This bike is not a Yoshi Kono 3Rensho frame. It is a cheaper frame I think made by Miyata. Not positive on this, but I am sure not 3Rensho.
Specialized Allez frames were made by Yoshi Kono's shop starting from about 1981 or so. This is when I started working at Specialized. These Allez were only sold as a frame, and were red. The only exception to this is a few bikes with Shimano AX parts were brought in. There were also track frames. These were very nice frames, made by hand. Shimano dropouts, fork crown with offset, chrome dropout faces.
I hear Yoshi Kono has been in a very bad auto accident several years ago, I think he is a quadriplegic.
Another detail, the later (1986?) top model Allez luged frames were made by Dave Tesch in San Marco. These used Tange Prestige tubing.
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of LouDeeter@aol.com Sent: Saturday, July 20, 2002 9:58 AM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Allez on Ebay--24"
Looks like this could be one of those from the 3Rensho era based on the
sticker and the parts. Jim Merz, can you tell us about those
early-to-mid
80s Allez frames? I'd like to find one of these in my size. Lou
Deeter,
Orlando FL