Mercian K.O.M. 653 Reynolds

[PHL67]

Had this bike frame checked out and Mercian tell me its the titled bike.

What a bargain buy.

Will be nice when finished.

 

[midlife]

Ohhh! Looks like the real deal with two eyes on the rear dropouts . Nutted brakes and over bb guides look a bit old skool for 653?

 

[oldtel]

Hi, there should be a serial number on the bottom bracket, I think Midlife's on the right track, looks late 60's / early 70s - A full photo may help. Thanks Terry

 

[PHL67]

Hi, there should be a serial number on the bottom bracket, I think Midlife's on the right track, looks late 60's / early 70s - A full photo may help. Thanks Terry

Serial number on bottom bracket checked by Mercian and guy remembers it being built. December 1997. I have a copy of the build sheet.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

guy remembers it being built. December 1997. I have a copy of the build sheet.

1997 - that's positively modern in my book. But lugged steel is lugged steel irrespective of age.

 

[midlife]

December 1997, the original owner had it built with an eye to their youth lol. Could well be 653 at that age

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Makes you wonder how & why an expensive Reynolds custom build ended up with a "station bike" lash-up paint job, doesn't it? If I ever allowed enough white fivers to escape my clutches to pay for a custom steel build there's no way it would be used as a commuting hack. I'd actually clean and polish it, which only happens once in a blue moon with any of my others, even what I consider my "nice" ones (i.e. the ones that didn't come out of a skip or cost more than a pint of beer).