suggests these were not made in large numbers. Perhaps they were demo models? Or Christmas gifts?

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

And since it is the festive season, another rare bike seems to be fitting.

This is an Akibo. At least that is what the decals say. I haven't been able to find out much about it, even with the help of revered bicycle industry specialists such as T-Mar. Apparently Akibo was/is a trading firm, and had bikes built elsewhere.

It was advertised in the local classifieds as a frame four years ago. I couldn't find anything on what looked in the seller's pics like "Akiro", and the remaining parts that I could see on it were well worth the asking price, so I got curious, made a decent offer and picked up what turned out to be a complete bicycle but for the wheels:

Popped in a pair of wheels and it looked like this. Pretty good, IMHO, and too bad it isn't an inch or two taller.

View attachment 912277

Nicely-made out of Tange 2, sometime in the mid-nineteen eighties:

Campag ends, which is rather unusual for a Japanese production frame:

The low serial number suggests these were not made in large numbers. Perhaps they were demo models? Or Christmas gifts?

Nice frame our taste is excellent

 

[non-fixie]

Earlier this week I acquired another frame. Way too yellow to smuggle into the house unnoticed.



As far as I am able to tell it is a Vittorio Populair from the eighties which was repainted at some point in time and never built up again. The few paint blemishes show that the original colour was blue. I suspect it was resprayed by Vittorio, as this yellow was very popular with them for a while, and AFAIK there were no aftermarket decals available from others. Which means that the Reynolds "Chromoly" and "501" decals may actually be correct.

The "Populair" models were the affordable alternatives to Vittorio's expensive hand-built machines. And they still are. They were built in Belgium by either Dija or Vaneenooghe. In this case I suspect the latter. They came in standard sizes, but those could be altered if you were willing to accept the extra lead time.

Anyway, after the expected "Didn't we agree that ...?" discussion, mrs non-fixie said she really loved the yellow. So my plan to replace it with a nice dark blue went straight out the window.

Having looked at many yellow bikes for a couple of evenings for inspiration I am beginning to warm to the idea of a yellow bike. A bit of silver, some muted red accents, hmmm ... could work.

So this is where I'm currently at:



To be continued.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Earlier this week I acquired another frame. Way too yellow to smuggle into the house unnoticed.

View attachment 918338

As far as I am able to tell it is a Vittorio Populair from the eighties which was repainted at some point in time and never built up again. The few paint blemishes show that the original colour was blue. I suspect it was resprayed by Vittorio, as this yellow was very popular with them for a while, and AFAIK there were no aftermarket decals available from others. Which means that the Reynolds "Chromoly" and "501" decals may actually be correct.

The "Populair" models were the affordable alternatives to Vittorio's expensive hand-built machines. And they still are. They were built in Belgium by either Dija or Vaneenooghe. In this case I suspect the latter. They came in standard sizes, but those could be altered if you were willing to accept the extra lead time.

Anyway, after the expected "Didn't we agree that ...?" discussion, mrs non-fixie said she really loved the yellow. So my plan to replace it with a nice dark blue went straight out the window.

Having looked at many yellow bikes for a couple of evenings for inspiration I am beginning to warm to the idea of a yellow bike. A bit of silver, some muted red accents, hmmm ... could work.

So this is where I'm currently at:

View attachment 918414

To be continued.

Congratulations, the only yellow bike I like our excellent taste remains unblemished