Help ID'ing a Viking bike

[bikemig]

I have a Viking frame/fork/headset which I figure was made in Northern Ireland but I'm having trouble getting much info on the model. I know the documentation for the N. Ireland Viking bikes is pretty sketchy. The bike has campagnolo dropouts front and rear and Reynolds stickers on the fork. I'm a little skeptical though whether this is a full double butted Reynolds 531 frame though. It takes a 26.8 seatpost. The decals seem to be right. Any idea which model this may have been? Rough year of manufacture?

 

[jim haseltine]

I'd put money on that being the frame from a European model bike - 531 forks and 3 main tubes 531 plain gauge. The Severn Valley was a similar full butted 531 frame.
Looking at the Viking catalogues on Classicvikingcycles the European had that style of seat tube decal in 1979, later catalogues show it with Viking script.

 

[bikemig]

With a 26.8 seatpost and campagnolo dropouts, I figured it was reynolds plain gauge main triangle and fork (and quite possibly rear triangle). I've done a fair amount of searching but have found remarkably little information on the northern Ireland Viking bikes. My bike does have the little piece brazed on to the downtube to keep the down tube shifters from sliding down. That seems fairly common with the Viking bikes I've seen online. I'd love to get an idea of what sort of equipment it might have had.

I have a very nice set of wheels that I pulled off a late 70s UO 10 (normandy high flange hubs and 27 inch Rigida 16-22 alloy rims) that I'll use for this build. I reckon I'll do a parts bin build on this one but I might talk myself into buying the plain gauge Reynolds decals from H. Lloyds.

 

[Philoldsmobile]

Beautiful bike. Not much to go on, but the colour is very similar to my 1965 Viking Conquest. Viking were defunct by the late 60's then became a brand later on, rather than the company they were. Quite a significant racing heritage in the 50's and 60's

Well worth the effort.

 

[jim haseltine]

From the 79 catalogue.
Campag Gran Sport gears with 14-24 5 speed block (make unspecified). Weinmann 500 brakes with drilled levers. SR 42/52 chainset detachable rings, model unspecified. Campag Gran Sport small flange QR hubs with Mavic 700c rims. SR stem. Viking engraved bars, suede saddle, alloy seat pin, alloy quill cage pedals, all make unspecified.

 

[bikemig]

From the 79 catalogue.
Campag Gran Sport gears with 14-24 5 speed block (make unspecified). Weinmann 500 brakes with drilled levers. SR 42/52 chainset detachable rings, model unspecified. Campag Gran Sport small flange QR hubs with Mavic 700c rims. SR stem. Viking engraved bars, suede saddle, alloy seat pin, alloy quill cage pedals, all make unspecified.

Thank you for the post and link. This is great info and very helpful as I rebuild the bike.

 

[stephenmwilliams]

I have recently purchased a mint Viking European c1978. It rides beautifully. Pictures attached.
I should be able to date it from the serial number under the BB.
Join us on the Viking Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/viking.classic.cycles
Or check out the website http://classicvikingcycles.uk/

 

[bikemig]

Your bike is beautiful. I appreciate all the pics as this will help me rebuild it. The serial no. is L3630. I'll check out all those sites. Thank you!

I'm curious, does your frame have a double butted Reynolds 531 sticker? My frame only has the fork sticker. I guessed it was plain gauge Reynolds 531 as the seatpost appears to be 26.8.

 

[bikemig]

I finished building the frame yesterday and took it out on an 11 mile ride today. It rides very nicely but there are a few minor things I'll need to work on. This bike was a parts bin build. The only things I purchased for the bike were the cables and housing and the correct Reynolds 531 sticker. The correct seat post size is 26.6. Although the bike was built around 700c wheels, it can handle 27 inch wheels with 27 x 1 and 1/4 tires which is what I'm running. The bike shifts very well with suntour ratcheting shifters and a shimano light action rear derailleur.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Very nice, another saved