Re: Fw: Re: [CR]RUMI - French by way of Viet Nam - Mixte - possibly 40's?

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli:Laser)

In-Reply-To: <20020214.210054.-230241.1.bicyclemark@juno.com>
References: <20020214.210054.-230241.1.bicyclemark@juno.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 12:41:17 -0500
To: "Mark A. Perkins" <bicyclemark@juno.com>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Sheldon Brown" <CaptBike@sheldonbrown.com>
Subject: Re: Fw: Re: [CR]RUMI - French by way of Viet Nam - Mixte - possibly 40's?


Back in the early '60s, a now-deceased friend of mine had a Moto Rumi racing motorcycle. It was Italian, beautifully made, very weird. Most of the bolts required a special driver that came with the machine. It was a 50cc pure racing machine, 2 cylinders, clipon handlebars, stretched-out kneeling riding position.

It was quite impractical for street use, but my friend, who was a bit wild did like the fact that he could generally outrun the local police cruisers. He got it pretty cheap, because although it was an absolute rocketship among 50cc motorcycles, it wasn't able to compete with the newer Hondas and Yamahas that had just appeared on the 50cc racing circuit.

Sheldon "Missing My Old Friend" Brown Newtonville, Massachusetts +---------------------------------------------------------+ | The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, | | as well as the poor, to sleep under the bridges, | | to beg in the streets, and to steal bread. | | --Anatole France | +---------------------------------------------------------+

At 9:00 PM -0800 2/14/02, Mark A. Perkins wrote:
>Hello classic bicycle lovers:
>
>I am forwarding a message which, as you can see, I sent to the list a
>little over a year ago. I am sending again because I received no
>responses. Is this bike so rare that nobody on this list has ever heard
>of it? Maybe there is someone new lurking out there who knows something
>about it. I will have it here in Fresno soon, and I intend to do some
>work getting it fitted with an appropriate rear derailleur and shift
>lever, as well as a correct rear wheel...
>
>--------- Forwarded message ----------
>From: Mark A. Perkins <bicyclemark@juno.com>
>To: RALEIGH531@aol.com
>Cc: bikecg@worldnet.att.net,classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2001 09:23:48 -0800
>Subject: Re: [CR]Raleigh Carlton Questions
>Message-ID: <20010121.092350.-150679.0.bicyclemark@juno.com>
>
>Although this bike is still in storage, I would like to inquire if anyone
>in this group has ever heard of a bicycle called RUMI ?
>
>The one I have is light metallic blue, has a Mixte frame which has a
>two-hole type rear derailleur mount under the right chain-stay and just
>ahead of the right drop-out. The frame also appears to be of French
>origin, and has a single, brazed-on shift lever boss on the right side of
>the down-tube. It has a chrome-plated metal strip with the block letters
>"RUMI" riveted onto either side of the down-tube, a fancy, chrome-plated
>metal crest with a plastic insert, riveted to about the middle of the
>seat-tube (with a blue, white, & red band above and below), and a
>head-badge that has the words "RUMI, 60, and Special," on it.
>
>The bike is equipped with aluminum fenders, with riveted-on rear carrier
>rack and Soubitez reflector/taillight, and an aluminum chain guard. I
>recall finding the words "MADE IN V. N." on one of these aluminum
>components, so I have assumed that the bike was originally built in
>France but sold in Viet Nam. It has an older Stronglight headset and a
>cottered steel crank, which I think is also by Stronglight. The brakes
>are very unusual too, but I can't remember their name brand. I am
>describing this bike from memory, so I am leaving out a lot. I've owned
>this bike for at least 10-years, and I still know very little about it.
>I believe it to be from around 1950, and think it was probably originally
>a 4-spd. derailleur bike because when I remove the 5-spd. wheel the rear
>triangle springs back inward. Oh yea', it has pedals that have "TANK"
>cut-out in both front and back plates, and I've seen these pedals in "The
>Data Book".
>
>I hope there is someone out there who knows a little about this marque.
>I don't know which freewheel, derailleur and shift lever would be correct
>for this bike, and so far, I've been unable to locate a shift lever that
>will fit the smaller diameter mounting boss.
>
>Anybody ?...
>
>Happy Cycling and collecting everyone,
>
>"Bicycle Mark" Perkins
>Fresno Cycling Club - Historian
>Fresno, California, U.S.A.
>
> _______________________________________________
>
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Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts Phone 617-244-9772, 617-244-1040, FAX 617-244-1041
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