Vintage Dawes?

[Harril]

Hi All,

I would really appreciate some assistance with trying to identify the Range this particular model is from. There are a few clues on the frame, but research is proving to be tricky and is not leading to any conclusive results, so far.
The only thing Its previous owner could tell me about it was he’d owned the bike since 1974, but the cotterless crank and plastic mudguards make me rather sceptical of his assertion of provenance.

Thank you in advance for any info.

I've also posted this request in the vintage Dawes FB group.

Regards,
Lawrence

 

[Illaveago]

Hi All,

I would really appreciate some assistance with trying to identify the Range this particular model is from. There are a few clues on the frame, but research is proving to be tricky and is not leading to any conclusive results, so far.
The only thing Its previous owner could tell me about it was he’d owned the bike since 1974, but the cotterless crank and plastic mudguards make me rather sceptical of his assertion of provenance.

Thank you in advance for any info.

I've also posted this request in the vintage Dawes FB group.

Regards,
Lawrence

Do you have a picture or some more details as it is a bit vague at the moment . What colour is it ?

 

[Harril]

Sorry, i was trying to edit the post for better clarity! I've added a few more images.

 

[Illaveago]

So it is either purple or chocolate brown . Huret rear mech , Weinman side pull brakes . 500 Cro Mo frame .

It looks a bit like a Shadow but not sure if they did them in a different colour than grey.

 

[Cycleops]

Could it be a Dawes Stirling?

With the Sachs Huret could be seventies.

 

[Chris S]

The only thing Its previous owner could tell me about it was he’d owned the bike since 1974, but the cotterless crank and plastic mudguards make me rather sceptical of his assertion of provenance.

Mudguards and cranks get replaced, especially if they're decades old.

 

[Illaveago]

How about 1986 Dawes Horizon in burnt cherry ? Not sure if it had radonneur bars.

 

[southcoast]

The Dawes Super Lighting had Reynolds 500 tubes but seem to recall that was mid 80’s

 

[Harril]

The Dawes Super Lighting had Reynolds 500 tubes but seem to recall that was mid 80’s

Yes, i thought that. They all seem to be in a two tone colour scheme, though.

 

[biggs682]

Your head badge is 80's

 

[midlife]

The black plastic Weinmann brake bolt covers are 80's style as well

 

[carpenter]

Suntour AR front derailleur - early 1980's

 

[Gunk]

It’s not a particularly desirable Dawes, gas pipe frame, bottom end components, it looks like a 1980’s super lightning which was an entry level bike.

 

[Harril]

It’s not a particularly desirable Dawes, gas pipe frame, bottom end components, it looks like a 1980’s super lightning which was an entry level bike.

Yeah, I could see there wasn't anything particularly special about it before I bought it. Breaking a spoke and knocking the back wheel out of true after only a seven mile test ride confirmed that! The gas pipe frame and budget components work surprisingly well, almost as well as my 3 year old commuter! That was enough for me to take it off the guy's hands.

Could well be a Super Lighting. But, unless I'm mistaken, they were never available in this colour?

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

It’s not a particularly desirable Dawes, gas pipe frame, bottom end components, it looks like a 1980’s super lightning which was an entry level bike.

It's a budget bike by Dawes standards, but it isn't made of gas pipe. Reynolds 500 was simply the plain gauge version of 501, with identical metallurgy. That only appeared a few years after 501 did in 1983, so I would date it to the second half of the 1980's on that basis. I picked up a Dawes donor bike with a 500 frame before the virus, and it is only maybe half a pound heavier than a butted frame. The forks are fairly light by steel standards and they aren't built like a tank. The mystery bike is probably 72/72 geometry and would ride pretty much like any lugged Galaxy I'd expect, but cost less to buy.