Help ID'ing 1980s racing bike

[hawkhill97]

I've almost finished doing up a rather nice racer as a bit of a lockdown project. But I've no idea what it is! Wondered if anyone here may have any brainwaves?





It's a lugged steel frame - I guess Reynolds 531 (27.2mm seatpost supports this). The lugs don't give much away to my eye though!







The drop outs are spaced at 126mm with a 6 speed Sachs freewheel. They look older than I'd expect for a 1980s bike, which is confusing matters!



However, the full outer cable guides above the top tube, 700c wheels and plastic cable guide under the BB suggest it can't be much older than that.



Serial number stamped into the BB shell is SY050058, but I can't find a match on Google for love nor money.

Components are nice - Shimano 105 groupset, campy aero seat post, San Marco rolls saddle. Can't be sure if they are contemporary with the frame or later additions though.

Any ideas what the bike could be?

 

[Old Ned]

I'm tempted to say that the basis of the frame is earlier than '80's. The seat stay tops and rear dropouts look earlier to me at least. Fittings are 80's/90's (I think!) but they could have been added at any time.

BTW, the underbracket cable guide is fitted totally wrongly, it should be centred on the BB shell, the hole in the middle is for a rivet or self tapping screw to fix it. Goodness knows what the hole is that has been used to attach it!

 

[simdagger]

BTW, the underbracket cable guide is fitted totally wrongly, it should be centred on the BB shell, the hole in the middle is for a rivet or self tapping screw to fix it. Goodness knows what the hole is that has been used to attach it!

That's clearly moved just to show the serial number!

 

[hawkhill97]

Agreed, wouldn't surprise me too much if it was an older frame with 80s/90s components.

But wouldn't a 60s frame usually have brazed on cable guides on the BB shell rather than a plastic guide?

Unless it was built as a SS / hub gear frame originally? Seems more likely that it's a more modern frame that's used some leftover old drop outs.

 

[hawkhill97]

However it's possible the rear OLN was originally 120mm for five speed and cold set to 126mm, the rear wheel is a tight fit. Which takes us back to 60s/70s.

I've checked serial numbers for Dawes, Raleigh, Carlton, BSA, Peugeot as well as some more niche frame builders but can't find anything that matches the serial number format on this one.

 

[keithglos]

Mechanically stamped frame number usually suggests mass produced possibly Japanese.

Keith

 

[Old Ned]

BTW, the underbracket cable guide is fitted totally wrongly, it should be centred on the BB shell, the hole in the middle is for a rivet or self tapping screw to fix it. Goodness knows what the hole is that has been used to attach it!

That's clearly moved just to show the serial number!

Oh dear, silly me I thought it looked a bit strange.......................... :facepalm:

 

[hawkhill97]

Re:

The closest match for the serial number I could find is Miyata. The letter S would imply a 1990 frame - which matches the age of the Shimano 105 groupset, which seems plausible.

Stuck it on the bathroom scales and weighs in at 12kg, so almost certainly a double butted tubeset of some sort or another, probably Reynolds 531.