About a year ago, I bought an unlabled nos 63cm Lotus frame on eBay, it was billed as Tange No. 1 tubing. I finally got around to assembling this into a complete bike. To my surprise the finished product weighed in at just over 24 lbs. It's built with 27" Araya rims and full Shimano 600 group components, I determined it as a 27" wheel frame when I realized the length of rear caliper I would need to get by with a set of 700c rims. As it is I ended up using an earlier version of the Shimano 600 side pull calipers.
Anyhow, my questions are: - How, if posible, can I determine it really is Tange No. 1 tubing? (I can see down the downtube through the headtube and see no signs of any seams and in comparison to a known Champion No. 2 frame, of the same size, it weighs in over a pound less). - Does anyone have any info on Lotus bikes? I am looking to determine the model and year of this frame, it is most likely early 80's, but after going through many pics, brochures, and magazine ads, I have still yet to find another either with the same paint sceme, or frame configuration as far as wheel size and braze-ons.
The models which I have found photos of that are advertised as Tange No. 1 tubing all use 700c wheels, however none of the lower models, which all use 27" wheels, have the same braze-ons, seatpost diameter, or paint sceme. The rear spacing is 126, making it a 6 speed rear, so it's definitely at least late 70's and it still uses a riveted gold brass headbadge, which I believe makes it at least as old as the early 80's. I don't remember seeing any of these back then, maybe they were more common in other areas?
What I am hoping, is that someone here has either owned one or posibly sold these back in the day, or posibly has an old catalog or order sheet for Lotus. I am looking to make up a decal set for this, as is it's all built out of nos parts. I need to try to determine which model it really is, and if it deserves Tange or Champion tubing decals.
I didn't take weight into consideration when I asembled this, but it ended up several pounds lighter than my '78 531 framed Raleigh Super Course, which weighs in at around 28 lbs and is all original and a 25.5" frame. I even checked it with a magnet to be sure I wasn't dealing with aluminum. I had expected this to weigh in closer to 30 lbs, not under 25.
Thanks,
Joe McKishen
Vineland, NJ